2003 Toyota 4Runner: First preview

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Toyota just throws a tall body on a car and says its an SUV.

Highlander yes. RX300 yes.

The highlander and 4 runner are as competent, if not more so, offroad than a chevy trailblazer or a suburban. Now, if somebody actually chooses to do so is up for debate.

The suburban can definately hold its own, not the trailblazer, though. A normal blazer would do ok.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Shantanu

Originally posted by: N8Magic
Bottom line:

2001 Ford Explorer sales: 394,198
2001 Toyota 4-Runner sales: 90,250

I know how you love to quote sales figures.

I was about to post the same thing myself. Here are some more sales stats:

Back to Market Report

Units Sold in USA, ranked by August 2002 Sales Volume

Make Model August 2002 August 2001 2002 YTD 2001 YTD
Ford Explorer 51,021 38,270 285,655 271,565
Chevrolet Tahoe 26,268 16,110 149,963 128,186
Chevrolet Suburban 24,127 10,882 105,465 95,126
Jeep Grand Cherokee 23,298 16,381 146,763 142,539
Chevrolet All New TrailBlazer 22,326 11,114 165,208 42,935
Jeep Liberty 21,511 11,458 108,739 32,506
Honda CR-V 15,197 10,768 103,406 74,637
Chrysler PT Cruiser 14,035 11,951 101,430 94,943
Ford Escape 13,871 9,922 95,484 102,604
Ford Expedition 13,133 15,464 101,620 122,927
Toyota Highlander 12,401 9,022 77,567 56,605
Dodge Durango 10,875 11,048 74,972 88,987
GMC Envoy 10,706 4,639 70,323 22,169
GMC Envoy XL 10,706 4,639 70,323 22,169
Toyota RAV4 10,304 7,912 60,932 58,850
GMC Yukon XL Denali 8,991 5,236 45,070 42,163
Toyota 4Runner 8,849 8,819 53,446 59,526

Toyota's SUVs are ugly junk. It's no wonder that they're hardly noticed in the marketplace.

Since you LOOOOOOOOVE to quote JD Power and how well GM is doing, for 2002 the results are as follows:

Best Entry Sport Utility Vehicle in Initial Quality Toyota RAV-4
Best Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle in Initial Quality Lexus LX 470
Best Midsize Sport Utility Vehicle in Initial Quality Toyota Highlander

Not to mention the other categories Toyota scored victories in:

Best Compact Car in Initial Quality Toyota Corolla (tied with Toyota Prius)
Best Compact Car in Initial Quality Toyota Prius (tied with Toyota Corolla)
Best Full-Size Pickup in Initial Quality Toyota Tundra
Best Compact Pickup in Initial Quality Toyota Tacoma
Best Compact Van in Initial Quality Toyota Sienna
Best Mid Luxury Car in Initial Quality Lexus GS 300/GS 430
Best Premium Luxury Car in Initial Quality Lexus LS 430

NINE out of 16 categories....STHU

Who cares about JD Powers? For all i care, Toyota can have a nice little JD Powers party in their backyard. It doesnt make up for the fact that Toyota's SUVs are not SUVs, they are minivans in disguise. At least the other SUVs on the list all had SUV qualities. Toyota just throws a tall body on a car and says its an SUV.

I don't see your point. Toyota has all their bases covered with SUV's for EVERY market segment. Toyota has three car based SUV's and four truck based SUVs

Car based:

RAV4
Highlander
RX300


Truck based:

4-Runner
Sequoia
Land Cruiser
LX470

my point is that you cant deal with the fact that people dont buy Toyota SUVs. I think your head is going to blow up because of it.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Toyota just throws a tall body on a car and says its an SUV.

Highlander yes. RX300 yes.

The highlander and 4 runner are as competent, if not more so, offroad than a chevy trailblazer or a suburban. Now, if somebody actually chooses to do so is up for debate.

The suburban can definately hold its own, not the trailblazer, though. A normal blazer would do ok.

I saw a stock Suburban tearing it up in the mud at the Spillway (mudding area near New Orleans) a few weeks ago. Really surprised me.

I like the looks of the new 4Runner.

 

[NFS4]

my point is that you cant deal with the fact that people dont buy Toyota SUVs. I think your head is going to blow up because of it.

I see three toyotas on that list so what's your point?

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Ford had nothing to worry about when the Highlander came out and the sales numbers show it, so why worry about the 4Runner? The 4Runner is being outsold by just about every single American SUV - why would one year change anything?

 

[prontospyder]

Looks pretty nice....better than the Explorer, Trailblazer and Grand Cherokee.

 

[andrey]

UPDATE: Here is the page with much better pictures, as well as additional information:

2003 Toyota 4Runner

 

[BCYL]

I still dont get why Toyota is keeping 4Runner alive... Isnt it going to compete with the sales of Toyota's own Highlander?

 

[andylawcc]

urr, is it me or it just looks like a bigger RAV4 from the first site linked?

 

[bcmind]

Originally posted by: BCYL
I still dont get why Toyota is keeping 4Runner alive... Isnt it going to compete with the sales of Toyota's own Highlander?

you didn't read through the thread

"4Runner is truck base and Highlander is car (mini-van) base"

I love my 96 4Runner!

 

[NFS4]

The interior looks SWEET!!!!!!!!!

And you know what, in some of those pics, this new 4-Runner looks like a Chevy Avalanche turned into an SUV with body-colored fenders :Q

 

[EXman]

UGLY

and that color. how awful.

 

[EXman]

There is a lot of markup on these vehicles, and American dealers are more willing to play with the numbers to make the sale.

couldn't be more wrong there.

 

[ElFenix]

scoreboard is all that matters, and in that regard, ford pwns toyota!

 

[rufruf44]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
scoreboard is all that matters, and in that regard, ford pwns toyota!

Yeah, in the Truck/SUV realm, Toyota still has a long way to go to catch up with Ford and/or GM in term of sales. In term of quality though, I doubt any Ford or GM's suv can go head to head with the TLC.

 

[NFS4]

Did you read about the engine in the PDF?? Seem pretty stout to me:

BRAND NEW

1GR-FE 4.0L 60° V6
available ~90 days after product launch
DOHC 24V
Very long-stroke high-torque design:
bore X stroke = 3. 70" X 3.74" (94 X 95 mm);
prev 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 = 3.68" X 3.23" (93.5 X 82 mm)
10:1 compression ratio
245 Hp @ 5,200 rpm: 283 ft/lbs @ 3,400 rpm



From Sequoia/Tundra/Land Cruiser

2UZ-FE 4.7L DOHC V8
4Runner buyers will enjoy the mid-SUV class? newest V8 engine
235 Hp @ 4,800 rpm; 320 ft/lbs @ 3,400 rpm
DOHC 32V
bore X stroke = 3.70" X 3.31" (94 X 84 mm)
iron block w/ aluminum heads
9.6:1 compression ratio

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Did you read about the engine in the PDF?? Seem pretty stout to me:

BRAND NEW

1GR-FE 4.0L 60° V6
available ~90 days after product launch
DOHC 24V
Very long-stroke high-torque design:
bore X stroke = 3. 70" X 3.74" (94 X 95 mm);
prev 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 = 3.68" X 3.23" (93.5 X 82 mm)
10:1 compression ratio
245 Hp @ 5,200 rpm: 283 ft/lbs @ 3,400 rpm



From Sequoia/Tundra/Land Cruiser

2UZ-FE 4.7L DOHC V8
4Runner buyers will enjoy the mid-SUV class? newest V8 engine
235 Hp @ 4,800 rpm; 320 ft/lbs @ 3,400 rpm
DOHC 32V
bore X stroke = 3.70" X 3.31" (94 X 84 mm)
iron block w/ aluminum heads
9.6:1 compression ratio

its just a little longer than square and they call the v6 "very long stroke?"
that v8 looks pretty darn nice

 

[andrey]

grrrr.. Now none of the links work. My guess is that Toyota asked to remove pre-launch information. What a shame to do that just only a month away from the launch.