As a previous Ford Only
As a previous Ford Only family, we bought our first Toyota Camry when I graduated college. I promptly put over 88k on the vehicle prior to it being totaled in a wreck, that could have and should have easily killed myself and my son and didn't. We were told it was because we were in a Toyota by hwy patrol. Insurance company gave us approx. $6k off the car that was, by now 3 years old. It was replaced by a Ford Expedition (for size/fear from the wreck) and we put a mere 120k on that vehicle in little over 6 years. We barely got 1/4 of what we paid for it and that vehicle was LOADED compared to the base Camry. Next vehicle, Base Toyota Rav4. Same thing again, totaled ina wreck, 5 years old over 140k on the vehicle and we only LOST $3k what we paid for the original vehicle. The reason people buy and pay more and stick with Toyota is because they trade for more in the end. I am looking at Tundras now for my 16 yo son to drive as a first car and for one with 100k miles on it, I am still only paying about $15k under what the original purchase price of the car was. That speaks volumes, does it not? And the fact that I look at the truck today, and tomorrow it is SOLD says a lot, too. These vehicles are built to last...kind of like the old cars from our youth and the old appliances from our youth. :)