I’m a mechanic with 55 years experience… here’s the WORST Toyota cars – they could cost you thousands
A MECHANIC with 55 years of experience has warned about the worst Toyota cars to buy which could cost drivers thousands.
Scotty Kilmer shared the advice on his popular YouTube channel, identifying which motors he says are more likely to break down or need repairs.
He told his 5.9million subscribers to beware of opting for modern Toyota models with turbochargers in their engines.
These typically rely on having more extra hardware which can go wrong.
He warned: “Extra parts mean extra parts to repair in the long run.”
He first listed some of the best Toyota cars to buy, in his new 11-minute video.
But he went on: “Now let me tell you about the worst Toyotas I’ve seen, but instead of one specific model I’m talking categorically about the latest Toyotas with turbochargers.
“Think Toyotas like the 2023 Highlander or the 2023 GR Corolla.
“The thing is, the idea of Toyotas with turbochargers sounds cool but in reality it’s a different story.
“In general cars with small turbo-charged engines will fail faster than cars with naturally-aspirated engines.”
And he continued by saying this was “far from the only problem with turbocharger engines”, which he says have “much more parts than a naturally-aspirated engine”.
Scotty listed not only the turbocharger itself and “an inner cooler that’s basically a small cooling radiator” but also “all the other extra parts and hardware that go with these two components”.
He told of people reporting issues with the redesigned 2022 Toyota Tundra pick-up truck, which has a new 3.5-litre twin turbo V6 in place of the previous V8.
He added: “To replace all these parts in the back of the engine, you have to take most of the truck apart.
“Which brings me to my second point – turbo-charged engines can be very difficult to work on and because the labour can be intense that means a higher cost for you too.
“All the additional heat and pressure on a turbo-charged engine shortens its life span.”
He also told how turbo-charged engines can be “sensitive and temperamental” – especially “when driving short distances or in extremely cold temperatures”.
He added: “Driving only a few miles to the grocery store and then shutting off the car doesn’t give your turbo-charged engine enough time to warm up.”
But he has long been a fan of many Toyotas, saying last month: “Toyotas can run virtually forever if you take care of them.”
His new Toyota clip has attracted almost 3,000 “likes” on YouTube and prompted more than 300 comments.
Toyota issued a global recall in June last year for its first all-electric vehicle, following an issue with its wheels.
Other advice he has offered in his latest videos include highlighting a common and costly mistake drivers often make when running their petrol tanks low.
He has also recommended five cars to buy for less than £4,000 each – including Toyota Corollas and Camrys and Honda Accords and Civics.
And he urged motorists to carry out a crucial check on a key component of their car’s engine to avoid having to pay hundreds of pounds for a new one.
Anoither man recently told how he bought a second-hand Toyota Corolla on Gumtree then managed to double his money when selling it on.