The image of Toyota as a
manufacturer of high-quality
automobiles is in tatters.
Widespread publicity over
safety problems has caused it
to recall over 6 million vehicles
in the United States.
The heart of the recall is a
problem with runaway acceleration
occurring on a number of
different Toyota models, which
has been linked to a number of
accidents and fatalities.
Recent Associated Press
news releases detail the facts
behind Toyota’s woes.
Among the revelations is the
release of a July 2009 internal
Toyota memorandum bragging
about saving $100 million by
striking a deal with U.S. regulators
limiting the extent of a
prior floor mat recall.
Toyota was lambasted in
Congress last week over this
memo.
Toyota claims that the acceleration
problems are mainly
limited to a defect with the
floor mats that causes gas pedals
to become stuck. There are
questions about the efficacy of
the recall. Some outside
experts are questioning
whether the problem may lie
with the electronic components
of the fuel systems in Toyotas.
Even as it works on fixing its
vehicles, Toyota has been
working hard to restore its
image.
In its latest attempt, on Feb.
25, Toyota said it will provide
free at-home pickup of cars
involved in the recall and will
provide Toyota owners with
rental cars while
their vehicles are
being repaired.
Toyota President
Akio Toyoda told
Congress that same
day that new models
will be outfitted
with brake pedals
that will override
gas pedals. Only
time will tell how
successful Toyota’s
latest public relations
moves will be.
Centurion Reporter interviewed
Bucks students to see
how all the bad publicity had
affected their attitudes towards
Toyota automobiles.
Zachary Spencer is an eighteen-
year-old sports management
major from Pipersville.
He said: “Some of the company’s
problems have to do with
their lack of preparation and
detail to the cars.
Their little mistakes have
caused accidents that should
have been prevented. I would
prefer Ford’s over Toyotas.
To me they seem to be more
reliable, and they have been
around a lot longer, and you
can trust the company.”
Rich Collemacine, from
Quakertown is, twenty years
old, with no declared
major.”Toyotas are unreliable,
and I would not buy one even
if someone paid me to,”
Collemacine exclaimed. “I
would prefer a Chevy over a
Toyota because it’s an
American made car. It’s a big
company and you don’t have to
worry about any problems with
the car,” Collemacine added.
Craig Hagenbuch is a twenty
year old accounting major also
from Quakertown. “It’s
ridiculous how they’re having
so many problems.
You would think, with all the
technology, they would be able
to make a more reliable vehicle”
said Hagenbuch about
Toyota. “I would prefer Chevy
more than Toyota.
Their advertisements are very
good, and they seem very reliable,”
he said.
Doug Yohn, a nineteen year
old with an undecided
major from
C o o p e r s b u r g ,
noted,”It’s unusual.
I always thought
Toyotas were so
good.” Yohn also
said, “I would prefer
Chevy over Toyota
because my dad is a
Chevy mechanic,
and I just believe
Chevy’s are more
reliable.”
Ryan Benner,
eighteen year old liberal arts
major from Kintnersville. Said,
“They’re not American made
its ridiculous how they’re having
all these problems and
they’re supposed to be safe.”
When asked about his own
preferences, Benner said, “I
would prefer Chevy over
Toyota, because my dad has
been driving Chevys his whole
life and never experienced any
problems with them.”
The Dream Cars of Bucks
Automobile Enthusiasts
These students were also
asked about what car they
would buy if they could afford
it. “My dream car would have
to be a 1967 Shelby GT 500,
because I just love old cars”
says Benner. “My dream car
would have to be a Hummer
H2, because I always liked big
cars; bigger cars are just cooler
to drive,” said Spencer.
Collemacine has more
expensive tastes: “My dream
car would have to be a Ferrari,
because it’s a good looking car,
and they’re fast, and their value
lasts a lot longer.” Hagenbuch
would also buy a foreign car if
he could. “My dream car
would have to be a Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution, because
they’re beasts of cars, and
decently fast.”
“My dream car would have
to be a Chevy Camaro, they
just look awesome, and from
what I hear it sounds awesome”
said Yohn.
What a surprise, there is not a
Toyota or Lexus among them.
Only time will tell if Toyota
can fix itself, in addition to its
defective cars, and regain the
prestige that it once had.
Whatever happens, it will be
interesting to watch.