I think the differential is 3.62 (it would have to be 2.32 for the math to work out and I know it's not that tall), so I suspect the tach is reading too low. It should read a bit over 2300 at 70 mph. I would suggest putting the car in neutral, then revving the engine to see when the fuel cutoff kicks in, but your wife might not like that. :surprise: :mad:
OK, just somewhat of a loser. This is from someone that had high hopes for a retro FJ to replace old memories. Sales in June were 32% below last year. That is not a good sign. I think they have saturated the market that was not real big to start with. I would buy the aged 4Runner way before the FJ. And it looks like lots of other people share that feeling. The real Land Cruiser has become and over weight bloated whale with no market left. They did find 167 buyers in June. They may have been 2005 model holdovers.
Well, gagrice, too bad the Toyota can no longer suit your needs but they are in a business to make good cars/truck/SUV and make a profit.
If the car buying publics are calling for a luxury Land Cruiser, leather-seated 4Runner and a niche FJ Cruiser that's what Toyota is going to give them.
Also, Just because you had high hopes for the FJ and it doesn't meet your expectation doesn't mean it's a "loser" (okay, maybe in your book, but even that is exaggerating). You are like those guys who think Lexus should build a 3-series with the new IS and found out that Lexus has other ideas then start calling the IS as a POS. One should not rate a car base on expectations but solely on the car's capability against its competitors.
EDIT: The Land Cruiser is a halo product for the Toyota brand and was never meant to be a volume seller. By the way, since the new LC is coming very soon I am not surprised at all to see the current LC dipping in sales.
Well, gagrice, too bad the Toyota can no longer suit your needs but they are in a business to make good cars/truck/SUV and make a profit.
I guess it would not make any difference, except they build vehicles for the rest of the world that I would be more than happy to own. They just bring the foo foo crap SUVs & PU trucks to the USA. The Tacoma and 4Runner possible exceptions.
The LR2 recommends premium but it can run on regular just fine. The gas mileage might drop off a tiny bit.
All the rovers will run fine on regular except for the Supercharged ones.
RR: The traction control disabled with the rear diff lock. I have five different traction control and throttle response settings on some of the Rovers and traction control works no matter what the two locking diffs do.
I, personally, have seen plenty of interest in the FJ. The FJ is fine, and will be fine. It is not here to be a volume model for Toyota. If Toyota sold 3k a month, they'd be just fine with that.
Jeep NEEDS Wrangler to sell. Chrysler need any sales they can get! Toyota doesn't really care if FJ moves big or not. The FJ is not a "loser", but a success. They make money on every truck, no incentives, the chassis and engine are shared everywhere. Toyota is very happy with the FJ. Very Happy!
Why? It actually brings people to the dealership. Not a couple of people, here or there. It has a base. I've seen it myself. Case closed.
Lexus is a "loser" in Japan. Apparently the Japanese don't associate Toyota with luxury and continue to buy MBs and BMWs instead. Toyota is making a huge push to change that perception with lots of dealership training and upgrades. (WSJ)
Here in NA, it's another story of course.
Toyota didn't aim the FJ at Europe and some other countries because the Land Cruiser rules that niche there.
Sometimes being on the offense means going to a different formation in another stadium.
I love it. I would drive to Texas to see drfill do this.
At Lexus showrooms, sales consultants lean five to 10 degrees forward and assume a warrior's "waiting position" when a customer is looking at a car. When serving customers coffee or tea, employees must kneel on the floor with both feet together and both knees on the ground. The coffee cup must never make a noise when it is placed on the table.
I guess this shows the Japanese are better at fooling Americans than their fellow countrymen.
Toyota controls nearly 45% of Japan's passenger-car market, but it is overshadowed by European brands when it comes to luxury cars. Japan's two market leaders, BMW and DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes Benz, together sold nearly four times the number of cars as Lexus did in Japan last year,
Cool what is it? Function is the foremost attribute I want in a vehicle. What I hate about most of the crap being sold here is it lacks function and is ugly to boot. I can appreciate a Porsche or Ferrari for the beauty. What is there to like about a RAV4? Ugly and would probably fall apart on the first big rock you tried to climb. There is a certain beauty and lots of function in a Range Rover. Does anyone here really like the looks of anything that Toyota builds anymore?
I would give Lexus 5 years in Japan before making the conclusion that it is a "loser" over there. Keep in mind that year 2006 is the first ever year that Lexus is sold in Japan.
What does that mean? It means that the Lexus sales number in Japan has no where to go but UP.
They sold in Brazil for a while, with a total low-ball price. It caught on for a while, until people realized how poor reliability and quality was. They started to fall apart, and so did sales.
They are about 20-30 years behind in terms of techlogy, trust me, they couldn't even compete with an 80s Cherokee or Explorer or Jimmy, much less with modern SUVs today.
Also, LADA = Life And Death Association, i.e. they are also extremely unsafe.
Here is a 1963 FJ45 PU before and after. These were popular in Alaska in the 1970s.
1963 FJ45 Short Bed Pickup Fixed Cab.
THIS 63/45 WAS FOUND IN THE NORTHWEST BY A FRIEND IN GRANTS PASS. DESPITE ITS APPEARANCE IT HAD A GREAT BODY UNDER SIX COATS OF HOUSE PAINTAND WAS EASY TO RESTORE, RELATIVE TO THE 65/40 WE HAD JUST FINISHED. WE RESTORED THIS FIXED CAB SHORT BED FOR A CUSTOMER IN TEXAS.
Does anyone like the looks of anything Toy builds? Um...um.....let me think. No, I don't believe I can conjure up one measly little automobile. I've seen a couple of Taco's that looked desirable. Maybe a Land Cruiser. But I don't want either one. The Rav? I prefer the CRV. I don't really like SUV'S though. The FJ looks cool, but not overly functional for me. A couple of the base Lexus' perhaps. A little too refined for my tastes I think. Nah, I'll stick with what I've got thank you!
I've had 4 Camry's and this Gen is the best one ever in looks. I love it.
I also think the current model Highlander is simple and refined.
The Taco looks the best of any of the trucks on the road from the outside. The F150 has the best interiors.
I actually like the looks of the Buick over the Avalon but the Avy's not far behind. The interior on the Avy is worlds better though. The Navigation interface is the worst of any vehicle I've ever seen though.
Kind of like McDonald's, there is a Toyota dealer on every corner so that is what people buy. Has nothing to do with quality or good looks. It is there and they need a vehicle. Lucky for you, right?
So far no one seems to really excited about anything Toyota builds.
You must not be alone in your liking of the Camry. I think I liked the pre 1999 model best. There was a model of Solara, maybe 2001, I liked a lot. Then in 2004 they screwed it all up. So about the time I get to where I like a Toyota they mess them up. Oh, well.....
Lexus suffers from some initial bad feeling, since Japanese car buyers feel that Toyota is trying to scam them by marking up existing Toyota cars (Celsior => LS460, Aristo => GS350/450) to Lexus, and claiming that these are luxury cars competing with MB and BMW. So it will take time.
Also keep in mind that Japan as a country has great respect for German Engineering, so it is not just cars (80% of imports are German), in other areas also some German brands dominate imports (e.g. kitchen knives). So the made in Germany halo effect helps the German brands. US brands, on the other hand, are completely missing - including the high end.
>Kind of like McDonald's, there is a Toyota dealer on every corner so that is what people buy.<
Actually here in the midwest it is rare to find a Toyota dealer in rural counties (always GM though). In my area people have to drive out of county to get Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans and Mazdas, yet there are quite a few of them on our roads. If it was merely the convenience of location, you wouldn't see those cars here.
So far no one seems to really excited about anything Toyota builds.
That true to some extent, but it really doesn't matter. Exciting doesn't pay the bills. Selling reliable basic transportation does. And nobody does that better than Toyota.
As for exciting products?
RAV4 V6 at least has the most HP in its class. I wish they went to a lift gate and it's not exactly thrilling to drive, but it gets the job done. Honda offers 100 fewer HP, so don't even tell me it's more exciting.
Tacoma offers a 6 speed manual with a V6. Pretty cool powertrain combination, rare in any class. You can even get RWD, V6, 6 speed manual transmission. How many vehicles offer that?
Sienna is the most powerful van, both quickest and tied for most efficient. It's not exciting to drive, but the kids won't be late for soccer practice.
If I had to pick a hybrid, it would be a Prius. If I had to pick a hybrid SUV, I'd take a Highlander over an Escape.
4Runner and FJ are fun in their own way. FJ has plenty of character, too, if anything it has a little TOO much character.
Toyota is often a target of criticism because they are the biggest, and their mainstream sedans (Corolla and Camry) are indeed very vanilla. But vanilla is the best selling flavor, and it doesn't mean the rest of the lineup doesn't offer some Rocky Road once in a while.
Been to America, Gagrice? You should see it. It's a great place
I have seen a bit of it. Liked most of what I have seen. There are more GM dealers because GM sells more vehicles in America than any other brand. They must be the best according to your posts.
"You must not be alone in your liking of the Camry. I think I liked the pre 1999 model best. There was a model of Solara, maybe 2001, I liked a lot. Then in 2004 they screwed it all up. So about the time I get to where I like a Toyota they mess them up. Oh, well....."
Gagrice, you have your different generation of Camry's messed up: it goes like this for the Na market:
As far as the Camry looks its probably the second best or maybe tied for 1st for different generation of Camry's that I liked: I kinda like 1997-2001 Camry's.
"Toyota is often a target of criticism because they are the biggest, and their mainstream sedans (Corolla and Camry) are indeed very vanilla."
Ok yeah the Camry might be a little vanilla but compared to the last generation in terms of looks its a huge upgrade. In addition, I don;t think the Camry in the SE trim is that vanilla looking. I'm not saying the Camry looks sporty in the SE trim but its not that vanilla.
"Sienna is the most powerful van, both quickest and tied for most efficient. It's not exciting to drive, but the kids won't be late for soccer practice."
I'll would take the Oddessy over the Sienna myself.
"Cool what is it? Function is the foremost attribute I want in a vehicle. What I hate about most of the crap being sold here is it lacks function and is ugly to boot. I can appreciate a Porsche or Ferrari for the beauty. What is there to like about a RAV4? Ugly and would probably fall apart on the first big rock you tried to climb."
Why would you even compare a RAV4 to a Porsche or Ferrari their just totally uncomparable unless you want to comapre the Porsche Cahayanne SUV to a Toyota/Lexus product.
"Does anyone here really like the looks of anything that Toyota builds anymore?"
The Camry is like the only thing when it comes to looks that I would take a look at in Toyota's line-up right now. The RX SUV isn;t that bad looking but its a Lexus and its not sold at Toyota dealers but I don;t know if it would buy it though actually or take a look at it but its a funcational car-like SUV I feel like.
I don't believe I was comparing the Porsche to the RAV4. I said for sheer beauty the Porsche and the Ferrari get my vote. I am more interested in function and most of the SUVs offered by Toyota do not offer function. An SUV should be as much at home on a desert wash as a freeway to get the SUV moniker. It would be nice if it looked good. I really don't find anything in the ToyLex lineup that fills my needs and wants. Everything Toyota builds is cheap plastic. You want that go for it. I don't. There FJ Cruiser that is supposed to be the Wrangler killer. Plastic bumpers. The solution. Spend thousands on aftermarket parts to make it what you get with a Wrangler out the door.
I'll would take the Oddessy over the Sienna myself.
Not me. The Ody did handle better, but ride was noisier and harsher, it was slower, and it had less equipment for $1635 more (EX vs. LE w/pack 3).
The Sienna also has a better 8 seat configuration. I gave up auto-climate control that the Ody EX offers, but I got a lot of extras that the EX doesn't:
* trip computer * power 3rd row windows (Ody doesn't even open) * 3rd row seat that can face back for tailgaters * puddle lamps * tow-ready (oil coolers) * cross bars on the roof rack * more HP and torque
You sacrifice quite a bit to get better handling on the Honda.
Someone to build us a car, or fill our children's heads with a lot of worthless nonsense? If anything the professors are over paid for what they actually do. Our colleges & universities are a joke compared to many other countries.
Public school teachers are another subject. Most states they are under paid. They put up with a lot of crap for mediocre paychecks.
Our colleges & universities are a joke compared to many other countries.
That must be why the best and brightest from around the world come to study at our universities. When I was in college everyone I worked with on campus was from either India, Pakistan, China(Hong Kong mostly but some from the mainland) Philippines, Thailand or Taiwan.
Their majors ran from business, Computer Science, Engineering, Chemistry, and so on and so forth. They were all grateful to get the chance to go to school in the US.
Yes they come here to get a free education while our children are denied the same. The engineering students coming out of the universities in India are getting very good jobs in this country.
If you want to go to med school in this country and it is between you and a foreign student. Guess who gets the slot?
I repeat with an additional comment. Our college and university system is a joke when it comes to our US citizens.
It is not the best and brightest from abroad. It is the rich and richest that get those slots.
Yes please do. I remember this discussion previously now and it was stupid. Unless you have been at a major university as a student or faculty member in the past five years you probably don't have any leg to stand on for an argument.
Philadelphia public school teachers should get combat pay. I wouldn't recommend anybody become a Philadelphia public school teacher unless one was a Navy SEAL or Special Forces. The only reason they have school in this city is to give the little old ladies a time period in which they can go shopping.
Comments
DrFill
If the car buying publics are calling for a luxury Land Cruiser, leather-seated 4Runner and a niche FJ Cruiser that's what Toyota is going to give them.
Also, Just because you had high hopes for the FJ and it doesn't meet your expectation doesn't mean it's a "loser" (okay, maybe in your book, but even that is exaggerating). You are like those guys who think Lexus should build a 3-series with the new IS and found out that Lexus has other ideas then start calling the IS as a POS. One should not rate a car base on expectations but solely on the car's capability against its competitors.
EDIT: The Land Cruiser is a halo product for the Toyota brand and was never meant to be a volume seller. By the way, since the new LC is coming very soon I am not surprised at all to see the current LC dipping in sales.
I guess it would not make any difference, except they build vehicles for the rest of the world that I would be more than happy to own. They just bring the foo foo crap SUVs & PU trucks to the USA. The Tacoma and 4Runner possible exceptions.
All the rovers will run fine on regular except for the Supercharged ones.
RR: The traction control disabled with the rear diff lock. I have five different traction control and throttle response settings on some of the Rovers and traction control works no matter what the two locking diffs do.
I, personally, have seen plenty of interest in the FJ. The FJ is fine, and will be fine. It is not here to be a volume model for Toyota. If Toyota sold 3k a month, they'd be just fine with that.
Jeep NEEDS Wrangler to sell. Chrysler need any sales they can get! Toyota doesn't really care if FJ moves big or not. The FJ is not a "loser", but a success. They make money on every truck, no incentives, the chassis and engine are shared everywhere. Toyota is very happy with the FJ. Very Happy!
Why? It actually brings people to the dealership. Not a couple of people, here or there. It has a base. I've seen it myself. Case closed.
DrFill
Here in NA, it's another story of course.
Toyota didn't aim the FJ at Europe and some other countries because the Land Cruiser rules that niche there.
Sometimes being on the offense means going to a different formation in another stadium.
Looks pretty sweet, eh? Bet it's even a diesel.
At Lexus showrooms, sales consultants lean five to 10 degrees forward and assume a warrior's "waiting position" when a customer is looking at a car. When serving customers coffee or tea, employees must kneel on the floor with both feet together and both knees on the ground. The coffee cup must never make a noise when it is placed on the table.
I guess this shows the Japanese are better at fooling Americans than their fellow countrymen.
Toyota controls nearly 45% of Japan's passenger-car market, but it is overshadowed by European brands when it comes to luxury cars. Japan's two market leaders, BMW and DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes Benz, together sold nearly four times the number of cars as Lexus did in Japan last year,
What does that mean? It means that the Lexus sales number in Japan has no where to go but UP.
Gary, I guess we'll skip the Lada and go find you a Pinzgauer. I see a nice one cruising around Boise now and then.
They sold in Brazil for a while, with a total low-ball price. It caught on for a while, until people realized how poor reliability and quality was. They started to fall apart, and so did sales.
They are about 20-30 years behind in terms of techlogy, trust me, they couldn't even compete with an 80s Cherokee or Explorer or Jimmy, much less with modern SUVs today.
Also, LADA = Life And Death Association, i.e. they are also extremely unsafe.
1963 FJ45 Short Bed Pickup Fixed Cab.
THIS 63/45 WAS FOUND IN THE NORTHWEST BY A FRIEND IN GRANTS PASS. DESPITE ITS APPEARANCE IT HAD A GREAT BODY UNDER SIX COATS OF HOUSE PAINTAND WAS EASY TO RESTORE, RELATIVE TO THE 65/40 WE HAD JUST FINISHED. WE RESTORED THIS FIXED CAB SHORT BED FOR A CUSTOMER IN TEXAS.
FJ45 PU
DrFill
I also think the current model Highlander is simple and refined.
The Taco looks the best of any of the trucks on the road from the outside. The F150 has the best interiors.
I actually like the looks of the Buick over the Avalon but the Avy's not far behind. The interior on the Avy is worlds better though. The Navigation interface is the worst of any vehicle I've ever seen though.
So far no one seems to really excited about anything Toyota builds.
Also keep in mind that Japan as a country has great respect for German Engineering, so it is not just cars (80% of imports are German), in other areas also some German brands dominate imports (e.g. kitchen knives). So the made in Germany halo effect helps the German brands.
US brands, on the other hand, are completely missing - including the high end.
Actually here in the midwest it is rare to find a Toyota dealer in rural counties (always GM though). In my area people have to drive out of county to get Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans and Mazdas, yet there are quite a few of them on our roads. If it was merely the convenience of location, you wouldn't see those cars here.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
That true to some extent, but it really doesn't matter. Exciting doesn't pay the bills. Selling reliable basic transportation does. And nobody does that better than Toyota.
As for exciting products?
RAV4 V6 at least has the most HP in its class. I wish they went to a lift gate and it's not exactly thrilling to drive, but it gets the job done. Honda offers 100 fewer HP, so don't even tell me it's more exciting.
Tacoma offers a 6 speed manual with a V6. Pretty cool powertrain combination, rare in any class. You can even get RWD, V6, 6 speed manual transmission. How many vehicles offer that?
Sienna is the most powerful van, both quickest and tied for most efficient. It's not exciting to drive, but the kids won't be late for soccer practice.
If I had to pick a hybrid, it would be a Prius. If I had to pick a hybrid SUV, I'd take a Highlander over an Escape.
4Runner and FJ are fun in their own way. FJ has plenty of character, too, if anything it has a little TOO much character.
Toyota is often a target of criticism because they are the biggest, and their mainstream sedans (Corolla and Camry) are indeed very vanilla. But vanilla is the best selling flavor, and it doesn't mean the rest of the lineup doesn't offer some Rocky Road once in a while.
Leaving out the fact that there are 3X as many GM dealerships as Toyota.
Been to America, Gagrice? You should see it. It's a great place.
DrFill
I have seen a bit of it. Liked most of what I have seen. There are more GM dealers because GM sells more vehicles in America than any other brand. They must be the best according to your posts.
Toyota is the hunter. GM is the hunted.
DrFill
Gagrice, you have your different generation of Camry's messed up: it goes like this for the Na market:
1st Generation(Camry): 1983-1986(model years)
2nd generation: 1987-1991
3rd generation: 1992-1996
4th generation: 1997-2001
5th generation: 2002-2006
6th generation: current 07 model.
As far as the Camry looks its probably the second best or maybe tied for 1st for different generation of Camry's that I liked: I kinda like 1997-2001 Camry's.
Ok yeah the Camry might be a little vanilla but compared to the last generation in terms of looks its a huge upgrade. In addition, I don;t think the Camry in the SE trim is that vanilla looking. I'm not saying the Camry looks sporty in the SE trim but its not that vanilla.
It's like parking a IS250 next to an ES250. :sick:
Or Eva Longoria next to Felicity Huffman.
DrFill
I'll would take the Oddessy over the Sienna myself.
I'll take Eva over Felicity Huffmann anytime because I love my brunettes.
Why would you even compare a RAV4 to a Porsche or Ferrari their just totally uncomparable unless you want to comapre the Porsche Cahayanne SUV to a Toyota/Lexus product.
"Does anyone here really like the looks of anything that Toyota builds anymore?"
The Camry is like the only thing when it comes to looks that I would take a look at in Toyota's line-up right now. The RX SUV isn;t that bad looking but its a Lexus and its not sold at Toyota dealers but I don;t know if it would buy it though actually or take a look at it but its a funcational car-like SUV I feel like.
DrFill
Bored With The Toyota Board!
Comment there, post here or get your own $%#$%#$ car blog. Free. :shades:
Not me. The Ody did handle better, but ride was noisier and harsher, it was slower, and it had less equipment for $1635 more (EX vs. LE w/pack 3).
The Sienna also has a better 8 seat configuration. I gave up auto-climate control that the Ody EX offers, but I got a lot of extras that the EX doesn't:
* trip computer
* power 3rd row windows (Ody doesn't even open)
* 3rd row seat that can face back for tailgaters
* puddle lamps
* tow-ready (oil coolers)
* cross bars on the roof rack
* more HP and torque
You sacrifice quite a bit to get better handling on the Honda.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/.ee9c95e/10
DrFill
Someone to build us a car, or fill our children's heads with a lot of worthless nonsense? If anything the professors are over paid for what they actually do. Our colleges & universities are a joke compared to many other countries.
Public school teachers are another subject. Most states they are under paid. They put up with a lot of crap for mediocre paychecks.
DrFill
That must be why the best and brightest from around the world come to study at our universities. When I was in college everyone I worked with on campus was from either India, Pakistan, China(Hong Kong mostly but some from the mainland) Philippines, Thailand or Taiwan.
Their majors ran from business, Computer Science, Engineering, Chemistry, and so on and so forth. They were all grateful to get the chance to go to school in the US.
If you want to go to med school in this country and it is between you and a foreign student. Guess who gets the slot?
I repeat with an additional comment. Our college and university system is a joke when it comes to our US citizens.
It is not the best and brightest from abroad. It is the rich and richest that get those slots.
(and some of y'all really need to think about moving if you're that unhappy with your local government :P ).