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gmcnut

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Hi all,

My work requires a lot of driving. They provide me with a car and they pay all of the associated expenses for it since it belongs to them.

I have been driving a 2005 Impala since it was new and it has just about 200,000 miles on it.

I have to make a choice between a new Malibu or Camry. I guess both of them are made in North America. Yes, I am aware that if I choose the Toyota that some of the money will ultimatly end up in Tokyo.

I am leaning toward the Malibu, it just seems to be a better value as far as gadgets and gizmos. On the other hand the Toyota vehicles that I've had have been excellent.

I am just wondering if I'm overlooking something obvious.
 
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To be honest with you I had a malibu and wouldn't ever own another. Didn't hold up to well. Granted that was a couple of years ago so who knows maybe they are better. If you are going to gizmos and gadgets then I don't know what to tell you. If you want comfort and reliability then I would go for the camry, but that is me.
 
If you company buys the car and pays for all related expenses, then buy the Impala. If they don't pay for service and break downs, then the answer is pretty clear .... Toyota. I've had years of experience with Toyotas and have never been disappointed. In my book, one of the best riding automobiles is the Avalon. :biggrin:
 
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gmcnut said:
Hi all,
I have to make a choice between a new Malibu or Camry. I guess both of them are made in North America. Yes, I am aware that if I choose the Toyota that some of the money will ultimatly end up in Tokyo.

I am just wondering if I'm overlooking something obvious.
Click to expand...

Yes, - the money won't wind up in Tokyo, it will wind up in Toyota-shi (city) about 200 miles west of Tokyo. :biggrin:
 
No question, Camry for me.

Your decision should be similar whether it is paid by someone else or by yourself. Use it and care for it as if it is yours also. JMHO
 
In 2002 SHMBO decided she wanted/needed a new car. After much debate and many test drives she, to my dismay, opted for an Avalon and has never looked back.
For my money the car is great, great ride, gas mileage, and looks. Having said that I still prefer my 97 Chevy P/U with the dent in the side, 150K miles (all put on by me), and needing a paint job. The P/U is also much easier for these ole bones to enter and exit as it's getting to the point where a hoist would be a welcome option for exiting her Avalon.
Just my thots,
Vern
 
I agree with Vern, go for the pick-up. Show these posts to the purchasing department and they will add "pick-up" to your list of vehicle options. :)
 
If you don't mind, what is your job.

I've gone on business trips that I refused the rental they assigned me as it would have lost the client if I was seen driving it. To some clients it really makes a difference, and not just where assembled, but where the parent company is.

For myself, I've owned 3 Chrysler products in the last 8 years that were new. Hardly a wink out of them in the 220k miles we put on the group. And I definitely still miss my 2002 Dodge Ram. That beast would do anything I asked and was VERY comfortable on long trips.
 
I think you have been one of the lucky one's with the Chevy. I have heard and experienced so many problems with those cars that I don't think its worth they are worth the $$. Go with the Toyota.

They should recycle the Malibus and make pen kits with the scrap metal. Well, only if they don't have the same failure rate as the cars.. : )
 
Hello,

Well, yiou asked for it, so here is my 2 cents worth. I would recomend getting the Camry. I have owned 3 Toyotas in my life including a Corolla, a Celica, and a pickup. I never had to any of them back to the dealer for anything. Perfect, right off the showroom floor. Top notch quality. I had a customer come in to our local Firestone store years ago with a Toyota Corolla. It had over 650,000 mile on it, and he swore the negine had not been touched yet. He changed the oil religously, and was planning to drive it all the way to 1,000,00 miles. Probably not a factor in your situation, but they have much better resale value also.

Dan
 
Better go Toyota, GM may not be around to honor any warranty, besides Toyota's are far better built cars, I had a pickup that my son wrecked that had over 525,000 on it and it ran like a top, my wife has a 94 Camry with 350,000 and it leaks a bit of oil where the shop replaced the timing belt, they are going to fix it next week.
 
My father-in-law has the Camry Hybrid and absolutely loves it. This from a guy who still has his '72 DeVille and other pieces of American Steel. Comfortable, quiet and pretty cool to run in "stealth mode"...
 
I'd choose the Malibu in a heartbeat. Of course, I've been a GM fan since my second car; also a Malibu, come to think of it.
 
My wife got a new Camry Hybrid a few months ago. Went from a Yukon that didn't know how to pass repair shop (always some little senser thingy that cost a couple hundred to get fixed) to this new Camry. So far the most comfortable riding car we have owned.
 
Personally I support America and the American worker. I live in this country and live with the people and won't help to put anymore out of work. If I was raised and lived in Japan, I would support them, but I don't. This is just my opinion and I have the right to my opinion. I too am looking at a new vehicle but my decision is between a Town Car and a 4dr. Jeep Sahara.
 
Hi all,

I went and checked out the two cars. First to the Chevy dealership where I was mobbed by salesmen as soon as I drove onto the lot. Yikes! If you want to have some sadistic fun right now get in your car and make a slow drive around a new car dealership parking lot.

The visit to the Toyota dealership was more pleasant. I explained why I was there and was even given an expensive looking full color brochure on the Camry even though the saleman understood that this was going to be ordered through our fleet buyer and there wasn't a chance in heck that the car would be purchased through him.

I am sure that I can get along with either car. I suspect that there will be more car left at the end of it's service in the fleet with the Camry. But the Malibu is tempting.

All in all I am leaning toward the Camry SE.
 
I'd like to support America, but when it comes to dropping $25K on an item, the Japanese have my bread. If we're talking about some turning tools, sure I'd be willing to go with American even at the loss of some quality. When it comes to the second largest purchase, only second to my house, longevity is the winner. I've never had an American car that held up as well as a Japanese or Swedish. Had we gotten our act together and made a name for durability years ago when the Japanese cars were breaking into the market, this wouldn't be an issue.
 
I've always bought American, until I bought my Toyota Trundra, best buy I've ever made. Go for the Camery. The big 3 will be around if the UAW would give a little back and members had a little more pride in what produced.

Jack
 
Gosh folks, any body have any idea how many American UAW workers are employed by Toyota and their support companies in the US, I'm not talking about the dealerships and salesmen, Companies that make parts for Toyota are the life blood of Jackson Tn. they employ several thousand, there is a Huge plant I drove by I think it was in Indiana and the new facility they are building in Mississippi which will employ a couple thousand Americans, sure a lot of the profits go back to Toyota City, but there is an awful lot that stays right here in the US. and they aren't begging for a bail out. JMHO
 
I'm always surprised at the number of people who still blast American cars on quality. From my experience, American cars have excellent quality.

My current Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great vehicle, as was my last one. Before that, I drove an Oldsmobile that was a great car. My wife currently drives a Chevy Trailblazer that is terrific. Prior to that, she had an absolutely horrible Acura. My play car is a '93 Cadillac Allante. It's awesome.

If you guys want to buy a Japanese car, go ahead. Why should I care? That doesn't change the fact that the American car companies make great quality vehicles. It is a bonus that tehy are American companies.

While your perceptions might be that Japanese cars are still higher quality the US ones, that perception simply doesn't match reality and hasn't for quite some time.
 
Russianwolf said:
And I definitely still miss my 2002 Dodge Ram. That beast would do anything I asked and was VERY comfortable on long trips.
Click to expand...

I still have my 2002 Dodge Ram. :biggrin:

It's incredibly comfortable, hauls about a ton (in a half ton bed) without complaint, and is about the most dependable vehicle I've ever owned. Nothing but regular fluid changes, and it runs like new with about 120k on the clock.

If the car is to be used for business, how about the Ford Taurus or Fusion? I've owned the prior generation Tauruses (Taurii?) for business and they were incredibly dependable. Also very comfortable. The '95 I had got traded with about 220k on it (still running and driving great), and the 2001 was still a brand new car when I traded it with 110k on it.
 
sbell111 said:
While your perceptions might be that Japanese cars are still higher quality the US ones, that perception simply doesn't match reality and hasn't for quite some time.
Click to expand...

There certainly will be a lemon from any manufacturer (even German) and seems like you had that experience first hand. Experience help us make our choices and I will never question yours. That said, I believe your view about quality (American vs Japanese) is contrary to most.

As mentioned earlier, "Japanese" cars are probably more American than so called American cars nowadays anyway. Just my thoughts.
 
Dario said:
There certainly will be a lemon from any manufacturer (even German) and seems like you had that experience first hand. Experience help us make our choices and I will never question yours. That said, I believe your view about quality (American vs Japanese) is contrary to most.

As mentioned earlier, "Japanese" cars are probably more American than so called American cars nowadays anyway. Just my thoughts.
Click to expand...

Toyota Drops in Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey, Ford Improves

From JD Power 2008 Initial Quality Study Results:
Several new models were launched with exceptional quality, none more key than the Chevrolet Malibu, which launched with segment-leading quality among midsized cars.
Click to expand...
 
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Dario said:
That said, I believe your view about quality (American vs Japanese) is contrary to most.
Click to expand...

A lot of people formed their opinions in the 80's and 90's and are having a problem adjusting them to this century. Which doesn't make them right. I think we just like to hit on ourselves.

Marc
 
bitshird said:
Gosh folks, any body have any idea how many American UAW workers are employed by Toyota and their support companies in the US, I'm not talking about the dealerships and salesmen, Companies that make parts for Toyota are the life blood of Jackson Tn. they employ several thousand, there is a Huge plant I drove by I think it was in Indiana and the new facility they are building in Mississippi which will employ a couple thousand Americans, sure a lot of the profits go back to Toyota City, but there is an awful lot that stays right here in the US. and they aren't begging for a bail out. JMHO
Click to expand...

Agreed, except for the UAW part. Most all of the southern plants are NOT unionized. That is the advantage over the big 3. Legacy costs. I've got a '97 F250 that had been utterly dependable except for problem with vacuum pumps. Other than that, excellent service over 180K miles. Most perceptions are from the late '80s and early '90s when the US automakers put out big heaps of rubbish.
 
Besides my wifes Camry, we own A 1996 Ford ghetto sled (Windstar) mine, which has 197,000 on it, and a 1970 VW with umpteen thousand miles on it. Of the three, I like my Ford the best, it's very Arthritis friendly, so is my bug, The Camry is great on trips, just a bit hard to get my oversize butt into and out of, but it gets the best mileage,and rides nearly as good as the Windstar.
 
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