Toyota is a huge car manufacturing company that is based in Japan, but Toyota cars have factories all over the world. The most prominent plants are located in Asia, North America and Europe. Toyota cars are built at all of these locations. The reason that Toyota has expanded so extensively across the globe is because it is easier to ship the cars overland than it is across oceans. To find out exactly where any specific Toyota is made, you will have to ask the dealer, but not every factory makes every single Toyota model. The following is information regarding which Toyota models are manufactured in which countries.
United States
Since the United States is home to such a large population of automobile consumers, Toyota manufactures a wide variety of different models here. So far, the Toyota manufacturing plants in the United States have produced the Toyota Avalon, the Toyota Camry, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Toyota Corolla, the Toyota Sequoia, the Toyota Sienna, the Toyota Solara, the Toyota Tacoma and the Toyota Tundra. Luckily for residents of the United States, this means that shipping costs are low for these models, and they can be sold for less.
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Canada
There are a few models of Toyota cars that are sold in Canada, but not the United States, including the Toyota Matrix and the Toyota RAV4. If you live in the United States, but want one of these models, it will have to be shipped from Canada.
Why Toyotas Are So Reliable?
When a discussion of automotive reliability begins, Japanese automakers, especially with the Toyota car, are inevitably mentioned. Reliability is a highly desirable trait when making a long term investment in a car. Many Toyotas are considered the most reliable cars in modern production. Gaining a solid reputation cannot be created by simple marketing; quality is necessary. Availability of affordable parts, cheap maintenance and strong aftermarket support is all critical to this perception. This automaker has a proven track record that comes directly from their management philosophy.
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Toyotas are excellent cars. Quality control is important to any automaker, Toyota's are so well known that other businesses emulate it. The "Toyota Way" is the management philosophy that has resulted in such great cars. The greatest core of this approach is to focus on long-term goals at all costs, even if they are more expensive than short-term profits. Not making short sighted decisions has been instrumental. Long term development projects allow the development of favorable technologies that are more efficient than the competition. This simple principle explains the success of Toyota.
Another management principle is to stop and fix problems. The company's willingness to allow any employee to stop the production process to correct an issue speaks volumes regarding what is valued. Creating a product that is right the first time is the goal of the process. Issues are addressed as soon as possible. Tthis prevents large numbers of defective vehicles from hitting the road. It also creates value over the long run and keeps customers happy. The car being correct the first time saves a great deal of hassle and misery on the part of the purchaser.
Much of the automotive industry has suffered in finding strong leadership. Toyota focuses on developing leaders rather than finding them. Further emphasis is placed on the ability of these leaders to teach others. Strong leadership is contagious and will create a work culture that fosters innovation. This directly relates to the reliability of manufacturing present in Toyota's history. By focusing on performance and communication, every member of the Toyota family can learn and grow from their co-workers.
Toyota is among the most reliable manufacturers of cars in automotive history. This reliability springs directly from the corporate culture that emphasizes doing it right. Executives who understand this philosophy has furthered the "Toyota Way". The company's emphasis on using reliable, thoroughly tested products is additionally supportive of the need of consumers who value reliability first. A constant requirement of self-reflection among employees and challenging suppliers to improve has created this first rate operation. Toyota has earned the reputation of reliability.
Should I Buy a Toyota Online?
When you are looking for Toyota cars and convertibles for sale, you will probably be visiting dealers in your local area or searching the Internet for the best deals and prices. While the Internet can help you find a great deal on your next Toyota rag-top, there are a few things you might want to consider before going all out in your search for online deals. Here are some advantages and disadvantages to using the Internet exclusively for a convertible purchase.
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Advantages of Using the Internet
- Convenience.Using the Internet to search for deals and sales for a Toyota convertible is by far more convenient than driving from dealership to dealership. By browsing sites like CarsDirect, you will be able to view hundreds of listings for new and used Toyota convertible cars right in your own area - all from the comfort of your own home.
- Time savings.Using the Internet for your search will allow you to find many listings for convertibles that may interest you in a very short period of time. In fact, you will probably be able to find a few dozen vehicles in an hour or so. To find the same number of interesting convertibles, while driving around and visiting different dealerships, would probably take you a day or two at best. You will easily be able to find a large Toyota selection of convertibles on the Internet by browsing car buying sites. These large selections allow for finding vehicles quickly.
- Discounts. Many dealerships and private sellers use the Internet to advertise Toyota convertibles that they want to sell at a discounted sale price for one reason or another. Because of the fierce competition for car listings on the Internet, you will often find dealers and sellers that are highly motivated and willing to sell a vehicle for less.
Disadvantages of Using the Internet
- No inspections or test drives.While there are certainly some advantages to searching for your next Toyota car online, one big drawback is the fact that you are not able to physically inspect the vehicle before purchasing. You probably won't be able to test drive the vehicle unless you are prepared to travel to the seller's location. Depending on where the vehicle is located, this could add considerable cost to the car that would negate the savings you are trying to achieve with an Internet purchase.
- Fewer opportunities for negotiation. Many people are accustomed to sitting down with a salesperson or manager and negotiate a discount on a new or used car. In fact, it is an expected part of the car buying process for many consumers. With an online car purchase, you will find that it is much harder (if not impossible) to negotiate a lower price. Dealers and sellers that offer sale pricing online are usually much less motivated to offer a lower price because of the high numbers of people that view online car ads.
How Do I Get the Best Deal on a Toyota Minivan?
The Toyota Minivan is a relatively cheap car for its size already, but if you are trying to save as much money as possible, you are going to want to find the best possible deal. To do this, you will have to take some time to do the necessary research and compare deals based mostly on the minivan price. If you buy the car new, you may also have to compare potential minivan deals for the best minivan rebates and incentives. The following set of step-by-step instructions will help you find the best deal on a Toyota Minivan.
- If you want a used Toyota Minivan, you should first check your community for private owners because they often sell for much cheaper than used car dealers. Check the classifieds section of your local newspaper, or a classifieds website such as craigslist.
- If you want a new Toyota Minivan, you are going to have to research the Toyota dealerships in your area for the lowest listed price, as well as other incentives. You should not only look at the listed price, but also the dealer invoice for the Toyota Minivan at each dealership you consider. The dealer invoice states how much the dealer had to pay for each car, and it can indicate to you how much you may be able to talk the price down.
- At the dealership, you should try to talk the price down as far as you can. Do this by pretending not to be as interested in the offer as you really are, and make it look like you'll back out on the deal if they don't lower the price.
What Should I Be Aware of When Buying a Toyota Import?
A Toyota car import is a popular type, as it is made in Japan. These are popular mainly among those that love performance cars. There are many factors incorporated into the price of the car. Make sure you are aware of all costs, including import taxes, before signing on the dotted line. Japanese imports are particularly numerous because most vehicle owners tend to upgrade to a new model after three years. These have lower and higher specifications than what is available in many other countries.
Where to Look
The vast majority of all Toyota import cars, such as the Tacoma import and Camry import, are purchased at auctions. These auctions are closed to the public. Companies can bid and have them shipped to their respective country. The main countries that import these vehicles are New Zealand, the UK, Australia, Cyprus and Ireland.
Identifying the Import
You can determine if the car you are interested in is an import or not by getting the vehicle identification number, otherwise known as the VIN. Normal cars will have a 17-digit VIN number. An import car from Japan will have less than 17 digits. The first 3 digits, which are the world identifier numbers, will not be in the VIN number. This way you can ensure that you are buying an import.
Meeting Standards and Regulations
The main scam with imported cars is that they do not meet the new country's specifications. You will need to have repairs done to bring the car up to spec, or get rid of it. Many of the import cars seem to be identical to domestic cars, but the components can be very different. This can lead to large repair costs and other expenses.
Searching Online
You can find import vehicles in many places, and many individuals will look online. There are plenty of legitimate companies, but you want to make sure you have all the paperwork and aspects of the sale detailed as specifically as you want. Do not use a company that requires payment in the form of Escrow, as you will never see your car. You can also visit an import dealer in your area to see the car you are purchasing in person.
Using an Import Brokers
To make the buying process as easy as possible, you can use the services of an import broker. Make sure you get references and customer reviews from the broker. You should both agree on the schedule of the car. This includes, when it will be built, transported, and delivered to you. Make sure you get regular updates. The most important thing to remember is, do not completely pay the balance until you have seen the car in person.
Further Considerations
If you are purchasing a more exotic car, it can be difficult to find parts and get your car serviced. You may need to find a specialist. This will be more expensive then getting a common car repaired. The Toyota import might not come with a warranty, and you will need to pay extra for this.
What Are the Main Toyota Warranty Options?
It pays to pick Toyota car warranty plans according to the condition of the vehicle and individual needs. If the vehicle to be covered by the warranty is less than three years old and has fewer than 36,000 miles, then there are three coverage options available. Also, it is possible to pick between Platinum coverage and Gold coverage, with each covering components at different costs.
Besides deciding on component coverage, it is also important to check for towing, substitute transportation, and travel protection, such as lodging and meals. There are three options available regarding condition and mileage of the vehicle that provide different benefits.
Option One
- Limitless towing reimbursem*nt.For a Toyota that is less than three years old and whose total mileage is less than 36,000 miles, a Toyota warranty provides for limitless towing reimbursem*nt to the closest Toyota dealership. Here, it is possible to pick a plan with unique age and mileage combination such as 3yr/50K, 3yr/80k, 4yr/65k, 4yr/100k and more. For substitute transportation, which is often necessitated by mechanical failure of components covered by the warranty, Toyota reimburses 50 dollars per day for up to no more than five days.
- Travel protection.In case the owner is more than 150 miles from their home, the company offers up to $100 for travel protection, which should take care of lodging and meals per day for no more than five days in total.
- Transferability. If the vehicle owner sells their Toyota, then the transferability clause in the warranty kicks in. The good news is the remaining portion of the coverage can be transferred to the new owner. This factor ensures the vehicle's value goes up. However, transferability is valid for just one change in ownership.
Option Two
Here again, it is possible to pick a plan with unique age and mileage combination such as 3yr/50K, 3yr/80k, 4yr/65k, 4yr/100k and more.
- Towing.If the vehicle is less than three years old but has less than 36,000 total miles, another form of Toyota warranty will provide up to $50 as reimbursem*nt for towing to the closest Toyota dealer.
- Substitute transportation. Similarly, for substitute transportation, the warranty provides for reimbursem*nt of no more than $35 for up to a maximum of 5 days. If the owner is stranded more than 150 miles from their home, then they are offered up to $50 to cover for costs of lodging, as well as meals per day for up to a maximum of 5 days. This warranty is valid only for new car owners.
Option Three
If the Toyota is no more than three years old, has yet to travel more than 36,000 miles, and the coverage term is six years or 100,000 miles, then the terms of substitute transportation and transferability will apply in their warranty.
Buying a Toyota warranty is beneficial because it helps to take care of the unexpected. Also, since Toyota will be paying the dealers directly, owners need not have to be bothered about filing claims.
Which Toyota Warranty is the Most Recommended?
Anyone buying from new Toyota cars will be interested in warranties. A Toyota warranty is provided as standard when purchasing any new Toyota vehicle. This is known as a limited warranty and provides coverage for a certain number of miles and length of time. Once the coverage has expired, you will then need to consider taking out an extended warranty.
Extended warranties will provide you with extra coverage in case you ever experience any problems with your Toyota vehicle. The type of coverage you decide on purchasing will typically depend on the model of Toyota you purchased.
Factory Coverage
Toyotas have an excellent reputation for being extremely high quality and reliable cars. This means that most people never actually need to test out their factory warranty. The factory coverage is provided on all new Toyota vehicles, including the Camry hybrid and FJ Cruiser. The only major exception is the Prius warranty, which is different and covers different things.
The basic warranty provides coverage for virtually everything on your vehicle, for a period of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The powertrain warranty will cover the engine and transmission for five years, or 60,000 miles. Corrosion warranty protects you against rust and corrosion for a period of five years, but for an unlimited mileage.
Unlike many other warranties, the Toyota warranty does not provide any roadside assistance. This will mean that you need to take out your own roadside assistance policy.
Toyota Prius Warranty
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid vehicle, and this means that it's slightly different to a normal gasoline powered vehicle. The Prius warranty will provide coverage for hybrid batteries, charging systems and battery control modules. The entire hybrid system is covered for a period of 100,000 miles or eight years.
The hybrid warranty also provides three years or 36,000 miles; or roadside assistance and maintenance from the date the car is first used. The warranty details will be documented in the Owners Warranty Information book, which should be included with your vehicle when it's first purchased.
The Toyota warranty also provides five services which are six months or 7,500 miles apart. However, there are several conditions where the repairs will be your responsibility. When driving on muddy, dusty or snowy roads the Prius warranty may not be applied.
After the Warranty
After the vehicle has exceeded the time limit or mileage of the limited warranty, the owner will become responsible for the cost of repairs.
Once the vehicle has passed the time or mileage, the vehicle is out of the manufacturer's warranty and the cost of repair becomes the owner's responsibility.
Extended Warranties
Official Toyota extended warranties are offered by Toyota Financial Services. These are billed under the Toyota Extra Care Vehicle Service Agreement. There are several different levels of extended warranties, including Silver, Gold and Platinum. Platinum plans are bumper-to-bumper warranties, Silver is powertrain coverage and Gold also includes corrosion protection.
If you take out one of these plans, then you will be able to get repairs done at any Toyota main dealership anywhere in the country. Extended warranties are also available from third party companies, which will allow you to get your car repaired at other garages other than just main dealers.
