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Even Steven
Guest
Uneek said:
Shortage?
- Thread starter CRM114
- Start date
Well, right here is the customer demand. Seems like I'm not alone. Out of SIXTY 4Runners within 30 miles of me, not a single one has nav. Do you really think that is a result of demand? Why would I pay $40K+ on a vehicle without nav or bluetooth? It's absurd. You think I'd find the same thing on competitor lots? They all have vehicles with nav. It's 2008.
The only logical explanation is that Toyota wants people in this range to buy the Lexus. They stand to make a hell of a lot more money.
It's too bad. I really wanted a 4Runner.
The only logical explanation is that Toyota wants people in this range to buy the Lexus. They stand to make a hell of a lot more money.
It's too bad. I really wanted a 4Runner.
Uneek said:
The "regional distributor" is not Toyota? It's not my dealer lot. It's the 5-6 dealer lots in a 30 mile radius. You'd think they'd have one. (Actually there is one. It's the regional manager's demo unit with 8000 miles on it. I suppose only regional managers get them.)
Uneek
Super Moderator
CRM114 said:
Nope, it's not. In the south east parts of the US, it's South East Toyota, SET. In Hawaii, it's Servco. The 4Runner is manufactured by Toyota Motor Corp., but the vehicles are sold by Toyota Motor Sales. They're under the same corporate umbrella, but two different entities. It's very much similar to how you have Verizon Communications and Verizon Wireless.
Toyota has always been very stingy about adding nav from the factory. It's even hard to find on Lexus products, and those are aimed at people with more disposable income to spend on the toys.
The 08 Highlander was designed to support a smaller LCD screen all the time, so that a backup camera is nearly standard equipment (it's in just about all option packages), but the nav is still an expensive option. Bluetooth is also being installed in many other Toyota models without requiring nav.
I think the trend is going to be for less factory nav and more of the nav docking station concept (like the Urban Runner) with mainstream third-party nav vendors. The factory nav is nice, but it's very expensive for what you get, and it's cost-prohibitive to upgrade the hardware if something newer/better comes out. I can understand being afraid of installing an $1,800 option without more explicit demand. If the customer doesn't want to pay that 5% extra, then a $40,000 vehicle sits on the lot. It also does very little for resale value. That makes no sense, but it's true. It's worth a few hundred bucks at best on a trade-in.
I'd echo the sentiments that aftermarket is the way to go, either in-dash or as a portable unit. My last two cars had factory nav, and I was disappointed that it was too hard to find on the 4Runner. I bought a Garmin StreetPilot 2720 and I've been very happy with it. I was afraid of going to a smaller screen, but it turned out to be fine.
The 08 Highlander was designed to support a smaller LCD screen all the time, so that a backup camera is nearly standard equipment (it's in just about all option packages), but the nav is still an expensive option. Bluetooth is also being installed in many other Toyota models without requiring nav.
I think the trend is going to be for less factory nav and more of the nav docking station concept (like the Urban Runner) with mainstream third-party nav vendors. The factory nav is nice, but it's very expensive for what you get, and it's cost-prohibitive to upgrade the hardware if something newer/better comes out. I can understand being afraid of installing an $1,800 option without more explicit demand. If the customer doesn't want to pay that 5% extra, then a $40,000 vehicle sits on the lot. It also does very little for resale value. That makes no sense, but it's true. It's worth a few hundred bucks at best on a trade-in.
I'd echo the sentiments that aftermarket is the way to go, either in-dash or as a portable unit. My last two cars had factory nav, and I was disappointed that it was too hard to find on the 4Runner. I bought a Garmin StreetPilot 2720 and I've been very happy with it. I was afraid of going to a smaller screen, but it turned out to be fine.
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Even Steven
Guest
toto said:
Maybe the demand for in-dash navigation isn't too high for most Toyota vehicles, but I think it is a mistake to make it so difficult to order it from the factory, for those who really want it. Most Toyota dealers seem to shy away from putting in an order for a Sport Edition 4Runner with navigation, for example.
Even basic economy cars are now available with navigation, including the new Corolla. If the 4Runner with navigation is hard to find, I'd guess that it's even more difficult to find a Corolla with navigation on a dealer lot.
toto said:
Well, I've been seriously considering the Lexus GX470 and they have zero units without navigation. I like the tailgate and rear window of the 4Runner though.
Why would Toyota be "worried" abiout an $1800 option (inflated pricing BTW) in a vehicle badged as a "Limited?" It makes no sense. It's not like its an outlandish option. GPS units are one of the hottest electronics items on the market. I just don't want a box hanging off my windshield with no Bluetooth on an 08 Limited.
Uneek
Super Moderator
CRM114 said:
You, like me, are a very small minority in the car market that would opt for nav. Personally, if nav is an available option, I'll have it in my vehicle (gone through good lengths to get them in my two Toyotas). However, many feel their $2400 can be better spent on other options or on an extended warranty. And most options with the exception of automatic transmissions are worth little value, if not next to nothing during resale. IIRC, I think navigation accounts for less than 3% of total car sales. It is nice to see cars even in the dime a dozen category be offered with nav (Civics and Corollas).
I like the integration of factory and in-dash nav, not to mention that it's always there when you need it. But a portable unit is much cheaper and easier to move when getting a new or changing vehicles. IMO, that's the biggest reason why factory nav doesn't show up much on the dealer lots, because consumer demand for them aren't very high.
James Toyota Scion in Flemington
Find out if the GM still has her 4runner demo, should be a 07 Limited, Nav, Rear Air, in silver with an Ipod hookup. I should know, i bought her last one. She ordered another exactly the same after I bought hers.
Lori at James Toyota Scion in Flemington NJ
Find out if the GM still has her 4runner demo, should be a 07 Limited, Nav, Rear Air, in silver with an Ipod hookup. I should know, i bought her last one. She ordered another exactly the same after I bought hers.
Lori at James Toyota Scion in Flemington NJ
Uneek said:
That may be part of the problem. I keep my cars for 8-10 years. When I buy a car, it's never impulsive. I want what I want.
And I'm not really sure what lots you are looking at. But in the $40K+ vehicles I've been looking at, a vehicle without navigation is a rarity. Maybe I'm making the mistake of lumping a Ltd 4Runner with other higher end lines. But a Limited should be a Limited.
CRM114 said:
Where are you looking? I test drove and drove home my 07 SE v6 with navigation from Prestige Toyota in Ramsey, NJ on Rt 17 (northbound). I thought I would have to wait to have the one I wanted built (shadow mica, SE package, navigation) and it turns out they had one on the lot!
The salesman I dealt with said the dealership's "buyer" tends to get more of the exotic packages in due to recent demand.
Uneek
Super Moderator
CRM114 said:
No dealer within a 50 mile radius had a '04 Camry SE with navigation, other than the one I bought it from. They had three delivered the week I got mine and sold one two days before.
The only 4Runners with nav around my area are Limited V8s. There are absolutely no Limited V6s with nav on the lot. When I ordered mine, my sales rep did a search, there were only two in the nation and one had third row seats (which I did not want). I say any luxury make, Lexus, MB, BMW, etc., nav would probably be on more than 90% of their vehicles except the entry level models, like IS250s, C230s, 325i's, etc. At the same time, I don't see many 4Runner Limiteds either around my area, not that they're super rare like seeing an exotic, but I would say over 60% are SR5s, 30% are Sport Editions and the rest Limiteds.
I wanted nav on the 4Runner because it had Bluetooth and the backup cam. If it did not, factory nav wouldn't have been that big of a priority.
Uneek said:
That's what I want. A V8 Limited with Nav. Oh, I can drive 40-50 miles to some creepy dealership and get one. I actually email these dealerships in the Philly burbs and they never even bother to email back. That doesn't exactly make me want to drive there to find out the vehicle on their website is the owner's demo.
Again, a V8 Limited is way over $40K MSRP. That qualifies as a luxury model in my book.
To put closure on this thread, I drove 60 miles today and picked up my brand new 2007 4Runner Limited with Navigation. The 60 mile trip allowed me to use the nav system right away. Navigating those stupid circles in New Jersey was much easier with it and I'm very glad I didn't settle on one without nav.
It did NOT come with Sirius or XM so now my quest is to figure out how to do it.
It did NOT come with Sirius or XM so now my quest is to figure out how to do it.
swordfencer
New member
I had to wait over a month to get my 07 V8 SE. No dealership within 50 miles or so had one.
For the satellite radio, just get an aftermarket unit and plug it into your aux input jack. I have a Sirius unit that I plug in and throw the antenna on my dash or up in the sunroof.
For the satellite radio, just get an aftermarket unit and plug it into your aux input jack. I have a Sirius unit that I plug in and throw the antenna on my dash or up in the sunroof.
Uneek
Super Moderator
CRM114 said:
Congrats... no better feeling than getting exactly what you wanted. For me, it's always about the thrill of the chase, be it a MP3 or a big purchase like a car.
For the satellite radio, there are factory XM or Sirius options that you can get from the dealer as an accessory. A few members here have installed it themselves, check out the Audio and Electronics sub forum.
Good luck.
