Would You Consider Buying A House That Toyota Built?

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.

sold2early - 7/7/2008 11:28:52 AM

+9 Boost

Running out of flame-war topics, huh?

EnnNorak - 7/7/2008 3:38:28 PM

+4 Boost

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

Star - 7/7/2008 11:40:50 AM

+5 Boost

"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...

S30GTR - 7/7/2008 12:54:34 PM

+3 Boost

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

silver1 - 7/7/2008 11:54:07 AM

-1 Boost

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....

Star - 7/7/2008 12:05:14 PM

-4 Boost

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

sector - 7/7/2008 4:44:53 PM

+6 Boost

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

85bmw745i - 7/7/2008 6:42:10 PM

+3 Boost

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

daytonaviolet - 7/7/2008 12:18:36 PM

+4 Boost

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

answer - 7/7/2008 12:37:05 PM

+5 Boost

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

Water heater capacity?

_43LE - 7/7/2008 12:43:10 PM

+5 Boost

They'll probably argue about design heritage.

EL34 - 7/7/2008 1:15:22 PM

-4 Boost

Those houses look like a bunch of shacks :-\

M53R - 7/7/2008 7:25:03 PM

+3 Boost

Rust issues ;)

Carboy - 7/7/2008 12:42:19 PM

0 Boost

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?

EL34 - 7/7/2008 12:57:03 PM

-2 Boost

That is ugly as hell.

lol

EL34 - 7/7/2008 1:00:52 PM

-3 Boost

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

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

henbmw - 7/7/2008 1:30:39 PM

+1 Boost

Only if its a hybrid

toolatetorace - 7/7/2008 2:14:15 PM

+1 Boost

and it will not accelerate wildly

notafanboy - 7/7/2008 1:43:40 PM

+4 Boost

Only if it gets rebadged as a Lexus

85bmw745i - 7/7/2008 2:57:32 PM

+1 Boost

LMAO@notafanboy that was funny as hell! +1

Agent63 - 7/7/2008 2:52:54 PM

0 Boost

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".

BmwVoyager - 7/7/2008 3:39:13 PM

0 Boost

lolwut

bmwfan1513 - 7/7/2008 3:47:43 PM

-1 Boost

The picture is nice but no.

atomicbri - 7/7/2008 6:35:14 PM

0 Boost

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

Agent00J - 7/7/2008 7:23:12 PM

-1 Boost

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

0to60 - 7/8/2008 12:15:37 AM

+2 Boost

These houses actually have character. Thats the difference!

0to60 - 7/8/2008 12:16:09 AM

+2 Boost

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

motor1 - 7/7/2008 8:12:33 PM

+2 Boost

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])

Designer1 - 7/8/2008 5:48:49 AM

+3 Boost

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

MeanVulcan - 7/8/2008 10:38:20 AM

0 Boost

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.

Lexurious - 7/8/2008 1:43:43 PM

+2 Boost

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