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Would You Consider Buying A House That Toyota Built?

Agent009 submitted on 7/7/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:03:10 AM

36 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: online.wsj.com

Toyota Motor Corp.

has put millions of people on four wheels. Now, the global auto giant wants to put roofs over their heads, too.

Best known for its top-selling cars like the Prius and Corolla, Toyota is looking to apply its ecofriendly image and technical know-how to help boost sales of its small and little-known prefabricated-housing division.

Since 1975, Toyota has been building steel-frame houses designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons and keep out burglars. So far, demand for such durable homes has been modest in Japan, where traditional wooden houses are demolished and rebuilt every 30 years on average, nearly twice as often as in the U.S. Toyota's home business accounted for just 0.5% of the company's $262 billion in annual sales last year.



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Would You Consider Buying A House That Toyota Built?

About the Author

Agent009

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

— Agent009 (View Profile)


User Comments

sold2early

Running out of flame-war topics, huh?

— sold2early (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 11:28:52 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

EnnNorak

Maybe, but I'm suspicious about Toyota shortcuts like those that led to Tacoma frames rusting out.

— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 3:38:28 PM | | Votes: 4   

Star

"Would You Consider Buying A House That Toyota Built?


Why not? As long as they build something that doesn't need to be driven I think we are all safe. LOL...

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 11:40:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

S30GTR

there's toyata love deep in that heart. i knew it.

— S30GTR (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:54:34 PM | | Votes: 3   

silver1

A dream come true.... A reliable, quality, dependability house, with that Lexus-Toyota feeling to it....Homes like these will sell like hot cakes over here in the US....I didn't know they built Toyota homes in San Antonio....I'm going to have to check this out....

— silver1 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 11:54:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Star

If the interiors of their houses are on par with the ones on their cars they will go out of business in record time.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:05:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

sector

I guess being the #1 automaker in the world means you'll go out of business.

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 4:44:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

85bmw745i

A house built by lexus IS a house built by toyota dummy!

— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 6:42:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

daytonaviolet

Definitely Yes. Pre-Fabricated homes are the future. I'm certain Toyota could do a good job of it. For other homes check out fabprefab.com

— daytonaviolet (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:18:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

answer

Since "magic feeling" and 0-60 times don't apply, what will you guys argue about?

Water heater capacity?

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:37:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

_43LE

They'll probably argue about design heritage.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:43:10 PM | | Votes: 5   

EL34

Those houses look like a bunch of shacks :-\

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 1:15:22 PM | | Votes: -4   

M53R

Rust issues ;)

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 7:25:03 PM | | Votes: 3   

Carboy

One of my relatives owned a Toyota Sienna and it made me confused how bad it was. There was a hail storm the other day and after it was over, the paint looked like it came off, but it was only dirty. If this happens to a Toyota car, what would happen to the house?

— Carboy (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:42:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

EL34

That is ugly as hell.

lol

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:57:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

EL34

I like the Tuscan style homes in Shady Canyon Irvine, Ca.

http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/s452978f.jpg

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 1:00:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

henbmw

Only if its a hybrid

— henbmw (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 1:30:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

toolatetorace

and it will not accelerate wildly

— toolatetorace (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 2:14:15 PM | | Votes: 1   

notafanboy

Only if it gets rebadged as a Lexus

— notafanboy (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 1:43:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

85bmw745i

LMAO@notafanboy that was funny as hell! +1

— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 2:57:32 PM | | Votes: 1   

Agent63

Toyota didn't really have their engineers build these. They hire contractors. Their just using the Toyota name to headline it to maybe draw in some buyers.

As long as its built well (like many others can anyways) I don't see why I wouldn't buying a Toyota built home. As long as there aren't trolls wandering my front lawn with signs saying "GO TOYOTA".

— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 2:52:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

BmwVoyager

lolwut

— BmwVoyager (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 3:39:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

bmwfan1513

The picture is nice but no.

— bmwfan1513 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 3:47:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

atomicbri

I like some of the architectural elements of these homes. Hell I think they have more interest than the designs of their cars!

— atomicbri (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 6:35:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Agent00J

Funny how here in America we criticize builders like Beazer Homes and Pulte for production building that panelizes the house, and then puts it together on site like a puzzle, but let Toyota do THE EXACT SAME THING and the thing gets news coverage in the Wall Street Journal. It just seems to me that something is flawed here with our thought process.

-00J

— Agent00J (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 7:23:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

0to60

These houses actually have character. Thats the difference!

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 12:15:37 AM | | Votes: 2   

0to60

If BMW built it, I bet you wouldnt have mentioned that one!

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 12:16:09 AM | | Votes: 2   

motor1

Very funny - only if it is rebadged as a Lexus - notafanboy

So, so true

(They will probably call it the Toyota House and rebadge it as the Lexus HS for short [example - Lexus LS - L.uxury S.aloon/sedan])

— motor1 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 8:12:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Designer1

Toyota makes the best quality cars in the world, I will definitely buy a house built by Toyota.

— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 5:48:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

MeanVulcan

I would not buy from a company that does not have a clue what their main focus is. In recent years Toy-ota has attempted to go into building aircraft and now green homes??? they can't even make a good performing automobile (they settled for good reliability only).

No thanks. I can design and build my own green home without Toyota's help thank you very much.

— MeanVulcan (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 10:38:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lexurious

I would even add more lexury in my toyota built house and stick lexus badges for the extra pursuit of perfection

— Lexurious (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 1:43:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

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