Chrysler, Hyundai offer more incentives to Toyota owners

By Tim Beissmann | February 01st, 2010

Chrysler and Hyundai are the latest US automotive companies to jump on the bandwagon and offer incentives to fleeing Toyota owners.

Following the lead of General Motors and Ford late last week, the newcomers have also put US$1000 on the table for Toyota owners and lease holders who jump ship.

Chrysler’s $1000 bonus scheme, effective immediately, applies to owners and lease holders of current Toyota Tundra, Tacoma and Sienna models who trade-in and purchase or lease any new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram vehicle.

Hyundai’s deal, which ends today, applies to owners of all Toyota vehicles who trade them in for a Sonata, Elantra or Elantra Touring.

American Honda executive vice president, John Mendel, said his company would not have a change of heart, confirming that poaching Toyota customers remained off the agenda.

“We will not react in a predatory way toward either Toyota or Toyota customers,” Mr Medel said.

Meanwhile, Ford continues to step up its assault, providing its dealers with more money to advertise its incentives scheme.

(with The Detroit News)

Camry lover

These companies are very cruel, callous and heartless organisations. Shame on Chrysler, shame on Hyundai.

Whitbomb07

Tell me this Camry lover, how much bashing was, is and will continue to be made against Hyundai?

What’s the difference?

Regards

Whitbomb07

Camry lover

Too much. People are very critical and should embrace the hard work gone into designing most of the cars around.

Hyundai have been working very hard to improve their quality, but they are still yet to rival Toyota.

If you cannot say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.

HyundaiSmoke

Hyundai, has been ahead of Toyota in quality for 6 years buddy. Check the stats. Stupid Baby Boomer Camry Lover!!!

Camry lover

No personal attacks please. We are here to discuss the Toyota, Hyundai and Chrysler vehicles.

HyundaiSmoke

Well, and I think its a personal attack that anybody would consider a recall ridden brand with 10.3 million vehicles recalled in the US market in the last 12 months better than a Hyundai. Everything these guys sold in America got recalled in the last 12 months, and you have the audacity the nerve to think a Toyota is better than a Hyundai.

Its insulting and borderline Xenophobic.

Hyundai right now owns the Japanese Brands, KIA has caught up and soon they will be better than you guys too. In the US Toyota is in 8th place relaibility, Hyundai 4th, KIA 9th. KIA is expected to surpass Toyota this year in reliability.

HyundaiSmoke

The quality scorers will be very unkind to Toyota this year as well. I hear they might even give Toyota a middle of the Pack Reliability rating (thats 15th through 19th place out of 34 Marques), and for Toyota this is very bad.

We will see soon as the new reliability/Quality stats are due in about a month.
Camry lover

I think you must be consulting an unreliable brand of reliability rankings, as your figures are definitely false.

idlebrain

What about GM and Ford, who actually began this incentives against Toyota?

Camry lover

Shame on them too.

Shame on them

Oh dear,

Toyota is the most aggressive when it comes to advertising in the market place in general, they make up their own facts,(what was the O2 advantage)and they just throw money at any fleet wanting to purchase their vehicles, It was noted that Toyota is a “marketing company who makes cars”, while the others are “car companies tring to market them”.

Camry lover

Please be more careful when consulting online sources as they are less reliable. Some of the information people are quoting here is not correct information.

Andrew M

Are you claiming Toyota have never advertised with other manufacturers shon in bad light???

Camry lover

I don’t believe Toyota have ever commited such an act, no. Toyota never makes comparisons to other automakers in their ads. Toyotas sell on their own merit.

Camry Hater

Come on Honda and also Nissan Join in in on the fun and help bring down the Most overrated car company of all time.

Camry lover

Please stop the personal attacks, they are quite uncalled for and rude.

Baddass

Id you think that’s personal, you need to step back from Toyota.

Robin Graves

Pretty funny that Chrysler jump in, considering the rubbish they have been building for the past decade.

lazybones

Your not wrong, but what do you mean just the last decade
Camry Hater

Chrysler has put out some below par cars over the last decade but not all.The current Rams are currently the best in my opinion.Now there not under the control of a certain company which i wont mention the standard of coming products will be very high and will have an extremely competitive lineup. Just watch the next couple of years Chrysler will be back to its best.

Callous Aussie

I’m yet to be convinced. They don’t seem to have learned. Those huge pickup trucks should be heavily penalized by their hypocritical government. Same with the equivelent from Ford and GM. The USA has 2.5 % of the world’s population and uses 25% of its oil.

Something needs to change. Especially their believe that they own the world’s oil resource and it is there to serve them. The next time oil surges ,and if you believe the experts it won’t be far away and permanent, these companies will be in trouble all over again. The rest of the world is downsizing. When wil the yanks learn? Especially Chrysler. At least the other two are doing something towards efficient vehicles. Just not enough.

Camry Hater

As i do agree with some of what your saying what i’m saying is not every Chrysler model is crap or inefficient.Even though i wouldn’t buy one but the Caliber,Patriot are very efficient. Chrysler has been working very hard on efficiency and have been developing a advanced new generation line of v6 engines which will use 3 cylinders when not pushed that are said to be very powerful and extremely efficient along with there already efficient and will be much improved 4 Cylinder range. The bonus here is as well all these engines are also going to benefit from Fiats Multi air and direct injection. By 2014 only about 12 percent will Have V8′s. The point i was saying about the Ram is expect that type of quality improvement over the new range of Chryslers, It’s a big different. The new Ram have very high Quality.

Martin

Am I the only one that finds the fact a Ram in Australia costs like $130,000 where as one in the States costs less than AU$30,000 absolutely ridiculous?

S

I would be annoyed if I was a current Hyundai/Chrysler owner and am not able to get the benefit because I do not own a Toyota.
Callous Aussie

This is classic. Someone at Toyota will fall on his sword for this.

As for that ridiculous comment above about these companies being cruel, I consider it fair business. Toyota are know to mislead from time to time. i.e “RAV4 The Original Suv”. Suzuki can make that claim. Not toyota. If you throw in the Subaru outback that’s two that beat them. The Hilux certainly isn’t “unbreakable” anymore either.

This is the best thing to happen to the auto industry for a long time. They won’t be the shining light of “reliability” anymore. People that actually work on their cars know they never where the most reliable. Now they are being exposed. They may have to review their overcharging from here on out.

Companies like Hyundai must be loving this recall.

Camry lover

The RAV4 was the original SUV. I am of the belief the Suzuki model you are alluding to (the Vitara) is a body-on-frame automobile, therefore it is classified by VFACTS as a 4WD and not an SUV. The Subaru Outback was not released until 1996, although it was based on the 1994 Subaru Liberty.

Toyota can and will rightfully claim their well-earned title for the RAV4.
Andrew M

And dont forget the apparently “game changing” Aurion

Callous Aussie

….but it did change the game. No longer was the Camry more economical than its six cyclinder (and better looking) reskin. The latest crap from Toyota is that their hybrid Camry is 25 percent more fuel efficient than its 6 cylinder local competition.

Make up your mind Toyota. Isn’t the Aurion their competitor. As it has failed to set the local market on fire they are reverting back to the Camry. Oh What a Failing.

t

lmao…

camry lover…. Bowls lover? cardigan lover?? pension lover??? blue rinse lover????

Camry lover

What are you trying to say? The Camry Sportivo models are a very sporty, engaging drive with their stiff suspension tune.

I don’t know if anyone here has driven the now discontinued V6 Camry, but they are very quick vehicles.

lazybones

I hired a MY01 V6 a while ago for a couple of weeks if that counts. The drving dynamics had more in common with a boat than a car.

Camry lover

As a driver of a 2001 Toyota Camry, I completely deny that allegation.
Callous Aussie

ROFL @ boat comment. Just don’t tell everyone that the V6 Aurion is more economical

Baddass

“The Camry Sportivo models are a very sporty, engaging drive with their stiff suspension tune.”

Camry lover, you crack me up man. A stiff supension tune does not make a car sporty. When the performance is the same as the rest of the range, it just makes it uncomfortable, and is a pointless compromise. Have you ever driven a car with more than 117KW? I suggest you try it.

Camry lover

To be honest the four-cylinder Camry has better performance than what everyone says. It gets up to speed quite nicely and overtaking is a breeze.

I drive a V6 model with more than 117 kilowatts and it is super responsive — I can’t believe how quick it is.

I don’t like the sporty suspension myself as I once bumped my head on the door pillar whilst a passenger in a sports car (a Honda CR-V Sport), causing mild short-term injuries.

Andrew M

You are dead set taking the p-i-s-s arent you???

A few things sneaking into you posts are starting to give it away. No one is really as dull as you are

Baji

Quick? nah not really. Average. Had pretty big gaps between the ratios. The 4 speed auto was pretty crappy. Could never really find the right gear. You would be driving along, and wanting to overtake – foot down – *waits* (the next ratio down is to low, yet the current ratio is too high) car cruises for a bit until revs rise and then you start making some progress.

Previous Gen camry was a DOG. The generation before the previous gen imo was a better car. The current camry is okay compared to last gen.

Camry lover

No I am not “dead set taking the p-i-s-s”. A lot of cars these days have the sports-tuned suspension (Camry Sportivo, CR-V Sport, Volkswagen Gold GTI, Ford XR6, Holden SS, most BMWs, etc).

As I am quite tall, if you go over sharp bumps on the road, there is less slack in the suspension to adsorb the impact. Hence, you can easily hit your head on the horizontal panel above the door. It’s especially easy to do in the back of Ford taxis (hence why I favour travelling in the more comfortable Toyota Avalon taxis and request them when I ever book a taxi in advance).

Too may peoples these days take fashion over form, lowered, sporty suspensions instead of the more practical suspensions fitted to the non-Sportivo Camrys and Accords etc. You also get better ground clearance to help protect the underbody of the vehicle in case you accidentally drive over the kerb, etc.

Baddass

So let me get this straight. You previously posted that, “The Camry Sportivo models are a very sporty, engaging drive with their stiff suspension tune.”, and then go on to say “I don’t like the sporty suspension myself”. So may I ask, what is your view on ‘sporty’ stiff suspension?

BTW, I love it that you call the CR-V Sport a sports car! You are every car advertiser’s dream if you actually believe the Sport badge on a compact, underpowered SUV makes it a sports car! I love what your doing man, keep it up!
Baddass

You specially request in advance an Avalon from a taxi company, because it is slightly more comfortable than a Falcon? Man, just how much time do you spend in taxis to notice all these details, and why would you when you have a hot roddin’ V6 Camry in your garage?
Camry lover

Yes, the Camry Sportivo models are a very sporty, engaging drive with their stiff suspension tune; however, that does not mean that I like them. I inquired at the local Toyota dealership last year about purchasing the new model Camry, and the salesperson got me to test drive the Sportivo model which I found quite uncomfortable when going over rough sections of road. Then they had the audacity to get me to sit into an Aurion TRD special edition.

Basically, I ended up holding off the purchase of a new Camry Grande as I would like to purchase the forthcoming Camry Hybrid when it is released. This way I can do my bit for the environment, emitting less CO2 emissions.

I never said the CR-V Sport was a sports cars, it’s just sports-tuned. Honda don’t put the “Sport” badge on the back for no reason — it’s there to signify that the CR-V in question is sports-tuned with a taut suspension, a “sharper” transmission ratio calibration, and often more power (although I am led to believe that the CR-V Sport has an identical powertrain to the more comfortable CR-V Luxury).

With regards to the requesting of Avalon taxis, there is more to that than just comfort. Due to the superior Toyota reliability I feel safer taking the Avalon as I feel it more likely to get me to my destination without dilemma. Many years ago, one of those Ford taxis broke down on me (flat tyre) so I try to pick the more reliable choice.
Shame on them

A Flat tyre = poor reliabilty?

That’s it my beige Volvo is going !!! it’s got a stone chip on the windscreen, the reliabilty has gone down hill since the Chinese have gotten involved, I’m off to toyota as the never get Flet tyres, stone chips, flat bateries or have any issues at all
Camry lover

Flat tyres are far less likely to occur on Toyotas than some other brands as Toyota sources more reliable brands of tyres.

Camry lover

Well I never have that problem. The previous Camry that you refer to as a “DOG” is not the model that I own (a 2001 model). “The generation before the previous gen” is the model I have.

I will also admit that it is a vastly superior car as it has more elegant styling. With the 2002-2006 model, Toyota tried to translate the swooping and ghastly headlamps from the Celica onto the mainstream Camry. This was one of the worst mistakes Toyota ever made in my opinion.

Shak

You consider some ugly headlights their worst mistake? You aboviously havent heard the news have you, TOYOTA ARE NOT THE MOST RELIABLE< THEY HAVE TO RECALL ALMOST 10 MILLION VEHICLES WORLDWIDE!
Camry lover

This recall has been blown out of proportion. Every manufacturer of automobiles will experience a recall at some stage. Why is everyone being to cruel to Toyota? I think it is good that Toyota is immediately remedying the first major problem they have ever had.

Many other automakers wait until the pressure builds up on them before they act, but not Toyota. They have been, swift, courteous, and diplomatic in regards to their minor problem.

t

people also laughed at me when i said 2 years ago, toyota is set for a fall.

i said quality will drop ( and according to mechanics ALREADY HAD ) with the amount of cars they are producing.

Camry lover

People should not laugh at others’ misfortunes as that is quite rude, but Toyota quality is just as good if not better than it was 10 years ago.

This is just one very minor, insignificant recall — it is not indicative of Toyotas at all. In 50 years, Toyota has made ONE quality mistake; that is extremely good in my opinion. Overall, Toyota vehicles are the most reliable and dependable around.

Build quality is also excellent and only serves to highlight this long-term reliability.

ptwhite2003

Camry Lover – just how long can you keep up this tongue-in-cheek charade? You’re killing me, LOL!

HyundaiSmoke

This is wild Hyundai said they would not offer incentives, and then offer an incentive plan that lasted 1 day, wow!!!

LMAO, slick, I like it!!! As everybody else piles on with the incentives, Hyundai wont be stupid and not participate, while not rubbing it in and instead looking like the good guys, while everybody else looks like vultures.

Callous Aussie

Minor? Compared to what? End of days? We are talking about well over 2 million cars. You have no comprehension of just how many that is and we aren’t talking about a faulty weld or a dodgy power window here. We are talking about a potential deathtrap.

The worst thing is that it has taken them so long to rectify it. I suspect they tried to cover it up. Sometimes the media are a good thing.

The others don’t look like vultures to me. They are simply running a business and capitalising on the misfortune of a company that has rubbed their noses in it for some time now.
HyundaiSmoke

You got a point Callous, everybody is tired of these guys, and their mediocre product riding the coat tails of its so called superior reliability based on 15 yr old cars.
Callous Aussie

The Corolla (hire car couresy of insurer) we have at the moment is proof that Toyota drip feed us crap. I can’t wait until my GF gets her RIO back. Yes that’s right a RIO. It is 8 grand cheaper. Equally roomy despite supposedly being in the class below, and beats the Corolla for standard features. Auto lights off for starters. Quieter and smoother ride and btter finished inside. The plastics in the Corolla are poorly finished with numerous uneven gaps and the fake aluminium look on the console has rubbed of where the driver’s leg rubs it.

Yes it is more powerful, but certainly doesn’t feel like 100kw’s. The real hillarious part is she put a bag of groceries on the passenger seat this arvo and the passenger seat belt warning buzzer and dash light went off for 5 minutes. Eventually the buzzer stopped but the light kept going all the way home. The airbags might save you in a crash but that buzzer will make sure you have one.

It’s not that it’s a seriously flawed car but for an 8k premium over the RIO it should be alot better.
HyundaiSmoke

Hey Callous, your GF have the 1.6 Rio? The Accent/Rio have become the new real Corolla. This affordable product that runs forever, cheap to insure, cheap to finance etc….

Who’d buy a Fit/Jazz thats just as equipped as a Rio/Accent for the same price as a MINI that has leather etc…..?

Camry lover

Toyota would never do that, please be more dilligent when choosing your sources.

Relibale sources should always be consulted, for example, Consumer Reports (U.S) and the RACV guides (Australia).

HyundaiSmoke

News Flash: Ford USA is Expanding its incentive program to Honda/Acura and Lexus Products for any product 1995 or newer who trade in for ANY Ford/Lincoln/Mercury products.

Another story: PSA, will be recalling 100,000 shared Toyota models as well.

fourl6

it will be interesting to see if this actually increases sales… or how much Toyota’s sales decrease, in Australia especially because our vehicles haven’t been effected and it will be based on reputation only

UMWAHT

this is all quite hilarious. a bad car company starts having trouble and a bunch of other bad car companies try to get the most they can out of it

Ok maybe Toyota and Hyundai aren’t BAD (Chrysler is though) but they’re pretty damn bland and boring and ugly that i get a headache from sitting in one, seriously I got depressed the last time i had to sit in a Toyota from Brisbane to Gold Coast

i dont see how anyone who has the slightest interest in cars would buy one of these
Tinman

These manufacturers would be better advised to take their incentives and invest them in building higher quality, affordable cars.

Camry lover

Agreed

Reality

Did anything like this happen during the Ford Pinto recall?
Tinman

I’m quite surprised that Hyundai has joined this debacle. Its rate of engineering development in all areas, including its dedication to improving safety deserves better representation than this.
HyundaiSmoke

I HATE WHAT YOU DO TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

TOYOTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin Graves

Calm down!

HyundaiSmoke

Im singing lmao. These are reverse puns on old 80s Toyota jingles i grew up with. Look on youtube.

HyundaiSmoke

WHO’D

WANNA

ASK FOR

ANYTHING LESS!!!!

TOYOTA!!!!!!
billie joe

I hired a toyota camery sportivo in Perth last year, it was shocking to drive, tinny inside, the dash lights at night were off putting, the front seats were uncomfortable, but worst of all was the gear box, it was automatic, and would constantly search for the right gear, and had the most jerky gear changes. It put me off toyota’s period, it was that bad. Just so you know I didn’t ask for the Toyota, it was an ‘upgrade’. It didn’t break down, but I would actively avoid one.

I am a big fan of KE70′s, love the rear wheel drive corolla’s, they are really fun, even with a 1.3 liter engine they’re great, and the best car for fast and furious style 180 degree hand breakies (on the track of course). And my friend had a 1990 Cressida that was pretty cool car too, but the new toyotas just don’t interest me at all, except the iO and they don’t even sell it here.

When I bought my first new car 2 years ago, I bought a hyundai, after hiring one as it happens. I never would have thought I would buy one, but I walked into about 8 different dealers, holden, ford, mitsubishi can’t even remember what else, and no one wanted to know me, didn’t offer me a test ride or nothing, so I ended up going to hyundai after seeing a drive away ad in the paper because I needed to buy a car, and they sold me one there that day. It’s not my dream car, the suspension can be a little bouncy at times depending on the road, but it can be pretty fun to drive too, has a great 5 speed manual gearbox, the shift it short and sharp, my family really like it, and the stereo is really good, but most of all it was a heap cheaper than similar cars, and they actually wanted to sell me one. I haven’t had any problems with it. I think there is still a lot of bagging of hyundai by people who just haven’t drive newer hyundai’s, but if they did I think they would be pretty surprised. I just think other car makers should take a leaf out of their book and start selling their cars for a cheaper price, if hyundai can do it, then surely they can too.

HyundaiSmoke

Please tell me you bought an 07-08 Accent MC160= 1.6 Bille Joe? What a sweet car to play around with and toss it around, and downright bloddy reliable. TThe next gen is slated to be a MINI KILLER!!!

A real friend!!! (I said that with Joy )

Robin Graves

They are starting to show their age now, the suspension is way too soft and the interior is from the ’90s. They are only fun because the suspension roll makes the weight shift off the inside drive wheel creating lots of wheelspin. The next model looks like its up with the times tho.

HyundaiSmoke

Nobody in the 90s had an interior that good Robin, at least in the states. Id say the Gauges are aging, but dont look different fron a VW right now. The dash and center console are really aging. Nobody in the 90s knew what gauges with metalic pods were yet. That center console could have came from an 03-07 Corolla, ill give you that one.

The next gen will be on the Soul Platform, which is just a significant evolution of the current platform.

Robin, the Next Gen Accent hatch is the Veloster. Same powertrains as next gen Accent Sedan, and its “Accent Sized” as the company hinted.

camry lover

I dont understand how everyone can bag Toyota camrys! I mean fully awesome FWD skids are the best! And I mean, 117kw, I doubt many porsches could stick with them!

Camry lover

And why would anybody do a skid in their vehicle on purpose? That is a potentially dangerous manoeuvre and could lead to fatalities.

Automobiles are not toys to hoon around in — they are complication pieces of machinery that require diligence and care when operating.

I think your comment should be deleted by a moderator as it is encourages a dangerous and illegal behaviour.

UMWAHT

sorry it took a few days to type this comment because the spam word was Koenigsegg

but LOL, WTF at camry lover’s comments. they seem strange. i want to ask you a few questions, how old are you? are you male or female? because they way you talk looks like its a mature 64 year old lady behind the keyboard. please dont get offended Im just curious
Goodjjp

I ended up read all the comments…
This is so fuNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNy…
Fernando

I think my ’06 Toyota Camry will be my last Toyota.