April New Car Sales Record
5 May, 2008
63 Comments 
Despite the rising cost of petrol and recent rises in interest rates, official VFACTS figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that a total of 84,061 cars, trucks and buses were sold in April, a 11.2 per cent increase on the same month last year.
So far 2008 looks to be another record year with year-to-date records showing the car market is up by 5.1 per cent over the same period last year.
The increase in car purchases has come from the business sector, with sales increasing 12.6 per cent so far this year. Private buyers are about the same, only up 0.6 per cent.
“While the April result was boosted by the early timing of Easter, which fell in March, the underlying sales trend remains notably strong and resilient,” said the chief executive of the FCAI, Andrew McKellar.
The FCAI is predicting another record year with over one million vehicle sales.
April saw buyers flock to small cars, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and Light Trucks. the small car segment grew by 24 per cent (3603 vehicles) over April last year while the medium car segment went up by 11.4 per cent (755 cars) and the light car segment, helped by new additions like the Nissan Micra went up by 5.3 per cent.
The Light Truck market improved by 3077 or 22.6 per cent, so did the Pick-up/Cab-chassis (PU/CC) 4×4 (1403) and PU/CC 4×2 segments (922). The biggest increase came in the van segment with 686 vehicles sold, a 42.7 per cent increase.
Once again Toyota remained the top-selling brand in April with 24.8 per cent market share. Coming in second and third were Holden with 12.1 per cent and Ford with 9.8 per cent.
Year-to-date Toyota leads the sales race with 81,062 from Holden with 44,037 and Ford with 34,533.
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May 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Toyota & MacDonalds are proof that big budget advertising works!
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May 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Thats like saying that Holden is the Hungry Jacks of the auto business. Sure they may taste a bit better but you wouldn’t be caught dead in one. (unless you’re in stubbies and thongs) Ha ha ha
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May 5th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
What’s wrong with stubbies and thongs? I’m fkn Australian and proud of it.
Go ‘Strayla!
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May 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Big Budget? the new TRD Ute ad…. 2 Hillbillies/Bogans standing in a paddock leaning up against a stationery ute not saying anything just nodding at eachother… Must have cost thousands as it obviously took a lot of brainpower to come up with that one.
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May 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
But the burgers ARE Better at Hungry Jacks
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May 5th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
If advertising works then Ford and Holden need to learn to do it properly, but then again Toyota probably has more budget to do so with their multimillion dollar profits and can maintain the flood of multi-mediums and sponsorships , Ford and Holden struggling to make ends meat may sooner or later may end up advertising on the local gazette or pamphlet runs haha…
… and whats wrong with thongs!
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May 5th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I understand advertising when you release a new model etc but once your product is established .. if its any good you shouldn’t need to advertise - particularly not as much as Toyota do.. if not tyour product was meant to fail
Because nothing sells a product better than reputation and word of mouth.. Sure a company [like Toyota] is going to say there car has this or can do that…
Yet some people like to find out more get the opinion of those who have driven or actually own one before they try it out for themselves..
I believe back in the 50s 60s Dodge used to say - How good is it?…. ask someone who owns one.
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May 5th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
YEAH HAA … YOU BLOODY BEAUTY - TOYOTA NO.1 !!
Seriously, how good does it get - Toyota outsold Holden by more then 2 to 1 and even more painful for Ford.
Toyota : 20 838
Holden : 10 187
Ford : 8 246
What an absolute flogging …. OOOCH !!
Best of all, the Falcon and Commodore have reached all time lows with the Commodore now as low as 3 300 compared to it’s hay-day when the VT sold between 8 000 - 9000 per month.
Strong sales from the Hilux and Corolla has kicked the Commodore further down the pecking order to 3rd.
OH WHAT A FEELING … TOYOTA
A message for the Toyota critics … TAKE THAT YOU SUCKERS !!
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May 5th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Oh What A Feeling
Do you barrack for Collingwood, because you sure have issues.
Unfortunately, for me, I was a contributor to the Toyota yearly total, but my Kluger is a real lemon. I will never buy another new Toyota.
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May 5th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
George bad lucky mate… but it happens with every car, 55% of Falcons for eg have to return back to dealershipi within 5 months for major repairs!
Well done Toyota!
P.S Toyota advertising more then Ford/Holden? Get your hands off it.
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May 5th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
TP,
Toyota advertise much more than both ford & holden together. Didn’t you know that? Perhaps you can google it and come back when you have SFI.
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May 5th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
TP,
Typical, don’t let the facts get in the way of you BS biases. The numbers you are quoting are NOT for major repairs, they were the total, and are quoted from a survey of 0.1% of new car customers, which even the research company said was NOT A RELIABLE SAMPLE, and real world variations could be up to 40% different.
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May 5th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Bret:
caradvice.com.au/11373/new-car-advertising-spend-rising/
This article supports a contrary view
(copy and paste into address bar)
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May 5th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Yeah, know those figures, seen others elsewhere that detail real dollars more preciesly - no, I don’t remember where, but it was mid Feb.
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
real dollars would be close no doubt anyways, all advertise anyways to a heavy amount.
Thats true Wheelnut, in an ideal world you dont need to advertise, purchasing on experience (test drives, people feedback) would be good, but the fact is a majority of people don’t do proper research or don’t know to, when buying cars, they’ll get pulled by exposure of an advert and visit the dealer and get “coerced” by the salesman its goooooood. Because the majority of people are so called “lost”, adverts are a beacon and is necessary.
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
stats such as those advertising $ spent werent broken down enough to reflect true results.
as displayed on caradvice, holdens budjet included advertising for isuzu, Hummer etc as well as holden.
the spend budget for holden should have been displayed as holden alone to show a true reflection as to how much they spend compared to toyota, because hummers and isuzu’s sales arent added to holdens sales tally are they?
also i see mitsu even had thrifty car rentals advert budget added to mitsu’d spend budget.
so unless you get broken down figures as bret says, it is impossible to draw a direct comparison.
i think bret may have exaggerated in saying toyota spend much more than holden and ford put together, but I’d reckon if holdens budget was singled out, it would easily see toyota as the biggest spender
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
The mighty cant stay top of tree you wallies. History proves that and will here too. Obviously you cannot fathom reality as playing with it!
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
TP,
you are full of it.
55% dont have to return for major repairs.
show me where it says that.
more like 55% return for their first service with in 5 months
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
hey guys just something interesting.
my uncle is a manager for woolworths and currently has a VE commodore is a company vehicle.
he tells me today that woolworths are giving the fleet arrangement with holden the flick in favour of diesel VW’s!!!!!!
so those of you who doubt that VW wont come near their claims of beating toyota in sales, think again.
it seems VW is going to hit it out big time in bargaining to gain fleet deals to boost their sales in the same way toyota climbed to the top.
so VW here they come, the ball is rolling.
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Toyoto Fags
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May 5th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
And like the Rock bellows out,
Smell what the Rock is cookin and thats all i got to saye about that! F***ing funny hay!
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May 6th, 2008 at 12:26 am
TP, your one of the 34% of people using statistics to justify their 98% bullshit argument.
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May 6th, 2008 at 1:43 am
TP always goes on about statistics and substance etc; but his banter above pretty much demonstrates he really has no f*cking idea what they are. I know there’s genuine Tojo fans that lust after their genuinely lustrous vehicles (of yesteryear) but it’s funny to see their’s a niche sector of worship occupied by the lower slums here- where Corollas and Boreion’s are the stuff of wet dreams; a blissful place, of arbitrary statistics untouched by logic. This blog has opened my eyes up to a bizzare phenomenon- ‘blandophilia’. Get treatment.
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May 6th, 2008 at 5:42 am
George do yourself a favour buy a Hyundai I ditched a Rav for a Tucson best thing I ever did and you will have years of hassle free and enjoyable motoring with the best customer service in the car industry.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Andrew M I have linked the article literally 10 times here… I DONT INTEND TO DO IT AGAIN. You know the industry figures, 55% return for UNSCHEDULED maintenance.
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May 6th, 2008 at 10:31 am
yes Andrew VW are getting very agressive!, from what i have seen dealer wise we are going for big numbers with a world class prduct, i think a lot of manufacturers will stand and take notice of VW, i think they are the sleeping giant!
As for your claim TP you havent given anything that directly says that so i think you should give it up, your ranting on like a spoilt 2 year old! i think you and dingo need to go on a holiday together.
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May 6th, 2008 at 11:52 am
What like Rio de Janerio or Mardi Gras holiday…..can rock up in mummies hot as Corolla (these must be the yong spruce-sters that he refers to as driving them) and can hear mumblings “OMG, AAAAH, MAN, OOOOOH…..OH WHAT A FEELING”
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May 6th, 2008 at 11:53 am
typo…..young spruce-sters
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May 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Tonyn pull your head out of your behind… if you havent clicked on the link the survey thats not my problem! Type into google ‘Drive Holden and Ford equal last’. The article is the very first. 55% of Fords and Holdens have to go back to stealership in 5months
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May 6th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
is this the so called “hidden noone shoudl see survey” its written by a news paper so im not 100% convinced….. as i have stated i have worked in a dealership for nearly 10 years and never seen such surveys!
As for pulling my head from my behind your just buring your head up there, you fail to see what george is writing and dismissing it, so who has there head shoved up there behind???????
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May 6th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
“Drive Holden and Ford equal last” How can a article written in May 2007 based on 2006 figures be accurate. If you look carefully, a lot of these cars are lease based vehicles. Not that I am trying to make excuses for their QA control.
I think the most important comparison is the drive factor of these cars. That is how good do they drive. The Asian based cars require companies like Holden to tweek their handling, which if you are a DRIVER of cars you will realise this correspondes to the safety of a vehicle.
The majority of 4 and 5 star safety rating vehicles are NOT ASIAN BASED. So guys better to drive a car that might need a bit of QA work done on it than drive a car that has passed the QA level but is unsafe.
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May 6th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Tonyn, VW is getting agressive and good on them because they are a superb company but have you thought about the damage that they will probably do to companies like GM and Ford instead of Toyota. Have a think about it.
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May 6th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
TP,
you have shown no such evidence that 55% are for “MAJOR” repairs.
you change your story time after time as to what that 55% figure represents.
when people say how good the I6 is, you chime in with your pure assumptions that the whole 55% is for motor related problems.
now its “MAJOR repairs?????
so out of that 55%, no one has ever returned for a plastic trim or door rubber issue for example.
and the biggest thing is that your “phone poll results” (ha ha ha ha ha ha) are many years old.
and you know what has happened to manufacturers quality rankings in that time?
toyota has kept sliding while ford has been climbing.
do you care to quote from the latest of JD powers findings wher it places ford over toyota,
and they quote that they will no longer automaticlly recommend toyota models like they have been previously unless they are proven to be good.
even the poll results where ford performs really good doesnt mean shyte to me as i buy my vehicles from my own preferences and needs over someones emotive opinion.
but if survey results are what turn you on, then at least be man enough to recognise the full picture and dont display your selective reading to us YET AGAIN
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May 6th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Tonyn,
the only way you get big numbers in the auto game is to tap into the fleet market.
VW must have some scouts out there cutting some serious deals to get companies on board.
its quite funny, because ford and holden at the same time are announcing that they dont want to attract fleets anymore (well not to the tune that they once did)
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May 6th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
TP - how many Toyota folk have to return for UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE…come dude answer a question for once.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
No Name if you went to the article in question by google searching as I said you will see that Toyota TOPS many of its categories and its always in top half… while Holden and Ford are the exact opposite. So no, nice try but you lose… Toyota win in reliability
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
TP,
dont run away,
tell me where it specifies “MAJOR” repairs
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I dont know why I have to be so accountable when people like youselves dont support your claims AT ALL.
“According to the survey, the Falcon’s main problem are as were the engine and general squeaks and rattles”
Hmm Id say engine problems is prity major!!!
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Someone better tell Taxi owners about the engine problems!!!!
Rode in a series 3 AU the other day with 954,000klms on the clock.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
A Summary for you No Name:
Light : Toyota 3rd, Holden 3rd LAST, Ford 2nd LAST
Small : Toyota 4th, Holden 3rd LAST, Ford 2nd LAST
Medium : Toyota 1st, Holden 2nd LAST, No Ford
Large : Toyota 2nd, Holden 2nd LAST, Ford LAST
Compact Offroader : Toyota 6th, No Holden, Ford 4th LAST
Medium Offroader : Toyota 1st AND 2nd, No Holden, Ford 2nd And 3rd LAST
And I remind you, these are industry figures… they aernt fudged… these are the facts! As for claims RE the year of stats, if you think much has changed in one year your kidding yourself, apart from new entrant like Mondeo its all the same.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Ive already covere the Taxi issue… those engines have relatively easier lives then a private vehicle. Mind you I find your claims hard to believe regardless, all I see is AU’s burning oil around my neighbourhood.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Looks like Taxi companies have given up on Toyota after a brief dalliance! LOL
They found that the spin didn’t equal fact.
Back to the Great Australian Road Car.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
So the industry figures are false aye Realcars? That about summarises your credibility. Mind you as Ive repeated 100 times now, Toyotas have been used as Taxis is FAR harsher environments such as Saudi Arabia (you know, the place that has dust storms!) for years with floorless reliability.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
U must live in a parallel universe TP?
U really don’t have a clue do u?
Luckily u have a degree or u would be totally unemployable if your comment is a true reflection of your mentality.
Why are so many professionals half wits?
If I had my way people wouldn’t be able to attend Uni unless they had an IQ of at least 130.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
TP - I’m not desputing Toyotas reliability, just that statistics, as you are well aware, can be used to misrepresent and skew the true underlying figures as you have above.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Yes, floorless, I tell you! These cars have no floors. Damned funny. Excuse me.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
A relo has an EL as a private vehicle and it has over 600,000klms on it and doesn’t use any oil although is on it’s second automatic tranny and second alternator. It has never seen the inside of a garage at night either!
Go the great Australian Road Car.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
so a rattle and squeek is a major problem too is it???pfffft!!!
an engine problem can be as simple as a tighten of the rocker cover and a clean of oil around the gasket.
i do agree though that constant stop start city driving in un ventilated conditions driving bumper to bumper through buildings in the thick of city traffic is easy driving for taxis.
ha ha ha ha ha ha GET REAL!!!!!!!!!!
i doubt phone polls that are based on opinions which in turn are developed from emotions can be termed official industry figures.
hell, even these groups that gather the info warn that the results may not tell the true picture.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
So the big Toyota sooo sucessful in the world beating everyone. See the source below from March 2008 UK (SMMT website).
Toyota 22,760
BMW 22,755
GM (Vauxhall)57,008
Ford 67,676
VW 32,285
Peugeot 25,545
plus many others
So it seems that Toyota are not quite thrashing the opposition. And they don’t even feature in the second hand car sales figures.
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May 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Golf,
no floors? well thats “Prity” cool.
(did you catch that one?)
i can only dream of such a day where i am as learned
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
TP you make my stomach turn. Taxis’ have an easy life? Clueless imbocile.
Industry figures that were taken from a miniscule sample are not accurate enough. I would have thought youd lift your game by now but making attacks on other posters only highlights what a deficient wanker you are. Blandophiles are sick and need help.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
TP - your argument are truly Floorless (well spotted Golfie FAF) you not actually stated the statistic we all would like to see. ie numbers of Toyota cars calling for unscheduled repairs.
Floorless - Pity Toyota can’t make a convertable, that would be ruthless.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
LOL floorless!!!
i believe most Falcon Taxis are purchased second hand i.e
12 -18 months old so popularity as cabs doesn’t elevate new car sales stats.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
No name,
ha ha ha ha very clever mate!!!!!!!
i get a mental picture of the flintstones mobile now.
maybe he really does mean “floorless” as in you can use your feet when it breaks down on you.
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Careful, Andrew M and No Name. Too much humour might be misunderstood! :)
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
realcars,
im “pretty” sure “your” “write”.
i also believe most Taxis are purchased 2nd hand.
yes the odd couple are newbies, but majority are 2nd hand i think
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
sorry i meant “Prity” ^^^^ above.
its kinda hard to get used to the edumacated way
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May 6th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
If I lived in Australia I would actually be glad that nearly everyone drives Toyotas, that way i’d stand out from the crowd a bit more in something without a Toyota badge.
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May 6th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Yes sad but true our roads are fast becoming a dull and bland tapestry of Toyotas with their protruding noses. The drivers in newer models sitting high like Lord Muck feeling superior to those driving lesser makes.
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May 6th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Our neighbour across he road bought a new Camry in February this year. While initially very happy with the pruchase it has since turned sour for her. It has been back to the dealers 5 times to repair a constant stutter in the motor when idling, it has even cut out for her at traffic lights. She is not very happy with the dealers service and handling of this either. After she was recommended by a friend to buy a Camry which she now regrets, this whole experience has turned her off buying another Toyota. She now has the car up for sale and is looking at buying a Mazda 3.
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May 7th, 2008 at 8:04 am
If the engine of your friends car is making a “Crap-Crap-Crap-Crap-Crap” noise at idle this is perfectly normal for most Toyotas.. as isd the B-B-L-L-A-A-N-N-D-D noise they make when you hit the accelerator
Though she better be careful that a Piston doesn’t detach itself as it supposedly did in the TRD Aurion.. as the Aurion and Camry are the same car
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May 14th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
“with floorless reliability.”
LMAO
Shouldn’t it be “Roofless” No name?
hehehe
Them saudi’s must have “flintstones’ cars!
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May 14th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Just a little joke with a well known uneducated Toyotaphile Cameron. Snigger snigger
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