Even though I recognize Toyota’s mistakes, I am keeping a rational perspective about the situation. All businesses make mistakes and more importantly they all learn from their mistakes. Toyota has clearly learned a lesson from this situation and is doing everything they can to restore customer’s faith in them.

The first step they’ve taken is to fix all of the vehicles that are affected by the recalls, such as the 2010 Prius. Champaign dealerships have trained all their technicians and service support personnel on how to fix the issues and have extended hours to make sure the repairs get done quickly and conveniently.

The second step Toyota has taken is to have engineers rigorously test all solutions and to make sure that no problems exist with the electronics in the vehicles. With the help of an independent firm, they’ve also conducted comprehensive safety analyses and the interim reports show very positive results.

Finally, Toyota is taking steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again. They’ve done a top to bottom review of quality controls worldwide and have hired independent safety experts to ensure quality controls meet and exceed industry standards. They are also promising to listen more closely to customers, gather information faster, respond more effectively when there’s an issue, and increase outreach to government agencies that are charged with protecting the safety of motorists and passengers. All of this is in the name of providing the highest-quality, safest, and most reliable automobiles.

It is very clear to me that Toyota knows that it has to work hard to regain customer’s trust. I know that with hard work from employees like those at your Champaign Toyota dealer, Toyota will soon be back to the car company with the highest-quality, safest, and most reliable vehicles.

As a Toyota driver myself, I understand how Toyota has gained this loyalty. When you purchase a Toyota, it’s not so much buying a car as it is partnering with a company to get from place to place. That’s how it feels, that Toyota is behind you with every tick of the odometer. I also understand how this loyalty is unlikely to be harmed by recent recalls. The truth is that most of us Toyota people have had nothing but great experiences with our cars and could not think of purchasing another brand.

My first car was a used Corolla. Champaign parking is tough enough that I was happy to have that small-sized sedan during my college years. After that, I went to my Champaign dealer for a preowned Prius, which I still drive. And it’s no shock to me that the Prius took the R. L. Polk & Co. honors for Mid/Full-Size Car Consumer Loyalty. If Toyota is a brand that garners tremendous loyalty, its Prius model is a car that inspires full-on devotion. Once you turn Prius it’s tough to think of going back to a traditional gas vehicle. I can’t even imagine and am currently shopping at my Champaign Prius dealership for a 2010 model.

If you’re looking to become a part of the large group of consumers devoted to the most reliable brand of auto, I recommend checking out a preowned Prius Champaign model or used Camry model at your local dealer.

Maybe it’s the fact that Toyota has vowed to make their cars environmentally-friendly and help the planet move forward in terms of sustainability. Visit your 2010 Prius Champaign dealer and you’ll know what we mean. Toyota just announced a subcompact hybrid vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show and looks forward to creating hybrids across all models in the near future. Oh, and did we mention that Consumer Reports named the Prius the #1 most fuel-efficient car, getting 55 mpg on the highway? The Toyota Camry hybrid, Yaris Base Sedan, Corolla LE and Corolla (base, manual) also ranked among the top 15 models. And the 2010 Prius was named WhatGreenCar’s Car of the Year. See your Champaign Toyota for more.

Or it could be the fact that Toyota’s are incredibly reliable. In the 2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey put out by Consumer Reports, not one, not two, not three nor four…but FIVE, HALF of the top 10 most reliable models were Toyota vehicles. Those models were the Venza (4-cyl), Yaris Hatchback, FJ Cruiser, Prius, and 4 Runner (V6). Not a single Toyota was among the 10 least reliable cars.

Or, it could just be a matter of price. Excuse us, not just price – value. Kelley Blue Book’s 2010 Residual Value Study gave Toyota the Best Resale Value award. And the 2011 Sienna was just given a very affordable price tag. Just one more reason to stop by your Champaign Toyota to see what Toyota has to offer.

Toyota also tops Consumer Reports’ brand perception study, taking into account safety, quality, value, performance, design/style, technology/innovation, and environmental friendliness. It even tops online auto searches for 2009. One thing is for certain – Toyota customers aren’t shopping around. With decades of quality and innovation under its belt, Toyota is just getting started.

Take a 2010 Prius Champaign test drive at your Champaign Toyota dealer and find out for yourself why you still can’t top Toyota quality, affordability and fun.