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Is Toyota quality slipping?

2,863 2,237 December 4, 2016 at 03:15 PM
I've been owning Toyota autos for the past twenty years. Started with a Chevy citation, then moved to Honda Civics and now Toyotas.

However, recently I've been on several business trips to the the same town and I've been renting compact cars. I was surprised about the fit and finish of the Chevy Cruze. Just got back from a trip where I was in a Corolla and man did it just felt really cheap. Granted Corolla is 2nd to the bottom line up in the Toyota line (ahead of the Yaris).

Currently have an 09 Venza and 14 Highlander. But man between the Cruze and Corolla, I would have to pick the Cruze.

I can't speak for Dodge or Ford though.
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SpartanOneX
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Joined Jun 2006
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Zoe Moon
12-04-2016 at 06:43 PM.
12-04-2016 at 06:43 PM.
I think every car company goes through lows and highs. I loved my 2000 Honda CRV and expected to buy another one when we traded it in last year, but then we went car shopping and the 2015 CRV was a huge let down, it looked and felt cheap inside, didn't even bother to take a test drive in it. We looked at just about every brand (other than high end stuff) and wound up buying a Subaru Outback, which we both love.

The CRV wasn't the only one we chose not to test drive. The runner up to the Outback was a Mazda CX5, which looked great but didn't have some of the features we wanted and most importantly didn't have a good drivers view, lots of blind spots. I didn't feel comfortable driving it.
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SpartanOneX
12-05-2016 at 04:27 AM.
12-05-2016 at 04:27 AM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
I think every car company goes through lows and highs. I loved my 2000 Honda CRV and expected to buy another one when we traded it in last year, but then we went car shopping and the 2015 CRV was a huge let down, it looked and felt cheap inside, didn't even bother to take a test drive in it. We looked at just about every brand (other than high end stuff) and wound up buying a Subaru Outback, which we both love.

The CRV wasn't the only one we chose not to test drive. The runner up to the Outback was a Mazda CX5, which looked great but didn't have some of the features we wanted and most importantly didn't have a good drivers view, lots of blind spots. I didn't feel comfortable driving it.
Yeah, I've been wondering about the Subaru's and thought about going that direction too. I'm surprised about the Honda's being cheap too.
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SnakePlisken
12-05-2016 at 06:42 AM.
12-05-2016 at 06:42 AM.
nope, my x5 runs just fine
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Bareborn
12-05-2016 at 07:03 AM.
12-05-2016 at 07:03 AM.
i think chevy prides itself on initial quality. toyota is typically reliability over beauty
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ikonoklast
12-05-2016 at 07:32 AM.
12-05-2016 at 07:32 AM.
People will buy a Toyota Corolla based on reputation alone so they probably don't have to try all that hard with the interior. People will continue to buy as long as reliability is still there. They might be resting on their laurels but seems like they can. Dontknow
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SpartanOneX
12-05-2016 at 09:06 AM.
12-05-2016 at 09:06 AM.
Quote from ikonoklast :
People will buy a Toyota Corolla based on reputation alone so they probably don't have to try all that hard with the interior. People will continue to buy as long as reliability is still there. They might be resting on their laurels but seems like they can. Dontknow
That's what happened with Blackberry and now Apple. But I won't go there in case to inflame the Apple fanboys.

The thing that freaks me out about Chevy's though is that they kill the engine when you stop to conserve gas I guess. Then restarts it back up. Not sure if I like that technology. I assume it must put a lot of wear and tear on the starter, etc.

Quote from SnakePlisken :
nope, my x5 runs just fine
What about the fit and finish.
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Last edited by SpartanOneX December 5, 2016 at 09:07 AM.
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z2g
12-05-2016 at 04:41 PM.
12-05-2016 at 04:41 PM.
Well, first of all, Toyotas aren't really known for their plush interior. They've known for reliability. Secondly, it's a Corolla. A rental too! So, they're going to get the base model without many options or amenities.

But, if you check out the "loaded" Toyotas with leather interior and more luxury options added, it's not bad. Compared to a luxury brand or even Mazda (rated nicest interior recently for non-luxury brand) or Volkswagons, a Toyota can't compete.

We have two cars....a BMW and a Toyota Prius. It's night and day!Smilie
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Zoe Moon
12-05-2016 at 05:24 PM.
12-05-2016 at 05:24 PM.
Quote from z2g :
Well, first of all, Toyotas aren't really known for their plush interior. They've known for reliability. Secondly, it's a Corolla. A rental too! So, they're going to get the base model without many options or amenities.

But, if you check out the "loaded" Toyotas with leather interior and more luxury options added, it's not bad. Compared to a luxury brand or even Mazda (rated nicest interior recently for non-luxury brand) or Volkswagons, a Toyota can't compete.

We have two cars....a BMW and a Toyota Prius. It's night and day!Smilie
This may come across in the wrong way but which Toyotas are "loaded"?
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Zoe Moon
12-05-2016 at 05:30 PM.
12-05-2016 at 05:30 PM.
The Honda CRV and the next model up didn't have any of the features we wanted, no automatic hatch, no rear backing camera, and IIRC no leather seats but that last one might be wrong, one of the dealerships didn't have an SUV with leather seats on the lot but can't recall now which one.
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z2g
12-05-2016 at 05:39 PM.
12-05-2016 at 05:39 PM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
This may come across in the wrong way but which Toyotas are "loaded"?
LOL.....you can always purchase the higher "finish"--i.e. Plus, Premium, Limited, Touring. You can also add interior options to improve the interior finish and look too.

Of course, it's still a Toyota, which will often have very "plastic-y" interiors. I think if you get the leather interior, it'll look better, in general. I think with most Honda's and Toyota's have the same problem....too much hard plastic in the interior.
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Zoe Moon
12-05-2016 at 05:50 PM.
12-05-2016 at 05:50 PM.
Quote from z2g :
LOL.....you can always purchase the higher "finish"--i.e. Plus, Premium, Limited, Touring. You can also add interior options to improve the interior finish and look too.

Of course, it's still a Toyota, which will often have very "plastic-y" interiors. I think if you get the leather interior, it'll look better, in general. I think with most Honda's and Toyota's have the same problem....too much hard plastic in the interior.
It's been a long time since I had my Corolla, back then none of the Toyota's offered much, not even leather seats. /oldfart laugh out loud
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SpartanOneX
12-06-2016 at 06:21 PM.
12-06-2016 at 06:21 PM.
Quote from z2g :
Well, first of all, Toyotas aren't really known for their plush interior. They've known for reliability. Secondly, it's a Corolla. A rental too! So, they're going to get the base model without many options or amenities.

But, if you check out the "loaded" Toyotas with leather interior and more luxury options added, it's not bad. Compared to a luxury brand or even Mazda (rated nicest interior recently for non-luxury brand) or Volkswagons, a Toyota can't compete.

We have two cars....a BMW and a Toyota Prius. It's night and day!Smilie
I don't think Toyota makes a specific "rental" version but you are right they usually get basic model but this one had a back up camera.

But the point was that comparing the "base" model of a cruze and corolla, the cruze was better.

Even when comparing the highlander and the lexus rx (based off of the same underpinnings, etc) you can tell the fit and finish in the lexus version is way better. but you are paying $$$$ more.
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appleyum
12-06-2016 at 08:20 PM.
12-06-2016 at 08:20 PM.
Quote from arcticmaniac :
I don't think Toyota makes a specific "rental" version but you are right they usually get basic model but this one had a back up camera.

But the point was that comparing the "base" model of a cruze and corolla, the cruze was better.

Even when comparing the highlander and the lexus rx (based off of the same underpinnings, etc) you can tell the fit and finish in the lexus version is way better. but you are paying $$$$ more.
Backup camera is no longer luxury item, US law requires by 2018 all new car must have backup camera. A lot of car makers are selling them as standard.
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mrlaugh
12-07-2016 at 10:37 PM.
12-07-2016 at 10:37 PM.
I have a 2006 Corolla. My engine computer died after 23,000 miles or so, which later became a complete recall. My engine block cracked at 27,000 miles, had to get a completely new engine from toyota. Despite being 10.5 years old, I only just passed 48,000 miles last week. The tire pressure monitor has been broken for at least three years, no amount of reseting by myself, the firestone shop, or even the toyota dealer keeps it from coming back on, even after repeatedly checking the tire pressures. The interior finish isn't brilliant, but the fit is good, better than the focus at the time, not quite as good as the civic (although I had other issues with the civic otherwise I might have bought it). The seal around the door has a drip every time it rains, which the dealer told me was normal (it's really only one drip when the door is open, not like an actual leak). The original OEM tires were not great, I could spin the front wheels on concrete when cold, and it's not like the car has that much power.

I think my dad's 2008 corolla has been less problematic than my 2006, but I do sort of think the idea of foreign cars always being more reliable is more hype than fact.
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