Scranton Toyota dealer blames politics (contributions by Trial Lawyers, UAW)

The Times-Tribune (Scranton PA) ^ | 3/5/10 | DAVID FALCHEK

[Born Conservative]

As the Toyota Scion of Scranton dealership continues to replace gas pedals on Toyotas recalled for unintended acceleration, managing partner Greg Gagorik depicted the automaker as a victim of a political hit.

At a media event on Thursday at the dealership's new Scranton showroom and service center, Mr. Gagorik handed out lists of contributions by trial lawyers and the United Auto Workers union to congressmen who grilled Toyota executives last month over acceleration problems blamed for dozens of deaths.

Mr. Gagorik attended those hearings, where the U.S. government's majority stake in General Motors hung heavy in the hall.

"One day, U.S. Toyota dealers woke up to find that their government owned their competitor," Mr. Gagorik said. "Now, our tax dollars are being used against us. Our government has a major conflict of interest."

As if to say Toyota is not alone, Mr. Gagorik handed out news reports of the 540,000-vehicle recall by Nissan for brake and fuel gauge repairs and a 1.3 million-vehicle GM recall for power steering from earlier in the week. The majority of Toyota recalls, he said, are because of customers putting non-Toyota-made, after-market floor mats in their vehicles.

"How much will Toyota be liable for non-Toyota products being used in their cars?" he asked. "That will be answered by the courts."

So far, the dealership has serviced half its customers' recalled vehicles last month, or 1,200 of 2,300. The job takes about an hour, but customers can expect the process to take two hours.

Until last week, Toyota Scion service bays were open until midnight, and they remain open on Saturday and Sunday to service vehicles under the recall. Each customer gets a free oil change, car wash and $250 off their next Toyota purchase.

The work hasn't affected the dealership's ability to serve its customers, said Chief of Operations Vito Sampogne. The service department's 70 employees have been able to handle the work.

The dealership had several happy customers on hand to talk to the media Thursday. Customer Tom Matkosky of Justus said the local Toyota sales and service team - not the corporate executives - are the face of the company.

Mr. Matkosky has owned 16 cars of different makes in the last 29 years. He is on his second Toyota Matrix. His own car's recall has not diminished his faith in the brand.

"I'm disappointed in the executives. The way you react to something is important," he said. "But the dealership network is another story - they are doing everything in their power to take care of customers and address what is happening."

Kimberly Konopka also says she remains a loyal Toyota customer. She traded in one Corolla to take advantage of 0 percent financing on another, her third. The owner of a Gouldsboro horse farm, she also frequently drives American-made trucks.

"One recall doesn't bother me," she said. "That's nothing compared to the number of recalls on the American trucks I've owned."

Mr. Gagorik hasn't noticed a sales drop in the last few weeks, this being the slowest time of the year. But he said Toyota has put together the most generous package of incentives in its history to lure buyers to the showrooms.

"For 25 years, Toyota has had the best record of safety and reliability in the industry," he said. "That is not going to change."

[Ciexyz]

Hope my above post wasn't too rambling. I was trying to say, all cars have mechanical problems after awhile, and I'll find out in several years if my Toyota has a better track record than the three American-made cars I owned in the past.

[D-fendr]

Not responding to competition is what killed Detroit. Not being able to become competitive now using union labor is what keeps Detroit dead.

Protectionism solves nothing.

[Tribune7]

You kind of wonder if this stuff isn't being pushed to help Government Motors.

You might have to go back to the Corvair to find such a fuss being made.