Mysterious Toyota Phenomena in Hawaii - Let's hear from the locals!

[axisbogner]

I just came back from Maui and OMG... it's land of the lifted Toyotas!! I couldn't help but think how my lifted T4R wouldn't feel so lonely out there!

So my basic observation was that:
1) Hawaiians must love to go off road since the percentage of lifted vehicles must be >10x over California and
2) Hawaiians must hate Jeeps, because it seemed Jeep = tourist rental, Toyota = legit local. I don't recall a single off-road ready jeep.

I'd love to hear from the Hawaiians about this mysterious phenomena happening out there. Are my observations correct? What's causing this?

-Ax

 

[philsey]

Pretty sure it's more about stylin' than off-roading.

 

[axisbogner]

Pretty sure it's more about stylin' than off-roading.

Perhaps, although there were many serious lifts I saw, especially with the Tacos. And I believe there are a bunch of trails, although none explored in my rented Mazda CX-7, ha ha. Do you live in Hawaii?

 

[nglayton]

Hawaiians must hate Jeeps

Doesn't everybody hate jeeps........

 

[wcjeep]

I saw a few Police driving 4runners.

 

[axisbogner]

Doesn't everybody hate jeeps........

Ha ha, agreed but out on the trails around here, jeeps dominate. Tacos and T4Rs are way in the minority. It's the exact opposite in Hawaii.

 

[axisbogner]

I saw a few Police driving 4runners.

I saw that too. Maybe for chasing the perps on the trail :car:

 

[nglayton]

Ha ha, agreed but out on the trails around here, jeeps dominate. Tacos and T4Rs are way in the minority. It's the exact opposite in Hawaii.

Sadly, when you can possibly buy or lease a Jeep for $179 a month, you are bound to see of lot of them. Plus they just about copied every color Toyota offers.

Aren't Jeeps made in the USA? That is very important to a lot of people.

I can remember when the only vehicles you saw in Hawaii were Volkswagens.
You couldn't go 10 feet in the 80's with passing a VW Thing or a Bus.


I can't even think of the last time I saw a 4runner included in any advertised special sale or financing.

 

[axisbogner]

Sadly, when you can possibly buy or lease a Jeep for $179 a month, you are bound to see of lot of them. Plus they just about copied every color Toyota offers.

Aren't Jeeps made in the USA? That is very important to a lot of people.

I can remember when the only vehicles you saw in Hawaii were Volkswagens.
You couldn't go 10 feet in the 80's with passing a VW Thing or a Bus.


I can't even think of the last time I saw a 4runner included in any advertised special sale or financing.

Jeep Wranglers are not cheap. Very few promotions, just like the 4Runner. It's the other Jeeps that have a bunch of promotions, but its the Wrangler I was referring to on the trails. 4Runner is catching up in sales, but it's still way behind (170k vs 110k annually I want to say).

 

[axisbogner]

Where are the Hawaiians on this forum?

Another hypothesis I had for the Hawaiian phenomena is because it's closer to Japan? Lower transport rate on the 4Runners (since assembled in Japan)? That wouldn't answer the mail for the Tacos though since those are assembled in the US.

:reddance:

 

[UURunner]

I mean, aren't all of the rentals Jeep Wranglers? You can specifically request to rent those. Meanwhile if you ask for an SUV it says '4runner or similar' and you get some shitty American SUV with beach roaches in the console.

I wonder if Japan or the US production facilities are closer to Hawaii. All 4runners are made in Japan but Wranglers are made in Toledo OH since the 2000s I think.

Hawaii -> Toledo OH = 4399 miles
Hawaii -> Japan = 4117 miles.

 

[cbr900boy]

I just came back from Maui and OMG... it's land of the lifted Toyotas!! I couldn't help but think how my lifted T4R wouldn't feel so lonely out there!

So my basic observation was that:
1) Hawaiians must love to go off road since the percentage of lifted vehicles must be >10x over California and
2) Hawaiians must hate Jeeps, because it seemed Jeep = tourist rental, Toyota = legit local. I don't recall a single off-road ready jeep.

I'd love to hear from the Hawaiians about this mysterious phenomena happening out there. Are my observations correct? What's causing this?

-Ax

We hit the islands every year for our family vacation and let me tell you, they probably have the largest concentration of Tacomas and 4runners in the world...hahaha. They do LOVE their drop bracket lifts for sure. Man I miss Maui brahdda.

 

[jordanrb81]

I observed this on the "big island" of Hawaii as well, not as much 4Runners but 4 door Tacoma's were easily the most common vehicles on the roads, many of which are not paved. it may simply be a function of durability, and ease and cost of repair. there were a lot of Wranglers but as has been discussed this very easily could have been rentals. I was in a rented mustang convertible, we had to go the long way around quite a few times as the direct route to some places on the island were unpaved.

 

[riskybusiness]

I go to Oahu every March and have noticed this as well. Tons of Tacos and 4Runners. I had been wanting a 4runner for years and finally after this last visit to Oahu it drove me to the breaking point and I came back and bought one.

 

[axisbogner]

I observed this on the "big island" of Hawaii as well, not as much 4Runners but 4 door Tacoma's were easily the most common vehicles on the roads, many of which are not paved. it may simply be a function of durability, and ease and cost of repair. there were a lot of Wranglers but as has been discussed this very easily could have been rentals. I was in a rented mustang convertible, we had to go the long way around quite a few times as the direct route to some places on the island were unpaved.

We went on the unpaved roads in the rental anyhow. Drove that thing like it was the runner. I clearly wasn't alone as the thing was beat to heck.

 

[axisbogner]

I go to Oahu every March and have noticed this as well. Tons of Tacos and 4Runners. I had been wanting a 4runner for years and finally after this last visit to Oahu it drove me to the breaking point and I came back and bought one.

Nice!!!

 

[cbr900boy]

We went on the unpaved roads in the rental anyhow. Drove that thing like it was the runner. I clearly wasn't alone as the thing was beat to heck.

Man, I never see any built rigs out in Pasadena. I always drive mine around town when running errands and never get spotted.

 

[Christmashams1986]

We hit the big island, Maui, and Kauai in August. I found it strange how the majority of lifted Fords or Chevy’s seemed to have stock tires on them still, what’s up with that? These large lifts with stock tires, looks ridiculous


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[wadle5]

We hit the big island, Maui, and Kauai in August. I found it strange how the majority of lifted Fords or Chevy’s seemed to have stock tires on them still, what’s up with that? These large lifts with stock tires, looks ridiculous


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Blew their budget on the lift..now they are truck poor. Have to wait for the next tax return year to get them rimZ.

 

[wkeryder4]

We hit the islands every year for our family vacation and let me tell you, they probably have the largest concentration of Tacomas and 4runners in the world...hahaha. They do LOVE their drop bracket lifts for sure. Man I miss Maui brahdda.

That's one thing that is quite different between Hawaii and the western US. They LOVE running drop bracket lifts and stretched M/T tires, I'm pretty sure there is a name for the style. I'm sure they perform well enough but much of the lifted toyota scene is for show it seems.