A video on the TRD Off-Road, appears it won't have dual climate like the pro

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found the first mod for everyone ;)

Happy Monday!

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A local dealer has a 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro out front.. the TSS module didnt stick out as much as I thought it would. Are the Taco's arriving before the 4runners?

I believe so, they are supposed to be released this summer.

I currently have a 2019 TRD Pro. I love the fact that the technology is minimal.

This was reinforced when the windshield on my wife’s new C-HR with all the TSS goodies they are putting on the new 4Runner (new as in 377 miles) took a hit and had to be replaced.

I was not surprised that the windshield was expensive. They all are.

What did surprise me was the $477 MORE that it cost to have the sensors recalibrated to see properly through the new glass! Windshields generally appear the same, but the optics at any particular point on the glass are different due to manufacturing tolerances from part to part.

I know the C-HR isn’t a 4Runner, but it may be an indicator of possible higher costs considering the similarity of the TSS system sensors used.

Just saying...

Mr. King

That’s been the point insurance companies have been making when questioned about lower insurance rates due to the active safety technology. Over time, if it reduces the occurrences and/or severity of collision losses, that should lead to lower rates (could also lead to higher margins for the insurance company ).

In the near-term, all that technology is expensive to replace when damaged. I know we won’t have blind-spot monitoring in the 2020 4R, but Edmunds’ long-term test blog recounted a very minor fender bender with their Prius with BSM. Estimated cost to repair? Between $2 and $4K. For something that looked like what most people would use touch-up paint on and move on.

On the other hand, if the technology keeps you from having a more serious collision, maybe it’s worth it...

There is no doubt these technologies will help save damage and money. If they negate just the negative impact of the cell phone on driver safety it is absolutely a win!

I think what I was alluding to was the repair costs to keep such safety systems maintained and properly functioning. Now, I can't help but think that insurance companies will find a way to price in the percentage of individuals who can't or won't replace broken parts or do calibrations due to their cost. Insurance doesn't pay for maintenance of expensive systems.

Then there are my personal thoughts that anything that relieves the driver of full attention to and any responsibility for... never mind. I digress.

Great thread, y'all!

Mr. King

They need more selling points to attempt to justify the excessive up-charges.

...before you know it, it will be a pro-limited

.. or a limited-pro ...or promited ...or limpro

That green though is ACE!

Wasn’t the calibration expense due to replacing a damaged windshield? I didn’t think there was an ongoing maintenance cost, if that’s what you’re alluding to, to keep the sensors calibrated (from a general maintenance perspective), but I don’t have any of these safety systems (yet) so I wouldn’t be the best person to ask.

You sure it was not a 2019, TSS was on the Tacoma in 2019.

A quick internet search for the radar components used by Toyota for BSM, adaptive cruise and lane keeping will reveal the replacement costs for these components. They are VERY expensive. The BSM radar antenna in the rear bumper of a Tundra are over $700 each. There are two of them.

Keeping in mind that electrical components can and do fail for reasons other than an accident and therefore not being a candidate for an insurance claim, their replacement would be totally voluntary. I have no idea what the lifespan is for these parts.

Yes, there is warranty and yes, there are used parts and no, my statements are not and we’re not intended to be inclusive of all possible causes and outcomes. I was simply sharing a thought about component cost in a new system that I had not seen in any previous discussions.

Cheers,

Mr. King

Thats a good point, I was thinking it was like the 4runner where that came out as a 2020 item. I could certainly be mistaken..

Speaking of failures, I have a 2018 TRD OR with 34,500 miles. Yest as I was loading my truck at Costco, the handle of the rear cargo cover just pulled off, snapped, and sent plastic flying everywhere.

So while Toyotas are some of the best made vehicles out there, things do fail, and I wouldn't be keen to have similar happen to expensive safety equipment nobody really needs but which only helps sell trucks on paper because moms cross-shop by features and benefits instead of imagining how they'll actually use something.

As far as safety, one of the most overlooked safety improvements on the 5th gen was the KDSS (stiff sways reduce rollover risk on highway lane change maneuvers etc), and that system at least is generally reliable over the first 200k miles (few errors, but statistically insignificant)... whereas with electronics, I've seen tons of failures in the first 100k miles, across a number of carmakers I've owned vehicles from.

I believe we get both lane departure and adaptive cruise control hence the reason for the radar sensor block in the front. I do agree with you though. I find lane departure beep very annoying and I would prefer having BSM over it.

I wonder how they will add the radar sensor block on the limited trim since it seems that big chrome/nightshade bar is covering most of the lower grille.