"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/18/2014 at 12:06 • Filed to: mini rant
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"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/18/2014 at 12:06 • Filed to: mini rant | 2
| 12 |
Why the Land Cruiser is better.
Exhibit A:
Google Image Search for
" !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Whats that? its not fair to compare an Infiniti with a Toyota? Okay how about:
Its a mix of street and dirt, but at least there is SOME dirt. Including this one
I get it, people want it for hauling people and thing comfortably and no one really uses it for touring...but a hard core machine like the patrol that doesn't have a single big tire picture makes me sad. Maybe I'm still just pissed about what they did to the pathfinder.
Pathfinder
Pathfounder
*alternate - Pathfollower
Nibby
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/18/2014 at 12:11 |
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My dad really wanted the Pathfinder cause my cousin used to have a 2002 Pathfinder that was awesome.
I told him it's no longer the rugged truck it once was; they turned it into a Highlander/Pilot competitor. Anyways we at least looked at it and while it is nice inside, its still quite low in terms of ground clearance and not as spacious as what we wanted.
Loping Camshaft
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/18/2014 at 12:38 |
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While I share your LC love, it isn't fair to compare the QX to the 200, go for the actual RoW competition - the Patrol Y62 that the QX is based on. I'd really love to have access to the 1997+ (Y61) Patrol in the US as they share a lot of the toughness of the Cruiser, but without the Toyota tax (hence why we have a Frontier instead of a Taco).
As I've seen your other posts, you know all this anyway.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> Loping Camshaft
04/18/2014 at 12:41 |
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PLENTY of excellent Y61 action out there. But the QX and 200 series are competitors now, like it or not. The 200 series still gets used as evidences by the very active 200 series forum on Ih8mud.com, the land cruiser forum.
I can't figure out exactly why the QX80 is so much cheaper than the land cruiser though, makes no sense. like 15 grand less.
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Loping Camshaft
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/18/2014 at 12:54 |
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I have to assume that the price difference is either due to Toyota knowing they can charge whatever they want for a Cruiser and people will buy based on reputation alone (again, the Toyota tax) and/or the manufacturing facility and quality control isn't at the level it is at Toyota City. But I don't know since I've only seen pics of the LC factory and nothing of the Patrol/QX factory.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> Loping Camshaft
04/18/2014 at 14:19 |
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I know it costs a lot to make a cruiser and in fact that's the primary reason the FJ is going away since its based on the land cruiser 120/150 and it costs a lot to produce with little packback in sales (I blame the style over function for that one). All Cruisers are built in Tahara Japan in their flagship plant and they are built to a higher more exacting standard that others. The frame on the 200 series is a full 20% stronger than a tundra, for an example. Still....15 grand?!
crown victor victoria
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/18/2014 at 14:44 |
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I prefer to call it the Pathfailer now.
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Loping Camshaft
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/18/2014 at 15:40 |
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Yeah the specs and quantity control the 200 are amazing. Then realize the LX is built to even higher standards at the Toyota Auto Body plant in Yoshiwara. Again, I'd like to compare to the Infiniti/Patrol plant. As for the price, I still say a large amount is based on the (deserved) reputation. People who buy new in Middle East can afford it and so can the UN for VIPs.
With the FJ going away, now would be a chance to offer the RoW Prado as base 4x4 under the 4Runner to compete with the Wrangler and Xterra. Obviously the 4x4 market is STRONG and Toyota has more reputation there than anyone.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> Loping Camshaft
04/18/2014 at 15:50 |
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isn't the new 4runner basically a prado 150? the frame is not Tacoma. it's also exactly a big outside a my fzj80
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Loping Camshaft
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/18/2014 at 16:22 |
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As far as I know, yes the T4R is a 150 underneath, but as you say, it's gotten a lot bigger and also more expensive. Toyota's frame and name swapping is pretty confusing nowadays.
The FJ Cruiser, GX470, and 03-09 4Runner were based on the J120 Prado, which is probably a big reason the FJ is being killed. The newer J150 Prado is the basis for the current 4Ruuner and GX460. I want to see a stripper J150 for $25-$30k which is similar to what the RoW markets get. I don't know what that means for the 4Runner, but at $40k, I'm buying a Grand Cherokee or a used 200 Series.
Looking at the Australian Toyota page , the base Prado is only a bit more expensive than the FJ Cruiser.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> Loping Camshaft
04/18/2014 at 16:40 |
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best of luck finding a used 200 for $40,000 but yeah, I have been blue in the face about Toyota creating a GX model Land Cruiser or even a whole linea-la-land rover (why not, they did it with scion?):
1. 2 door removable top based on the Tacoma or 4runner chassis
2. 4 door removable top based on the Tacoma of 4runner chassis
3. 4runner (just saying this spot is taken)
4. 200 series GX
5. Sport Cruiser - Drop the LX570 and instead build something uni-body, but special (range rover/range rover sport) and stop making 2 identical/identically priced cars with limited sales numbers.
That covers the bases:
1. JK/JKU competitor
2. small wagon competitor (it would be nice to get a 150 gx, but the 4runner is realistically what we're getting here)
3. Large wagon that doesn't brake the bank, they would still offer the super lux 200 because it still sells in high trim, just give us a GX with all the stuff we need and nothing we don't, call it the SR5 or Trail, I don't really care.
4. Cache/halo vehicle that drives sales and makes the brand look good (hey, They've got to get with the times if we want a land cruiser at all in 5 years)
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Loping Camshaft
> HammerheadFistpunch
04/18/2014 at 16:58 |
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Yeah I can agree with that plan.
Hey Akio, you listening?
G JEFFREY ALLEN
> HammerheadFistpunch
05/08/2014 at 16:51 |
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I read pathfollower and almost spit my drink out - definitely using that somewhere