nc211

Given the increased sales activity of Toyota, I'd have to say people's perception of Toyota in general is pretty good, and view this stuff as a unique opportunity to buy one at a discount. I think that says a lot about the public's overall perception of Toyota's committment to their customers and to fix their wrong-doings. Unlike others in the past, who promised to fix the problems, only to create others, or simply bandaid the problem just long enough for the warranty to expire. Do you watch Top Gear on BBC? They just tested a new Vette, and it was actually falling apart during the test. Pieces of the cabin coming off, etc. I do agree with batgirl though about the dealerships of late. The arrogance asosciated with them is getting pretty bad. Me personally? Honestly speaking, I'm finding harder and harder to justify the added expense of Lexus over just a normal Toyota. I'm felling the same way about Acura / Honda, and Infiniti / Nissan. I think the lines are getting too blurred between the normal badge and the upscale badge, but I'm not a badge-concious person. I'm more focus on what it does, not what it says. My thinking process is turning more towards those who offer thier top models under the same identity, like the Germans do.

I don't know how they're losing customers, when their sales are up big time, as reported on Bloomberg a couple of weeks ago for March. I would be curious to see a CR on a minivan that slides sideways like that as well and hits a curb too. I don't think there is an SUV out there that doesn't risk a roll over scenario if one of the tires comes off the rim and the rim digs into the pavement and acts like a pivot point. As Tim pointed out above, the GX didn't roll in it's skid. I'd like to see one of these new Jeep Commandos do that trick and not roll. Heck, I hit a curb in my 1987 VW GTI when I was a kid going about 45 mph hotdogin' it and nearly rolled it too. Again, another well deserved butt-kickin' from my dad. :whistles:

sounds like a fan belt starting to slip. Easy and cheap fix.

well, you know what this means don't you? Toyota sales will INCREASE, as they did some 30%+ last month. Simply stated: Folks haven't forgotten about Toyota's legendary track record of dependability, don't really care about the "cover up", and see this as a good time to get a good deal on a new Toyota. Seriously, how many folks out there who are stuck with a GM vehicle they hate wouldn't take this opportunity to ditch the Lumina for a Camry at bargain prices. Especially when they know Toyota will fix their car if it has any problems, quickly. I've got an 05' 4runner, and I can tell you first hand that I would not want to be in that car if I had to take emergency manuvers. Even with AWD and the best tires for the car, new Michelins, I still get nervous driving freeway speeds in the rain in that car. The last thing I'd want to experience is a hydroplane in our 4runner, and sadly, I have a little already. Talk about a "puckering" feeling! The GX certainly appears to be taller. In fact, I think I read somewhere the GX in question here is aoubt 3 inches taller than the new 4runner. And, for reasons I can't figure out, they have airbag suspensions in the back. No way I'd even consider the remote possibility of one of my struts "popping" on an SUV. CR also said the same thing about the Mitsubishi Montero several years ago. Mitsubishi did nothing about it, and still sell them over seas under a different model name. I think Dens knows what they're called now. At the end of the day though, anyone who thinks the "S" in SUV means sports driving, shouldn't be behind the wheel of one in general. They're haulers, through thick and thin. Put 12 inch spacers on the wheels, and they'd still flip over if asked to perform certain manuvers that a normal sedan can do. I've been in one that did roll, in high school "92' Blazer LT 4door". Kid had an Iroc previously. Riding in the back seat, alone, no seat belt, sitting in the middle holding both 'oh sh&t handles. Going 60 mph down a dirt hill into a mud puddle. Kid made it slide sideways in the mud, front right tire hit the dry dirt, came off the rim which acted like a pivot point, and the whole damn thing went up into the air and slamed on all sides. When we came to a rest after a full roll, my legs were sticking out of the back door window. Lucky as hell I wasn't paralized or worse. But that doesn't compare to the beating I took from my dad that night when he found out how stupid I had been to allow myself to be in that kind of situation to begin with. That old man, simply, kicked my !Removed!!!

All fixed. I had IT upgrade to IE 8. No problems so far.

On some threads, on my office computer "which is running an older version of Explorer, as I've seen the warnings from youtube and such", the website freezes up and crashes the internet explorer. What I can see that is happening in the status bar on the bottom of the page, is that the site is trying to load something, but never does, and it just freezes up. I can see the following: "googleads2.g.doublclick.net/pagead/ads?client=" followed by a bunch of numbers. Is it me? My internet explorer too old now? Thanks! PS: It seems to be happening on my threads the most, when I go back in to check them. It's been this way for a couple of weeks now...

well...actually....BMW is in the hunt again. I've got my heart set on a 06-07 5 series wagon "530 xi" instead. You know, funny things about BMW - you read all of these horrible things about them. But, when you actually talk to an owner about their's, they have nothing but love and positive comments about them, much like Lexus fans. In fact, I was at the repair shop yesterday having my busted e-brake fixed, and a guy with a 06 530xi wagon with 70k on the clock was having new pads put on. I asked him about it, said it was the best car he has ever owned, has 2 in his house "X5 too", and loves them both. Said he hasn't had a single problem with his, and his kids beat the snot out of it. He let me sit in it....oh brother, are those some super sexy and nice interiors! I love the dash with the idrive screens. So, I think we'll keep the 4runner, and replace the GS with a 5 series wagon "with the certified 100k warranty just in case". New problem in my car....when in reverse, if I don't have my foot on the brakes when i disengage into neutral, I get a horrible slamming noise underneath with a strong buckling through the system. Only in reverse though. Don't care enough to spend the money to fix it. Already has new trans mount and motor mounts. Not going to touch the differential on this car. I get the feeling someone did a few neutral drops back in the day.

[quote name='ArmyofOne' date='05 April 2010 - 06: We may end up driving a 17' Uhaul with a car trailer on the back. If we do that, we will be coming through chicago...any chance of a home cooked meal NC? I dont want to invite myself, but ya never know if you dont ask! Josh, I would more than welcome you guys into our home for a home cooked meal. However, the only "home cooked" anything that occurs in our house, is the diaper gennie, if you catch my drift "which, trust me, you don't want any of that drift!" However, I would me more than proud to buy a friend, and one of this country's finest, and his wife, a nice meal of anywhere of your choosing! No arguments on who's paying, this one is on me. But, let give you a little heads up first....AVOID Chicago proper! Since the DOT didn't do a thing last summer, they're all out in force this year and have the highways under construction like you can't believe. I think it's best summed up by a guy in my office who commutes from downtown out to the western burbs where our office is: "290 and 355 make Southern Manhattan look like Charlotte Motor Speedway". Don't bring that Uhaul through here, if you can avoid it. Try to route along the southern edges of town. Take a look at your map and let me know what route you're thinking, and when you're thinking of being through these here yankee parts! Oh, and don't forget the Garmin!!!

Oh Mr. President.....you're flirting with disaster if you don't put on that cape and start doing your magical powers.... oil is heading towards $90 on a "jobs" report that basically says "we've lost the fewest so far", not "we've gained any". Let us not forget the "my small business boost money is sitting in my gas tank" effect on the economy that was one of the nails in the coffin last year. Oil is THE element that could turn this slow recovery of a "U" shaped recession, into a double dip "W" in a hurry. Remember, WE are the economy. OUR wallets drive this thing. With taxes and other things destine to start heading up. $4 gas is the last thing we need. He better get in this fight, or it'll be the #1 item his opponents will go after in a few months.

Well check out Mr. Trump over here! 25 years old with 6 figures sitting in the bank! I'd have to say, you're way ahead of the curve now!! If I may make just one more suggestion on the house thing....find one you would want to buy, but ask to rent it instead for about a year, then decide if you really want to buy it. That's what we did here in Chicago, and I can't tell you how happy I am for doing that! Army, you're a military guy, which means you're probably going to be issued similiar orders to move again over the next 5 years or so. Home values, although showing signs of life again, are still either falling, or flat and on shaky ground. Just over the past 12 months where I live, values have fallen yet another $30k. It's so bad, tax assessors can't justify anything BUT to lower the taxable values of people's homes here, something you don't see in good times, or even marginal times, just bad times. If you KNOW you're going to be out there in Washington for a least 5 years, then I'd be ok with buying a home. But if you don't know with a certain degree of certainty that you're going to be there for that length of time, then proceed with caution. The last thing you want to face in a year or two is orders to move again, holding a $130k house that's only worth $100k then, and in a tough market to sell it in. But, if you do buy, I wouldn't blow entire cash nestegg. I'd use some leverage. Don't think I'd use my VA certificate just yet, but maybe a FHA loan, of say 50% of the purchase price? I suggest FHA, because if I recall from my National City Mortgage days several years ago, FHA loans have an "assumable" clause in them. That little clause could be gold for you if you have to sell the house in an inflationary environment. Basically, you're selling a house with an assumable 5% mortgage on it, in a 10% lending rate environment. Folks won't just focus on the house at that point, but the fact that their primary mortgage would be lower then what they could go get at the bank. But talk to someone about this first, as I'm not 100% sure if the program is still intact and what provisions have changed. Secondly....buy a friggin' umbrella!! 'Cause it rains in the PNW!! But, beautiful, just simply beautiful country! We've done some deals a bit further up in Victoria, Canada, that are just stunning! Oh, and no Grey's Anatomy crap either when you get there. If you find your world sounding like an episode of that show when you get there, then switch down to decaf from one of the bazillion Starbucks!! I am praying that I get a similiar request as you have here, for Washington, DC over the next few months. We'd love to be back in the mid-atlantic region of the country, especially by the time baby #2 comes in November - which we think is a girl! If there is one city/region in this world that has survived this economic meltdown the best, it is without a doubt, Washington, DC. Heck, they're running out of Condos down there!! And they're actually starting to build/convert them again! Infact, a Miami Condo Developer flew up to DC a couple of months ago and bought a brand new building that the previous owner lost (foreclosed) for a price that wasn't even seen two years ago! He paid what is considered to be a below 5% Cap Rate return on his money (basically earning less than 5% on his investment). What does this tell you? Well, DC is the place to be! Just ask SWO, he knows!!!

Well, a few weeks ago, I posted about my very first trip to Vegas in February, and how it resulted in my wife and I coming back broke, pregnant, and with a court date. Well, my "court date" was for a ticket going 30mph in a 15mph speed trap zone (not 30mph over the limit, but actually going 30mph). The ticket was for $207. I had to get a lawyer to protect my driving record, as the 15mph over the limit was bad, but the "double the posted speed limit" was worse! Now, I was NOT guilty of speeding, period. Not at all, unless going 30MPH in a 35MPH zone is speeding. However, the lawyer said it would be cheaper to just plea the ticket down to a parking ticket instead of pleading not guilty. So, I bit. $300 for the lawyer.....care to guess what parking ticket ended up costing? Yup....$207! For a grand total of $507 bucks!! Now, like I said, I was not guilty, and I have proof! My wife and went back and video taped the route, including the POV of from where the cop was taking radar. Care to take a look? Well, here you go, video evidence of the biggest scam I've ever had the misfortune of getting tangled up with. For the record, for all of you living in Vegas, or going there, and you want to go visit Hoover Dam...AVOID BOULDER CITY, STAY ON THE HIGHWAY!! You can bet an email is going to the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce from me, notifying them to not let my $207 burn a hole in their pocket, as that will be the only money their little dump city will ever see from me. Great community business model! Enjoy.... watch carefully towards the end...you'll see the 35mph sign! Cop's POV

Army, if your thinking that long of ownership on a car, then you might want to think a little bigger then an IS....you know, for baby seats, Elmo walkers, strollers, etc.... You'd be amazed at how much stuff these little critters have to travel with!!! At the end of the day though, cars in general have taken leaps and bounds forward over the past 10 years, including the germans. Granted Toyota is still the king of long term reliability, the others aren't exactly "pintos" anymore either.

I looked at those TL's as well, and nobody can really argue against Honda's reputation for reliablity, I am somewhat suspect of their transmissions. Granted, a Honda is like the Terminator, it's last piece remaining will most likely work and get you home. I've read some reviews of the TL's having rattle problems, harsh rides, and some of them having some funky eletronic querks. That's what steered me away from them. My dad use to have a 92' Mitsubishi Diamante', and it was freakin' wonderful! However, you've got to admit that we've all seen our fair share of blue smoke pouring out of a Mitsubishi's tail pipe at the stop lights. I don't know if they have piston ring problems or what, but they have something funky going on. I've know two people who owned the Rodeo series, both had blown engines within 60k miles. One had a timing belt snap, and the other had some massive meltdown inside the engine. Can't argue against the Subaru! I've had one (99' Outback), and loved it! Most underrated car maker out there if you ask me. I'd be willing to bet a Subaru could get through the same amount of snow that my 4runner can, if not more. Those boxer engines are legendary for lasting. I believe it's because the pistons are horizontal, and are always sitting in oil, so at no point in time are they ever dry, especially on that initial crank on those cold mornings. I have heard some comments about the turbos going out every now and then, and that the added HP puts a lot of stress on the suspension components when you hotdog it too much. But some folks think the family Legecy is the ralley car, and treat it as such. I know my Outback would grip the road like Celion Dion to the Devil's !Removed!!

My guess is that your rear sway bar bushings are getting hot by the exhaust as you sit in traffic, are drying out, and creaking against the rear sway bar. They're very cheap and easy to replace, maybe $25 bucks for both of them, and 30 minutes of your time. They're usually one of the first components to go.

Army, I'd take a seriously look at Nissan, especially the 02-03' Maxima series, the last of that design "you know how the last model years usually are the best of the series". Granted, they're not "smaller", but you do get a lot of car for the money. I see 03's here with about 80k miles for asking prices of around $9k, fully loaded with leather, heated seats, Bose in-dash 6 disc changer, etc.. All the bells and whistles. I would easily say the Nissan V6 engine is one of the best ever made. I've had two Nissans, one a 92' Sentra SE-R, and my 01' Maxima SE. I loved them both! And had I not stumbled upon my GS I currently have, I would have bought an 03'. Actually, I was seriously considering the Infiniti verson "I35". I think those two model years are the best looking, best designed, and overall best Maxima's ever built! My old boss at the credit union I use to work at, has two of them. He use to be a Volvo guy, but bought a 97 Maxima new, then a 01' like my old one. He drives them both, think he has close to 400k on the 97'. Very hard to argue against Nissan, especially given your budget and the depreciation hits they seem to suffer from. I suggest the 02-03 due to the new 3.5 engine, with 260hp. Not that your wife needs to hit 60mph in 6 seconds, but it sure does come in handy when you've got to either "go" or get run over. They do pretty decent on mpg's too. Not a 4 banger, but pretty good. But don't get me wrong, the 3.0 engine in the 00-01 series is no slouch, with 220 HP. I thuroughly enjoyed mine. Use to drive it back and from from B'ham, AL to Wilmington, NC all the time, and never had a single problem with comfort or joy of the drive. In your neck of the woods, I would steer clear of the Mazda 3's, and if you were to buy one, only buy the one with the 2.3 engine, not the 2.0. Plus, only go for 07'+ models, as there were significant issues with weak a/c units. Plus, there are issues with a motor mount constantly breaking around 30k miles. But the main reason I suggest steering clear of them is the thin sheet metal. In a northern environment, road salt can eat the car alive. There are quite a few documented cases on the Mazda 3 forum of this, around the fender flares, around the gas cap, and all over the back trunk "sedans". Plus, they're great on blacktop, but noisy as hell on concrete. Very little noise insulation. Great fun cars in the right environment, but not so much in others. I LOVED our white 07GT sedan, in NC on those back roads I use to take to my old office. Hated it here in Chitcago.

WHAT THE!?!?!?! Geezzz, I go away on one business trip to stalk SWO, and you guys steel my Windows 95! Joking aside, I like the new format, I think. I haven't quite figured it out yet. I would like to ask for just one recommendation though..... some new animated expressions? I can only so many times before they figure out it's really me! PS: Whew...thought I might have lost my bush....good too see I've still got, um, well, you know where I'm going with this one....

Michael, this is sounding more and more like worn out brake caliper pistons or sticking calipers. You gently touched the brakes, but what happened is an uneven application of braking force, which would lead me to think something in the mechanics is sticking. A harder application of the brakes usually won't show this, but a gentle application, which relies on the lubrication of the mechanicals of the actual hardware, will show this, if indeed something has dried out or sticking. And again, you being in NJ, it is very likely road salt over the years has begun to take it's toll. I recently replaced all the rotors and pads on my GS (a chicago car from day 1). I had to take a wire brush to some of those parts to get the surface rust off of certain components. Also, you could have some ice buildup on one pad and not the other. If you haven't applied the brakes in a while, in cold damp situations, it's very likely that one wheel had a little drizzle to burn off before grabbing the rotor at the same level of force as the other side. It's pretty common for the right side of the car's wheels, specifically the front wheel, to take the most abuse, given it's proximetly to the edge of the road in general "debrie field". I would say, before you start looking at the electronics of the car, too look at the mechanicals first. I just find it odd, that in light of all this media attention, that you car decides to start acting up under the same manner as these other, recalled cars. Especially under the fact the car has not acted this way in the 6 years of it's life (which is usually wear n' tear time on a Toyota).

That could be a real possiblity, especially in NJ with all of that road salt you guys have. Our 4runner is originally from NJ, and I can tell you first hand, the caliper piston on the front left side is so badly rusted from just a year in that weather, I have to replace it. I've never seen that before. I didn't replace it when I was doing the brake rotors about 18 months ago, but clearly need to do it now as I can tell there is a problem on that wheel. If they rust too badly "mine was actually starting to flake", the caliper piston can get a little skewy it's seat, and start to lock up.

Last three posts, I agree with. I too have an 01 GS430, and I know the "mushy" feeling you're talking about. Pull the battery for a few minutes to reset. Also, probably time to change the plugs, clean out the throttle body (easy to do), and just give it a basic tune up. Probably want to change the transmission fluild as well (if it hasn't been done in a while). Mine, doesn't exactly ignore the first 20% of the peddle pressure, but the car definetly requires more throttle input travel then all of my other cars have in the past. I think it's probably that way to prevent you from spinning out all the time. 300hp on those back wheels is no joke. Just wait until it rains, you'll know what I'm talking about! DON'T turn off the traction control, it's your friend. Took mine out on an empty and wide road a few months ago, slight rain, going about 40mph. I stomped on it, and even at that speed, the back wheels broke loose instantly and the traction control prevented me from wrecking the car. My tires (Goodyear Eagle GT3's) aren't in bad shape either. Woke me up, that's for sure. At those miles, you'll need to do a couple of minor things to bring her back to new status. Nothing major, just some fresh OEM juices in the system, some plugs, and clean her up a tad. She'll purr like a kitty cat on speed! PS: I would also consider buying two engine mounts and a transmission mount too. Even if you don't think you need them, at 9 years of age, I'm quite confident in saying that you probably do. I did, and I only have 60k miles on mine. Made a night and day difference in the overall feel of the car, night and day. I have to look down at the tach sometimes when I'm at a stop light just to make sure the engine is on.

ABS working, or not working, won't help you on ice eitherway. I've gone over short bridges that apparently had a thin layer of ice on them (roads were fine), and spun out simply by taking my foot off the gas, causing the momentum to shift enough to lose traction.

I stopped looking, found it felt better with my eyes closed.

"bring it on in here, let the big bear get his paws on ya'!" I've heard of that trip you're about to take home from my brother in law, same route you're taking too. Not a fun hop across the pond! My bro' came home a few weeks ago for about a year. He re-enlisted for another 5 year clip. They told him if he didn't, he'd 100% be going to Afghanistan in the fall, but if he did re-enlist, he'd be pushed down to the bottom of the stack for that theater. He's getting married in July, heard Kabul wan't a very nice honeymoon spot, so re'up'd. Now, keeping in fashion with my first quote, you'll definetly know the movie with this next quote. Hope your wife has your captain's hat handy when you get home, because I've got the feeling some motor-boatin' is heading your way, you ole' sailor you "I know, army, but the movie made me do it".

Hey Amigo, right here! Got my hands full these days, and getting fuller by the day it seems. I see that you're heading home soon for some well deserved R&R! Come on home my friend, come on home!

Rick, you're nuts man! You better hope the guy in the Prius doesn't have a gun too, because if he's going 100mph in an uncontrolled car, well, he doesn't have much to lose at that point and might shoot back! "If I'm punching out, then that a'hole shooting at me is going with me!"

I know I've defended Toyota over this problem. But I forgot about the CHP TV channel live feeds! I tell you what, if there happens to be a televised event of this occuring in real time, Toyota will have a long lasting image problem to deal with. Everyone remembers the OJ cruise down the 5, 15 years ago. Imagine a toyota screaming down it at 100mph with people freaking out inside of it, on live tv.