Son's Toyota 4Shoots Crap

[Jimmy]

I bought a 2003 Toyota 4Runner for my son 4 years ago. I have already spent over $2,000 on non maintenance problems. I just found out that the cadilytic converters are shot and and will cost $3,000 to fix. I thought Toyota cars were supposed to be so good.

I had a Celica a number of years ago... which was good for the first 100,000 miles and then started falling apart.

I will never buy a Toyota again.

[Milk 1027]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

I bought a 2003 Toyota 4Runner for my son 4 years ago. I have already spent over $2,000 on non maintenance problems. I just found out that the cadilytic converters are shot and and will cost $3,000 to fix. I thought Toyota cars were supposed to be so good.

I had a Celica a number of years ago... which was good for the first 100,000 miles and then started falling apart.

I will never buy a Toyota again.

That's the problem, the media insists that foreign cars such as Toyota or Honda are reliable and easy to maintain. One of the reasons why our automobile market is doing so bad

The truth is that American cars are very reliable and much cheaper to fix and maintain.

[StarkyLuv]

You're gonna crap on an entire genre of cars because of ONE CAR? Foreign cars (particularly Japanese) have EARNED their reputations for reliability. They re-do these comparisons every year and every year they dominate.

American automakers have to catch up and that's that. I'm a GM guy (last 3 cars were GM), but I'm not some foreign-hating loyalist. I give props where it's due.

Foreign cars are very durable, doesn't mean they're infallible.

[Silverghost]

I agree with American cars being reliable, I have 130,000 on my 2000 Camaro and have only had to replace a starter. I also think the longevity of a car has a lot to do with previntive maint. Also, can't just change the oil and expect them to last forever.

[Camaro509]

Originally Posted by Silverghost

I agree with American cars being reliable, I have 130,000 on my 2000 Camaro and have only had to replace a starter. I also think the longevity of a car has a lot to do with previntive maint. Also, can't just change the oil and expect them to last forever.

Best car I have ever owned from a maintenance perspective was a Mazda 626.
Damn thing didn't cost me a dime on broken parts etc, just normal maint. cost like oil, windshield wipers and the like.


With that said, agree with Silverghost, any car is only as good as you maintain it. Oh yea, I lub my Chevy's!

[Timberline]

Milk 1027 is exactly right.

The press and media has brain washed the American public into thinking that foriegn cars are superior. This thinking has put this country in the mess it is in today.
I have owned only American cars all my life and have put many miles on all of them. I still have my 1991 Chevy silverado 4x4 with 245,000+ miles on it with no major repairs but I have maintained it right. I have had others that have gone 150,000+ miles with no problems. My 2003 suburban has 110,000 and runs as good as the day I bought it new.
American cars are very bit as reliable as foriegn cars and they all have thier lemons.
I believe it has to do with how a person treats and takes care of the vehicle.

[FenwickHockey65]

All our American cars lasted well over 200,000 miles with little to no problems.

Our only foreign car, a 1980s Mercedes...sunroof leaked, body panels rusted, underbody went to ****, brakes wore out...

No matter what people say, American cars are no longer what they were 10-20 years ago...the quality's back, the craftmanship's back, the reliability's back...meanwhile, toyota quality's taken a dive for the worse...

[theholycow]

They did indeed earn their reputation. They've been trying to discard it but the general public isn't paying attention.

They earned their reputation a couple decades ago when domestic companies were not keeping up. In the meantime, the roles have not reversed but have definitely at least met in the middle -- Toyota has abused their reputation, trading quality for quantity. The Toyota Tundra has been plagued with major recalls and safety issues. My dad's 2002 Tundra has, in the long run, made me glad I got a 2002 GMC Sierra instead, even though at the time I felt a lot more confident in Toyota. I'm under the impression that Honda hasn't abused their reputation the way Toyota has, but I don't have data or personal experience.

At this point, it's my opinion that Japanese cars are riding on a no-longer-deserved reputation and their prices are inflated. MSRP isn't inflated but they seem to lack incentives that are found on other makes, and used value is definitely inflated.

[CamaroSpike23]

first off, catalytic converters shouldnt run you that much. even with a shop doing the work, you shouldnt be spending that much. secondly, screw toyota. thirdly, all cars have their downfalls, some things that fail are easy fixes, others more expensive and time consuming.

like the gas tank on the pinto....lol


and on what the cow said

[Lakailb87]

Well I can't speak for other cars but my Acura has been very reliable, its a 2003 with 90,000 on it used as my DD. I have never once had a problem with it, only expenses have been normal oil changes and had a flat tire once. Before this car I had an Audi A4 and what a pain that car was, so many problems and very expensive to fix. Looking forward to the Camaro though, hope it holds up well.

[Vash]

Not that a coat hanger might just happen to fall inside the hole.... back and forth a bunch of times.. randomly.. as if a ghost took the exhaust off and did it.

If you want tough get a Tacoma ..... (made in Kalifornia).

[Mindz]

1989-1991 Toyota 4runner SR5 and 1991 Toyota pickups are the only ones I would buy. For cars, I'd grab a 1986 Corolla GT-S or a 93-97 Supra in a flash if I could find one at a good price.

[DarrenJ]

Humm...maybe Consumer Reports needs to see this...oh wait, they can't print anything bad about Toyota, Toyota sends them too much money!

[Silverghost]

Cats are covered under warrenty for 7yrs if I remember correctly, do some searching on the net, I wanna say 7yrs 70,000 miles but I could be wrong.