RAV4 Ugly?

[Thai]

Unibody 4Runner? Yep, I can see it. The 4R is a dying breed (full frame SUV). Unless Toyota can come up with a way to reinvent this segment (I doubt), the 4R will be "unibody" or be replaced with Highlander (yeah yeah, I don't like the idea either, but it makes sense). I say kill the Highlander........

I doubt either way. The Highlander is such an easy SUV for Toyota to sell because they NEED that platform for the Lexus RX...and the Lexus RX is a huge seller for Lexus. So, Highlander/RX is here to stay for a very long time. Now, the Toyota Venza is something that does not really fit anywhere...and may be axed in the future, esp. if gas prices continue to go up (and thus limit SUV market).

As for the 4runner, it is too deep in Toyota roots for Toyota to axe it. Toyota apparently still wants a rough-n-tough midsize SUV for the towers and off-roaders...and they need something to compete with the Jeep GC, Xterras, Pathfinders, and low-budget Land Rovers. Although 4runner roots are not as deep as Land Cruiser, you can see how Toyota kept the Land Cruiser name alive all these years despite extremely low sale volume...and the fact that they need the Land Cruiser platform for the Lexus LX. The same can be said about the 4runner...they need it for the Lexus GX, which is needed to fight the Land Rover LRs.

However, with the market shifting the way it is, i think that the next 4runner/GX will be more along the lines of the Jeep Grand Cherokee design...which would make sense since the GX is a little too trucky for its segment.

 

[Net4n6]

My wife would not be caught dead in a wagon!! But, she is OK with minivans and crossovers. I have been trying to get her to like the new Acura TSX Sportwagon when her TSX needs replacing...lets just say that the conversation was very short...not in my favor! :crybaby:

What wrong with Asian women? Why don't they like wagon? My wife wouldn't caught dead in one either. I was thinking about getting a wagon when I gracefully hand my 4runner key to my son.

 

[CookieRoe]

I doubt either way. The Highlander is such an easy SUV for Toyota to sell because they NEED that platform for the Lexus RX...and the Lexus RX is a huge seller for Lexus. So, Highlander/RX is here to stay for a very long time. Now, the Toyota Venza is something that does not really fit anywhere...and may be axed in the future, esp. if gas prices continue to go up (and thus limit SUV market).

As for the 4runner, it is too deep in Toyota roots for Toyota to axe it. Toyota apparently still wants a rough-n-tough midsize SUV for the towers and off-roaders...and they need something to compete with the Jeep GC, Xterras, Pathfinders, and low-budget Land Rovers. Although 4runner roots are not as deep as Land Cruiser, you can see how Toyota kept the Land Cruiser name alive all these years despite extremely low sale volume...and the fact that they need the Land Cruiser platform for the Lexus LX. The same can be said about the 4runner...they need it for the Lexus GX, which is needed to fight the Land Rover LRs.

However, with the market shifting the way it is, i think that the next 4runner/GX will be more along the lines of the Jeep Grand Cherokee design...which would make sense since the GX is a little too trucky for its segment.

The Venza is a head scratcher for me too. I didn't get then and I don't get it now. Odd car. The RX, ah yes, completely forgot about that Lexus cash cow. Even stranger b/c my father is thinking of replacing his '01 RX with a '09 RX. Beautiful SUV!! Anyway, rethinking the Highlander...in my opinion and the way the market is headed, the Highlander is here to stay. The 4Runner is the the GXs brother, so hopefully the market is big enough for them to justify continuing building both of them! On the other hand, the Prado is "sort of" in between the 4Runner and LandCruiser. I think its a gorgeous SUV, and would be a very worthy 4Runner replacement (I know the chassis is the same, but the bodywork isn't...... hmmm, maybe not.... Lexus may intervene and say it's too close to its GX). The Prado is bigger and there ARE/WERE rumors of the Sequoia bowing after this generation, the 4Runner getting "bigger" would be fine I guess. ......... No matter how you slice it, if the Runner goes "unibody", having a Highlander in the same showroom doesn't make alot of sense.

With gas prices going up, Toyota needs to do something about those MPGs. I like what Honda is doing with their 3.5 V6 (cylinder shot off, V6-4-3) and having an "extra gear". The new Mercedes Benz CL series (not completely sure which motor) has the motor turning off at stop lights to save gas.
Urrghhhhhh. Time will tell with the 4Runner...........

 

[Thai]

What wrong with Asian women? Why don't they like wagon? My wife wouldn't caught dead in one either. I was thinking about getting a wagon when I gracefully hand my 4runner key to my son.

Tell me about it!!! Of all things, she is OK with minivans, but not OK with wagons?!! I just like practical cars...for those trips to Home Depot...but, my wife keeps on reminding me that i am NOT a handyman nor do i go to Home Depot (other than for light bulbs) all that much! Still, having a practical car/SUV/truck is a good thing, even if it is only for those hypothetical situations!

The RX, ah yes, completely forgot about that Lexus cash cow. Even stranger b/c my father is thinking of replacing his '01 RX with a '09 RX. Beautiful SUV!!

With gas prices going up, Toyota needs to do something about those MPGs. I like what Honda is doing with their 3.5 V6 (cylinder shot off, V6-4-3) and having an "extra gear". The new Mercedes Benz CL series (not completely sure which motor) has the motor turning off at stop lights to save gas.
Urrghhhhhh. Time will tell with the 4Runner...........

Yeah, the RX is a big cash cow, along with the ES350.

As for mpgs, i think that Direct Injection and 7-8 speed automatics are the wave of the future. Honda's solution is not attracting much attention from other manufacturers (besides Chrysler). Mercedes first came out with it 10-15 years ago and abandoned it. I don't have a mechanic background, but i can't believe that the cylinder shutoff is good for durability of the engine...cylinder is cold one minute (when highway driving) and hot the next (when passing power is needed)...can't be good long-term!

I also think that small-displacement turbos are the wave of the future too...as you can see in the upcoming Mercedes C-class, Chevy Cruze, BMW 7-series, etc.. Or hybrids, as you can now see Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus/Toyota, etc. are getting into the game with hybrid powertrain...but not in the traditional Prius way, these hybrid powertrains are used to supplement the current engine (or slightly smaller engines) for more power without mpg penalty.

Personally, i predict that Honda will abandon the cylinder deactivation within the next generation of vehicles. I don't think that any Acura vehicles use this technology.

 

[klennop]

The only Rav4 I like is the sport edition with the larger gunmetal looking wheels.

As far as wagons, I love them!! The Volvo S60R, Subaru's, Audi S4's all of them!! My girlfriend not so much, until one day she saw a 05 Outback for sale, she loved it. I said, I thought you didn't like the wagons, she said, I like this one!! SOLD!!!!

We had a 2005 Subaru Outback that was a solid color a pearl red, none of that tan or silver crap on the bottom. It had the 2.5 turbo, 5 speed, AWD, heated cloth seats, Momo steering wheel, moonroof, etc. The thing RIPPED!! It could tow 2500lbs, was great in any weather, had tons of room. Seriously it was the perfect all around car. It was able to fit a 50" Plasma TV in the box in the back with the seats down. You really never had to worry about something not fitting in it like a sedan or small SUV. Fit and finish was great rode great handled great.

Did I mention it RIPPED!!! Once that turbo kicked in, it really went, plus with it being a 5 speed...You have no idea how many cars/trucks I smoked with this thing, nobody would ever expect it and at the same time it was super practical.

So at that time had my big Tahoe and then the Subaru wagon. Now we have the 08 4Runner and a 10 Maxima. The Maxima is a great car with the performance package, etc. but it just isn't the Subaru. Before getting the Maxima and the 4Runner we debated about getting a Taco and a Rav4. But I really wanted the 4Runner and every time we got out of the Rav4 and back into the Subaru, it felt like we were taking a step backwards in quality, fit and finish, etc. It just didn't feel right paying more for a vehicle and not getting what you already have. I really wanted to get the Sport Rav4 with the nice wheels, v6, etc. but....Then we started pricing out the V6 Limited with leather etc. Rav4 and it just wasn't worth the cash. So we got a great deal on the 10 Maxima, and like I said we love it but it isn't the Subaru. We find our selves having issues putting stuff in it..or when walking out with something big in the cart going....ummm is this going to fit. When we had the wagon, it never crossed our minds.

We will most likely get back into another AWD wagon, it is just hard to find a performance wagon that is reliable. Another probably 2 years or so and we will see what is out there. I will try and find a pic of our wagon tonight.

 

[Uneek]

I think the 4Runner will go with the continuing rise in gas prices. The next gen GX will probably have IRS. If Toyota slims down their line up. They axed the Supra and Celica.

I don't Toyota doesn't wussify the legendary 4Runner name and slap it on the next gen Highlander for the sake of the keeping the name. Just how some Supra purist say there will not be another Supra.