"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
02/08/2019 at 10:00 • Filed to: hammerhead says
2
28|
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
02/08/2019 at 10:00 • Filed to: hammerhead says | 2
| 28 |
Yes, its time indeed for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of “what does HammerheadFistpunch have to say about it.” Thanks for joining! In Today’s episode...
GRRRRRrrrRRrRRr!
Rawwwwrrrrrrr
grr....
gr...
So, what time should I pick you kids up?
Evan. EVAN! Y ou forgot your pads!
No but seriously, this TRD the Sequoia was an easy no brainer trim level for eeeking out the last few years of this ancient platform that will either be replaced or retired in the next year .
Much like the Tundra, its closest sibling, it’ s a reliable, thirsty, hilariously large old thing that people...buy? I don’t know. Look its a trim level. I’ m sure the suspension actually makes a big difference off road and the skid plate is nice to have just in case but, well, yeah.
It’ s still got a lot going for it if you don’t care about economy, the new infotainment is up to date, it’ s faster than anything this size should be, its a strong towing performer and it’ s now probably pretty comfy off-road. If you want a Tundra and you need to carry more than 6 people then your shopping is done.
Thing thing tho...
I don’t know about that.
Yes, it’ s REALLY a TRD Off-Road Rav4
Look !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and that still stands...in fact most all of it since the TRD Off-Road model is just the adventure grade+
Differences:
S hock tuning
shorter Bump stops
W heels
T ires
M eaningless cosmetic fluff
Of all the changes that will make a difference Im betting on the revalved shocks alone. The tires will help, but they don’t really look all that...off-roady.
Or rather they LOOK off-roady but are probably not. They look like
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
with the
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
sloppy seconds. They are called the Wildpeak A/T (not to be confused with the Wildpeak A/T3W which are great tires so far for me except in mud where they kinda stink) and they are exactly none
bit bigger than stock
. meaning ground clearance is unchan
ged at 8.6.
Also unchan ged is the AWD system with is the Torque V ectoring double decoupling PTO/RDM unit on the Adventure grade. It’ s like Honda’s i-vtm4 where there is no diff, only a spool and clutches linking each axle stub. Only this can’t overdrive the outside wheel, which is both good (the honda system HAS to slip the clutches when the system is active of dry roads because the rear wheels go 3% faster than the fronts) and bad (no additional yaw control).
It can send 50% power to the rear axle (not to be confused with 50/50 split) meaning of of the 2000 or so Lbs-ft this will be able to dish out in 1st only 1000 of those can go aft, with the other 1000 staying up front regardless of the traction situation. The good news is that 100% of that torque can go to either wheel without the use of brake based traction systems. Which means that its effectively twice as much power to a single rear wheel as their regular system.
Does it “Earn Trail Cred’” as the
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
(who apostrophes
cred? Toyota, thats who). HEEEEEELLL no. But it will look the look and walk the walk for people in the market for a RAV4.
Toyota likes to say that the shocks were tuned from experience with the Ryan Millen RAV4 Rally car. Now that program, where they compete (and win) in American rally with a more or less stock previous gen rav4 is , actually, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! all things considered. Only the shocks on the production model?
Yeah they don’t look like this
Oh Tein doesn’t make the coilovers for the TRD Off -Road? Oh, they’re not coilovers? O h they’re not even the same car? Y eah.
It’ s funny because outside of safety gear the shocks are about the only non-stock thing about the rally R av4.
Whatever, I’m sure they’re fine, I’ m sure the whole thing is fine. It’ s not bad looking, it’ s not a bad vehicle from the reviews...but I feel bad for the sucker that trie s to put that trail cred[’] to the test.
Toyota - Please don’t make “TRD” any more of a joke than the “hurr durr TuRD!” people want it to be already
.
Nick- Professional Car Destroyer
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 10:03 |
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I see where the Rav4 TRD falls in the market.
Look at the Cherokee Trailhawk, I wonder how well the pricing competes. And you will have people comparing these, so people will be buying it. I really don’t think they will compete offroading wise, since the Cherokee is pretty great for what it is. And based off looks and the minimal offroad parts tossed in the RAV, it’s going to be for people who want the look but not the function
Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 10:12 |
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TuRD, happy you said it so I didn’t have to.
Just fine, a perfect description of almost every modern Toyota IMO. They’re not particularly good, they’re just fine.
KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 10:30 |
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Can we expect a TRD C-HR anytime soon?
EDIT: Holy shit I was joking but then I googled it. It exists!
https://www.caradvice.com.au/509234/toyota-c-hr-gets-the-trd-treatment/
http://trdparts.jp/english/c-hr/index.html
adamftw
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 10:35 |
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Toyota NA is gettin’ day hashtag overland money.
Shift24
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 10:42 |
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Man the RAV4 looks like some one just stretched the face of a Subaru. Also on the Sequoia, I understand Toyota takes it slow on stuff but holy shit is that thing old.... I thought the 4runner was old but the Sequoia and Tundra are 2 and 3 years older.
Also how does the Sequoia get such crap gas mileage? The Suburban, not T ahoe, has been rated highway 20 mpg or above since 2008. And in 2008 the Suburbans had 4 speeds, n ot 5 or 6 in the S equoia.
I get the TRD update on both because duh, why haven’t you done it sooner? People with throw money at stuff with TRD on it. D ont get me wrong its rightfully so, its not the Z71 where you get a different shock, but still how did it take so long.
L astly, TOYOTA UPDATE YOUR STUFF
And other than the 4runner (which has only sold more as its gotten older) its obvious. Also pretty funny when your SUV made in Japan out sells your T ruck made in Texas....
Kar Wai Wong
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 10:55 |
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WHERE’S MA H LAND CRUISER TRD PRO?!?!
nermal
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 11:00 |
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The Sequoia is just a case of getting volume discounts on parts shared with the Tundra. Good business decision.
The RAV4 is a mildly functional appearance package. Much like the Crosstrek, it will be sufficient for the off-roading (aka dirt roads) that the overwhelming majority of people actually do.
Toyota TRD is the new BMW M. There’s still one or two “pure” models that are actually really, really good. The rest of the model line has a buncha letters and appearance upgrades added mostly to look cool and charge more $$$.
Buyers are going to eat it up. They will sell the crap outta these.
benjrblant
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 11:03 |
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OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
> KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
02/08/2019 at 11:03 |
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The C-Hr is turrible. I have an article berating it coming out soonish.
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OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 11:03 |
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While you’re here... NP or CP? https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/d/murfreesboro-1998-toyota-land-cruiser/6810782423.html
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KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
> OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
02/08/2019 at 11:04 |
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Looking forward to some good verbal thrashing.
Nothing
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 11:20 |
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The TRD Pro Sequoia is the only Pro model without a TRD Off Road submodel. I guess a TRD Off Road wouldn’t have gotten the press, or the cool “TOYOTA” grill.
vicali
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 11:24 |
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Not totally suprised with a Pro Sequoia, considering it’s closeness to the Tundra. Less surprising than if they made a Highlander Pro..
Rav Pro is interesting in that they changed wheels, tires, susp and derped some trim. Nothing that an owner looking to go offroad wouldn’t have done in the fi rs t few months on their own.
That’s pretty much the Pro
book though. Do the stage 1 mods that a normal offroady person would do. I guess it pays off for the crowds of people wanting to look the part without the effort.
SpeedSix
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 11:55 |
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Still waiting for the TRD superchargers.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
02/08/2019 at 14:33 |
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This makes me sad.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> nermal
02/08/2019 at 14:34 |
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Im bummed that Toyota is cashing in its equity on that mark. its great for the short term but it doesn’t work in the long run (again, ask BMW)
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HammerheadFistpunch
> Nick- Professional Car Destroyer
02/08/2019 at 14:35 |
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I agree, I think people who would be looking at a cherokee are for sure looking at this and I think Toyota knew it. Thats why they created the “adventure trim” for the last generation model and bumped the towing of that model up tp 3500 lbs.
People buying cherokees were buying them for
1. “jeepness”
2. Best in class towing
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HammerheadFistpunch
> vicali
02/08/2019 at 14:36 |
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I wish they would have tried a little harder with the TRD pro. my gen 1 was more off road ready than this with its true locking center and torsen rear lsd.
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Nick- Professional Car Destroyer
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 14:43 |
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Exactly.
And honestly, if we base it off looks (because you know the general public doesn’t know a thing about how much a difference these are underneath) They are both decent looking small SUV’s. But the Rav looks a little more masculine in the front area, more straight lines and that stuff. But I think clearly falls short in actual off road performance.
If the Rav had some real off road capable parts and a good all wheel drive system (as good as the Jeep system) I would have a hard time choosing.
David Tracy
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 15:07 |
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Rawwwwrrrrrrr indeed.
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vicali
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 15:29 |
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I agree, but it’s pretty rare that they would be going back to the engineers for a redo, especially for a trim model mid cycle.I wouldn’t be surprised
if this is Toyota testing the market. They’ll see how it sells.
Take the Forester, (no take it -haha) all along they had x, xs, and xt; basically trim updates other than the xt with a turbo, that came straight from the Impreza.. No big engineering differences and 98% of the parts swap back and forth.
Rav4 has long ago left the 2door beach funky offroad market and is square on in the bread and butter cuv market.
This was awesome;
But Beige makes green all day long..
CB
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/08/2019 at 16:15 |
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If I were in the market, I’d consider it. I live in a snowy climate with grid roads that aren’t always in the best shape, but also want good on road manners. I feel like the Rav4 TRD would be a solid choice.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> vicali
02/08/2019 at 16:19 |
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Im okay with the direction they’ve gone with the RAV4, but the only AWD system was in fact a much more capable one, even if simpler.
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nermal
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/09/2019 at 11:00 |
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Every review of the new M2 says it’s basically the best BMW evarrrrrr.
Same concept. If they can slap TRD badges on everything in the line up, and it helps to pay for the “real” ones, no harm done.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> nermal
02/09/2019 at 11:37 |
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did they need help setting the best not pickup in the us? (rav4)
Pistol Whipped Cream
> HammerheadFistpunch
02/16/2019 at 22:11 |
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Great Write Up! I was waiting for this! Maybe some day I will have some trail cred when I don’t live in the M iddle of F armland (MoF) , OH.
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> HammerheadFistpunch
07/07/2019 at 20:19 |
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Dude: the difference those Carlisle tires make on the trailer is astounding. Way smoother. It’s hard to quantify, but all the bumps are transmitted through the towing hitch, and I feel them in the seat of my pants as a fore/aft vibration. Gone now.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
07/07/2019 at 20:32 |
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glad to hear! i certainly have no regrets