2007 was record year for Toyota in the USA due to big 3 unable to finance their vehicles due to their impeding chapter 11's.

Complete market was larger than in 2013 and Toyota share of that market was also much larger due to above. Bob Carter has said recently that that market share was not realistic and they expect to obtain it ever again.

I know you like to jump on Toyota but it is silly to say that Camry sales are bad and that Toyota is doing bad...

2013 is significant for Toyota:
1. Most cars produced in the history of Toyota brand.
2. Largest profit made in the history of Toyota brand.

Just putting that into perspective.

 

The economy tanked in 2009.

All automakers saw about a 25% dip in yearly sales. Toyota dipped around 20%. Subaru oddly enough was up 30%.

So, those figure drops had nothing to do with the car. It was about the economy.

Don't forget about the "unintended acceleration" madness in 2010, and the Japan earthquake in 2011. Those also affected sales figures.

 

i'll never understand camry buyers. there are simply better choices.

just compare the look of camry and mazda 6. mazda6 looks like it's in a different segment.

give me

mazda6
passat
accord
sonata/optima
altima
fusion

over camry.

 

I'd go with all except the Passat.

 

reason for sonata's decline

1. you do know mpg fiasco was pretty big deal for sonata right? i'm surprised it didn't hit half of the sales. if i was sonata buyer i would sue their ***.

2. and sonata is in its last year of a cycle i believe. and IMO, sonata's design didn't age well. i think it still looks sharp in some angles, but it's kinda looks tired to me. vanilla works in this segment. cars like passat will age well.

3. much better competition - sonata debuted when other top models were dated. it was a perfect storm with the provocative design and marketing push.


IMO, camry has been a huge disappointment. toyota is better than that. camry's interior is a borderline joke. i mean talk about drastic quality difference between avalon and camry. it's night and day.

 

Sure, but Toyota also had its own problems and you say Camry sucks... Yet Camry sold 200,0000 more than Sonata.

3 years ago, here in this forum, people were saying how Sonata will take over Camry, possibly in 2012. Last year, people were predicting how Fusion will take over Camry.

All that happened was Camry selling even more and both Ford and Hyundai having huge fleet sales... Hyundai does 2x more fleet than Toyota and Ford does 3x more fleet than Toyota.


But once again, I personally would not buy Camry ever for myself. I would buy it for my wife though.

However, Camry has huge following of people who buy them, and they are not car enthusiasts. If they made Camry like Mazda 6, their sales would tank, even if I personally preffer Mazda 6.

So what I am saying is that people are confusing their personal preferences with market preferences. Next Camry will be "good" for 2014, just like this one was good in 2011, and then 2-3 years later, we will have another thread like this where people will say it sucks big time and it needs to change or Hyundai/Ford/Honda will overtake it.

 

I know you like to defend Toyota at all costs, but it's Toyoda himself saying that the current Camry isn't living up, so all you're doing is making up excuses for Toyota's own mediocrity. Yeah I get it, people like vanilla, but LESS people are liking vanilla these days and even Toyoda knows this. Why keep trying to deny the obvious?

 

The Camry just minds its business and you would think its the worst car on the planet the way some people make it seem.

Except WHEN YOU GET PAST THE FLUFF outside of the Accord they are not as well built and over time the Camry is rock solid and the rest rattle and things start to go wrong. Not to mention the Toyota dealer network is still one of the best.

I think many are confusing more stylish for a better car.

Please explain what a CR-V does better than a Camry? Everything the Camry is accused off the CR-V is the same or worse.

Please tell us what you drive so we can say "i'll never understand _________ owners"

 

Toyoda isn't mentioning those things as excuses and is pointing solely at the car itself.

 

It's a top of the line CR-V CUV.A not bad one at that.It's ok..
It's the wife's choice of vehicle.A Honda that bites you.

A sedan should have a nicer design than that of the so ugly in and out cost cut Camry.
Styling is subjective but what sedan in it's class is the Camry style nicer than to you?Maybe the Passat?

Maybe you should try and convince Akio in a email or phone call to stay the course on the present Camry design.

 

Ugh it's soooo boring. Off topic, but the GF asked why I didn't pick her up in her CR-V...I will choose the Subaru for snow covered roads, time and again.

 

I buy what I want and she gets what she wants.
Simple as that.
Would I buy a CR-V for me?No.
Would I buy a new Camry?No but I did own a '07 XLE and '11 loaded Hybrid that was rear ended.
Both those cars rode smoother and quieter than the new generation.Also had a nicer thud when shutting the door.

As far as a Subaru,I preferred a loaded Outback over the CR-V.My wife didn't like the station wagon look and loved the CR-V.She also had a '11 CR-V.

 

I only mentioned it because people spoke about sales figures as a barometer to the likability of the car, especially when comparing the previous generations.

 

ford fusion FTW. The more I see it, the better it looks. What a desirable looking midsize sedan.

the competition is getting good, many are realizing the holy grail of design. Toyota and nissan better catch on fast.

 

I hear ya. We plan to get married and she has already said no to a "wagon." Yet, she is very interested in the Forester after we drove one. So now I always refer to it as an SUV.