If you know anything about the sports world, you know that playing an all-star team after they have been unexpectedly beaten is an unpleasant game.  The all-stars come out fighting… hard.  Their pride is deep and their desire to re-earn their coveted title of “champions” gives them the motivation needed to play harder and better than they ever have before.  Basically, your not-any-better-than-average team is going to get their butt kicked.

Sports world, meet Toyota.  The automaker was at the top of the car market and feasting like a king.  As we all know, the recalls hit and the once peaceful kingdom of Toyota found itself in the middle of a catastrophic battle.  And now, just like all past “greats,” Toyota has mounted its comeback.  May I recommend all lesser players stand back?

On March 1st, Toyota joined in the Madness.  Our Champaign Toyota dealer announced zero percent financing for up to sixty months, subsidized leases, and free maintenance incentives for up to two years, thanks to a statement made by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.   After just the first eight days of March, Toyota sales were dominating with a fifty percent increase from the previous month.  That’s equivalent to a 20-0 run to start the first half. 

And don’t think Toyota, or our Champaign Toyota dealer, O’Brien Toyota of Urbana, stopped there.  Toyota finished the month with an increase in sales of 30 percent from a year ago.  One break out star has been the Toyota RAV4.  The versatile man car in the middle came through big for the automaker selling over 22,000 units in March.  In addition, all used Camry Champaign drivers should consider substituting their worn out model for the incoming star, the 2010 Camry, which can purchased as a hybrid.

So with this all star line up back and playing at their best, coach and Toyota U.S.A. leader Jim Lentz said ““Our loyal customers are coming back. The challenge is going to be attracting conquest buyers. They are going to come back. It will not be weeks. It will be measured in months, hopefully not years.”   But Toyota is doing the only thing a champion can do to gain back their first place position: take it one game at a time.