Toyota

Around these parts Toyota is the great satan and yet GM has this joint venture with them with the Matrix and Vibe. I have never understood it. Toyota is major competition and yet GM manufactures cars with them. Has GM ever explained that?

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...25-da72c9f8770d

Toyota Sputters I hope this trend continues even after the market/economy recover. Maybe people will stop drinking the Toyota Koolaid

In today's Akron Beacon Journel they reported a local Toyota Dealer [Ganley Toyota] had discovered 1995-2000 Tacoma pick up trucks with frames rusted through just in front of the rear spring mount. They included pictures and all. They say Ganley found the first one last fall and now have 20 broken frame trucks on the lot. Toyota has sent in engineers and have been looking into this. Here is the odd thing... The trucks are worth about $3,000- $5,000K and Toyota is paying over Blue Book for them. Some of these trucks have 200,000 miles and they are giving $11,000-$12,000 for these trucks. I know companies will do some good will but if one dealer has 20 trucks alrea…

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/toyo...mp;siteid=yhoof SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Toyota Motor Corp., in what many analysts believe will soon mark a long-term shift in the automotive hierarchy, wrestled the global sales crown away from General Motors Corp. through the first three months of the year. Toyota (TM:toyota motor corp sp adr rep2com News, chart, profile, more Last: 100.10-0.08-0.08% 4:00pm 04/24/2008 GM 22.11, +1.17, +5.6%) , however, said sales fell less than 1% from the year-ago period to 2.25 million vehicles. Toyota led GM after the first quarter in 2007, as well, only to miss out on unseating the reigning 77-year global sales leade…

Perhaps there was some truth to the 'currency manipulation' speculation that has been going on for a while.

Yahoo via AP - http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080507/japan_toyot...rices.html?.v=4

http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/200...d-lug-nut-rust/

I can see why they sell tons of these....efficient, inoffensive & well built, it's no wonder it's a default choice of many shoppers. That being said, it has the WORST front seating on the planet. I could not own or recommend this car for this reason alone. It feels like the seats were designed for Steven Hawking--they force my (average) body up & forward while seated in a position where I can comfortably operate the wheel and pedals. The steering wheel also has a weird angle to it that increases the discomfort. I wonder how many users are either significantly smaller than me (less than 5'9") or simply take a very short test drive before purchase?

1907 Oldsmobile commercial truck: AWWWWWW-SUM! 1923 Ford Model-TT pickup: Pretty damn cool for a Ford, nice pre-war dinosaur. 2008 Hino light duty truck: (chassis) UGLIER than Barbara Streisand. It's even worse in the flesh... a profile shot would make you gouge your eyes out! This is something that irks the $hit out of me. More and more and MORE Hinos are showing up on new england roads these days. Many local salvage yards/towing companies have bought Hinos for roll-back truck duty and they are showing up in large numbers as delivery trucks. Laundry services, meat packing plants & even occasionally as flat-bed haulers. I personal…

just a small snippet i saw in my motor trend yesterday about lexus' "new" hybrid that will debut at 09 auto show from motor trends website: Toyota will present two dedicated hybrid models at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit; one a Toyota and the other a Lexus. It's no surprise the Toyota will be the Mark III Prius. It's the Lexus that will be the shocker: a lifestyle wagonlike vehicle based on the Prius platform and drivetrain. Meanwhile, the Toyota A-BAT is just a concept for now, but the truck is being evaluated as a potential addition to extend the architecture and powertrain plans for the next-generation Prius platform. http://ww…

Toyota Faces Major Class Action Lawsuit In Coming Months Cost Could Cause Major Damage to North American Operations Link to Original Article @ Autoblog

I made a quick visit to Truck Trend and found an ad on the site that showed the latest issue of TT and a photo of a fugly HD dually Turd, but it said aside of it a Heavy Duty Tundra this time for real... Something to that extent, at least I know they have shown one but with cutting production and feeling the burn Detriot is in the truck market are they really doing it? I hope not... But found it interesting? Anyone know anything and have a thought on it?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23793222/page/2/ ah, it comes out y'all still want to keep humping toyota's leg now?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nasca...sh-toyota_N.htm ah toyota, you wanted to be top of the hill so bad, well all this press is what comes with it.

http://toyota.jp/crownroyal/ http://toyota.jp/crownathlete/ Toyota Redesigns 'Crown' - New lineup includes hybrid model - Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today it has completely redesigned the "Crown Royal Saloon" and "Crown Athlete" series and added a hybrid model to the product lineup. The Royal Saloon and Athlete series go on sale in Japan today and the "Crown Hybrid" will be launched in Japan on May 6. The 13th-generation Crown unveiled today retains the sense of poise and reliability that characterizes the Crown series, which has earned a reputation as the leader among luxury vehicles in Japan over the more than half a century since its de…

David Barkholz and Lindsay Chappell Automotive News March 17, 2008 - 4:31 pm ET UPDATED: 3/17/08 5:38 p.m. EDT DETROIT -- A union vote is set for Thursday, March 20, at Toyota's assembly plant in Canada. The Canada branch of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union is trying to organize about 3,100 workers at the plant in Cambridge, Ontario. The plant is about an hour west of Toronto. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. is disputing a union's bid to organize the assembly plant. The union is optimistic about the vote in light of a reduction in new-hire wages and other benefit cuts over the past several months, said Ian Morland,…

Don't know if anyone else has posted this When is a coupe not a coupe?

Looks like that $1.6 billion Texas truck plant wasn't such a wise decision after all... http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industr...t_520194_6.html

http://www.km77.com/00/toyota/iq/t01.asp

http://www.thestar.com/article/299753 whatdya think, carbiz? does toyo figure on a tough year in the US so will try to make up for it in CA?

*Gasp!* Did you hear what they're doing?! They're giving Sienna owners 6 years / Unlimited Miles warranties under their new "Warranty Enhancement" program! I'm going out and buying a used one right now! http://www.leftlanenews.com/toyota-to-fix-...a-minivans.html Assholes.

Original story HERE While I am no fan of Toyota, I find it extremely funny that people would somehow expect Toyota to NOT sell full size trucks and SUV's. They are in business to make money and there is a lot of money to be made in the full size truck/SUV arena. To think they would abandon that market because they are a green company is just absurd.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/08detroit/071220-1.htm Old news, but wonder how close it will look to the concept?

SAN DIEGO — Just when you thought luxury SUVs couldn't get any bigger, Lexus has increased the length of the redesigned LX 570 by 4 inches and widened it by more than an inch. Evidently, when you buy a luxury SUV that tops $80,000 fully optioned, added size and weight don't matter. It helps that the LX 570, despite the 405 pounds of added bulk and 115 more horsepower under the hood, gets the same claimed fuel economy as the LX 470 it replaces: 12 mpg in city driving and 18 mpg on the highway. The SUV goes on sale this month. The basics: It's big — 196.5 inches long — though still 6 inches shorter than a Cadillac Escalade. The LX 570 shares many of its underpinning…

SO, I got blessed with a RAV4 for a couple days on a work trip. I was in no mood to try and negotiate what I really wanted this trip with all sorts of folks queued up at the rental joint, so I just let fate cast its ugly hand. OMG, the irony. Me forced into a hoyotha. And a p*$$y ute nonetheless. Well, let's just say I ain't buyin one by any stretch. And believe or not, this was one of the only Toyota's I've been ok with saying 'class leader' and 'I am fine with it'. Just remember folks, try before you buy........ (more to come)

http://thehollywoodextra.blogspot.com/2007/12/byd-f3.html I swear, I can't even tell the difference. I gotta admit, if I were Toyota, I'd be piss3d.

Here: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...317/1149/AUTO01 Can you say, "OUCH"?

Article with photos: http://www.houstoncars.org/2009-toyota-rav4-first-look.php I hope Toyota improves the interior, too. I think the new styling looks much classier than the CR-V.

Anyone else remember these? The pace, the music, the consistency, the slogans all made for much better car commercials back in the 80s than now. "Oh What a Feeling" with the actor jumping in the air and naming the model made you remember the car. Now it's some lame voiceover reminding you they're "Moving Forward." Snooze. Same with Ford, Chevy, etc. BTW, Dan Gurney's effort for the Celica and Supra was terrific. There's only one I could find. http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Z4G8lQuXy4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLhiDx4w_U&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMqmZZfxtYM...feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0PqBNkaAxw...feature=related …

Court rules employee worked to death Fri Nov 30, 12:18 PM ET TOKYO (Reuters) - A Toyota Motor Corp employee died of overwork after logging more than 106 hours of overtime in a month, a judge ruled Friday, reversing a ministry's earlier decision not to pay compensation to his widow. The Toyota Labor Standards Inspection office, a local branch of Japan's labor ministry, refused to pay the widow the usual compensation for a spouse's work-related death, saying the man had only logged 45 hours of overtime in the month before he died, Japanese media reported. But the court ruled that the employee had worked far more than that, said Yomiuri Online, a Japanese news website. …

http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/14303/...ota-matrix.html

I was lazy and didn't feel like copying and pasting the pics and everything, so I am just going to put a link to my site where I posted this. This is for the new Supercar from Lexus that seems like a GT-R Fighter. Not a big fan of Toyota nor Lexus but. If this has been posted already, sorry, you can delete it if that's the case. http://z4.invisionfree.com/CarsDiscussion_...pic=82&st=0

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans...ison/index.html

Here is the ad: Prius Ad about Fresno HERE This is from the Fresno Bee http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/188063.html Toyota isn't getting a lot of mileage out of a new ad campaign for its fuel-efficient Prius -- at least not in Fresno. The commercial, which implies that you would only stop here if you were low on gas, is sparking rebukes from Central Valley residents, city officials and even U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. And now Toyota is issuing a recall for the TV spot, which the company admits was ill conceived. "I did not like it one bit," said Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, who complained to Feinstein's office, prompting a "scathing" missive from the senator to Toyo…

http://www.leftlanenews.com/tundra-problem...-to-toyota.html http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/05/toyota-...hame-automaker/

Full Article: http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/...173.A13529.html

For the fourth month in a row? Place your bets.

The Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5!! Here read for yourself at the Canadian Driver site, link below. I of course have my own preferences(GMC Sierra)as to who should have won, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion I guess. http://www.canadiandriver.com/truckking/2008/winner.htm

I found this little tidbit on Autoblog. What is the deal with the rash of problems coming from Toyota, is their world dominance have more speed bumps to come?!! http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/24/toyota-...-recall-mind-y/

Chevy pulling Toyotas's race trailer I believe the picture speaks for itself!

Toyota's Environmental Image Challenged Never mind that the Toyota Prius is popular with environmentally conscious motorists -- some environmentalists still wonder if Toyota is living up to its image as a green automaker. Environmental groups, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, are challenging Toyota Motor Corp.'s opposition to strict fuel economy standards pending in Congress, a position the Japanese company shares with General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC. During the past two weeks, about 8,300 NRDC activists sent e-mails and faxes to Toyota urging the company to support a Senate energy bill that would set a 35-mile-per-gallon requirem…

TOYOTA, Japan - Introduction of the next version of Toyota's hit Prius gas-electric hybrid won't hinge on the development of a more efficient battery called lithium-ion, a senior Toyota executive said Friday. The executive brushed off a recent Wall Street Journal report that said Toyota Motor Corp. was delaying the launch of the next-generation Prius by as much as two years because of problems in developing the lithium-ion battery. Hybrids on sale now use nickel-metal-hydride batteries. The Toyota official, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the matter, said various innovations for the next Prius are being considered — not just the lithium-…

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/prob...-body-rips.html

to be announced wednesday per espn toyota is like the bar skank at closing that hangs on anyone in effort to have someone take them home.....

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/20/toyota-...ion-with-323-h/ We don't have this here because??? Perfect competitor for the G8.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20393673/site/newsweek/ .it's true.....everything about the United States is for sale........ I don't know about you guys, but this makes my AMERICAN blood boil Let toyota spend the billion and suffer the backlash, i say...if there is one. this could end up being their billion dollar mistake in this country......the moment where their own arrogance may push them too far. by the way, does ANYONE give a rip about the olympics anymore?

The other night, I was in Dubois and stopped at Stoltz Toyota/Scion. They had a row of 4 or 5 new Highlanders on the lot. I figured I'd check them out and take some pictures. To my luck, they left one of them unlocked. I was able to fully check everything out besides actually driving it. Thus, I give you my attempt at a half-assed review. Exterior First, I must say it wasn't as bad in person as it originally looked in pictures. While completely lacking in personality, it doesn't induce vomiting, require blindness, or inspire death wishes as select other Toyotas may. It's different enough to be ever so slightly unique, yet bland enough to keep it from straying…

Yesterday I was on my way back from a delivery when I new Tundra passed by on the main road I was turning onto. It was loaded with 2 queen mattresses tied to the top of the bed with some stuff under it in the bed itself and the tailgate down. I was thinking to myself "Huh, someone's actually using it for it's purpose. But a second later I noticed that the tailgate seemed warped. Curious, I turned onto the road and followed it a little ways instead of going down left side of the fork in the road I went right (the way it was going). I thought may be it was an illusion, since the outer sheetmetal is rounded...but looking at it I saw that inside part with the bedliner did i…

Full article: http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A.../708280352/1148

Toyota's Future Gameplan Still more segments to conquer By MARK RECHTIN | Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek Much of Toyota's volume growth over the past decade has come from vehicles that enter new segments, such as the Prius, FJ Cruiser and the trio of Scion nameplates. Toyota executives say there are no new segments to enter that will deliver continued volume spurts. But they are crying crocodile tears. Their segment-busting ACE crossover arrives in the fall of 2008, and a return to sports cars is in the works as well. Also, Toyota wants to make hybrid power available for nearly all its vehicles, simplifying the process so that a shopper merely makes a choice am…

CR picked the Tundra over the Silverado, though they still rated the Avalanche significantly higher than either of them. That, however, is not what I thought was BS. Under reliability, the Avalanche and Silverado are rated as "new" (and therefore do not have a real rating) but the newer-than either of the Chevys Tundra gets a "very good." I guess since it says Toyota on it it gets a free pass. And people say CR has no bias...

Tested: 2008 Toyota Highlander - Short Take Road Tests Toyota sharpens its dull knife. BY STEVE SILER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID DEWHURST AND THE MANUFACTURER August 2007 The all-new 2008 Toyota Highlander is boring. Seriously, we haven’t been this bored driving an all-new car since, well, the original Highlander was introduced for the 2001 model year. Yes, with its new version, Toyota has addressed customer complaints regarding the previous model’s lack of style, space, and horsepower. But somehow, in spite of those improvements, the ’08 Highlander exhibits no more charisma than Al Gore hosting a paint-mixing seminar. Now, this is entirely intentional. Since its introdu…

Ever heard of Toyota Industries? No, not thatToyota (NYSE: TM). Toyota Industries is the original Toyota, founded in 1926; it spun off the far more familiar automotive division in 1937. Though it trades on the Pink Sheets, Toyota Industries' relatively low valuation and lucrative partial interest in its more famous offspring could make it a Foolish opportunity. What began as a company to make looms for textiles now manufactures forklifts, cars, and auto parts. The Rav4 and Yaris are both manufactured by Toyota Industries, but bear the Toyota Motors logo. Confused yet? It gets better: Toyota Motors owns 23.5% of Toyota Industries, and Toyota Industries owns 5.55% of Toyot…

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/rumoure...6-more-details/ i know, i know, its a toyota ...but for that price...gotta say that sounds like some cheap fun