New vehicles are crap and private equity groups are the reason

J

JPmedia

Getting comfortable
Sep 11, 2024
534
373
Florida
I've always been a loyal Toyota buyer, and we have purchased 15 new vehicles since 2007 (one of my vises). They've always been reliable and well made. But since 2020, they have not been made the same. There are a lot of little things that aren't the usual Toyota quality, and my new 2024 Tacoma had a major malfunction at 600 miles which put it in the dealer for over a month. I'm also not happy about the loss of a normally aspirated V-6 for a turbo 4 that is being used it seems in every model now. I understand consolidating to cut costs, but a truck is no place for a 2.4-liter turbo engine - it's too heavy and you're asking a lot from it. I have a feeling you're going to see longevity issues with the drivetrain in these trucks on a more frequent basis. And it's not just Toyota, it seems its many of the automakers. These vehicles are designed and built to fail

So why would any company willingly produce a shit product? Greed-sure, but run it into the ground and destroy your customer base? There's no future in that, I would think - yes? So, I did a little digging. You know what they say, follow the money, right? Well, I looked up the major shareholders of Toyota, GM and Ford - guess what (or who) they all have in common? Vanguard, State Street, BlackRock and sometimes JP Morgan/Chase are some of the largest stockholders of all three. And if they pool their shares, they have the majority vote - which at that point, they make the decisions for the company.

Now the question is, who owns these private equity firms (who use OUR funds) and what is their agenda?
 
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It’s the same in many industries.

You’re seeing the final stages of greed before the inevitable implosion. Squeeze every last drop out before the crash. No thought about the future of the business, or any esoteric ideas about how it may provide for the workers and families, or any greater societal good. Take what can be taken right now before someone else does.

That and complete Control. Ultimate power. It corrupts everyone who chases it.

We’re in the final stages before a historical crash that could well make 1929 look like a mild recession
 
JPmedia said:
I've always been a loyal Toyota buyer, and we have purchased 15 new vehicles since 2007 (one of my vises). They've always been reliable and well made. But since 2020, they have not been made the same. There are a lot of little things that aren't the usual Toyota quality, and my new 2024 Tacoma had a major malfunction at 600 miles which put it in the dealer for over a month. I'm also not happy about the loss of a normally aspirated V-6 for a turbo 4 that is being used it seems in every model now. I understand consolidating to cut costs, but a truck is no place for a 2.4-liter turbo engine - it's too heavy and you're asking a lot from it. I have a feeling you're going to see longevity issues with the drivetrain in these trucks on a more frequent basis. And it's not just Toyota, it seems its many of the automakers. These vehicles are designed and built to fail

So why would any company willingly produce a shit product? Greed-sure, but run it into the ground and destroy your customer base? There's no future in that, I would think - yes? So, I did a little digging. You know what they say, follow the money, right? Well, I looked up the major shareholders of Toyota, GM and Ford - guess what (or who) they all have in common? Vanguard, State Street, BlackRock and sometimes JP Morgan/Chase are some of the largest stockholders of all three. And if they pool their shares, they have the majority vote - which at that point, they make the decisions for the company.

Now the question is, who owns these private equity firms (who use OUR funds) and what is their agenda?
Click to expand...
Money.
That is exactly the reason the all moved to CVT transmissions. They are dirt cheap to produce, and they don't care if they fail. They will pick up an extra $600 or $700 profit per vehicle, and have no F's to give about the hit to their reliability and longevity ratings. They would rather have their money in advance, and dismiss the unreliable product complaints as disgruntled customers outside of warranty.

btw-- MAZDA is the only company that does not use ANY CVT TRANSMISSIONS in their vehicles. That is what I will look at for my teenage daughters when they break their "starter" junk cars.
 
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We’re moving to throw away cars. Like just about every other product.

That’s what I used to call those little death trap “smart cars

IMG_8795.png
 
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bigredfish said:
It’s the same in many industries.

You’re seeing the final stages of greed before the inevitable implosion. Squeeze every last drop out before the crash. No thought about the future of the business, or any esoteric ideas about how it may provide for the workers and families, or any greater societal good. Take what can be taken right now before someone else does.

That and complete Control. Ultimate power. It corrupts everyone who chases it.

We’re in the final stages before a historical crash that could well make 1929 look like a mild recession
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, us common folk are the ones to suffer and will, as usual, bear the brunt of their robber baron actions. Politicians and others are just mere pawns in the game of Chess-Winner-take-all-attitude
 
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bigredfish said:
We’re moving to throw away cars. Like just about every other product.

That’s what I used to call those little death trap “smart cars

View attachment 220053
Click to expand...
And you can't even return to buying used reliable vehicles, because the supply of well-made parts for them is a thing of the past. If you can find original OEM parts you'll pay through the nose and if you opt for parts most can afford, you get cheap Chinese copies, which don't last
 
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My newest car is a 2019 subaru. Mechanically it is being a very good platform, and the CVT at least so far, works well. What's crap about it is the electronics, both in design and bugginess. The GPS is the worst I've had, with even the ~$159 garmin being better. Can't use the GPS without the radio turning on. Radio unmutes when car is started. Display often says "shut off engine" when it's not running. Seat belt chime nags when car is stopped, and even in park sometimes. Cruise control on/off turns off every time engine is stopped. Can't turn down radio volume when in reverse. I could go on and on. I'm almost constantly fighting with the electronics. Our older and simple little Honda Fit is so much easier to deal with.
 
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I have to say my last two vehicles, 2007 Toyota FJ and 2014 FJ, have been the most reliable trouble free vehicles I’ve ever owned.
Plan to keep the 2014 until either it or I am buried

Special mention for my wife’s 2017 Jeep. One problem in 8 years was a backup camera quit working about 2 years ago… I need to look into that :rolleyes:
 
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My son has worked at the toyota plant here in indiana for roughly 14 yrs. He won't touch a toyota, he drives a Honda, and F150. ;)
He's always said, the problem with toyota's manufactured here is that when everything got up and running, the Japanese went back home and left things in the hands of the Americans, things went south.

They are now making Lexus at this plant, one car is a lexus on the line, the next is a Toyota. They both use the exact same parts. :banghead:

My daughter used to work there as well, she was QC, she would tag stuff as defective, and the area manager would come by and take the tag off, and tell her "its Ok."
One of the reasons' she quit 10 yrs ago.
 
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I guess I got a Monday model?

Actually I need to research, I think maybe my beloved FJ was made overseas and shipped here? Not certain

I know they quit sending them after 2014 because they couldn’t make the new emissions numbers..
 
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bigredfish said:
Yup, Made in Japan 02/14
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Unfortunately, it doesn't mean much lately. They redesigned the 4runner (now 5th gen) and it's still made in Japan, but it shares the same issues as the new 4th gen Tacoma with the same drivetrain, frame and body components. It's pure crap. I would never buy another new Tacoma. If anything, I will purchase a good condition used 2nd gen Tacoma. No more new shit for me. I would do it now, but the resale on the 2024 is horrible. Mine has 3000 miles on it and I can't get an offer over $40K. I paid $54K for it. I'm not taking the loss
 
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my 2014 still runs good, no troubles (except my key fob battery must be dead ) :(

I paid right at $40k for it and have been offered $35k in the past 6 months. only 80,000 miles though
 
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If you want a good truck.
You need to buy one that was made before covid jab.

I brought a new F150 xlt in 2015.
It now has 60000 miles. And it is still worth a good penny today.
People are getting high miles up to 200000.
The newer F150 have engine issues. (valves)
 
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I am a Toyota fan to have been since the 80s. The new Toyota's are a joke and will not last as long as the previous models mainly the trucks so far as they all now have turbo garbage in them. It is well know that a turbo adds stress to the engine not to mention the average life span of a turbo on a gas engine is 150,000 miles yes there will be some that go much further than that and some less also the new Tundra has two of them adding yet another cost down the road that was not there before hand. If it even makes it that far look at all the recalls. All to save a few MPG. It's a truck it will never get good MPG....or just blame the EPA. I bet Toyota saves money producing these smaller engines maybe it's planned obsolescence but I like to get 300,000 miles out of my stuff and if i have to pay tons of money to get there i will never buy that brand again. aka Jeep.

People like to defend turbos and point out how long they last in a semi truck or a small car, they seem to forget that the semi truck is a diesel that is much better made for a turbo and the engine is much larger and a little car is not towing a trailer like a truck would. Trucks with little turbo engines will never last. I have still been buying Toyotas just the earlier years before they went downhill.

I keep my cars/trucks

My corolla has 275,000 miles on it zero repair bills.
My 1998 Tacoma 210,000 miles zero repair bills.

I just bought a 2020 V8 Tundra and a 2023 4Runner with a V6 and kept my corolla and Tacoma, i don't get why people buy these new Toyotas just upgrade the electronics in the old models yourself if you want more tech.

When i say zero repair bills i mean with things breaking down, obviously oil, tires, brakes, belts fluids, tries have been replaced many times.
 
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