First Toyotas

[slantman]

OK take a guess unless you know.

What was the first year Toyotas were imported to the U.S. (there were no plants here at the time so they were all built in Japan)

Hint: I had one in 1967' and it even came with its own tool kit and a can of matching paint.

[SepticTank]

1957 - http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/history/1950.html

[DeaconKC]

My first car was a 72 Corolla Chicago rust bucket. Paid $200 for it!

[Watchmen]

All I drive is Toyota. Best car in the world.

[kwk285]

I work in sales for a Japanese company. We get a choice of a couple of Toyotas. Hands down, they are the most durable cars that I have ever driven.

[TstebinsB]

I still miss my '92 Camry LE. That thing was a beast. Great interior space, comfortable to drive, great mileage, and most importantly, very dependable. What a car!

I drive a Volvo nowadays. NO interior room (I thought Germans were big people!), a check engine light that won't go away, and terrible handling. Uh!

[Rughi]

...I drive a Volvo nowadays. NO interior room (I thought Germans were big people!)...

Germans are big people and design accordingly, which is why I never bought a second Acura and went back to VW's.

Swedes (who designed and build the Volvo) may or not be big people. I'm surprised by your experience, though. I would expect any Volvo to have good leg room, but especially good head and shoulder room (which is where every Honda I've sat in seemed claustrophobic to me).

Then again, Toyota is not Honda. Toyota is probably the best in the world, decade after decade, at researching what people in their target segments want in a car and providing it.

Roger

[TstebinsB]

Germans are big people and design accordingly, which is why I never bought a second Acura and went back to VW's.

Swedes (who designed and build the Volvo) may or not be big people. I'm surprised by your experience, though. I would expect any Volvo to have good leg room, but especially good head and shoulder room (which is where every Honda I've sat in seemed claustrophobic to me).

Then again, Toyota is not Honda. Toyota is probably the best in the world, decade after decade, at researching what people in their target segments want in a car and providing it.

Roger

Thank you for the correction.

[slantman]

The first passanger Toyota car arrived into the US and was called the "Crown" this car was considered there premium car. The following year they sent over a regular 4 door passenger car called the "Corona" That was the one I bought. The car was not without problems. I got stuck several times as it wouldn't start. But I had the car 4 years before trading it in( for a Plymouth) which was the worst car I ever owned. To this day I have never owned another Toyota. But IMHO their longest running and best car is the Corolla.

[slantman]

The Volvo is not a German car. It was produced in Sweden and the company is currently owned by Ford( they are trying to sell the company guess why?)

[Jasonian]

My first car (that I owned, not the first that I drove) was an '87 Celica convertible. It died at 221K miles. I loved it.

So, I bought a rebuilt ex-raceready '85 Celica GT-S to replace it.

The previous owner didn't do the best job with the build, and I ended up replacing the short block less than a year later.

It needs a headgasket, but that was my fault. Installed a cam, and figured the head bolts were head studs. Now I know. Or, maybe they were used too many times already.

As much as I'd love to keep it, SWMBO is telling me I need to get rid of it. It's been sitting awaiting attention (and money) for months.

For our next new car, we're looking at.... (drumroll) Toyota. A Camry, to be exact.

I'd love a sports car, but life happens.

[DVDTracker]

Drove a 2001 Tundra for seven years. Replaced it with a 2009 Camry.

The one thing that annoys me about both of those is the lack of padding on the door armrests. It's just plastic covered with fabric. I've had to improvise my own padded armrests to make driving comfortable.

[mmack66]

all i drive is toyota. Best car in the world.

+1

[MFS]

My first Toyota was a 2005 Highlander. Driving southbound in the slow lane from Los Angeles to San Diego, just south of Camp Pendelton, I was in a head-on collision on the freeway (a southbound gal somewhere in front of me spun out and ended up heading north in the southbound slow lane). I hit her and rolled that Highlander door over door over door over door down the embankment side of the freeway to the lagoon below, where 2 homeless guys, who were fishing, helped me out.

I walked away from that one, whereas the 5 others in the accident were all transported to various hospitals.

I quickly went out a bought another. It is a great set of wheels.

[Slartibartfast]

You should go watch the videos from Top Gear where they tried to Kill a toyota truck....

[Henrique]

My parents still have a 93 Corolla. Never needed anything else than new batteries. Not even an exhaust tube.

They also have a Mercedes C200 kompressor. I honestly believe my father likes the toyota better.

[bluepunk18]

You should go watch the videos from Top Gear where they tried to Kill a toyota truck....

Loved that episode! Especially when its anchored to the pier, with the tide coming in...lol! I'm gonna guess about 1958 or so. They had been making cars since the early teens for the home country...I think the first dealership for Toyota in the US was in California.

My first car was an 89' camry. After that I owed an 88' MR2 *by far my favorite of any car to date*, then a few other cars in between, then another Camry, this one a 98' with a V6. Now I don't currently have a car, as my winter beater 89' accord is dead. *Shrugs* I really want an MR2 again....Anyone else hear drive one? *not to hi-jack the tread, of course*

[Slartibartfast]

Loved that episode! Especially when its anchored to the pier, with the tide coming in...lol! I'm gonna guess about 1958 or so. They had been making cars since the early teens for the home country...I think the first dealership for Toyota in the US was in California.

My first car was an 89' camry. After that I owed an 88' MR2 *by far my favorite of any car to date*, then a few other cars in between, then another Camry, this one a 98' with a V6. Now I don't currently have a car, as my winter beater 89' accord is dead. *Shrugs* I really want an MR2 again....Anyone else hear drive one? *not to hi-jack the tread, of course*

They actually tried to kill it one last time in another episode. they put it on top of a skyscraper that was being imploded. With some hand tools they got it running again in a few minutes.

Subaru is supposedly going to bring their Diesel Outback to the states, that is what i'm thinking the next purchase is going to be. But my '98 civic is still running strong....and i just spent money on a new exhaust and tires last year :)