Detroit, 2:43 PM
Wed Dec 2
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| posts about #highlanderhybrid more → |
Toyota Hybrid Breaks Down, Towed Off Track Before NASCAR Event |
Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Toyota Highlander |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
Jalopnik 
05/19/09
There, I took care of that for you.
Weird coincidence, sure. I won't care, though, until whatever this is affects every single current-gen Highlander. Then I'll be thrilled.
05/19/09
When you arrive in the presentation Highlander, do not turn it off. For any reason. It's running, let it run. It's in gear, you just stay there with your foot on the pedal. Don't you frikkin move I'm so serious. Wait for my signal. Not anybody else, me. When I wave, you go. If for some reason you decide you don't want to go, I'll kill you. If God's finger comes out of the sky to tell you to stop, then you stop. Otherwise, you go when I signal.
If the car dies as you pull out, then you just hold still while the backup presentation Highlander takes point.
Hey, there's an idea. Hey Toyota! Ever hear of an understudy?
I bet they have now.
05/19/09
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NASCAR tested it in accordance to their substance abuse policy, and it was found to have unapproved chemicals in its system. They were just escorting the Highlander from the premises.
05/19/09
05/19/09
Let me help you then.
I had a Toyota Celica, 250,000 miles plus on the original clutch. Show me any American car that can do that. Never one breakdown, ever.
Gas, oil, lubing the zircs and compare that to the lads at work with the Ford Focus that's a rolling repair waiting to happen or the Ford Mustang convertible with more squeaks, groans and rattles than a WWII jeep.
Yeah, those Toyotas sure are junk.
05/19/09
My father had a Corolla, years ago. Great car. Rust ate it.
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05/19/09
"Due to the recent events at Lowe's Motor Speedway, we will no longer conduct design meetings with a Ouija board. Contacting the late Joe Lucas for design input on our Hybrid drive system has not worked to our advantage."
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05/19/09
Better now?
05/19/09
I feel all better.
05/19/09
05/19/09
PR crisis averted!
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05/19/09
This is awesome. Maybe this will help to jumpstart the change in perception needed to save the US carmakers. Ford and GM quality ratings are as good as or better than Toyota's. A combination of Ford and GM stepping up their game and Toyota slipping due to rapid expansion has meant that Toyota (and Honda) can no longer claim to be quality leaders. The public perception needs to adjust, though. This takes time.
Rusting frame rails, breakdowns like this, etc. all help. The media harping on this as much as they do domestic car company recalls would help, too.
05/19/09
Your anecdotal reliability evidence proves zilch.
05/19/09
However, it's anecdotes like these that change public perception. How many people do you hear say something along the lines of, "My dad had a [insert automaker here] that kept breaking down. I'll never buy a [insert automaker here]." Some people are swayed by hard data. Most people are swayed by the perceptions they and those around them hold.
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05/19/09
Man I've seen some of those frame rail shots. Holy Sh!t that's awful. Last time I saw something rust that bad, it'd been parked in a forest for thirty years.
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