Toyota passes Ford for second spot in U.S. sales

Toyota Motor Corporation has broken Ford’s 75-year history to become the #2 auto sales leader in the United States for 2007, according to the Associated Press. This is the 12th consecutive year of record-breaking sales for Toyota.

According to 2007 manufacturer-supplied figures, General Motors retains the top position selling 3.87 million vehicles, down 6 percent from the previous year. Toyota sales were 2.62 million, up 2.7 percent over 2006. Ford sold 2.57 million vehicles, down 12 percent.

Toyota’s rise to the second seed in the United States was helped by a surge in sales of a number of popular models. The Prius hybrid, despite the fact that its design isn’t new (it was last redone in 2004), saw an increase of almost 69 percent amid rising fuel costs and increasing environmental awareness. The all-new Toyota Tundra boasted a 57 percent increase and, in our tests, ranked second only to the Chevrolet Avalanche. It’s clearly a strong competitor. The redesigned Lexus LS460/600h luxury sedans had an 80 percent boost in sales.

Even though Ford posted an overall decline in sales from last year, a few vehicles, such as the Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, and Mercury Milan, enjoyed an increase in sales over last year. The Ford F-150 was still the best-selling truck in America for the 31st year in a row.

Worldwide sales figures are due to come out later this month and the race is tight between GM and Toyota to win the coveted title of world’s largest automaker.

—Liza Barth

200,000-Mile Club continues to accelerate

Interest in our October 2007 cover story, “Make your car last 200,000 miles,” has caused high-mileage drivers to log on and share their experiences, advice, and even photos.

The owners’ tales are quite inspiring, with drivers like Martin Sorin claiming that they still have many miles left in their car. As you’ll read below, Martin’s Camry has been to 200,000 miles--twice.

Do you have a story or advice to share? Join the unofficial club! Share your experience in the 200,000-Mile Club forum, and if you’d like to show off your well-traveled ride, you can post a photo at the 200,000-Mile Club photo gallery. Please be sure to include the year, make, model, and mileage when you submit your image.

In the meantime, below are some of our favorite posts.

--Jim Travers

We purchased a 1993 Mercury Villager in July 1993 new. We still drive the car daily and it now has 374,900 miles on the odometer. Original engine with only minor engine work… I think the reason we have had such good luck with this car is by keeping it maintained regularly and not doing much short trip or city driving. We live in a rural area and most trips are at least 20 miles or more.

--David Richards

I think one significant factor in longevity is service and an honest and reliable shop. I could not own a 1990 Volvo 740 GL wagon with 245,000 miles on it in this medium-sized city in Canada without my service technician who owns a shop that specializes in Volvos and VWs.

--Ted Whipp

I have owned this truck since new and have meticulous maintenance records. There have been no internal engine or transmission problems. Take care of all the regular maintenance and you will be rewarded. I have set my new goal at 400,000 miles and fully expect to make it in spite of Michigan roads and weather.

--Jerry Hooker, 1993 Chevrolet S-10, 300,000 miles

I change my oil every 10,000 miles and I change my transmission fluid every 30,000 to 35,000 miles. Another tip is to order or purchase a vehicle with an engine oil cooler and a transmission oil cooler if possible. I have heard and believe that most engine and transmission problems are the result of heat.

--Michael Freeman, 1995 GMC K1500 pickup, 429,781 miles

My 1994 Toyota Camry V-6 wagon currently has 416,200 miles on it and is still running strong. I hope to reach 500,000 miles with it. I agree with your article about fixing things as soon as they need it, buying a reliable car, and doing scheduled maintenance when the owner's manual says to do it.

--Martin Sorin

The name game

The first day at the Chicago auto show passed with a series of low-key announcements about product updates and expected new models. There really wasn’t a true breakthrough vehicle to wow the jaded media crowd. Flipping through my notebook… The all-new Toyota Highlander sounds quite impressive. The Saturn Vue range expands predictably with the Green Line and Red Line. The new Volkswagen R32 boasts refinement, but it will be a good 50-hp shy the rally-bred Japanese competition. The Pontiac G8 sounds like a classic American car, one that should have been imported from Australia years ago instead of the GTO. So what is the news of the day? Names.

As Jim Travers posted previously, FoMoCo resurrected the Taurus and Sable names for the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Sable. Now that the previous-generation Taurus and Sable have been retired, their brand recognition can be slathered on the newer, more-enticing cars that have struggled to succeed. Wrestling through this concept, I continue to be haunted by the press event itself, where Ford Group Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service Cisco Codina spoke convincingly about the “1.9 million Sable customers who have been waiting for this car” as he introduced these sedans as if they were all-new.

Really? Have almost two million Sable owners sauntered into dealers, entranced by the Montego, only to walk away disappointed when they saw the badge on the trunk?

Ford is not alone with the challenges in creating and marketing a name. Looking around the show, one has to wonder how the Pontiac G8 will be received. The G6 is offered in four- and six-cylinder forms. Similarly, the G8 will be available in V6 and V8 configurations. So, the 8 means… it is bigger than the G6. No connection to the powerplants, as is often the case with the latter half of the alphanumeric amalgamations that have replaced simple nouns on the back of many modern cars. As the G8 is readied to compete against the Dodge Charger, one can’t help but wonder how “LeMans” or “Tempest” would look on the decklid.

The same GM stage was used earlier to unveil the Saturn Astra. The name neatly falls in line with Saturn’s short, A-word conventions. GM expects this supposed import fighter will benefit from its direct Opel lineage. Retaining the name on this rebadged machine is expected to carry some of the respect from Europe stateside when it goes on sale here. It may well do that. As an auto enthusiast, I can’t help but see how the “different kind of car company” developed mediocre products since its inception, then overnight it is transformed with rebadged Opel products. It is probably best that Saturn cheats, but it hardly seems fair.

At least Cadillac had the good taste to change the Chevrolet Cavalier model designation to Cimarron when it dressed up that compact in the early 1980s. More recently, Cadillac called its version of the Opel Omega, Catera. Hmm… Perhaps the lesson here is that there is no clear, hard-fast rule for naming. When in doubt, focus group it!

Ultimately, it is the product that gives a name meaning. But in the spirit of saving marketing dollars on establishing new monikers, will the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan will be redubbed Tempo and Topaz at the New York auto show? Anything is possible. The Lincoln edition of this CR-recommended trio has had two names, so far.

--Jeff Bartlett