Whenever a Japanese car maker starts manufacturing vehicles outside of its homeland, the question usually arises: can they build them as well as the Japanese? Toyota is keen to prove that its British built Toyotas are as reliable and as well-built as those in Japan, by attempting to locate the oldest UK-made Toyota in the land.
The first model to come off the production line in Burnaston, Derbyshire, was the Carina E in December of 1992. Toyota UK's latest marketing ploy is to find the oldest model still on the road. And there should be plenty of them left. In fact, DVLA records show that there are 17,000.
The person with the oldest Carina E will be given a brand new Auris hatchback to drive for a week. To some it may seem that Toyota could have got a lot more publicity from this clever idea if they actually offered an Auris to keep forever; after all, it is the second biggest producer of cars in the world, after GM.
Toyota are encouraging people to contact any driver they think might own a Carina E, perhaps by leaving a message on their car.
The contest was dreamt up to mark 20 years of Toyota car production in the UK, and follows a number of model recalls which may have damaged confidence in what is generally regarded as one of the most reliable car brands of all time, and one of the least likely to have you calling your car breakdown cover provider.
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