They say that Toyotas are highly rated for reliability--they simply run forever. Nevertheless, when I compare my 2009 Toyota Avalon with a comparable Ford the little technology things don't seem to measure up. For example, the Toyota Navigation system is so cumberson. It requires the driver to operate a "joy stick" and go through a lot of panels while the Fords are touch-screen and almost self-explanatory. The Toyota audio screen gives you 10 characters. If it prints out a phone number it says:
1-800-123- (yes, it leaves off the last 4 digits)! OF COURSE the Fords give you the whole number!
The pixelation on the Toyota looks like an old Atari game. Definitely not HD! The Fords are smooth and easy on the eyes, with much sharper characters and pictures.
If you want to change channels on the satellite radio in a Toyota you first have to find the "genre" of the topic before joy-stick scrolling through another dozen channels. Fords are touch-screen and if you go from 134 to 103 you simply touch "1-0-3".
The back up sensor on the Avalon is an after market add-on that is very difficult to even hear. Very tiny beeps. It actually sounds like it's going off all the time you're in reverse. The Fords are quiet till you get within range of something and then the beeps begin--clearly loud enough for old deaf guys to hear.
There are a few other little Oriental quirks that continue to bug me, but I'll save them for another day.
