From 10/03 Issue Toyota Camry One Year Test Car, Pg 168


What kind of review is that?

New brakes, a leaky head gasket, and transmission gasket are considered minor maladies at 20,000 miles now ?

But, oh, wait...it's all covered under warrenty.

I don't know about you guys, but head gasket seemed especially alarming to me...

If this was a Taurus or Impala they would have tore it apart over that and written andat least two paragraphs about how the bad brakes put your family at risk or some BS.

What's the point of doing a one year test when every problem it has is explained away as it being unique to that particular test car?

 

Yeah, that's BS.
This all goes back to the public perception we were talking about. It is just one car. but you can bet that they would have made a stink about it if it were from an American car.

My mom's Camry has definatly had it's share of problems and it still smokes like crazy when you start it up.

 

Toyota lately has been having quite a few problems, not the least of which being the engine sludge problem. (Various MR2 engine oil and transmission problems as well.) Wonder what the deal is.

 

That right there is typical import bias.

 

Since when is A LEAKING FRIGGING HEAD GASKET a "minor" malady????

Leaking head gaskets can GRENADE motors.

Couple that with a leaking transmission pan gasket and you have the wonderful opportunity to blow an automatic transmission up at the same time.


Which magazine is that? They need a mailbox full of nasty-grams, LIKE NOW.

 

Formula79 you neglected to mention the name of the magazine. I have to see this one for myself!


Reminds me of the minor malady my Sundance had when it's engine ate itself due to oil leakage. But it was ok...I had AAA to tow it off the side of the road!!! No problems there either.

 

Just like the time that Car & Drivel's long-term Boxster nearly fell apart around them, and they just passed it off like . . . "yeah, it's a sports car, they have problems." If it had been a Corvette, Chevy would be CRUCIFIED.

Yeah, I need to send that magazine a letter. Which one is it?

 

Motor Trend...sorry...the brand new issue.

 

That doesn't surprise me..................although if I had to guess, I would have said Automobile.

 

Yes Formula79, please post the magazine so I can also send them an email. Letting such an important problem being termed as "minor" doesn't bode well for Toyota and the public needs to be aware of this. We all know the bias towards imports but this is rediculous. The bottom should also not mention that the problem was with their tester only. How do they know? did they test all the other Camry's that were built? I don't think so and believe that statement is a blatant lie.

 

I didn't know Motor Trend was THAT ignorant, I'm gunna check out that writers other articles too, maybe its just a bad apple. Oh thats horrible

 

Um, you mean Motor "Every car we've reviewed since 1985 has deserved huge amounts of praise" Trend? They're nearly worthless - I give them only the slightest amount of redemption for putting cars on a chassis dyno once in a while.

Brandon must need extra attention today.

 

K gents, do me a favor...

...yes, I'm being **** again...

1) This is basically a business letter. Format it properly.

2) Use the spell check - journalists live to make mere mortals look like fools by pointing out spelling and grammar errors.

3) Avoid outright flaming. Pointed sarcasm is far more effective.

4) Using brutally efficient logic, corner them and then drive the knife home.

 

Toytotas fabled unparallelled reliability is a figment of media and marketing. They do however issue more recalls and fix stuff more way promptly than say GM who have to be dragged kicking and screaming or threatened with class action lawsuits to fix bugs in their product.

E.g. Malibu 3400 V6 engine has that design fault that leads to the leaking (manifold / head gasket - can't recall off hand which one it is). My g/f's 98 Malibu LS developed this at the 90,000+ mile mark (out of warranty of course). A co-worker of hers who has the same car had the exact same problem. No chance of GM issuing a recall though due to cost. Question is - does this cost them customers in the long run. Well, my g/f says she will _never_ buy another GM product again. I'm guessing she isn't the only one. Me well - I guess I love my American muscle too much to get that drastic .

 

I also like how they do comparison tests. They'll do something like compare a TT to a Corvette and the conclusion is always something like "If you prefer horsepower the Corvette is for you, but if fit and finish is your thing you'd probably be happier with the TT". Well, DUH! Tell me something I don't know... Maybe state an opinion??