6th gen Speculation Thread

"ToyotaUSA" has started the tease for the Stout mini truck (the tease is the original, not the new).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLLdT0rc-m/
Kirk has a video on it.
https://youtu.be/lZXiMN5vhqU?si=YPMIYSdflnBZyqse

 

Now that's something I'd be interested in if we didn't just buy the Rav4. I was really interested in a Maverick if a) it didn't cost a billion dollars, and b) wasn't a new model year by Ford.

 

https://bestcarweb.jp/news/695800

The hottest car fad in Japan is the new 2024 FJ70. Read it. This author from bestcarweb.jp , the most influential Japanese car magazine, tries to warn potential buyers that the new/old FJ70 can be pretty awkward and uncomfortable to drive, for urban driving and for those with families. But at the end he cannot restrain himself and gushes, “Of course, I am aware of the disadvantages, but I am in love with the FJ70 and I love it so much that I will buy it too.” His arguments against the beloved FJ70 were so unconvincing that he could not even convince himself!

But don’t read what this author says because he is obviously a troll! And whatever you do, don’t believe a word I say either. Get informed. Use your own judgement. Test drive. Get a translator app and read social media in other countries.

Did you see how fast the surrogates here jumped to try and silence my post?

Call me naive but for the life of me I cannot understand why Toyota cannot simply address things in the first person. “I am XYZ from Toyota, and Toyota’s position on this issue is XYZ.” This surreptitious underhanded style of marketing is beneath Toyota. IMO.

 

Ford Bronco sales for 2-door and 4-door models, but not including Sport Model






Ford Bronco Sport sales

 

So the take away is, after people bought the first year hype, they discovered that Ford stands for Found on the Road Dead, not to mention the cheap interior materials, and the downward spiral of year over year sales numbers confirm that.

 

It would be interesting to see what the numbers would be if dealers were not adding massive markups on them. I am sure there are customers that would purchase one but decided against it after they were told they needed to pay an extra 10-30k. I thought about one for a brief moment but said forget it when several dealers I looked at had the crazy markups.

 

I wonder how much of this is because inventory at other OEMs has gotten better. I was listening to animal spirits podcast the other day and the guest mentioned brand loyalty is at an all time low. That could explain lower sales, maybe, if now customers have more choices.
But I agree the lack of quality in these vehicles also could be the reason.

 

I'm always humored by the Ford Blue Bloods, who stay loyal to Ford, even when their Bronco fuel pump is broken miles off the trail. I've never been brand loyal so maybe I don't understand, I buy the model that suits my needs at the time of purchase, regardless of brand (so long as it has a track record of reliability).

 

Well where they at?

 

Of course, as normal for any manufacturer, they tell the employees to keep things to themselves. It takes time for the employees to get back to their dealerships and start dripping out information. They don't magically appear, you have to seek them out, try to speak to the general managers at dealerships, they are usually the ones to attend and one other higher up manager/salesperson.

Here is what I've found googleing last night, in this thread at Reddit, a person posted the following:

I then asked them, "did you see it at the Toyota National Dealer Meeting in Las Vegas?" Within an hour he deleted the post, I take that as confirmation he did and he thought he had just been busted for leaking.

This person below posted a video at the meeting and stated there will be "four new models" released in the next 11 months.

Now, everyone, get out there and see what leaks you can turn up!

https://youtube.com/shorts/VajfCyh1sv4?si=hH3Pp136B8frsnl0

 

Yeah, I mean look at Jeep. The Rubicon is loaded with comfort and convenience features. That should be the hard core, stripped down off-road model, but, people like comfort as well. Having driven a no-AC CJ around the Mojave for a while, it's kind of a bummer.

 

What's wrong with 2/60 AC?

 

I do appreciate the mix of comfort and decent off-road capability we have with the 4Runner. It's a good compromise since I can't afford a dedicated trail toy.

It would definitely be cool if Toyota could offer something like the 70 series here, but I just don't see it happening.

 

?

 

I am guessing two windows at 60 mph on that one.

 

I think it's probably more that inflation and higher interest rates started making cars less affordable.

 

This is what I do in the 4Runner. I probably won't even notice if the AC craps out.

 

I am old enough to remember the days of 2/55 AC in my VW beetle .

Thank God the days of the national speed limit of 55 is long over.

 

2/60 or 4/60 are all windows down and drive 60mph, helps when you don't have AC, wing windows open are a double bonus. Next your going to tell me you don't know what wing windows are. ;-)

 

Where are you seeing that? Jan-Aug 2023 sales are way higher than Jan-Aug 2022 sales for both Bronco and Bronco Sport models.

 

That's nice if you're on the freeway, but, driving over Steele Pass near Death Valley in 115F heat....

 

Why would you do Steele Pass in the summer? Seems like unnecessary risk.

Break down out there in the summer and you have a serious shot at dying, even if you have extra water and food.

 

Ok, I'd notice then.

 

I have broken down out there in the summer, and many other times in the desert. Generally, the rule is the higher the risk, the less likely you want to be alone. We all have to learn certain lessons the hard way, I've learned that one. Not disagreeing about the risk of driving around death valley in the summer, but sometimes we try things and they don't go our way. Been there, done that, here to tell about it due to planning and luck. Not much more to say really.

 

Thought I would provide something I was told today. I have been working through the process of ordering a 2023 TRD Pro which has been a huge pain so far after the first dealer held my money for 3 months and decided to not sell me the vehicle once it arrived. Regardless I have been trying to find a dealership to order another one assuming at this point it would be a 2024. I talked to a dealership close to me in Alabama today and mentioned I would be interested in ordering a 2024. Unprompted he mentioned there were some rumors going around that there may be a surprise drop for the 4Runner redesign as a 2024 model and they haven’t been authorized to do anything on 2024’s yet. He said his general manager just got back from the conference that was mentioned in this thread and said there are still 3 big reveals that Toyota will be releasing. Obviously caveated it with they don’t know anything for certain but just found it interesting info given out unprompted. Now it could have been his way to push a 2023 order but not real sure that would really be the case. Either way thought I would post the info.

 

At this point I think we all know 2025 (aug 2024) will be the 6th gen year.

All the other vehicles have been updated. The new TNGA architecture implemented. Last of the old lineup in the new Toyota commercials is the 4Runner.

 

He did say these thing could be as simple as a new infotainment system in a vehicle or something like that so who knows for sure.

 

It does seem strange that we're into October and the 2024 4Runner isn't available to order or even mentioned. I get that there is also no pricing on the 2024 Tacoma, but we know that is a Q1/Q2 2024 delivery. Are there a lot of 2023 4Runners still in the sales pipeline? Seems odd to have no mention of a 2024 if it's a carryover model.