Toyota as a brand
 

I'm at the finishing stages of rehabilitating a '96 Land Crusier (J80) that sat for two years and gotta admit that I'm pretty impressed by how overbuilt, or at least well built, the truck is...I've replaced more stuff than I can remember and added bumpers and a winch.

Question is, my daughter is getting to the age where she will be needing a car, and I thought I'd start doing some research. I know nothing of the Toyota line, having never owned one before, but you can't argue with the Camry being the best selling car in the US for, like, ever...or can you?

I've read with interest the previous threads on "best car for a new driver" and didn't see Toyota as well represented as some others...buying used for sure.

Post Irma, I would be VERY cautious of shopping used. Might end up with something that had been soaking in salt water.

But yeah, I am very impressed with the build quality of the Camry we bought as Cindy's grocery getter. Exciting driver, it isn't, but the build quality is amazing. Dunno how they do it for such a low priced car.

125K on my 08 Camry Hybrid, Nothing has needed fixing. Nothing, it just runs and runs.

We kept our '99 Camry V6 as a winter car some time ago.....Now has 241,000 miles....Besides brakes and timing belts, I replaced Struts at 154,000....Only repair: $29 Ebay wiper motor....When I pulled the old one, it started working again, just a bad connection....That's it....Still drives better than a lot of brand new cars.....

Have just under 250,000 miles on my '02 Tundra. It'll be hard to find a replacement as functional and durable.

As an auto mechanic, and all around car guy, I personally believe Toyota to be the best built cars on the planet , bar none. I am amazed at how long they reliably run with minimal maintenance , and repairs .
I've got a 400k mile avalon that I service, quite a few 250 k mile tacomas, and seen many a camry/scion into the high 200's still running like a clock.

I bought a used 2005 Pontiac Vibe (Toyota Matrix) with about 70K on it and drove it for about 60 K in 5 years with just maintenance. I gave it to my son last year when he moved to Missouri. It's still trouble free. It was recalled for Tekata airbags.

While it was dependable it was not much fun to drive.

A couple of friends with Avalons have had engine/emissions issues. I don't remember exactly what off the top of my head.

When my wife wanted a new car 4 years ago we drove the Camry and Carolla. She didn't like them. (She got a Subaru).

Toyota and Honda are both at the top of the heap. If wanting the best of the two...Honda is the
one you need.

my 2006 tacoma is cursedly good. i want a new truck..and my wife wholeheartedly agree that i should buy a new truck WHEN MINE DIES!! i cant see that happen anytime soon.

im gonna do the full differential and transfer case oil changes this weekend. get it ready for a whirlwind roadtrip. drive to Lubbuck to blast some Sand-hill crane..back to NM for deer, quail, rabbit..

it is super reliable.

I firmly believe that from about 1990 to 2005, Toyota was building the highest quality vehicles on earth. I would take, for instance, a 2005 4Runner over a 2015 because I find them to be superior in every way. Today they build excellent, dead reliable vehicles. But so do a lot of companies. They are still great, but no longer superior, to the competition.

Toyota's are really good, but they know it and are priced accordingly.

They are better but it is debatable if they are worth the extra cost.

For 'zample: a Toyota highlander is a very good mid-size SUV. But it can cost several thousand more than a comparable Kia.
Is it still worth it when factoring in the extra cost?
To some yes, but not to all.

I've owned 3 toyotas and all were pretty much bullet-proof.
But my next vehicle will prolly be a ford edge.
that's because IMO the comparable Toyota is too far over-priced.

Well built for sure. I have always had one in my driveway since I was old enough to drive.

I never understood why people say Toyotas are boring but not pick up trucks? Give me a boring Camry, I will take you on an exciting drive. Buy an old Supra or MR2, they are exciting as heck

New Toyotas are not the same as your 96 80 Series.

My wife drives a 97 Lexus LX450 (same as your 80 series) and the build quality is far better than my American built 2011 Tundra that I bought new.

Yup, the newer American built Toyotas are still pretty good but I dont think they are a whole bunch better than the equivalent American built GM or Fords.

Beside Porsches, i have always owned ans still do, Toyotas, i owne BJ46 for 84 and a Prado, Lexus 450 equvalent, with 320 K Kms.

I would buy a used Lexus 450, they are great and made in Japan, ol school.

But to be honest most Toyotas run for ever, besides regular maintanance.

I have a 2015 Tundra. I had a 2005 Tundra a few years back. Prior to that purchase and between these 2 I have had all GMC trucks. The 2005 Tundra was very good. My 15 is good, but at 52K the front brake pads need to be replaced as well as the warped front rotors. The build quality and performance is good but there is a difference in the 05 to the 15. However on the interior components, finish and durability, I find that my past GMC interiors held up better that the 15 is doing so far.

More so on the used market. In some cases like a 4Runner or Tacoma it makes sense to buy new over used.

On the older stuff it isn't uncommon to see Toyotas priced nearly double what you would pay for something comparable from Nissan.

My wife had an '02 Camry for ten years, & we sold it with 125K on it. Never did anything but routine maintenance. The only slight negative was that it was a 4 cylinder and would have to gear down coming up the hill to our house. Now she has an Altima coupe with the 3.5L six in it which is better at pulling hills. Next car, I'm going to try to talk her into another Camry or small SUV, because she needs more cargo room. I agree most makes are built well enough to last quite a while.

I know many Toyota Camrys that have logged hundreds of thousand of miles with little trouble. My wife and I had an 88 Camry, and loved it.

I currently drive 4 different work vehicles in my daily travels and I prefer them as follows;

-2016 Subaru Outback...very easy to operate, lots of interior cargo space.
-2016 Toyota Camry.....largest trunk of any sedan, smooth seamless power, and quiet.
-2016 Nissan Altima....quickest by far, nice sound
-2016 Honda Accord...very gadgety, hard to operate controls, back up camera comes on evry time the right turn signal is used which is distracting.....annoying LDW.

100k mi on my Sienna last month. I guess that's not much these days. And to be fair, it just means they have fewer problems per 100 vehicles compared to other makes. But if you get a lemon, you will swear it off like any other.

Now, I did drive a 1980 Corolla for a while, a 1990 Corolla for longer, a 1995 Corolla, a 1993 Corona. Only the 1990 Corolla needed a rebuild or replacement engine after 150Tkms, all the rest got to 200Tkm with regular maintenance. I also did get an 06 Camry which I traded in after 70k solid miles.

Now the 95 Corolla, 93 Corona, and 06 Camry started leaking power steering fluid on their 5th year. Seems to be a common problem. But my '11 Sienna is still ok...

How about those toyota FJ's?

Some of those cost almost as much as when they were new.