I have a 1994 Toyota pickup. It has a steering wheel, Air conditioning and a radio. The transmission is a manual 5 speed and the vehicle HAS NEVER BROKEN DOWN. It is the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.
With this in mind, you have to remember Toyota had to make quality it’s mainstay to compete in the market. Early models of Toyota’s were exceptionally well designed and made.
Now, the “bean counters” have taken over the company and penny pinching is paramount. Guess what happens to quality when penny pinching becomes more important than quality. That’s right.....the Prius comes along.
I would say the Pious is more a product of the Green Fascists, than the bean counters.
My brother drove a late 80’s Toyota pickup, 4 runner, for 10 years. COULD NOT KILL IT. 200,000 plus miles.
Traded it in for a Dodge full size, around 1998. The dodge engine bit the dust in first 6 months.
My 87 Supra turbo still purred like a kitten when i sold it at 308,000 miles.
I miss that car.
I have to agree with you here. My 95 Prizm is the Corolla clone, made in the USA alongside it’s Toyota cousin, and has been a very good car, with no eletronic BS happening to it. 97K miles and counting......Thank God I own a 15 year old car that is MINE (bought and paid for).
Go ahead and buy the new crap, I’ll take a “gently used” mid to late 90’s car any day, as long as it’s NOT made by GM, Chrysler or Ford.
I’m still driving a 1991 Camry wagon. I’ve been driving Toyotas since 1977. In my (and my husband’s) experience: Toyotas just do not die (and rarely break down).
Regarding the bean counters - The story that sticks out in my mind is from a former foreman at a plant that used to make carbs back in the 80’s. He said that he was not allowed to reject a certrain amount of carbs for quality reasons. On questioning this, he was instructed that it was more cost efficient to have it dealt with as a service issue after the car sold. Yeah... returning your brand new car to the service department - now that’s a great customer experience.