Sudden acceleration on Toyotas

[minator]

Who'd of thought it, their advertising slogan, "The car in front is a Toyota" actually turns out to be true.

 

[Glaucus]

@Faethor, funny.

@Cecilia, good article. I read another article that focused more on the fact (briefly mentioned in your article) that Toyota is so efficient that the same part is used in many other cars.

@Fluffy, it was the right thing to do. Hopefully they'll get their act together now and bring back the Supra. :mrgreen:

 

[ilwrath]

I read another article that focused more on the fact (briefly mentioned in your article) that Toyota is so efficient that the same part is used in many other cars.

The problem isn't so much that they reused the same part a lot of times, it is that they denied problems from as long ago as 2002, and kept using that same part. Sounds exactly like Ford when they had a problem with soccer moms flipping Explorers when the Firestone tires popped. The steps were the same:

1) Blame the customer.
Ford: You under-inflated the tires
Toyota: You installed an improper floor mat

2) Find a very limited problem and hope that placates everyone.
Ford: It was only this one batch of Firestone tires
Toyota: It was only a couple throttles that oxidized

3) Greatly increase the recall amid a federal investigation and hearing, and get your asses handed to you.
Ford: Was completely hung out to dry, and spent several years in the barrel
Toyota: We'll see how well their purchased politicians do helping them... Paging Richard Shelby....

Hopefully they'll get their act together now and bring back the Supra.

Hey, you never know, you might get your wish. They've recently hinted this thing could get a North American green light.

 

[Glaucus]

Hey, you never know, you might get your wish. They've recently hinted this thing could get a North American green light.

Can't say I'm crazy about it. Weird interior and the back end is too long or bubbly or something (although it does remind me of the 2000GT that predated the Supra). I've seen better mock ups of the "next Supra" but they're all been nothing more then wishful thinking. For example:

And my personal fav which is a cross between the 1st and last gen Supra, but a total hoax:

 

[ilwrath]

And my personal fav which is a cross between the 1st and last gen Supra, but a total hoax:

I hadn't seen that one before. I'd agree that would be an appropriate Supra, though. (I didn't care much for the top one you linked. Nothing really visually unique or interesting. Looks like a fairly bland and dated mid-ninety's style.) Not sure about the others, but the one I linked to on Jalopnik is an actual Toyota concept, so it's not a hoax. Of course, they still may not go through with it, since they are chasing down so many other issues at the moment.

 

[Glaucus]

And my personal fav which is a cross between the 1st and last gen Supra, but a total hoax:

I hadn't seen that one before. I'd agree that would be an appropriate Supra, though. (I didn't care much for the top one you linked. Nothing really visually unique or interesting. Looks like a fairly bland and dated mid-ninety's style.) Not sure about the others, but the one I linked to on Jalopnik is an actual Toyota concept, so it's not a hoax. Of course, they still may not go through with it, since they are chasing down so many other issues at the moment.

Btw, searched the FT86 and it seems that might be the next Celica, which will sport a 2.0L Subaru Boxter engine, with AWD of course. Doesn't sound like a Supra which should have at least 6 cylinders firing and upwards of 3.0L of displacement (an inline 6 would be sweet but I have a feeling that'll never happen strictly because Toyota wouldn't have another car to drop that engine into, except for maybe something in the Lexus line, but it can be a tricky engine configuration to accommodate).

As for bringing back the Supra? Maybe now they need it more then ever. The Supra's name is perhaps the most untarnished name in Toyota's history - even last gen Celica's may have had issues with accelerators and early models had an issue with the gear box where instead of going into 3rd it would go into 1st and instantly over rev your motor. But the Supra always had a reputation of being bullet proof - all lower model Toyota's upgraded to Supra parts for extra reliability and performance - especially with engines and even more so with transmissions which were probably the the most reliable in the industry. The only other Toyota that came stock with Supra parts was the Cressida (5MGE engine & W58 tranny), although I know one Lexus model came with the 2JZ non turbo as well and most certainly with the W58 which was a workhorse for Toyota. Anyway, I'm rambling, but you get the point, Supra has always meant top quality and they discontinued it before Toyota started taking a slip in quality. Bringing it back might be a smart move at this point. At any rate, I probably won't be able to afford one. :cry:

 

[Glaucus]

Although to be honest, I'd be pretty happy with a 2JZ GTE mk2:

[youtube:20et10h0]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wHPfsmfQvoA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wHPfsmfQvoA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/youtube:20et10h0]

And if you ever played Test Drive on the Amiga, this'll give you a nice smile:
[youtube:20et10h0]<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/g0pqP5OpjPU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/g0pqP5OpjPU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>[/youtube:20et10h0]

 

[ilwrath]

Btw, searched the FT86 and it seems that might be the next Celica, which will sport a 2.0L Subaru Boxter engine, with AWD of course

That could be right... I don't keep up with my imports too much, TBH. Ya know, I saw the 2.0L boxter listed as a proposed engine, and I thought that sounded strange. I didn't really put it all together, though. lol I just remembered seeing the pictures and thinking it was way too bold looking for Toyota, but they were considering it, and I thought that they should do it. I think you're probably right that Toyota needs to do something to improve image, and Supra is a legendary name for them.

 

[faethor]

@Glaucus

Like the photoshopped / spy photo. The nose reminds me of a Saab Sonnet.

The AWD Toyota with parts from Subaru bin sounds like a good idea. Though as good as the EJ20 and EJ25 are good engines, I'd prefer to see the Toyota use a Toyota engine. Lotus has used the Toyota engines quite nicely. Why couldn't Toyota?


@iWrath
I'm usually in the 'no replacement for displacement' camp. The new Subi 3.5L engine looks nice. As it's horizontally opposed it doesn't take up much length but more width. The market today not only demands performance it demands it with improved MPG. A 4 today produces as much if not more power then the 6 of yesteryear. Throw a turbo on it. Certainly the 300HP+ WRX STI is no slouch. I think a 4 would be fine.