Reply #27: I have a Japanese Toyota too

[M155Y_A1CH]

A 1985 Celica with 300,000 miles and still runs strong. Of course it looks like crap due to the poor quality of Japanese steel body panels. Almost every other part of it though, is of superior materials and workmanship. All my rubber seals rotted out about ten years ago and I had to do an engine overhaul. When I tore it down, I was amazed at the lack of engine wear at 200,000 mi. I could have sworn it was a brand new engine. Absolutely no cylinder ridge to fool with and the bearings looked like new.
I have seen inside American Toyotas and the story's not the same. The wear in that case is more in line with a Chevy or Ford. IMO American Toyotas are not of the same quality as foreign made models. The body integrity is better on the domestics but I'm sure they won't run as long as the Japanese because they are being built along the line of American "planned obsolescence". Oddly the domestic models are being sold at a much greater price than a comparable Chevy or Ford.
The old imports were so good that they made a reputation for Toyota as being so much better, but the newer domestics disappoint.
I think people get angry when they pay more for a product because of it's reputation and then have the same kinds of problems (recalls) with the product as they may have anticipated with the cheaper product.