Toyota May Increase Car Prices in USA

[charlier180]

Interesting Forbes article at: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2005/04/25/ap1973045.html

One has to wonder how much of a Toyota price increase it will take to help Ford and GM? Should be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

[CVsGX470]

Interesting Forbes article at: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2005/04/25/ap1973045.html

One has to wonder how much of a Toyota price increase it will take to help Ford and GM? So be interesting to see how this all plays out.

I've notice over the last 10 years or so that Toyota will slowly increas the $ of their vehicles after they introduce a new 5 year model. Seems like they are not as expensive at first so that they get them on the roads. Then when demand increases, so does the price. I think that people will pay for whatever they want no matter brand. Ever notice that a lot of stuff does not come standard in a Toyota? However, you go out and buy a Trailblazer and 99.9% come with leather at the same price. People who don't appreciate the Toyota brand are more prone to buying American. I can remember when floormats weren't standard in all toyotas.
CV

 

[olliebear]

Leather seats on the Trailblazer

feels really good when you're sitting there on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck...

How much is quality of function worth? How much is reliability and durability worth? How much is not having to visit the dealer 5 times in the first 10,000 miles worth? How much is not sitting in the dealer's waiting room worth?

I think that small increases in price---like everything else must be measured not in the crap they want to give you to get you into some POS car, but in the value you receive through the years of using it.

 

[DaveS]

And are they talking about pushing up MRSP or dealer invoice or both? Reality is people end up negotiating somewhere in between those two figyres which reflects the true market value of the truck - I can't see that changing - a shift in MRSP wont necessarily affect what the hardened haggler will pay.

 

[X5Runner]

It doesn't matter how much Toyota Corporation wants to increase MSRP of their products. What really matter is when you buy any of their car or truck, you always expected to receive a deep discount from MSRP. In some occasion, the discount is thousand of Dollars below invoice. For instant, one relative just picked up their 05 Sequoia LTD for $7500 OFF of MSRP. Of course, it's also depend on how you PAY at the time of purchase, when you buy, and where you buy. Now, lets try if you can cut the same deal with NISSAN or HONDA. The answer is : NOT A CHANCE. That was the reason why I bought the 4Runner, instead of the Pathfinder or Honda Pilot, even the 05 Pathfinder has earned my heard in the first place.

 

[charlier180]

The executives at Toyota Corporation are very smart people. They recognize if Ford and GM continue to have more and more financial trouble the people in Congress and the White House will stick their noses into the situation. If that happens, automakers, especially profitable ones with foreign names may get screwed.

I find it interesting that Toyota has already helped Ford and I believe GM by selling them hybrid technology. Yes, Toyota makes money but they could have just as easily told Ford and GM to go pound sand instead of selling it to them.

I honestly do not see how raising the prices of Toyotas will help Ford or GM. GM and to a lesser extent Ford are simply not building vehicles that Americans want to buy at this time. Maybe if they build cars people want and the automakers become more efficient, get their costs and product lines under control then the financial situation may improve.

 

[CVsGX470]

Re: Leather seats on the Trailblazer

feels really good when you're sitting there on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck...

How much is quality of function worth? How much is reliability and durability worth? How much is not having to visit the dealer 5 times in the first 10,000 miles worth? How much is not sitting in the dealer's waiting room worth?

I think that small increases in price---like everything else must be measured not in the crap they want to give you to get you into some POS car, but in the value you receive through the years of using it.

Did you totally mis-read my post? I think that we are in agreement. Joe public doesn't see it like this. They see leather and all the goodies for the same price as the SR5 Toyota. Then they find out they made a mistake when they have all the problems. :arrow:

 

[rando]

GM and to a lesser extent Ford are simply not building vehicles that Americans want to buy at this time.

I know we all love our Toyota's here but come on now. The sales figures don't exactly support this contention. GM and Ford are selling plenty of cars and trucks.

 

[olliebear]

I probably mis-read your post.

I was looking at it from another angle.

 

[charlier180]

I know we all love our Toyota's here but come on now. The sales figures don't exactly support this contention. GM and Ford are selling plenty of cars and trucks.

True, they are selling cars, just not nearly as many as they have in past years.
For proof take a look here: http://www.morgancom.com/AutoSalesSummary0405.pdf

As you will see GM and Ford are losing US Market Share to other manufacturers. For example, the Big Three sold 159,132 FEWER vehicles while the Asian Brands sold 229,506 MORE vehicles (Current YTD vs Year ago YTD).