Trends in Toyota and the Used Car Market

Happy Valentine's Day. You know me. I love reading about the used car market and how better for me to show my love to you my readers than to share the latest information from CNW Research in Bradenton, Ore. Here are some tidbits to ponder while you wait for the florist to deliver that last-minute dozen roses you ordered for $79.99.

• Used Toyota sales were down more than 39 percent the first threedays after the recall was announced, but that was due mostly to private party and independent used outlets not having access to the repair parts. In the past three days, sales of used Toyotas were off only 11 percent. And that percentage appears to be trending downward.
• Used-car intenders who opt to buy a vehicle other than a Toyota are selecting a Honda (27 percent), Ford (18 percent), Hyundai (7 percent) and Chevrolet (6 percent) with other brands less than 5 percent.
• Toyota's situation is more akin to Ford's Pinto fiasco in which courts found Ford responsible for the exploding small car. Ford was able to dump Pinto and not take a significant sales hit.

OK, I'm going to disagree with that last point. Toyota can't afford to dump all of the models in the recall. That would mean getting rid of some of their top sellers. I am the former owner of a used Ford Pinto and in my mind I don't think Ford = Pinto. However, Toyota will probably forever mean Camry to me.