Dragging Toyota Through the Media Muck

BusinessWeek.com ^ | February 9, 2010, 7:04PM EST | Ed Wallace

[Oklahoma]

The U.S., like much of the industrialized world, is currently enjoying a media feeding frenzy over cases of unintended acceleration in Toyota-made vehicles. No one knows whether the ultimate culprit will be ill-fitting floor mats, gas pedals manufactured by CTS, or drive-by-wire software that develops a mind of its own, possibly dooming occupants to swift, untimely death. But Toyota's (TM) problem is far worse than a media circus.

No, Toyota is being torn apart by the U.S. inability to gauge real risk in our lives. This shortcoming gives rise to irrational fears and now it's spawning anecdotal "stories"—all making it seem ominously possible that certain Toyota models could suddenly accelerate in a way that drivers will not able to control.

[Oklahoma]

For those interested a second article was published on the 11th.

[Riodacat]

Tough beans.. The domestics have been getting ripped for years for stuff that in many cases, was non-lethal or cosmetic - and the foreign press and manufacturers had a field day.
Toyota made its success primarily on quality and reliability.
Those who live by the sword, must be prepared to die by it as well.

[Oklahoma]

Did you even read the damn articles?

[sodpoodle]

This is what we should expect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn_WLLAvqqM&NR=1&feature=fvwp

[dragnet2]

>>>Ford F-150<<<

[Glenn]

Those who live by the sword, must be prepared to die by it as well.

You included, I hope.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm ..?? You know what bothers me about this whole this with Toyota ..??

During the “cash for clunkers” .. wasn’t it Toyota who seemed to be rakeing in the cash ..??

And .. from the comments I’ve heard about the repairs, is it true that the govt knew about these needed rapairs a long time ago ..??

So .. is this demand to fix all these cars .. another “takeover” of sorts by Obama ..??

I don’t know .. it just seems weird to me that Toyota was allowed to ignore these repairs.

[Gator113]

Last week I bought a 2010 Toyota Tundra 4x4 CrewMax Limited.

All of this publicity didn’t make me even hesitate and I have no regrets. This is my second full size Tundra and I will look forward to the next.

[Oklahoma]

For crying out loud, GO READ THE ARTICLES. Toyota didn’t ignore the repairs.

[Gator113]

“Those who live by the sword, must be prepared to die by it as well.”

Toyota will not die. It will weather this storm and come back even stronger.

[Bhoy]

Nadar’s career was launched by “Unsafe at any Speed.” I have heard since that there were many false statements — but nobody looked.

[Dr. Sivana]

I don’t even like Toyota, but the piling on smells awful. Toyota is a fine car company making products that people like. They stand behind their products.

[Gator113]

Within the article it reads, “In one respect the current Toyota fiasco differs little from last year’s swine flu hysteria.”

I completely agree.

[bwc2221]

I have a friend who is in direct marketing and specializes in the auto industry. He told me that 18 months ago Toyota was targeting the “Detroit Three” during the Congressional bankruptcy hearings. Today, the “Detroit Three” as well as Honda and Hyundai are targeting Toyota owners.

It's no secret to those that follow the industry (and read Automotive News and Edmunds rather than Businessweek) that Toyota is having problems. It tried to do too much too quickly, which resulted in design/quality problems.

[buccaneer81]

Gimme a break. So you love the UAW. Good for you.

[scoobysnak71]

[buccaneer81]

I’ll assume that you are living proof of your tagline...

[buccaneer81]

So you love the UAW?

[scoobysnak71]

>”So you love the UAW?”

Not one bit. And I despise the Jap vehicles just as much.

[buccaneer81]

And I despise the Jap vehicles just as much.

Those "Jap vehicles" keep Americans employed. My Camry was built in Georgetown, KY and the largest Honda plant in the world is 20 miles up the road from me.

I'll never own an "American" car ever again. Haven't since 1997.