Toyota October 2009 Sales Down 3.5%

[Oldeye03]

The guys and gals on ToyotaNation (a Toyota forum I was once a member of) are quite a bit harder on GM than we are around here on Toyota.

Thats total BS!!

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=319095

[Hunid Racks]

Originally Posted by ShefZ28

This puts a whole new spin on moving forward...

"Toyota: Moving Forward even when you don't want to."

Toyota is admitting that the floormats are not the cause of the acceleration problem.

But the scary part is, they still don't know the cause of the problem.

Even worse, even if they did know, they won't tell us. This is so like the sludge problem it's hilarious. And yet the idiots that have fallen for the Toyota BS still don't have the courage to admit they are getting lied to by these criminals. Toyota would rather see people get killed by their cars than admit they screwed up. Sooner or later some court room is going to take them down.

[TORRED1]

Originally Posted by Hunid Racks

Toyota is admitting that the floormats are not the cause of the acceleration problem.

But the scary part is, they still don't know the cause of the problem.

Even worse, even if they did know, they won't tell us. This is so like the sludge problem it's hilarious. And yet the idiots that have fallen for the Toyota BS still don't have the courage to admit they are getting lied to by these criminals. Toyota would rather see people get killed by their cars than admit they screwed up. Sooner or later some court room is going to take them down.

I've had acceleration problems with my GTO, It just happens suddenly, one time it even got up to 130mph, thankfully though I never felt unsafe and in each case I was able to slow down buy just easing of the accelerator.

[96RIV]

Originally Posted by Oldeye03

Thats total BS!!

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=319095

yeah right, they are mean. and i've only read the first page, kind of afraid to continue. Well the second page wasn't so bad, but still, i understand the fact that we can be pretty hard on them, but sometimes its needed, and sometimes not.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by Hunid Racks

Toyota is admitting that the floormats are not the cause of the acceleration problem.

But the scary part is, they still don't know the cause of the problem.

Even worse, even if they did know, they won't tell us. This is so like the sludge problem it's hilarious. And yet the idiots that have fallen for the Toyota BS still don't have the courage to admit they are getting lied to by these criminals. Toyota would rather see people get killed by their cars than admit they screwed up. Sooner or later some court room is going to take them down.

Only your 2nd sentence is accurate. In fact other than the All Weather mats being the problem no one, not Toyota, not the NHTSA, not any of the various crash investigators, not any of the alleged owners knows if anything is 'wrong'.

What can be done though is...

• stop selling the All Weather Mats....already done
• advise those who wish to do so to remove the carpetted mats....already done
• install a redundant security measure on those mats where an owner wants it installed...up to the various owners
• investigate a software update to make the brake and gas pedals 'Smart Pedals'...this I believe is what the NHTSA wants done.

The latter is a great addition IMO. When done it will be used as a sales tool. What other makers outside of Germany have installed these 'Smart Pedals'? Answer, none except Toyota....followed then by a rush of other makers to follow suit.

[vanshmack]

Originally Posted by Slideways

Wow, same here

I've got to disagree. I think the Sequoia is the better looking of the two (no real compliment) and the Sequoia also isn't dragging Toyota's greatest product ever, the FJ40, through the mud with horrible looks, and an even worse driving (and riding) experience. The visibility is the worst for both driver and rear seat passengers. That thing is nothing short of blasphemy.
Put it this way, a 1st-gen Sequoia (Expedition rip-off) next to a current Sequoia makes the new one look bad, but an FJ40 (Jeep rip-off) next to an FJ Cruiser makes the old one look like a Harley Earl masterpiece.

Sorry we had to disagree on the ugliest current Toyota product, I seem to agree with you most of the time.

Let us find common ground!

I can speak to the driving experience of the FJ. I once listened to an FJ owner spend 15 minutes complaining to a buddy of his about why his car sucks: Weak performance, but drinks premium, bad blind spots, lots of time at the dealer getting stuff fixed, uncomfotable seats, and he even hated the sun visors, as they're not big enough to when turned to the side windows. Based on that, I will agree that it sucks. I was speaking only of external appearance.

My knock against the Sequoia is mainly against the newer, 2nd-gen model. The first generation was an Expedition rip-off not offensive to look at, so we agree there.

I just think the current model Sequoia looks like amorphous blob.

[ryannel2003]

Originally Posted by Oldeye03

Thats total BS!!

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=319095

I haven't been on that site since June '08, but when I was they were extremely rude and disrespectful against GM. If it had a GM badge or was even associated with General Motors, it sucked.

[jtrav91]

Originally Posted by 84Cressida

I wasn't cheering at all, especially for a 3% loss. But I think it's hilarious how Toyota gets laughed at for having a bad month (in a bad economy, no less), when GM is no better and was almost to the brink of extinction. And just as you have a right to cheer GM on, poeple have a right to cheer Toyota on if they chose to do so.

Times are tough. That makes anyone doing better a target for feel-good mocking. Bring up the topic of hybrid sales and watch what happens.

[cbennie2]

Originally Posted by vanshmack

Let us find common ground!

I can speak to the driving experience of the FJ. I once listened to an FJ owner spend 15 minutes complaining to a buddy of his about why his car sucks: Weak performance, but drinks premium, bad blind spots, lots of time at the dealer getting stuff fixed, uncomfotable seats, and he even hated the sun visors, as they're not big enough to when turned to the side windows. Based on that, I will agree that it sucks. I was speaking only of external appearance.

My knock against the Sequoia is mainly against the newer, 2nd-gen model. The first generation was an Expedition rip-off not offensive to look at, so we agree there.

I just think the current model Sequoia looks like amorphous blob.

My friend has a FJ Cruiser....he likes it, but I didn't find it that comfortable to ride in. It has a large build and you sit very far back from the windshield. It also looked to me to be very hard to use the center controls since there placement looks very far from the driver (not sure if he has wheel mounted controls or not). After driving in one, I would not be pining to purchase one though!

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

Only your 2nd sentence is accurate. In fact other than the All Weather mats being the problem no one, not Toyota, not the NHTSA, not any of the various crash investigators, not any of the alleged owners knows if anything is 'wrong'.

What can be done though is...

• stop selling the All Weather Mats....already done
• advise those who wish to do so to remove the carpetted mats....already done
• install a redundant security measure on those mats where an owner wants it installed...up to the various owners
• investigate a software update to make the brake and gas pedals 'Smart Pedals'...this I believe is what the NHTSA wants done.

Nope - but you know that don't you.

Safety Officials: Runaway Toyota Matter 'Is Not Closed'
Removing Floor Mats "Not a Remedy for Underlying Defect"


By JOSEPH RHEE and BRIAN ROSS

Nov. 3, 2009—

Calling into question Toyota's claims that it had solved the problem of its runaway cars, federal safety officials said today that the recall of 3.8 million floor mats "is simply an interim measure, not a remedy of the underlying defects in the vehicles."

ABC News reported Tuesday that some Toyota owners were in rebellion and said the floor mats did not explain what caused their cars to suddenly surge up to 100 miles per hour.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF THE RUNAWAY TOYOTAS STORY.

In a statement this afternoon, the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Safety Administration said, "This matter is not closed until Toyota has effectively addressed the vehicle defect by providing a suitable remedy."

The statement did not specify the nature of the "vehicle defect."

In the last 10 years, more than 2,000 Toyota owners have reported their cars surged out of control at high speeds, according to safety analyst Sean Kane.

There have been more than two hundred serious injuries and at least 16 deaths, Kane said, based on his analysis of complaints to the federal government, police reports and lawsuits against Toyota.

In the statement today, federal highway safety officials urged consumers to remove suspect floor mats as recommended by Toyota.

It said officials were discussing with Toyota "what the appropriate vehicle remedy or remedies will be."

In earlier statements, highway safety officials said its investigations of Toyota cars had failed to find any defect in the vehicle computer systems that control acceleration.

Some owners, in lawsuits, have alleged a computer glitch in the Toyota computer is to blame for unintended acceleration.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Ru...ory?id=8987811

Its not just about floormats and its not just about what directly - causes the unintended acceleration.

Its about much more.

___________________

November 3, 2009, 3:48 pm

Toyota Acceleration Problem Is Still Unresolved

By Christopher Jensen



Toyota said on Tuesday that a press release it issued on Monday was not intended to give the impression that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had cleared 3.8 million of its vehicles of having an unintended acceleration defect.

Indeed, the federal agency said it was still investigating the exact cause of the acceleration problem.

Toyota and the safety administration issued a warning in September to the owners of the Toyota and Lexus vehicles to remove the driver-side floor mat because it could jam the accelerator pedal.

The warning was issued after the problem led to the death in August in California of four people in a Lexus. The company said in Monday’s release that it would send letters to vehicle owners warning that an unsecured floor mat could jam the accelerator.

But the release went further, implying that, apart from the floor mats, the agency found no other problem. Toyota wrote:

“The letter, in compliance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and reviewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (N.H.T.S.A.) also confirms that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured.”

The wording is subtle, but it could give the impression that the safety agency had found no safety defect beyond errant floor mats.

Some news articles certainly interpreted the release that way and reported that the mats were the only problem.

But Karen Aldana, a spokeswoman for N.H.T.S.A., said the agency was still exploring other issues, including the design of the gas pedal and the vehicle’s floor pan.

“It goes beyond the floor mats,” Ms. Aldana said. < x100 >

Toyota’s release comes as ABC’s “World News with Charles Gibson” and “Nightline” were preparing to air an investigation tonight into the acceleration problem, including owners who insist that floor mats were not the problem. (Here’s an ABC/Consumer Reports video on what to do if your car experiences unintended acceleration.)

John Hanson, a Toyota spokesman, said the company thought it was clear in the release that it was quoting its own letter to owners and not the safety agency.

“We are not saying that N.H.T.S.A. says there is no defect other than this,” he said.

Mr. Hanson said that letter to owners was approved by the agency, < Fire and investigate the parties involved - immediately > which Ms. Aldana confirmed, including a line that says: “Toyota has determined that this defect does not exist in vehicles in which the driver side floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured.”

So, the automaker felt it was O.K. to use that information in a press release posted on its Web, he said.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t be misleading,” Mr. Hanson said. “It is a very complicated situation.”

Yes, it is complex. The bottom line of all this confusion is this: Unsecured floor mats can jam the accelerator, and consumers have to make sure the mats are placed correctly.

But there may also be further problems with the vehicles, and the N.H.T.S.A. is still investigating.

So stay tuned for more announcements and hopefully clearer wording from both parties.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009...ll-unresolved/

[vcs2600]

Originally Posted by AMERICA 123

Nope - but you know that don't you.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Ru...ory?id=8987811

Its not just about floormats and its not just about what directly - causes the unintended acceleration.

Its about much more.

___________________

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009...ll-unresolved/

America 123 - you've been posting about Toyota's acceleration issues for some time now, and the government is finally coming around. You deserve proper respect for sniffing this one out.

[plane]

Originally Posted by vcs2600

America 123 - you've been posting about Toyota's acceleration issues for some time now, and the government is finally coming around. You deserve proper respect for sniffing this one out.

+1 on that. kudos to America 123 - It wasn't a popular stance but ultimately the correct and honorable one.

[AMERICA 123]

That's nice of the two of you to notice.

Amazingly enough........ well, we will talk later.

I want to see what CHPS and the SDSD comes up with - and a few things like that.

Mr. plane, I have sorely missed your presence - remember, I 'saw' you fighting the good fight - extremely well I might add - with unparalleled elan and humor - so.... that's a big part of why I came out of 'lurk' - that's right, you can all blame plane - at least a little.

Anyway, have you been busy - perhaps writing I so innocently ask ?

I ask because I just caught this piece concerning a possible new Prius and well......it reminds me of one of yours that had me laughing so hard I dropped the lap top........ and more

New Prius model runs on owner's self-righteousness

Tuesday, 03 November 2009 21:17

Toyota has unveiled a new Prius model that looks set to revolutionize the car industry, powering the sustainable cars with the self-righteousness of their owners.

The prototype, nicknamed the Toyota Pious, uses a unique hybrid engine that allows the car to go on and on whenever the driver does.

091104pious400
This Pious concept car is fuelled by conversations about travelling in India

Engineer Sayuki Yashima was inspired to create the car after seeing the glowing self-satisfaction of a Prius driver as a passenger.

"It was clear to me that the smugness coming from the driver's seat was a powerful, renewable resource," the scientist said,

"And it occurred to me that if I could channel that pomposity away from conversations about ethical investing and fair trade coffee and into the engine, it could stop driving people up the wall and start driving them down the road."

Working with the sanctimonious was fraught with risks.

VW nearly beat the team to market with a New Beetle powered by insufferable graphic designers. But Toyota is proud of its results.

"It's quite ingenious," says urbanite brand manager Miles Kwang, his very words flooding the vehicle with kilowatts.

"Listen to that - it's whisper quiet" he added, generating 4km worth of pretension.

"Such is the car's efficiency that even explaining the wanky little diagram of the engine can power a trip to a grower's market."

More alternative fuel sources for the Pious are still being explored.

"We're trialling things like switching on Radio National to improve mileage," says Yashima.

"And theoretically, the car could make it from Sydney to Darwin on half a tank of petrol if it was driven by Al Gore.

Maybe even further if he was visiting an eco-lodge."

Toyota at first thought the engine might create something close to perpetual motion, with the very act of tooling around in such a hateful piece of inner-city gadgetry creating limitless self-righteousness.

But Yashima says that his engineers have been unable to completely insulate the Pious drivers from any self-awareness.

"We haven't yet figured out how to stop the driver feeling hypocritical because the rest of their trendy existence is entirely environmentally unsustainable," he said.

Researchers are now working on technology that will harness the mockery of other drivers.

This article is from The Chaser Annual 2009. You can order an autographed copy here.

http://www.chaser.com.au/news-mainme...=default&page=

[vanshmack]

Originally Posted by AMERICA 123

That's nice of the two of you to notice.

Amazingly enough........ well, we will talk later.

I want to see what CHPS and the SDSD comes up with - and a few things like that.

Mr. plane, I have sorely missed your presence - remember, I 'saw' you fighting the good fight - extremely well I might add - with unparalleled elan and humor - so.... that's a big part of why I came out of 'lurk' - that's right, you can all blame plane - at least a little.

Anyway, have you been busy - perhaps writing I so innocently ask ?

I ask because I just caught this piece concerning a possible new Prius and well......it reminds me of one of yours that had me laughing so hard I dropped the lap top........ and more




http://www.chaser.com.au/news-mainme...=default&page=

Wow...That could have been written by Plane!

If that guy ever writes a book, I'll be first in line to buy it!

[PhishPhood]

For those interested, the FJ is dead. It's made in Japan and imports from Japan are being severely curtailed with one exception due to currency issues.

In addition the new Gen 5 4Runner is moving to the Prado/FJ platform which makes the FJ redundant and unnecessary.