Quote:
Originally Posted by Quentin
While great for the 2nd hand market that buys used SR5s to turn into off road rigs, standard metal skid plates on the engine, fuel tank, and transfer case add cost and weight providing items that aren't particularly valuable from to a majority of new buyers. And, frankly, the competition does the same thing. Toyota has to ask themselves if it is worth the cost and weight that reduces fuel efficiency on SR5s and Limiteds that will 95% never leave the pavement. Plus, there is a healthy aftermarket for underbody armor for those SR5 and Limited buyers that do want that protection.
|
Your right. It doesn't make sense, but neither does buying a 4runner when you'll never max out the capability of a Highlander. If people want to buy a boxy overbuilt 4x4 instead of a sensible car with mpg and no skid plates, then don't design it to be like the sensible car they already decided they didn't want.
The Pathfinder went that way, look where it is now. They started at the same place, but the Pathfinder is just another car that sells less than the 4runner while probably making less money per unit sold. Design the car people want, not the car people need (Toyota already has plenty of that).
It's allure is what it
can do off the showroom floor, eliminating metal skid plates diminishes that. There is an after market, but it feels like nickel and diming, and it makes them lose some credibility if there is a huge list of deficiencies that must be addressed before I use it like how Toyota markets it. They don't have to be great, but they should be included on any legitimate 4x4.