Toyota Owners Still More Loyal Than GM Drivers

Rasmussen ^ | April 12, 2010

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans who currently own a Toyota say they are at least somewhat likely to buy their next car from the troubled automaker, including 40% who say they are very likely to do so.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds slightly less loyalty among those who currently own a car made by General Motors. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of those drivers say they are at least somewhat likely to buy their next car from GM, with 32% who say they are very likely to buy a GM car next.

This is a 15-point overall improvement from June of last year following the federal government bailout of GM when just 42% of those who then owned a GM car said they were at least somewhat likely to buy a GM product for their next car. That figure included just 30% who were Very Likely to do so.

Among all adults, however, GM has the edge.

Thirty-four percent (34%) of Americans say they’re at least somewhat likely to buy a GM car next, but that’s down 10 points from September of last year. The new number includes 14% who say they’re very likely to buy their next car from GM, virtually unchanged from the earlier survey. Fifty-four percent (54%) are not as likely to buy GM, with 28% who say it’s not at all likely.

Only 29% say their next car is likely to be a Toyota, with 12% who say it’s very likely. Sixty-one percent (61%) are unlikely to buy a Toyota next, including 39% who are not at all likely to do so. Last September, Toyota was the car Americans were more likely to consider next, with 54% saying it was at least somewhat likely that they would buy one.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of Americans say they own a GM car, while 21% own a Toyota.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Toyota owners have a favorable opinion of the automaker, with 39% very favorable. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of those who own a Toyota view the auto company unfavorably.

Among GM owners, 53% have a favorable opinion of the company that made their car, including 13% with a very favorable view. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of GM owners have an unfavorable view of the company.

Forty-one percent (41%) of all Americans have a favorable opinion of GM, down from 57% in February. Forty percent (40%) say the same of Toyota, down 19 points from two months ago. Just 32% now view Chrysler favorably, down 11 from the previous survey.

These new findings include 10% with a very favorable opinion of GM and 13% who view Toyota very favorably. But only four percent (4%) have a very favorable view of Chrysler.

Both GM and Chrysler’s favorability ratings have suffered since they received government bailouts. Looking back, most voters still think the auto bailouts were a bad idea.

[johniegrad]

I own a 2010 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited.

I now have 50K miles on the same truck from the first year they started making this. I feel the same way.

[Knitebane]

My daily driver is a 1987 Toyota Pickup.

My fuel log says that as of the last fill-up it has 266103 miles on it and averages 24.5 MPG.

My worst maintenance issue is that the right front turn signal seems to attract rocks. I've replace that damned orange plastic piece 3 times.

:)

[brewcrew]

My worst maintenance issue is that the right front turn signal seems to attract rocks. I've replace that damned orange plastic piece 3 times.

Consider yourself fortunate. The right front fog lamp on my 2006 Matrix does the same thing, and you can't just "replace that damned orange plastic piece." You see, the lens itself isn't available as a replacement - the entire lamp assembly must be replaced at a price of over $300.

Clear plastic packing tape works wonders.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I was a loyal Pontiac customer for many years.
Today I drive an Asian brand car assembled in the USA
(in a Right to Work state). Living in Michigan for a
few years got me good and sick of hearing UAW guys, who have better pay and benefits than 98% of Americans, and yet who did nothing but bitch.

[Knitebane]

Consider yourself fortunate. The right front fog lamp on my 2006 Matrix does the same thing, and you can't just "replace that damned orange plastic piece."

Mine too. I have to replace the entire turn signal assembly. Fortunately Toyota still makes my truck. It's called the Hi-Lux in foreign markets.

I can get the entire assembly for $35.