Is this a witch-hunt, a political squabble, or a media frenzy, to ruin Toyota image. Fist let us, not compromise safety for a few dollars or bragging right.

Issue #1 Toyota accelerator problem, #2 Brake failures #3 Steering concern, all are electronic control components. As technology grows every manufacturer is plying the same route but you never know which one will have their share of problems or when.

The fact is every manufacturer have their share of problems however, some are concealed. Perhaps you would like to see the real proof, ok just look at their TSB’s and you will scratch your head in disbelief and then understand that based on the number of complaint any of those can later become a recall.

To take it a step further, investigate all their data and recall records on safety and compare it with current issues in the auto industry and you will see that it is astounding.

Over the years I have worked with engineers fixing complex issues on vehicles both mechanical and electronic most are found and fix within a reasonable time, some take a while longer, but eventually get fixed. The hardest ones to fix are the intermittent problems, they sometimes takes a while to regenerate.

A flight data recorder is necessary to capture the event as it happens and then share this information with the public, this could be the only way for Toyota to stay righted or correct image control, otherwise tomorrow it could be number 4, 5, 6, 7 and more for Toyota as the hunt continues.

Just for thoughts, if you build a product and have less than 1% failure, do you stop making the product all together, or address quality control. However, the real question is, is the product any good.

Toyota anticipates they will spend approximately $440 million on a possible accelerator pedal recall, which has been reported to have cause deaths and serious injuries here in the United States.

Over 3.8 million vehicles are estimated to be recalled, for a faulty floor mat that can dislodge from the holding clip if equipped or not and suddenly becomes stuck between the accelerator pedal and the floor causing the vehicle to rev out of control.

This is Toyota’s claim and quick fix and it is not settling with many industry experts. Who believe there are other factors that can lead to such unfortunate occurrences even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have found other problems on a Lexus ES 350 that was responsible for killing four people in the California.

Although pedal height to floor clearance maybe possible for some of these reported issues there are other areas needs to be explored intensively like the Pedal assembly design which are now cable-less a flyby wire system, loose components, faulty wiring Throttle Body Unit and any accompanying  sensors, monitoring computer command PID’s data signal, and a possible reprogramming of the PCM. A percentage remain that driver error could be a possibility.

To duplicate this intermittent concern can be tedious and time consuming, however for all the lives and money that could be save it is worth every investment, not to mention Toyota’s reputation

For anyone who has ever had a personal computer problem well there is no difference in the automobile.

In today’s sophisticated technologically advance automobile having upwards of thirty  individual modules that control system, like Brake, Steering, Climate Control, lighting, Anti-Theft, Suspension, Seats, Doors, Electronics Controls, Navigation System, Parking, Tire Pressure, to name a few, delivering their information over a network  can at times lead to mishap.

Imagine a classroom full of students all attempting to speak with their teacher at once, and for that teacher to intake, process, and command each student concern simultaneously in repetitive fashion throughout the day, at some point their bound to be an error.

The action taken to correct this problem by the PCM may not be favorable and this is where a glitch can happen. An uncharacteristic response becomes noticeable

Thousands of data are monitored and processed within milliseconds in response to drivers input and command, oftentimes an overload of information can cause an erratic performance where reprogramming the PCM sometimes fixes the problem.

The recession, Job loss, and insecurity have caused buyers to hold off purchasing new vehicles, rental fleets have been holding on to their cars longer, and leaseholders are purchasing their vehicle after their lease term ends, and to make matters worse the CARS program that deplete inventory of almost 700.000 vehicles.

 It has been decades since used cars are in such short supply of almost 4 million units. Dealers are beginning to scramble for used vehicle by any means, even scanning used car classified for vehicle on sale, by private sellers and are trying to make a deal, in order to fill up their empty lots.

When you consider that, dealers could make more profit selling a used car verses new, you begin to understand why they have decide to pull out the conventional way of doing business, even offering you more on your trade-in, some dealers will even buy your vehicle if you don’t buy one from them that is how desperate they have gotten.

Right now it is a seller’s market, sellers could get premium for their used vehicle but do not let greed get in the way

Many sellers are looking at the blue book value and taking it as gospel, almost everyone I have asked this question about selling their car for blue book value said they would want the amount suggested and more, without taking into consideration, condition of vehicle, and various options that can offset the price significantly.

Be realistic ask yourself if you would pay that amount for a used vehicle, set a fair price I don’t mean give it away but again a fair price, and I guarantee your vehicle will be sold in a short time. I have not seen a properly priced vehicle remain on the market longer than average.

If you decide to sell to a dealer, keep in mind that they use the black book and not the blue book and would not pay you premium, but if you negotiate a price between both books and closer to your asking price for a profit then the deal maybe to your advantage.   

Take into consideration, how long have you being trying to sell your vehicle. How much does it cost you each week that the vehicle remain on the market and make a practical decision.

Although this may seem like a lucrative deal, the fine print of the disclaimer is yet to be seen, the trick could be in the details. Is this another three card Monty game or the consumer stand a chance to gain. “Follow the ball”

Here is how the program works

Starting September 14 thru November, the vehicles that are covered are the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac 2009 and 2010 models. In addition, you have 60 days to drive the vehicle, racking up no more than 4000 miles, and do not include lease vehicles 

Reuters reported under condition of an anonymous source that GM would cut U.S. dealers discount by a half percentage point in order to facilitate the campaign. Dealers are already beginning to cry foul, every since they got wind of the program, not all dealers are in agreement, however they all hope it is successful.

If this is such a great deal, why offer when supply is limited. Due to the lack of inventory because of the previous CARS, program that dried up dealership lots if buyers cannot get the car, they want, the quality is not to their expectation, and based on the percentage of returns negative publicity may kick up like a raging storm and hence, image may be ruined for a long time to come.

In the waters of survival, a drowning man will grasp at a straw; this is a very gutsy move by the new GM, Lutz, and the advertising crew, start counting the days.

GM, if you stand behind your product set a solid reasonable price, and says to consumers, THIS IS THE BEST QUALITY FOR YOUR MONEY GURANTEED. The consumers will be your best judge.

Good Luck in you endeavors. YOU NEED IT.

The past year was the worst decline in auto sales in over 25 years; many dealers lost their franchise because of slow sales. Manufacturers began to look at other options, such as closing down factories, slowing down production and discontinuing brands

Over 690,000 vehicles were purchased under the government CARS program with a value of $2.87 billion. For buyers who did not qualify other manufactures like Chrysler match the CARS rebate and these figures are not even counted.

 Take into account the many other buyers who purchased vehicle quickly because of the reported shortage of inventory. These sales would not have been possible without such incentive.

Remove the payout debacle to dealers out of the equation, they will be compensated, however the CARS program was definitely a huge SUCCESS.

Dealers are outrage venom is spewing they are searching for answers and someone to hold accountable for the snail pace delivery of government cash in their account. Only a small percentage of dealers have gotten some payment thus creating this fire storm

I have spoken to a few dealers concerning this issue and the cry is the same, it is larger than reported   and has started to resonate. One quote I will remember for a while is from David Wilson representing his dealer group, he said

“OUR GROUP HAS DELIVERED 936 “CLUNKER” DEALS THRU YESTERDAY 8/9/09. WE HAVE SUBMITTED 450, 3 HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WE HAVE BEEN PAID ON NONE……THE GOVERNMENT NOWS OWES US ABOUT $4,000,000. HOPE THIS WORKS OUT.”

 I certainly feel the crunch for the many dealers not being paid in the cash for clunkers program; however let us look on the bright side.

It is the government that is backing these vouchers and thus payment is more than guaranteed, can you imagine what will happen if dealers are not paid, the economy  would start to decline and the PR would not be pretty for the government administration.

Another bright side is, if the government did not offer such programs would we have sold as many vehicles. The bottom line is all dealers will be paid. When? nobody knows and that is the scariest part; treat this as filing your taxes and waiting for the return.

Many a dealers embrace this clunker program, but is the payment due to them that is driving everyone nuts, bills are piling up and employees needs to get paid

On the dull side the trusted dealer representative NADA either drop the ball on this one, sold out the dealers, do not understand the program themselves, or simply do not give a flying feather.

NADA should also be held accountable they should be more vigilant and vocal; the individual dealers should never have to be making the loudest roar. Come on NADA the dealers have done their job now do yours. Get them paid NOW.

This is great news at this time when gas prices have been inching its way up for the third consecutive weeks, and the economy unstable consumers are now grasping at anything that would save them even a single cent

Hold on to the brakes Nissan yelled, not so fast. Within hours of the Volt press conference, Nissan Motor Company quickly releases its own mpg rating on their new electric vehicle debut August 2 name the Leaf. They claim the Leaf would get a whopping 367 mpg, and sell for $25.000-$33.000 unlike GM Volt at around $40.000.

Presently neither GM nor Nissan can substantiate their claim of this sudden, enormous, mileage boost. The Environment Protection Agency said to date they have not tested a Chevy Volt and cannot comment on the issue. Nissan has remained silent.

Enough of all this bragging about how much mpg the Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf gets. How about producing your first 1000 car and put them to the real test in the hands of the consumers. Oh, why not just set the real price for these vehicle and stop with this around or in between prices. I say to you both put up or shut up and stop the publicity tease.

Until these cars are actually driving on the roads saving consumer money and the environment, it is best to keep your great ideas top secret. Stop with the nonsense and competitive jabbing, your concepts are great however build and deliver your product and let us decide.