Toyota is lazy

[Roamed YT]

Toyota has always stretched out the cycle on trucks... 10 years is the norm in a business dictated by 5-year product cycles. Look at the Tacoma. My 2007 was essentially the same as the 2005 which was a couple of minor revisions by 2015 (delay wipers, anybody?).

That said, I *did* vote with my wallet and have owned two F-150's, my current one being a 2014 FX4. If you're building a 400HP full-size pickup then you really need to design it around a full-size fuel tank!

 

[AntleredRuin]

It's not lazy; it's doing what works.

Toyota has ALWAYS been behind on the design trends. Always.
They don't put their money into R&D for design, they put into making a quality, long lasting vehicle. Give them a few more years, let the domestics work out the design quirks, then Toyota will jump on that.

As for domestics lasting as long, I don't think so. Saying that you have a 'trouble-free' vehicle with less than 100k really isn't an argument. Every modern vehicle (lemons excluded) will get that far easily. It's when it gets into the 200s, 300s, even 400s, where it starts to show.

 

[RAD4Runner]

Speaking of Lazy, Toyota is just being like the Maytag man

I hope when the Tundra redesign occurs the result us a much less bubbly looking truck.
The current line looks like an overweight diabetes ridden pickup ....

Agree 110%
Look at the Sequoia, too.
Now look at the 70-series; not bulbous in the 80's, still not bulbous today, still looks good. The current Tacoma looks better than the current Hi-lux in that same sense.

 

[lucky7]

Detroit isn't selling tons of cars, they're leasing tons of cars. When the cycle completes, I think you'll find Toyota will have the last laugh... All of Detroit is flush with FED 'funny money,' giving the illusion of a comeback.

As someone that only buys used cars, value for money is typically my top priority. The apples to apples comparison doesn't apply to me. I bought a 2004 4runner in 2017. I didn't even consider looking at an '04 Grand Cherokee or Trailblazer. Perhaps they're comparable off the showroom floor? After 14 years, however, I assure you they aren't.

Keeping up with the Jones', the Tortoise and the Hair, yadda, yadda.

 

[John7M7]

Detroit isn't selling tons of cars, they're leasing tons of cars. When the cycle completes, I think you'll find Toyota will have the last laugh... All of Detroit is flush with FED 'funny money,' giving the illusion of a comeback.

As someone that only buys used cars, value for money is typically my top priority. The apples to apples comparison doesn't apply to me. I bought a 2004 4runner in 2017. I didn't even consider looking at an '04 Grand Cherokee or Trailblazer. Perhaps they're comparable off the showroom floor? After 14 years, however, I assure you they aren't.

Keeping up with the Jones', the Tortoise and the Hair, yadda, yadda.

Amen to that. My 2000 4Runner and my 2005 Volvo XC90 (same philosophy when it comes to durability of their cars) don't feel ashamed when compared to more modern American cars and trucks.
When you look at my Volvo vs a 2015 Acadia (or anything in that spirit, you know what I mean)... well, go Volvo!

 

[lucky7]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I live in 'Chrysler [Fiat] Country,' so I see all the new Fiat cars because all the employees drive them for 6 mos or so, then they're never to be seen again. Anyhow, the current 'cool car to have' is that new Alfa SUV - they're everywhere. For some reason, however, I just don't see them as being a long lasting, quality vehicle. (LOL)

The 'Big Three' [2.5] can pump out crap all day long, and people around here eat it up. Gilded cars for a gilded city, in a gilded age. Also, nothing lasts forever.

 

[TacoRunn0517]

Toyota doesn't NEED to do anything except keep making profit. I mean, this is a business, correct? It ain't a charity. If one doesn't like what Toyota offers, feel free to buy something else. NO manufacturer is going to give you EVERYTHING in a vehicle. Toyota purposely focuses on reliability because that is their competitive edge. Why would one be in rush to give that up when it makes you profit year in and year out? If Toyota starts to decline in reliability, then things NEED to change. Until then, they will continue to do what has worked for them. I can't tell you what should be your priorities in regards to what your vehicle should offer. I know that reliability is near the top for me.

 

[PrimtimeKenny_S550]

In hindsight, Toyota may realize that the customers may feel slighted by purchasing an inherently antiquated product. My wife originally wanted to dabble in checking out the 2017 4runners, but once I found out that the same V6 and 5speed automatic were still being used (We have a 2005 sr5, v6, 2wd), we decided to purchase an Explorer Sport.

Hard to argue with the old adage ''if it aint broken, then don't try to fix it,'' so I can see Toyota's position.

 

[simple]

Really? I don't know about the tundra, but the 5th gen at this point is a damn disgrace in my view. 30-50k for what? They got rid of the Torsen 4wd, bulky cheap interior with less storage than the 4th gen despite it's bigger size, they added a touchscreen radio, but it's resolution and display size are straight out of 2003. Side mirror blinkers...not standard, no blind spot monitors, no lane assist, no vehicle collision avoidance.

I don't blame guys for looking elsewhere. Many domestics have really turned things around and they deserve a solid look. I've had 4 4runners, and my current 4th gen will likely be my last if Toyota can't stop relying on it's brand name alone for value.

 

[jordanrb81]

So I feel like I should weigh in on this. Toyota just acquired me as a new customer (11/06/17) and I bought the 4Runner for most of the reasons you folks seem to dislike. I will confess many of my friends and family have laughed out loud when I show them my new rig, which I describe as a "New 1997" with it's big goofy plastic knobs and 8 bit center dash read out. I love everything about it and bought it for those specific reasons. the other three cars in the fleet all wear the Mercedes star, 1 antique, which still has a nicer interior in many ways than my 2017 4Runner. For me that's the point, I use it to go snowboarding, off road and I have even made a couple of dump runs in it, it's supposed to be a little Spartan. it's going to spend most if it's life dirty and being abused and that's what makes it cool along with crawl control, locking rear diff, and a true 4WD Low, something that's becoming increasingly rare. the only other vehicle I considered before buying the T4R was the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, I think the Runner is a little more livable on a day to day basis. So, while it sucks you folks are unhappy Toyota is still attracting new buyers with their "old" tech... when I traded in my 2013 E350 even the people at the dealership were like Really?

 

[John7M7]

You can do low tech and still put something other than plastic knobs from the 90s. A couple 2x4s will make a seat, yet I'd rather have leather seats. They are not less reliable than said 2x4s though.

 

[jstim]

I’ve been a Toyota guy for a long time now. Came from the big 3, GMC, converted to a Tundra, Tacoma, back to a Tundra. One was too much, the other as needs changed wasn’t enough, and the last....well. I had wanted another truck, diesel, full sized. I looked, and was unhappy with Toyota. It wasn’t the interior, it was new, but nothing special, the seats in the world of seats are alright, but the price. Way too much for not enough, so I bought a 5th gen. I love my Toyota’s. I still have a 3rd gen, my wife has a 5th. I can’t throw deer, and elk and animals in the back of a 5th gen. In the next 5/7 years I’m hoping to have 200 acres and some animals. Yeah the Tundra works...but literally the diesels are so much better. I waited, and hoped that Toyota would just pony up and give us a full fledged official 3/4 ton diesel truck. Hopefully we get to that point sooner than later...I like my F250. Especially since ford wasn’t in on getting bailed out by the government. But that needs to be Toyota’s next step, the larger than 1/2 ton truck.

 

[lucky7]

Ford got a 'bailout' in the form of a 6 billion dollar line of credit backed by 'we the taxpaying morons.' When it happens again, I hope people don't just sit back and take it.

Diesel trucks are AWESOME, but maintaining them sucks. a few summers ago I drove an F350 with the crappy 6L PSD, and while it was a mountain of fun, it needed a lot of TLC. Haha.

 

[2flyfishin]

I personally like the big knobs and lack of tech. I have 3cars in my stable, 2017 Audi TT (wife drives it), 2010 Chevy Traverse ( makes the 4runner look like a tech rich vehicle as it doesn’t even have Bluetooth lol), and my 2017 4runner. The Audi has every piece of tech you can get, virtual display etc, and you know how much of it gets used, maybe 2% of it. All that tech is wasted money. The seats even have leg extensions to make it more comfortable for longer drives and they never get used because on any longer trips we take, the wife says let’s take the 4runner, it’s more comfortable. Before the 4runner I had a 2010 Jetta tdi and a 2016 Mini Countryman S all4 which had all the bells and whistles, none of which got used. As for brand loyalty, this is my first Japanese vehicle and have owned 5 different brands over the years and only try to shy away from 1, Chevy, even though I own one now. I also think it would be stupid for Toyota to try to take on the big 3 seriously in the full size truck department and especially in the HD department. Too many of the full size/ HD truck owners look at their big 3 trucks as a sign of toughness and patriotism ignoring the fact that most are either made in Mexico or Canada and have always scoffed at the Tundra. To me, Toyota makes the Tundra to appeal to Tacoma fans and other Japanese car fans who found themselves needing something more than a midsize truck. Toyota could make an HD diesel truck with better towing, better fuel economy, etc, and the big 3 would respond so fast it would be unbelievable. I don’t think they would tolerate somebody interloping in a market that they’ve always owned and make huge profits in.
P.S. for the guy in the post above, the 6.0 was probably the worst Diesel engine ever made! Diesels aren’t that bad, trust me.

 

[jstim]

Ford got a 'bailout' in the form of a 6 billion dollar line of credit backed by 'we the taxpaying morons.' When it happens again, I hope people don't just sit back and take it.

Diesel trucks are AWESOME, but maintaining them sucks. a few summers ago I drove an F350 with the crappy 6L PSD, and while it was a mountain of fun, it needed a lot of TLC. Haha.

Yeah, but its a credit line...it wasn't like GM who took them money, paid the VP's and just went on there way. Just saying, Ford was the best of the 3 that came out of all of that.

The 6.0? Honestly that is one of my FAVORITES. It's one of my favorites just because of the potential with it. I mean you have to put new head studs in it, but that is really it. Most have gone the DPF/EGR delete routes on those. Afterwards though, man they make some CRAZY power.