If the biggest car company has a massive safety issue, I wouldn't think that any of the others would need to run any sales.

As an aside, what I've heard about the Prius brake problems sounds a lot like something I had in my old '98 Chevy Cavilier.

@ Sam: I lol'd, heartily.

I think they should serve up some compensation for being incompetant

The people they kill don't. :(

All these problems were created during or ignored by Watanabe management. So we immediately ask a simple question. Does he have a driver's license? A question too often never asked because many auto executives are that destructive.

We know Toyoda took power. And then announced Toyota has major and serious problems. Announced long before these (and probably other problems) were known.

So who is Watanabe? Educated as an economist. Spent his entire carrer working in Toyota management - often in strategic planning. Did not work where the work gets done. As best I can tell, is not a car guy. Sounds so much like Rick Wagoner and Nardelli of Chrysler.

Long before Toyota's problems were known, Toyoda (in early 2009) said major problems exist. Watanabe's reign created the first Toyota not on Consumer Report recommended list - the full size Tundra. An entire production line (in San Antonio?) was manufactured with defective crankshafts (that snap). About $4000 of labor and parts to repair. That early 2007 'discovery' may have been one of the earliest indications that Toyota had serious management problems directly traceable to top management. A man who never worked where the work gets done.

how much of this is blown up hype? does the government's interest in GM and Chrysler have any influence on their treatment of Toyota?

On the contrary, it's the press that's been hyping this. They've also bitched the government hasn't hyped enough.

My gut tells me it's about 85% hype.

I'm with glatt.

Considering the number of Toyotas on the road, compared to the number that have experienced a problem, minus the number that just pushed the wrong pedal, the odds are pretty small of this happening to you.

BUT, having raised a couple of generations that don't know how to drive, haven't got a clue as to how a car actually works, and expect everything to be automatic so they don't have to make a decision, any problem becomes a big deal.

Do away with automatic transmissions, power steering, power brakes, and half the population couldn't get to the fucking supermarket. :rolleyes:

:eek: How old ARE you?!?!

The battery went dead in my key and it wouldn't unlock my car door when I hit the button. I actually panicked for a sec...

I'm 65... a generation is 20 years or less. A couple of generations would be like, born after 1970. :eyebrow:

I'm with Bruce. Keep me standard transmission, 4WD where you get out and lock in the hubs, windows that you roll down yourself, and ignition keys that don't talk to you. All the fancy shit now adays is just that much more to go wrong. And my fav song is still "Sugar Magnolia" - jumps like a Willy's in 4 WD!

I never really thought of generations moving along that quickly. Im thinking your generations procreated while on the youngish side.