It feels like Toyota keeps raising prices, but are we getting better quality? Body panels seem to be getting thinner and thinner, and I even saw uncovered metal on a 50k Prius! Does anyone else think the quality is going down? When is this going to change? Or is it just me overthinking things?
The body panels aren’t as thin as you think. Parts that don’t need to be super strong are thinner to save weight. This has been the case for a long time. Cars are much safer now than before. If you’re talking about uncovered metal, cars are made from metal, and seeing some of it isn’t a quality issue. If you’re worried about real problems, check out how many recalls Toyota has had recently. That might be a bigger concern.
@Rowen
I agree with you. But it’s also true that Japanese brands generally use thinner metal than German brands. It’s not a big deal as it doesn’t affect the car’s structure or safety. Toyotas are still high-quality cars overall.
@Ashby
Yes, but that’s been the case for years, not just a new issue with modern cars. My Japanese and German cars from the 80s had the same thing.
Rowen said:
@Ashby
Yes, but that’s been the case for years, not just a new issue with modern cars. My Japanese and German cars from the 80s had the same thing.
Exactly, it’s nothing new!
@Rowen
I get that, but you have to admit, listen to the sounds when you close the doors of cars like the Yaris, Prius, or Yaris Cross on Carwow. It just feels different. You’ll hear what I mean.
I never buy a new model in the first year. I trust Toyota more than other brands to fix problems in the first few years. Just give it some time.
If you need a new model fast, try to get one made in Japan like the Land Cruiser or 4Runner. They’re usually better at avoiding the early manufacturing issues.
@ace
https://youtu.be/85qJ6j3ONUk?si=j4L503qZL9DjtSIZ that is my complaint, you can hear the door shuts in that video too
@Mason
Carwow? I can’t stand that guy. His reviews are so annoying. I saw his review of the Yaris Cross and he complained about missing features on the lower trims. Like, why are you complaining about things that are not included in that trim? He also went on about door closing sounds, but I’ve never heard anything wrong with it. Autogefühl is much better at reviewing cars.
@ace
I get that, but he has the best variety of cars. Haha.
Not everyone is lucky enough to get a Toyota made in Japan though…
Shaye said:
Not everyone is lucky enough to get a Toyota made in Japan though…
Motomachi factory FTW!
I think the Prius is great. We’re considering getting another one. I don’t agree with your complaints about the metal or the hatch paint. But I do agree about subscription features. If a car already has something like remote start or heated seats, I shouldn’t have to pay extra to use them.
My 2024 from Mississippi has a lot of small issues like puffy upholstery in the seats, torn rubber on the door seal, and crooked cloth around the steering wheel. My 2021 from Japan was perfect.
They’re still selling these cars well, so why would they change anything?
Amanda said:
They’re still selling these cars well, so why would they change anything?
True, but that doesn’t mean they should keep getting worse.