4Runner: 4th Biggest Loser of '09

[Jeffrey_VB]

So says TrueCar, a company that analyzes sales trends. I would not have guessed that the 4Runner was Toyota's worst selling vehicle of '09.


2009?s Best & Worst Selling Cars | Autos | Smart Spending | Mainstreet

"...Toyota’s worst performing car in 2009 was the 4Runner. Sales of this model have declined 66 percent compared to last year."

 

[004Gunner]

Looks like not as much people like good vehicles anymore.

So you think declines in quality and customer service have nothing to do with it? That report doesn't surprise me at all. I think the 4Runner is far from what most people are looking for in vehicle. It just isn't practical.

 

[Mason Fresh]

So you think declines in quality and customer service have nothing to do with it? That report doesn't surprise me at all. I think the 4Runner is far from what most people are looking for in vehicle. It just isn't practical.

How's that? V8 maybe... but at least they got rid of that in the 2010...

 

[Clemsonfan15]

So you think declines in quality and customer service have nothing to do with it? That report doesn't surprise me at all. I think the 4Runner is far from what most people are looking for in vehicle. It just isn't practical.

I totally agree.

What does the 4runner offer that is special? Offroad capablities-yes, but how many people go offroad...not many.

 

[PredBlue]

So says TrueCar, a company that analyzes sales trends. I would not have guessed that the 4Runner was Toyota's worst selling vehicle of '09.


2009?s Best & Worst Selling Cars | Autos | Smart Spending | Mainstreet

"...Toyota’s worst performing car in 2009 was the 4Runner. Sales of this model have declined 66 percent compared to last year."

I can't argue the facts that sales decreased---they did.

However, you can't sell what you don't have. For example, the largest dealer around here choose not to inventory 4Runners last year. Typically throughout the run of the 4th Gens they would have anywhere from 10-20 or even more 4Runners on the lot at any time. Same for trucks. Due to the economic downturn, they didn't even have 20 total Tundras, Tacos, 4Runners, FJ's or LC's combined at any one time. They were only pushing econo vehicles and if you wanted something else, they would try and find you something. This is a very large dealer, and just for reference as to their volume they sold 372 vehicles during the "cash for clunkers"

Now, with the 5th Gen out, and the economy back from the brink (or not), they're back into selling trucks again. I just checked their inventory and they have 7 4Runners (my neighbor just bought one, so they're down from 8), about 30 Tacos, and about 25 Tundras. The other day when I test drove the 2010 4Runner, there were three other people doing the same. Tons of people looking at trucks too in part because they now have a huge selection.

If it wasn't "green" in 2009, it didn't sell. The economy flipped everything upside down. But, like I said at the top, you can't sell what you don't have.

 

[toto]

:iagree: Inventory of 4Runners was very thin this year. I would concur that sales are down because production was down.

 

[004Gunner]

If it wasn't "green" in 2009, it didn't sell. The economy flipped everything upside down. But, like I said at the top, you can't sell what you don't have.

Touche. That point does lead into the "chicken or the egg" dilemma though. I think the 5th gen sales will be a better barometer for the 4Runner market. At least if sales drop again we'll know it's because "you can't sell ugly".

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Too much competition for the 4runner but the 4th gens did have more practicality than say the older models but they were selling 100k units back 10 years ago so it's more that people's needs have changed along with competition even from other Toyota SUVs.

 

[Scoobs]

My dealer hasn't had a new 4R on his lot for over a year now.

 

[charlier180]

One also hase to wonder if at least part of the decline of sales in 2009 is related to consumers not wanting the "old" 4th Generation instead waiting to purchase the "new" 5th Generation. That coupled with the very lean inventory of 4th generation 4Runners and the economy might have created the "perfect storm" that pounded 4Runner sales.

 

[Slvr RnR]

One also hase to wonder if at least part of the decline of sales in 2009 is related to consumers not wanting the "old" 4th Generation instead waiting to purchase the "new" 5th Generation. That coupled with the very lean inventory of 4th generation 4Runners and the economy might have created the "perfect storm" that pounded 4Runner sales.

:iagree:... of course sales will dip. Why get an olderer new car when you can wait a few months to see the next gen?..

 

[Uneek]

Touche. That point does lead into the "chicken or the egg" dilemma though. I think the 5th gen sales will be a better barometer for the 4Runner market. At least if sales drop again we'll know it's because "you can't sell ugly".

:lol: I'm not the only one. :hiding:

 

[Uneek]

:iagree:... of course sales will dip. Why get an olderer new car when you can wait a few months to see the next gen?..

For the average consumer that couldn't be more true. But I can say for myself a few others here, the '09 is better for us.

 

[Elton H]

maybe toyota should of had a manual trans as a option

 

[charlier180]

For the average consumer that couldn't be more true. But I can say for myself a few others here, the '09 is better for us.

Count me as one of the "others" as well.
When I found out about the changes to the 2010 4Runner I realized that, for me, the new model was a downgrade since features that are important to me were dropped.
I still hold out some hope that Toyota will offer the V8 & 4WD in an SR5 in the future. Time will Tell.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

maybe toyota should of had a manual trans as a option

I think they would sell more V8 4runners than manual 4runners.

 

[gptoy96]

Too much competition for the 4runner but the 4th gens did have more practicality than say the older models but they were selling 100k units back 10 years ago so it's more that people's needs have changed along with competition even from other Toyota SUVs.

This is the way I see it too. 10 Years ago any big-engined body on frame 4x4 SUV was the in thing. Didn't matter if you actually needed it's capabilities or not people bought it more as a status symbol than for practical reasons. Now, with the economy tanking and prices of gas gone up considerably from back then people have started to going to more cost effective and efficient vehicles while ditching their real SUV's.

I just hope Toyota realizes that there are many of us out there that truely do enjoy the Runner's capabilities and what it has to offer. With the market, the world's change in views and their own expanded selection of SUV variations I don't imagine they'll enjoy the sales numbers that they had back then but I hope they don't take this as a failing sign and continue to produce it for a long time yet for those of us who enjoy it.

 

[Mark86]

From what I heard, there were very few 09's produced. I am not surprised by this, especially when you consider the way gas prices shot up in 09.

 

[qs933]

From what I heard, there were very few 09's produced. I am not surprised by this, especially when you consider the way gas prices shot up in 09.

That's what I heard/read too. Toyota dramatically scaled back 4Runner production (and/or distributors scaled back their orders) in 2009.

As a consequence, I don't recall seeing blow-out deals (i.e. massive rebates) on leftover '09s when the '10 was launched, which is something you normally see whenever a major model change occurs. There weren't any left to blow-out.

Personally, I don't think we'll see many changes during this generation's life-cycle. The volume is just too low to feasibly satisfy additional niches such as those wanting a V8 or a manual transmission. It's not that those additions wouldn't be a good thing; but imagine if 10% of customers went for the manual transmission (which I think might be high). That's just 10% of the 4Runner's already low sales volume.

By the way: Gas prices actually didn't shoot up in 2009 (chart). That was 2008, where gas hit over $4 a gallon on average. We started 2009 at a low -- it started at a low point and slowly rose the remainder of the year, but nowhere near the 2008 peak.

 

[Mason Fresh]

So you think declines in quality and customer service have nothing to do with it? That report doesn't surprise me at all. I think the 4Runner is far from what most people are looking for in vehicle. It just isn't practical.

I still don't understand why it's not practical... maybe i'm bias because i live in the mountains where there is snow and such... but it gets okay gas mileage for an SUV, 4WD is great, it's very durable - not practical seems a bit over kill.