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By the way, can you please tell me which SUVs, whether it's Toyota or not, are doing well recently? As matter of fact, which pick up trucks are gaining in sales? Please don't bring up the lambdas because by your standard they are not really an SUV.
I'll give you bright spots in Toyota August sales:
- Camry up 1% DESPITE the Honda Accord clearance sale.
- Prius up 25.7%
- RAV4 up 10.8%
- Tundra up 69.3%
- 4Runner didn't post negative sales comparing to August '06. As matter of fact, it's up 0.1%. Oh by the way, this is a real SUV right?
- ES350 up 8.4%
- LS460 up 128.3%
- Lexus passenger cars posted a best ever August with a 7.7% sales gain
- Lexus last I checked is still the leading luxury brand in sales despite an outdated SUV/CUV lineup. The LX570 will be on sell late this year with the new RX350 coming next year. Also, rumor has it that Lexus is introducing a compact CUV slotted under the RX to compete with the RDX, X3 and EX.
GM’s surprise was fueled by a 16.6 percent rise in light truck sales, and part of its overall increase came from a 24 percent jump in sales to rental car companies. GM and other U.S. automakers have been trying to cut those sales because they hurt brand image and resale values. Ballew said August was a one-time increase and GM will reduce sales to rental fleets through the rest of the year.
GM claimed this will be an one-time thing. However, my question is why even do it if they are already dedicated to cut fleet sales? This reminds me of a drug addict who kept telling people that: just one more time, just one more time. Definitely not good image wise for GM
Source: Ford, Toyota, Chrysler report August sales fell
DrFill
That's what makes this an incredible move. He WAS at the top of a foreign manufacturer which is a great accomplishment for anyone no matter what nationality. I don't understand the move. From everything I've read the Japanese loved him and he could have done anything he wanted at Toyota. I do believe greed got the best of him as it does with most people of power. I'm sure Chrysler wagged a BIG CARROT in front of his nose.
Mackabee
Jim Press may want more than Toyota as a legacy. Kind of like Lee Iacocca, on top with the Mustang and went to Chrysler. The mini-van ring a bell.
You try to work August YTY numbers against Toyota, then spin a good 4Runner August against it's yearly numbers. Traditional SUVs and minivans is a shrinking, segmented market. The fact that 4Runner can still get 100k a year proves the appeal of that truck. No Nissan can do that!
Last August was incredible, and this August was 2.8% less than incredible. Period.
And Lexus had a great month, with LS taking more business from S-Class.
DrFill
Look at the lifetime PT warranty that they are offering. Must be confident about something there... Now, hiring one of the top brass from one of the leaders in quality and reliability? I mean c'mon, Cerebus is putting their money where their mouths are IMO.
Again, this has nothing to do with a Toyota forum so I won't go any farther. I wish both companies good luck.
Total Toyota Passenger Car: up 5%
Total Lexus Passenger Car: up 14.9%
Total Toyota Light Truck: up 3.4%
Total Lexus Light Truck: down 8.5%
Don't forget that Lexus has a very dated SUV/CUV lineup. With the new LX570 coming this fall and RX350 next year there is no doubt that figure will improve tremendously. Also, rumor has it that Lexus has a compact crossover in the pipeline to compete with the RDX, EX and X3. I hope they'll drop the GX470.
I don't understand why you said only 3 models are money cows. First of all, ALL Lexus models are money cows, whether it's the high volume ES or the relatively speaking low volume LS. As for Toyota, Camry, RAV4 and Prius are all considered as money cows with their high sales volume. Right now I don't see Tundra as one because Toyota is buying their way into that market. If Tundra's incentive ever get lower (I doubt we'll see that soon) then it'll be a huge money maker for Toyota as well due to its high sales volume. Also, don't forget the new Highlander, the sales will pick up once the supply can keep up with the demand. The GM lambda trios better enjoy the good times because the new Highlander will no doubt take sales away from them.
Overall speaking, Toyota/Lexus is doing okay and looking good in the short term future.
Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Lexus ES
Lexus LS
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Prius
Toyota RAV4
Bad bets list:
BMW 7-series
Infiniti QX56
Jaguar X-type
V8-powered Mercedes-Benz M-class
Mercedes-Benz SL
Nissan Armada
Nissan Titan
Volkswagen Touareg
V6-powered Volvo XC90
Interesting observations:
- Honda and Toyota swept the good bets list with Toyota takes 7 out of the 10 spots. You rock, Toyota. Kudos to Honda as well.
- Except the 3 Nissan entries, the bad bets list consists nothing but European brands.
- Domestic models weren't included in either list, I guess that's more good than bad.
Did they really say V6 Powered XC90 or did you just type it out wrong?
There is no V6 engine XC90. They must mean the old T6 engine that was discontinued last year. It was an inline 6 twin turbo motor that always had a lot of problems. The new 3.2 inline 6 in the XC90 is great and has none of the problems that the old motor did. It is similar to the engine in the S80, upcoming XC70/V70 and the LR2.
The other two engines in the XC90 were a T5 and the Yamaha designed V8. Both of which are good motors but the T5 is a little weak for the big Volvo.
Drive Your Car to Death, Save $31,000
In the article it did say V6-powered Volvo XC90. Maybe they meant the 6-cylinder model. The article is from CNNMoney so I wouldn't be surprised if they made that mistake. Majority of the people don't understand that "V" doesn't stand for cylinder. My friend still calls his 4-banger Accord a V4 from time to time despite that I had corrected him numerous times.
I think their point is cars that last with low maintenance. Many domestics last, but they require more effort and parts. Good old "Sweat Equity"!
DrFill
But I never heard of too many issues motor-wise.
Aisin-Warner supplies the 5 speed and the new 6 speed automatics. The 4 speed isn't used anymore and hasn't been for a while.
The techs hated the T6 because of the twin turbos and all the piping they require makes working on the engine a PITA. All that heat cooks everything and causes all kinds of problems too. The New XC90s use a non-turbo charged 3.2 liter inline six that is similar to the engine in the LR2.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=122496?tid=edmund- - s.il.home.photopanel..1.*
When I sold, selling a Rav4 against a CR-V was pretty simple, and they seems to see what eyesore.
DrFill
Why do I just know I'm going to regret this post? :shades:
I mean, Cerberus is hiring away all the top-notch Toyota and Lexus people. :shades:
I mean, Cerberus is hiring away all the top-notch Toyota and Lexus people.
The BOLD part is why he doesn't have to worry about being hired away...
I am curious - are you going to wind back up in the car biz or have you retired for good?
As for RAV4's look, I personally think it's the best looking compact CUV on the road right now. The front facsia looks aggressive, which is what I like and I prefer that kind of look on all SUVs/CUVs and trucks. And yes, even on a cute ute. The CR-V looks weird and Rouge looks too tamed.
The freshened Escape, perhaps, as well.
"I'm going to Cerberus!" just doesn't work.
As the people will attest, I'm only "Top-notch" in my own mind.
I am officially retired from the business. I save my enthusiasm for you!
DrFill
Hear BMW is big over thur now. I'll see ya when I see ya!
DrFill
One: I'd say around 3/4 of all Rav4s are 4-banger. But the V6 is an animal inside of it. Never was impressed with the ride quality, but it's hard to argue with it's inherent value. Easy vehicle to sell, but no mark-up.
Two: Rav4 outdid Escape (why wasn't it in comparison?), but won't ever catch the CR-V (around 23k for the Honda!)
DrFill
Source:
Inside Line
Car Online
Toyota understand durability, not so often good styling.
When was the last Toyota with good exterior design anyway???
Last gen Celica maybe?
Since 2000, Toyota styling has just gotten really weird.
It is a hard knock for Toyota that Jim Press jumped ship. But it's a good thing that the new Accord looks virtually identical to a Hyundai Sonata. That should boost Camry sales. ;-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
DrFill
Maybe the 92-96 Camry was a decent enough design, very clean and homogenous. The current Camry is tolerable only from some angles, not from any angle showing that hilarious front end, and not with the stuck on lower body cladding with is the equivalent to ground effects on a dishwasher. But, at least Toyota is moving on from the gigantic stretchd out headlights look, which always reminds me of a woman who has had about 10 too many facelifts.
If you take the Lexus Brand under consideration then I'll say all the sedans are pretty good looking with the L-finesse design philosophy. Well, maybe except the ES, from some angle it just looks odd.
The Scion tC isn't bad either. RAV4 could be the best looking compact CUV out there.
Beauty is in ......etc, etc
The last Supra was decent, but a bit too derivative of the contemporary Celica. I think the last really nice looking car from the Yote was the original Lexus SC.
2002-2004:
2005-2006:
2007:
Source: MSN Auto
My, some of those contours look they they were heavily influnced by an old 40's HardTop. That first picture, wow. I mean it looks like it was designed for a rumble seat in the trunk!
You won my VOTE there. I think the original SC300/400 was one of the best looking cars EVER! I see a black one in my old neighborhood. It looks as good as the day it was new.