Toyota to recall 533,000 SUVs, trucks

CNNMoney.com ^ | 1/19/2007 | Reuters

[-YYZ-]

Me, either. Current American cars I would actually consider buying next time around:

300C
Charger
Magnum
Mustang
Fusion
Milan
Zephyr
Five Hundred
G6/G6 coupe
GTO (if they hadn't cancelled it)
Aura/new Malibu

Well, that's off the top of my head, anyway, there might be a few others. I actually wish I had taken the time to check a couple of these out a little more closely in 2004 when I bought my Accord, although most of those weren't even on the market yet at the time, and the rest were very new to the market.

[Spktyr]

Oh, I think I see what the problem is here. I was referring to Consumer Reports, and you're talking about Consumers' Digest.

I know little about CD; it's CR I'm slamming here.

[Professional Engineer]

How 'bout that Japanese QC.

[Spktyr]

The Aura's interior looks good, feels bad. They screwed it up. I'm withholding judgement on the Malibu until I actually get to see one.

I'd pass on the 500. It's a bit of a lame duck and I am not impressed by it. It seems to me like a continuation of the Taurus in most things. The Fusion/Milan/etc cars are actually impressive and very competitive and well worth a look.

The G6 looks good, drives well, feels nice, but has the usual UAW crappy build quality. The sliding/slatted roof leaks.

[Proud2BeRight]

"I'm Canadian, btw, so buying "domestic" really doesn't mean anything to me - all the profits go to companies based in other countries. All the major players have plants in Canada, although my Honda Accord was built in the US."

What impressed me when I drive through Canada is that the percentage of American cars on the roads appears to be greater than it is here in Illinois. I will say that while the engine and trans were both built in Michigan, my new Pontiac was just assembled at the Oshawa, Ontario GM plant. It has a perfect fit and finish, a huge array of great features, a 100,000 mile warranty and the LS4 will smoke most anything driven daily on the road. My only regret is that my desire for a new car cost me my old Bonneville. I always regret trading in a low mileage (145,000) beautiful car like that.

All riceburner/Jap car comments aside for the moment. I have learned that if you change the oil every 3,000 miles on a decent (not some low-entry model) GM car, keep it clean of road salt, and regularly maintain all other systems personally, they are very reliable.

[Spktyr]

I'd have to disagree with you on the reliability - but I would note that the Canadian-assembled versions of American-branded cars seem to stay bolted together a but better than the American-assembled versions. Not implying anything, just a direct observation.

[Always Independent]

Nice El Camino. A real beauty. I had a 1960 with a 348. Quite fast and great ride. Wish I still had it.

[Always Independent]

I can run circles around the tundra with my GMC Denail p/u 6.0 Vortec Max engine.

[eraser2005]

BTW, do yourself a favor and google "nhtsa toyota investigation".

[Always Independent]

Nothing has fallen off in my hands or anywhere else on my 97 Chevy Z71 222K miles.

[eraser2005]

The 2008 Five Hundred is out this summer - new engine and transmission - 30% more power, same fuel economy (on par with an Avalon). New interior materials.

[eraser2005]

Currently open NHTSA Engineering Analysis Investigations into Toyota for which there have not been a recall:

EA06-014: 2004-2005 Toyota Tundra
EA06-020: 2004-2005 Toyota Sienna

Currently open NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation Investigations into Toyota for which there have not been a recall:

PE06-055: 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Currently open NHTSA Engineering Analysis Investigations into Ford for which there have not been a recall:

EA06-014: 2003-2005 Crown Victoria Police and Taxi only
EA06-020: 2000-2001 Taurus and Sable EA06-012: 1999-2001 Super Duty and Excursion with 7.3L Diesel only

Currently open NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation Investigations into Toyota for which there have not been a recall:
PE06-048: 2001-2003 Escape and Tribute

You know, you're right. Toyota clearly is more proactive. /sarc

[-YYZ-]

What Pontiac did you buy, and what is the LS4 engine, in non-GM people's terms? V8? V6? OHV/OHC/DOHC?

[-YYZ-]

"The G6 looks good, drives well, feels nice, but has the usual UAW crappy build quality. The sliding/slatted roof leaks."

That can't be a big surprise to anyone - first time I saw it I knew that slatted roof would be a rattle and leak magnet. Wouldn't buy one with it. Pretty much indifferent about sun roofs, anyway.

The 500 I was attracted to mostly on the basis of its size, although I think it is also a reasonably handsome, conservatively-styled car. Certainly as much so as my Accord, anyway. Now, will it hold together as well in the long run, and hold its value, the way my Accord will?

[Spktyr]

eraser says that there's a new 500 revision coming soon, and he's right. Whether it will be any better remains to be seen.

The current model was a great disappointment. I took one for a test drive with only a few miles on the clock and the CVT transmission scattered itself. The second one I drove was a rental and it was pretty poor.

[MeanWestTexan]

Some people are jag people. Mrs. MWT's most recent vehicle was an S-type R, and just recently replaced with an XJ8 LWB.

My personal vehicle is an LX470, but I have an old 58 Porsche 356 that is my passion. Has a VW type IV engine in it and a 5-speed from a 912, though --- purists be damned. (That and a numbers-matching 356 is 100K --- not willing to spend that on a toy.)

[-YYZ-]

Poor in what way? Poor handling, ride, or braking? Poor interior quality and/or materials? They're certainly a pretty big car, which is their main attraction for me.

[eraser2005]

Those CVTs were a big mistake.

Thankfully, they're gone for 2008.
(the 2008 model goes on sale this summer)

[Spktyr]

Yes, to all of the above. It screamed "I'm the next Taurus" to me.

[MeanWestTexan]

"CVT transmission"

Shame --- in that, like a rotary engine --- it would be superior if the kinks get truly worked out.