Are we heard out there?
- Thread starter 05SportV8
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charlier180
New member
I looked at a couple of forums and web sites looking for information about the 4Runner. Unlike some of the other vehicles I was considering, 4Runner owners had a LOT fewer issues. On of those other vehicles literally had 30 complaints about problems for every 1 the 4Runner had. What was really amazing was that the 4Runner outsold that vehicle 5 to 1.
There is a forum for Volkswagens called vwvortex that is a VERY large forum. Last year the CEO of VW of America posted on that forum answering questions and assisting some owners with their issues. He shocked many in the automotive industry by actually communicating directly with his customers. He also attended one of the largest VW gatherings in the USA and spent the entire day just talking with VW owners. Unfortunately, he is no longer with VW. Some people seem to think that his involvement on that forum and with customers was the reason why he was transferred to Bentley. He left VW before the transfer to Bentley and is now with another automaker.
I also know for a fact that other employees of VW post on that forum answering questions, etc. but must follow company guidelines regarding what they can write about. Unlike the former CEO, when they post they do not inform other forum members they are employees. If they did, they would never get any work done and would be targets for unsatisfied customers. It can be very entertaining when members of the forum tell the VW employees (some of whom are engineers that I know) that they know nothing about the vehicles and are idiots. These employees keep posting because they love their products, want feedback directly from customers and truely want to help them out.
I have no doubt that some Toyota employees lurk here on this forum. Some may actually post here. Unfortunately, we may never know for sure.
There is a forum for Volkswagens called vwvortex that is a VERY large forum. Last year the CEO of VW of America posted on that forum answering questions and assisting some owners with their issues. He shocked many in the automotive industry by actually communicating directly with his customers. He also attended one of the largest VW gatherings in the USA and spent the entire day just talking with VW owners. Unfortunately, he is no longer with VW. Some people seem to think that his involvement on that forum and with customers was the reason why he was transferred to Bentley. He left VW before the transfer to Bentley and is now with another automaker.
I also know for a fact that other employees of VW post on that forum answering questions, etc. but must follow company guidelines regarding what they can write about. Unlike the former CEO, when they post they do not inform other forum members they are employees. If they did, they would never get any work done and would be targets for unsatisfied customers. It can be very entertaining when members of the forum tell the VW employees (some of whom are engineers that I know) that they know nothing about the vehicles and are idiots. These employees keep posting because they love their products, want feedback directly from customers and truely want to help them out.
I have no doubt that some Toyota employees lurk here on this forum. Some may actually post here. Unfortunately, we may never know for sure.
Good Times
New member
1. N/A
2. Some companies do interact with the forum while others lurk to read up on customer comments.
3. Not that I'm aware of but they do frequent many online forums.
4. I would think so.
5. They could probably interact as an owner of the vehicle w/ comments like everyone else but probably can't comment on any business matter.
2. Some companies do interact with the forum while others lurk to read up on customer comments.
3. Not that I'm aware of but they do frequent many online forums.
4. I would think so.
5. They could probably interact as an owner of the vehicle w/ comments like everyone else but probably can't comment on any business matter.
05SportV8 said:
Mark86
Super Moderator
1. I did it backwards I bought the 4Runner first and then found this forum. I would have done a few things different if I was a member on this board before buying the 4Runner!
2. There are a few Toyota employees on this board. I am not sure of their actual position.
3. I don't know
4. I don't know for sure but it would be wise if Toyota read what the owners want. Many people wanted to see bluetooth navigation, memory seats, and projector headlights on the 2006 4Runner. Is it a coincidence that the 2006 models have these features?
5. I don't know
2. There are a few Toyota employees on this board. I am not sure of their actual position.
3. I don't know
4. I don't know for sure but it would be wise if Toyota read what the owners want. Many people wanted to see bluetooth navigation, memory seats, and projector headlights on the 2006 4Runner. Is it a coincidence that the 2006 models have these features?
5. I don't know
Northof49
New member
1. N/A
2. Many aftermarket companies interact a lot on various forums, but not many large manufacturers, be it cars, bikes, boats, whatever. I think the main reason is that it is difficult (impossible really) for any individual to accurately express the views/plans of a large corporation. As far as technical correspondance, the only people that *should* know the thing mechanically in and out are experienced dealer techs/service/parts personel, service reps, and the designers themselves. No one knows everything, but what distinguishes the good from the bad is their ability to figure it out.
3. There are at least a few members (myself included) that work for Toyota dealers and at plants, not sure if anyone works at corp. I answer what I can, but assure you many members that have done extensive research, that don't work for Toyota, know more than I on certain aspects. Many people from corp. would be in the same boat.
In addition, there is the issue of bringing work home.....I come on here for entertainment, learning and helping people out where possible; not for business. I don't particularily want a bombardment of part number/price requests, or "you should know....you work for Toyota" type questions, as this is something I do for fun on personal time.
4. Not sure, but it could be great market research if they did. Also would help to find common problems. I wouldn't doubt if they get some ideas through the internet.....they're not stupid by any stretch. That said, the internet is so full of BS that it's tough to sift through sometimes.
5. Of course they wouldn't be barred from interacting on a personal level, however, the problem would be what I mentioned earlier.....an individual representing (or misrepresenting) the entire company. Who would they nominate to post "The Toyota Answer?" That said, the Toyota answers to most questions lie in owners manuals, shop manuals and resources of that nature.
As for questions like those posted by 05SportV8.....I often wonder about those things myself, and am no closer to the answer than anyone else on here. I would love to go over a vehicle with the people that designed it and ask "why is this like this.....why is that like that?" type stuff, but it's a little tough
2. Many aftermarket companies interact a lot on various forums, but not many large manufacturers, be it cars, bikes, boats, whatever. I think the main reason is that it is difficult (impossible really) for any individual to accurately express the views/plans of a large corporation. As far as technical correspondance, the only people that *should* know the thing mechanically in and out are experienced dealer techs/service/parts personel, service reps, and the designers themselves. No one knows everything, but what distinguishes the good from the bad is their ability to figure it out.
3. There are at least a few members (myself included) that work for Toyota dealers and at plants, not sure if anyone works at corp. I answer what I can, but assure you many members that have done extensive research, that don't work for Toyota, know more than I on certain aspects. Many people from corp. would be in the same boat.
In addition, there is the issue of bringing work home.....I come on here for entertainment, learning and helping people out where possible; not for business. I don't particularily want a bombardment of part number/price requests, or "you should know....you work for Toyota" type questions, as this is something I do for fun on personal time.
4. Not sure, but it could be great market research if they did. Also would help to find common problems. I wouldn't doubt if they get some ideas through the internet.....they're not stupid by any stretch. That said, the internet is so full of BS that it's tough to sift through sometimes.
5. Of course they wouldn't be barred from interacting on a personal level, however, the problem would be what I mentioned earlier.....an individual representing (or misrepresenting) the entire company. Who would they nominate to post "The Toyota Answer?" That said, the Toyota answers to most questions lie in owners manuals, shop manuals and resources of that nature.
As for questions like those posted by 05SportV8.....I often wonder about those things myself, and am no closer to the answer than anyone else on here. I would love to go over a vehicle with the people that designed it and ask "why is this like this.....why is that like that?" type stuff, but it's a little tough
snap315
New member
Yes, I think we are heard.
All you have to do is look at the improvements to the 2006 4Runner.
Almost every gripe that has been expressed on this and other message boards was addressed. In fact, almost no one thought Toyota would make that many changes.
I think someone is listening.
:awais:
All you have to do is look at the improvements to the 2006 4Runner.
Almost every gripe that has been expressed on this and other message boards was addressed. In fact, almost no one thought Toyota would make that many changes.
I think someone is listening.
:awais:
Thai
Elite Member
Northof49...maybe you can put in a good word or two to your bosses...(about ME mainly...the other admin/mods can find food elsewhere!) HINT HINT!
Hmm, i would not turn down a percentage of Toyota's profit...HINT HINT!
: A few hundred thousands of dollars would be nice for starters....:dancin:
Hmm, i would not turn down a percentage of Toyota's profit...HINT HINT!
: A few hundred thousands of dollars would be nice for starters....:dancin:
Northof49
New member
When I find the key to the free money room I'll let you know.....but you won't be allowed to spend it on Mercedes partsThai said:Northof49...maybe you can put in a good word or two to your bosses...(about ME mainly...the other admin/mods can find food elsewhere!) HINT HINT!
Hmm, i would not turn down a percentage of Toyota's profit...HINT HINT!
DarksideSurf
New member
The Toyota 4Runner was my dream car from the very first time I saw one in 1991. Man alive that truck was sexy...ever since then I wanted one. Now that I can buy one myself I have to say i've loved it since.
This damn website however keeps tempting me to spend spend spend like a poet on payday !
This damn website however keeps tempting me to spend spend spend like a poet on payday !
DarksideSurf
New member
peter78 said:
It's from The Simpsons.
Uneek
Super Moderator
DarksideSurf said:
Don't mean to highjack this thread... but I'm just like you! We had a 1990 Toyota truck and from then I wanted the 4R (back then I thought the rear mounted spare was friggin cool, now I hate anything with a spare hanging off the rear). I wasn't even old enough to have a driver's license at the time. I really like the 3rd gen when it came out, loved it; the 4th gen grew on me. I'll be taking delivery of my '06 very soon and my friend keeps reminding how I'm finally getting the truck I wanted back in high school. Who would've guessed that more than a decade later, I'll be in my (realistic) dream vehicle.
Uneek
Super Moderator
Back on topic, I've gotten quite a few surveys from Toyota in regards to our '04 Camry and '05 Tacoma. As far as I recall, after having Nissans, Chevy and Mazda, I've gotten the most surveys from various market reasearch firms and I think Toyota themselves about Toyota vehicles. My 4R will be the 4th Toyota in our family. It certainly won't be the last either. Toyota certainly listens to what its customers want.
I always do significant research on a vehicle before I decide to even take a test drive. Most of the time, I actually go in just to quiz the salesman just to see how much he/she knows about the product he is selling. By the time I take an actual test drive, I have already decided that if it drives as well as I expect, I will be making a purchase decision in the very near future.
To that point, when I was looking for a vehicle to replace my '98 S-10 Blazer (piece of crap, I might add), through a lot of online research, I had narrowed it down to two vehicles that met my towing needs, capabilities, and requirement that it be from a Japanese company. The Pathfinder and 4Runner were the only two options in my book. I took a test drive of each, had salesmen write up offers for each, etc... I very seriously haggled with two different Toyota dealerships on a brand new '05 4Runner, one of which got within $300 of my 'buy it' price... After he failed to see where I was coming from, I started looking at used 4Runners to save some money. When I ran across the AutoTrader ad for the '03 I now own, it was ~200 miles from where I lived. Since I had already test-driven the VVTi V8 and liked the power, I had to go see if I would like the power in the non-VVTi engine, so I found a local dealer that had an '03 V8 on its lot to test-drive. A quick 10 minute drive revealed to me that I would be perfectly happy with the difference in power versus the difference in price over a new 4Runner... Two days later I went up to pick up the 4Runner I now have.
Ricky
To that point, when I was looking for a vehicle to replace my '98 S-10 Blazer (piece of crap, I might add), through a lot of online research, I had narrowed it down to two vehicles that met my towing needs, capabilities, and requirement that it be from a Japanese company. The Pathfinder and 4Runner were the only two options in my book. I took a test drive of each, had salesmen write up offers for each, etc... I very seriously haggled with two different Toyota dealerships on a brand new '05 4Runner, one of which got within $300 of my 'buy it' price... After he failed to see where I was coming from, I started looking at used 4Runners to save some money. When I ran across the AutoTrader ad for the '03 I now own, it was ~200 miles from where I lived. Since I had already test-driven the VVTi V8 and liked the power, I had to go see if I would like the power in the non-VVTi engine, so I found a local dealer that had an '03 V8 on its lot to test-drive. A quick 10 minute drive revealed to me that I would be perfectly happy with the difference in power versus the difference in price over a new 4Runner... Two days later I went up to pick up the 4Runner I now have.
Ricky
