observation about option packages nationwide

[M3_962]

I shopped for my 4Runner in both CA and MO. It turns out that these two places have vastly different option packages available. You can see this by checking online.

In CA, even the least-equipped SR5 comes with the curtain airbags, while in MO only the highest option package has them. For some reason in MO, the "Chrome exhaust tip by Valor" is on all the packages! Moonroof is included on the MO SR5s I saw, while not on the CA ones...

just thought that was interesting. I wanted the airbags and a Sport that wasn't too loaded, so I was able to find what I wanted in CA.

 

[DarksideSurf]

I shopped for my 4Runner in both CA and MO. It turns out that these two places have vastly different option packages available. You can see this by checking online.

In CA, even the least-equipped SR5 comes with the curtain airbags, while in MO only the highest option package has them. For some reason in MO, the "Chrome exhaust tip by Valor" is on all the packages! Moonroof is included on the MO SR5s I saw, while not on the CA ones...

just thought that was interesting. I wanted the airbags and a Sport that wasn't too loaded, so I was able to find what I wanted in CA.

Yup my 05 SR5 (which was bought in Colorado) is for the most part "fully loaded". JBL, leather shift knob & steering wheel with audio controls, moonroof, double decker cargo system & 17" Limited wheels but with no spoiler. I don't get that, but that's an easy fix. All of the SR5's I've seen in CA are for the most part bare. Nothin. Maybe the moonroof but that's it.

 

[M3_962]

Re: Re: observation about option packages nationwide

Yup my 05 SR5 (which was bought in Colorado) is for the most part "fully loaded". JBL, leather shift knob & steering wheel with audio controls, moonroof, double decker cargo system but with no spoiler.

That reminds me of an oddity

 

[tkr128]

Re: Re: observation about option packages nationwide

Yup my 05 SR5 (which was bought in Colorado) is for the most part "fully loaded". JBL, leather shift knob & steering wheel with audio controls, moonroof, double decker cargo system but with no spoiler. I don't get that, but that's an easy fix. All of the SR5's I've seen in CA are for the most part bare. Nothin. Maybe the moonroof but that's it.

Yup, you'll notice that Nor Cal and So Cal have different packages too.

Here is So Cal, the only options SR5's come with are the roof rack, carpet mats (or the convenience package with the first aid kit) and with/without the moonroof. I wish they would have better equipped SR5's here. I'm slowly adding the things I wanted but didn't get to mine.

 

[Uneek]

The distributors specify the configurations. I had my 4Runner ordered because I wanted navi. Another member, on the East Coast I believe, said V6 Limited 4WD with navi were plentiful over there.

Unfortunately, not every option on toyota.com or the brochure is an available option. And some options are standard options, like side/curtain airbags and tow hitch on the V6. Those seem to be on every 4R I've seen regardless of trim.

 

[Baba Booey]

My only concern with options was getting the side & curtain airbags. However, here in PA, they were only available on SR5s that were fairly loaded. In order to get the airbags, I had to get the moonroof, 17" wheels, spoiler, double-decker cargo system, trailer hitch, carpeted mats, roofrack & crossbars, cargo net and first-aid kit (unless the salesperson threw these last two in as a bonus - I didn't see them on the sticker).

They might as well of thrown in an upgraded sound system and leather steering wheel with audio controls, but they didn't. I called around, and every SR5 in my area with the side & curtain airbags had identical options and an identical sticker price.

 

[boston_kevin]

You can always special order any items you want, providing you have the time to wait for the arrival... The regional distributors decide which options that want standard for each model and only make those available through the configurator for your zip code. This makes it easier on the dealers to sell the same car. My only gripe is certain things should come standard... Side Air Curtains should not be an option for any model, but as you see, these only are "standard" on certain configurations and only in certain parts of the country. Here in MA, only the top of the line limited has Side Air curtains....

 

[Baba Booey]

I was replacing a totaled '04 Pilot, and therefore I really didn't have the luxury of waiting for a special order. My wife was in an accident with the Pilot, and it did a tremendous job at protecting her.

It didn't have curtain airbags, but it did have a side airbag which deployed, and, I believe, was partially responsible for her coming out with only minor bumps and bruises. The curtain airbags didn't become available as an option until '05, but the '06 Pilots now have side & curtain airbags standard on every model.

This was the main reason that I absolutely would not get the 4Runner without the airbag package. I could've done without the moonroof, 17" wheels, spoiler, etc., but I had no choice. Not that these options aren't nice to have....

 

[Bluto]

I was replacing a totaled '04 Pilot, and therefore I really didn't have the luxury of waiting for a special order. My wife was in an accident with the Pilot, and it did a tremendous job at protecting her.

It didn't have curtain airbags, but it did have a side airbag which deployed, and, I believe, was partially responsible for her coming out with only minor bumps and bruises. The curtain airbags didn't become available as an option until '05, but the '06 Pilots now have side & curtain airbags standard on every model.

This was the main reason that I absolutely would not get the 4Runner without the airbag package. I could've done without the moonroof, 17" wheels, spoiler, etc., but I had no choice. Not that these options aren't nice to have....

I was talking to an 06 SR5 owner, he had side air bags. I was Looked online, sure enough, plenty of 06 SR5s with side bags available. But no Sport with side bags in the Mid-Atlantic. Dumb. In 2005, only Limiteds had side bags, unless you special ordered. That is why I was suprised when the 06 SR5 had them. I really wanted to get side air bags, but could not wait.

 

[M3_962]

I was talking to an 06 SR5 owner, he had side air bags. I was

I did some poking around on the "build your toyota" sites for different regions. I looked at New England and Southern California and I think neither of these places offered side airbags on some of the models. Very strange!

So if anyone wants to select from cars that all have the airbags...come to Northern California, I guess. To satisfy my curiosity I'm still wondering what other regions have the airbags in all the option packages.

 

[Uneek]

Even though Toyota list the side/curtain airbags as an option, I think all distributors should just order their 4Runners with them. I don't think it would be hard sell to convince a customer that the $650 for the option is not worth it. My '04 and '05 Toyotas didn't come with the option, but it was a must for the 4Runner. I'd give up the spoiler and/or moonroof for the airbags.

 

[Fro-Runner]

I'm not giving up my moonroof for side airbags! Toyota is gonna have to figure out a way to install them with the roof or else I'll buy something else in the future.

Perhaps, this has already been figured out for the next generation 08 or 09 Seqouia!

I'd like to also mention that the undercoating packages are different depending on what part of the country you live in. I remember reading that you could order turn signal mirrors back in 2004 but only from a dealer in the SE (southeast). CA is a ripoff with the bland SR5 packages that they offer here in so Cali.

 

[M3_962]

I'm not giving up my moonroof for side airbags! Toyota is gonna have to figure out a way to install them with the roof or else I'll buy something else in the future.

No worries — he was just saying it sucks that those are the option packages they choose, without that combination. I have both moonroof and airbags.

I liked the selection of cars I saw. But the SR5s were definitely more bare, with no moonroof, no leather wheel (but they did come with airbags, tow hitch, spoiler, roof rack, 17" wheels). It would've been a good choice for me if I had been looking to spend slightly less and get into a 4Runner (with airbags) for the minimum possible.

I also noticed here in norcal only the SR5 comes in 4x2, and only in V6. I noticed in other places there are full selections of V8 4x2, 4x2 sport, etc.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Funny how these dealerships work with the mfrg on certain models to create a shortage........therefore creating a selection demand within a certain geographical area.

 

[Uneek]

I'm not giving up my moonroof for side airbags! Toyota is gonna have to figure out a way to install them with the roof or else I'll buy something else in the future.

Perhaps, this has already been figured out for the next generation 08 or 09 Seqouia!

I'd like to also mention that the undercoating packages are different depending on what part of the country you live in. I remember reading that you could order turn signal mirrors back in 2004 but only from a dealer in the SE (southeast). CA is a ripoff with the bland SR5 packages that they offer here in so Cali.

fo'runner, sorry, I should've been more clear.

I meant if the combination came down to one with side/curtain airbags or moonroof and spoiler, I'll probably have to forgo the moonroof and spoiler package one for the one with side/curtain airbags. Don't think I can give up navi thus my Camry doesn't have side/curtain airbags. I had my 4R ordered so I got all of the above without giving one up for another.

The undercoating varied from dealer to dealer too; some were PermaPlate while others were some other brand. But the three last Toyota's we've bought, I don't recall the dealer pushing undercoating at all. Although the last two, the finance manager is a friend of ours. There are a few dealers that install their own BS alarms with the bright blue LED and if you didn't pay the $400 for it, there'll be two screw holes left in the dash. One dealer here always adds this ugly "protection package" trim around door and fender edges. :chair:

 

[DarksideSurf]

I did some poking around on the "build your toyota" sites for different regions. I looked at New England and Southern California and I think neither of these places offered side airbags on some of the models. Very strange!

So if anyone wants to select from cars that all have the airbags...come to Northern California, I guess. To satisfy my curiosity I'm still wondering what other regions have the airbags in all the option packages.

Got side airbags with my option package (Mountain States Region).

 

[qs933]

Funny how these dealerships work with the mfrg on certain models to create a shortage........therefore creating a selection demand within a certain geographical area.

I think it's actually the opposite situation -- the regions order option combinations that they think will sell well in their region. It's the whole 80/20 rule -- 80 percent of their sales will be met by the 20 percent of the possible option "packages" available.

When I was shopping, side airbags were a must-have, the JBL changer was a nice-to-have, and I did not want the moonroof. Fortunately, this was one of the combinations the distributor ordered. Of course, if I wanted side airbags and NOT the JBL changer (or vice versa), I would have been out of luck.

Interestingly, at the time I was shopping, they had a few leftover 2004 V8 Sport Editions that had the side airbags, moonroof, but only the single-disc JBL. Why they went with only the JBL single-disc versus the JBL changer seemed like a strange choice to me (maybe that's why they had several leftovers.)

 

[bonedoctor]

I shopped for my 4Runner in both CA and MO. It turns out that these two places have vastly different option packages available. You can see this by checking online.

In CA, even the least-equipped SR5 comes with the curtain airbags, while in MO only the highest option package has them. For some reason in MO, the "Chrome exhaust tip by Valor" is on all the packages! Moonroof is included on the MO SR5s I saw, while not on the CA ones...

just thought that was interesting. I wanted the airbags and a Sport that wasn't too loaded, so I was able to find what I wanted in CA.

I bought my 05 Limited V8 in Springfield, MO. It had every option, including NAV, except for the air suspension and 3rd-row seats (had no use for them). Oddly, it didn't come with the Valor tip and I added it later. Now, all the 4Runners at the Toyota place in Columbia, MO where I lived had the Valor tip, but I'd never seen a one of them with the factory NAV. Wonder if my purchase came from somewhere else since I remember the dealership guys in Springfield saying something about that they hadn't seen one like this before in the GG color with factory NAV.

 

[Presto]

Re: Re: observation about option packages nationwide

I bought my 05 Limited V8 in Springfield, MO. It had every option, including NAV, except for the air suspension and 3rd-row seats (had no use for them). Oddly, it didn't come with the Valor tip and I added it later. Now, all the 4Runners at the Toyota place in Columbia, MO where I lived had the Valor tip, but I'd never seen a one of them with the factory NAV. Wonder if my purchase came from somewhere else since I remember the dealership guys in Springfield saying something about that they hadn't seen one like this before in the GG color with factory NAV.

Just south of Missouri is another Toyota Region (Gulf States Region). Perhaps Reliable Toyota made a dealer trade with a dealership outside their Region, hence, the different options available.

 

[bonedoctor]

Re: Re: Re: observation about option packages nationwide

Just south of Missouri is another Toyota Region (Gulf States Region). Perhaps Reliable Toyota made a dealer trade with a dealership outside their Region, hence, the different options available.

Yeah, it came from Reliable. The 4runners in Columbia, MO at Machens Toyota typically always had the same options and the exact same sticker price. Every one of them had the Valor tip and it didn't appear to be a dealer add-on since the tip was shown on the sticker. The NAV was a rare option, however, and I'd seen only one with it in Columbia. At the dealership in Glenwood Springs, CO near where I now live, I haven't seen a single one with the NAV.