So...the TRD Aurion

[TonyJZX]

No!

Quality of manufacture is systemic. It matters not whether a car is being sold as a taxi or a "premium" model. The basic product quality is often the same.

you're looking at it different to the way we are

i freely admit that the build quality under the skin of a Typhoon is not different to a base Falcon XR.

however regardless of engineering the perception that Toyota want to make is that TRD = HSV = FPV

that's what they want the people to percieve

it's useless arguing about what the underlying engineering qualities are because that does not determine final pricing

[wiggah]

I must be the only one who doesn't notice any real difference from toyota's claimed superior engineering, fit and finish etc.

Every 50-100,000km old camry or corolla i've been in has an unbearable amount of squeaks and rattles from the interior compared to say, my 70,000km old BA (which I admit was not the best either).

[TonyJZX]

I must be the only one who doesn't notice any real difference from toyota's claimed superior engineering, fit and finish etc.

you and me both

every test i seen has mazda 6 or accord euro or even the sonata > camry by a long shot

esp. galling that a 2003 car like a euro owning what is essentially a brand new camry!

reliable - yes

but driving experience and initial design?

[wiggah]

subaru is getting there too... i was very impressed by the fit and finish of their recent offerings (i've owned two).

i've never thought to buy a toyota - mainly because of their bland local offerings. it staggered me that they were still able to sell the corolla in high volumes only a year ago. in 2006, a small car with 1 airbag, no power windows or mirrors for a little over $20k with no real discounts to speak of! i can understand the purchase from a resale POV though.. i've seen 3 year old ones at auction go here for $3k under new.

[Nero]

JD Power survey time? so what have been the results for the past 3 surveys?

[Captiva Fan]

every test i seen has mazda 6 or accord euro or even the sonata > camry by a long shot

Ah, but that's about driving qualities, not what's going to stick together longer. And the comparison was Toyota versus Holden & Ford & MrBishi; not Toyota Oz versus Japan-assembled Hondas. For the local makers, Toyota > MrBishi > air > Ford/Holden.

[MR-PUNANNY]

arnt all hondas now made in thailand?

[Nero]

I spoke to one of the engineers in charge of installing the robotic production lines and production systems. He said detail for production quality on chassis was Toyota > MMAL > Ford > Holden.

[BENN0]

So everybody talks about Toyota quality and how people that have worked for them say "its better".

But no one says why?

My theory is the ammount of "support" Toyota Aus have from Japan. Holden and Ford both have a severly under staffed design and engineering team. They produce a small volume of cars each year, and turn over the deisgn extremely quickly.
Toyota produce the corrola in how many factories around the world? The annual output each year is huge compared to the falcadore (so much cheaper component prices, assembly prices etc) Extra sets of eyes as far as continuous improvement, cost down activities, supplier development etc)

Even with all of the extra "advantage", I still dont beleive the quality of Toyota is miles ahead of the compettition. Maybe 10 years ago, but the quality of the others has improved a mile since then. I dont think Toyota has moved much in the same time frame.

[wiggah]

I would be interested to know what proportion of the general public actually keep a car long enough from new, to experience the awesome toyota reliability?

[one4spl]

I'll join the crowd and say of all the cars I've worked on (in my former life as an auto-electrician) Toyotas are by far the best to work on, the most logically designed* and tough as nails.

I bought my 2002 Barina sri to replace my 1990 Corolla 4wd on the basis that surely Holden/Opel would have come up to the same levels of quality in the 12 years that had passed. Not so. My Barina is perfectly reliable, from a 'starts every morning' perspective, but its full of rattles and squeaks, and is a total pain in the ass to work on.

I wish I could buy a current corolla 4wd wagon still trying to talk the boss into getting a 2002 Caldina.


* appart from the center dash lights in a current Camry/Aurion that are far too bright an can't be dimmed. retarded.

[one4spl]

I would be interested to know what proportion of the general public actually keep a car long enough from new, to experience the awesome toyota reliability?

Even if you don't benifit directly, the reputation ensures good resale.

[kabab]

So everybody talks about Toyota quality and how people that have worked for them say "its better".

But no one says why?

My theory is the ammount of "support" Toyota Aus have from Japan. Holden and Ford both have a severly under staffed design and engineering team. They produce a small volume of cars each year, and turn over the deisgn extremely quickly.

Its got a lot to do with how they have structured their engineering departments around the world..

They essentially bid work internally all around the world, after the winning bidder does they job they have to educate all the other departments on how they did the project so next time that job goes up for bid everyone is on an even playing field...

This basically drives continual improvement and refinement in processes.

Oh and Toyota is a kick ass place to work everyone wants to work for Toyota and they are very picky on who they hire, once people are hired by Toyota they are normally there for life..

Of course this is just some factors but you get the idea.

[Captiva Fan]

I would be interested to know what proportion of the general public actually keep a car long enough from new, to experience the awesome toyota reliability?

Put it this way; it's relatively rare for a Toyota to have a warranty-repair, yet it's relatively rare for a Falcon or Commodore not to have one.

[GAZ914]

I must be the only one who doesn't notice any real difference from toyota's claimed superior engineering, fit and finish etc.

Have you noticed that in every "what car should I buy for the missus..." thread, Toyotas are always in the fore-front of people's opinion for reliable, no frills transport.

The same rationale goes for non-enthusiasts who want a new car. It isn't rocket science to want the most reliable thing for your hard-earned.

Mazda, Honda, etc don't want to take on Toyota head-to-head, so their offerings are more "exciting" (Zoom Zoom & F1 technology) .

The plastics may be better in a Honda, but most people don't care too much as long as it starts in the morning and doesn't cost a bomb to service.

The Avalon was a "toe in the water" for Toyota and I believe they didn't think it was going to be that successful.

It paved the way for the Aurion, which they seemed to put much more effort into. The Aurion sales look to be OK, so far, so good.

Now they are doing the same thing but making "sporty" cars. This TRD Aurion may or may not be the ducks guts and sell like hotcakes, but I will bet that in 3 or 4 years they will be selling a decent quantity of different "sports" model Toyotas from the TRD factory.

cheers
Gaz