Just arrived at the Ports of Los Angeles

Buckle up, this is gonna be a long reply. And I apologize to those who hate when I bring up the Raptor, but we're gonna Raptor here.

It's called making money. If people are buying for MSRP, why change it until numbers decline. They aren't. I think Toyota is a little smarter than you.
 
Oh - even though the running boards and sliding cargo deck are being included on all TRD Pros, the cost is additional. The running boards are $345 and the sliding cargo deck is $350. Include the dealer processing fee of $1045, and the MSRP is $48,155.
 
HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT KELLY?! *slow cry*

I never had any sponsorship, nor wanted it. I didn't want the strings attached and being told what I could or couldn't say.
 
Oh - even though the running boards and sliding cargo deck are being included on all TRD Pros, the cost is additional. The running boards are $345 and the sliding cargo deck is $350. Include the dealer processing fee of $1045, and the MSRP is $48,155.

Exactly why I asked. Time will tell whether or not those items are optional. Less than 3 weeks ago for my '18, I was told that sliding cargo didn't come on any trdp. Didn't even bother to let him know he was all wet, I didn't want one, but hey someone, somewhere optioned the hitch ball mount - but NO ball, go figure.
 
All this talk of moon roofs lol. I think the main point is being missed, but first, if the TRD PRO is finally coming with a moon roof, and is having the cargo tray installed in all from the factory, then great, its about time for the price.

That being said, The main point here is two fold. If the TRD PRO is suddenly coming standard with more options, and the Limited has a new nightshade option with special exterior and interior trim, ask yourselves why? Why would Toyota suddenly want to move more sunroof units and 20" wheels? To put it plain, they are cleaning out parts inventory so they have less laying around for an outgoing model. It's actually brilliant. Too many 20" wheels, let's paint them black, call it a new trim, and price it even higher. Win, win!

I think we are seeing the start of the end for the 5th gen production, and like all the talk going around, we will probably see a new model in 20' or 21'.

Just my 0.02.

Oh and side note: If any new 19' TRD PRO owner doesn't want their sliding cargo tray, hit me up, as I wish I had one.

Do you think we have a warehouse full of old crap that we don’t want so we decide to throw it at a vehicle to clear it out? Every change is strategic. Most of the decisions are made years in advance. I guess unless someone projected we would have a bunch of 20” wheels sitting around and decided painting them black would be sweet.
 
All this talk of moon roofs lol. I think the main point is being missed, but first, if the TRD PRO is finally coming with a moon roof, and is having the cargo tray installed in all from the factory, then great, its about time for the price.

That being said, The main point here is two fold. If the TRD PRO is suddenly coming standard with more options, and the Limited has a new nightshade option with special exterior and interior trim, ask yourselves why? Why would Toyota suddenly want to move more sunroof units and 20" wheels? To put it plain, they are cleaning out parts inventory so they have less laying around for an outgoing model. It's actually brilliant. Too many 20" wheels, let's paint them black, call it a new trim, and price it even higher. Win, win!

I think we are seeing the start of the end for the 5th gen production, and like all the talk going around, we will probably see a new model in 20' or 21'.

Just my 0.02.

Oh and side note: If any new 19' TRD PRO owner doesn't want their sliding cargo tray, hit me up, as I wish I had one.

They're doing it to extend the life of the 5th gen and increase their margins. We all have *known* a 6th gen is coming for the past 4 years. Just look at some of the old threads. The greedy local Toyota dealer has been sitting on 2 or 3 used TRD PROs in blue for a month now at above MSRP...and they're still sitting there. At some point, you run out of stupid people, or you end up shipping them to the Bay Area in California...
 
In regards to the FJ cruiser roof rack now on the 4R, perhaps. Personally I am indifferent to it.

I agree every change is strategic. That is what I was saying. Maybe that was lost in translation. What I was trying to say was that with any manufacturer, when you set a contract with them to produce something, in this case let's say the 20" wheels as an example, it is usually a quantity and time contract. For this example let's use 10,000 over the course of 10 years. If each year they use 80 units, and there is one year left of production, they have a remaining 280 units they are contracted to accept/have paid for. Now all the sudden they have a need to use up the remaining supply, and it is real easy to alter them to use them up by adding a "special edition" or trim level. Toyota is being strategic with the final year or years of 5th gen production by using up the contracted parts they may or would have surplus of.

My 0.02

I see what you’re saying. That makes sense to an extent although I doubt 4 years after the FJ stopped production that a supplier said “hey guys you owe us another 10,000 units”. I think the people who making styling decisions thought the FJ was popular so why not give people an FJ clone of sorts. Then with the black out package. It’s a style that is popular and has been popular. Why not tap into that market? I admit I don’t know every piece of the market and how decisions are made, but most of the time we make the smart, strategic choices. But I have seen many times where that wasn’t the case also. Either way, I have a feeling that we will see another year or two of the Gen 5, and probably a couple more speciality trim levels to get more people into the seats of a 4Runner. With the way the auto market in NA has changed, small SUV is the new midsize car, so the standard SUV tagging along for the ride.
 
In modern manufacturing there is no thought given to “cleaning out parts inventory”. None! You won’t survive your competition. IIRC, Toyota used to have the highest inventory turnover ratio in the top 5 auto co’s.
 
Limited Nightshade would have a bunch of new part models for production, not clearing out old parts.

20in blacked out wheels, black door handles with touch sense, blacked out JBL deck with trim built into it, etc..
 
HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT KELLY?! *slow cry*

I never had any sponsorship, nor wanted it. I didn't want the strings attached and being told what I could or couldn't say.

You're such a negative personality on this forum. Why do you even hang out here if you just like to shit on peoples choices?
 
Why would Toyota suddenly want to move more sunroof units and 20" wheels? To put it plain, they are cleaning out parts inventory so they have less laying around for an outgoing model. It's actually brilliant. Too many 20" wheels, let's paint them black, call it a new trim, and price it even higher. Win, win!

I think we are seeing the start of the end for the 5th gen production, and like all the talk going around, we will probably see a new model in 20' or 21'.

Just my 0.02.

You're probably not wrong about trying to "spice up" the 5th gen before whatever they decide is next (or to kill the 4Runner completely).

But, you are completely wrong about piles of inventory lying around. That's literally the complete antithesis of Toyota's method of manufacturing cars. Toyota actually changed the world of manufacturing by doing the opposite.
 
Oh, while we're here, I hope that everyone's not serious about "extra FJ racks" being bolted onto the Pro. The FJ has 6 attachment points while the new 4Runner rack has the same 4 points as always.

That's right, they actually went out of their way to design something newly hideous that they "don't recommend attaching luggage to".

This is also a port-side addition (meaning that the TRD task team in Long Beach bolts this on). Just like the suspension, wheels, and plastic trim. That's why there's no ugly roof rack in the OP's post.
 
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You're probably not wrong about trying to "spice up" the 5th gen before whatever they decide is next (or to kill the 4Runner completely).

But, you are completely wrong about piles of inventory lying around. That's literally the complete antithesis of Toyota's method of manufacturing cars. Toyota actually changed the world of manufacturing by doing the opposite.

I can promise the 4Runner isn’t going away anytime soon
 
I can promise the 4Runner isn’t going away anytime soon

Judging by your comments and your location, I'm inclined to trust you. :wink2:

My sister-in-law stayed here in Torrance as a consultant after the big move. It was a bummer to see them drop the Grand Prix next year, that weekend is always so much fun.
 
Judging by your comments and your location, I'm inclined to trust you. :wink2:

My sister-in-law stayed here in Torrance as a consultant after the big move. It was a bummer to see them drop the Grand Prix next year, that weekend is always so much fun.

I try my best to spread truth around here. Although i did fail on PRO moonroof because I didn’t read all of my available literature.
 
In modern manufacturing there is no thought given to “cleaning out parts inventory”. None! You won’t survive your competition. IIRC, Toyota used to have the highest inventory turnover ratio in the top 5 auto co’s.

They set the standard for just in time manufacturing. They're so intertwined with their suppliers, its far more unlikely compared to their competitors to run into a scenario where they're producing waste, storing, over ordering, or under ordering inventory. It's just the culture they've developed due to scarcity of supplies post World War II. It's honestly the most fascinating part of the company.
 

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