Offering TRD colors dilutes exclusiveness

Hello, I am a serial TRD owner. Toyota offering army green and cement grey in the Trail Special Edition undermines those who have paid over 50k for a TRD. Not to mention the expanded offering of other models that is diluting the TRD heritage.

I would have reconsidered my purchase had I known Toyota was going to dilute the exclusiveness of the model and colors into other 4runners.

While I purchase a TRD for other added benefits, the color creates a distinction that sets it apart.

With prices massively accelerating, I would expect that Toyota would have allegiance to those who have bought over and over again. I am going to have to think twice before my next TRD purchase. They are devaluing the line up and charging over 10k more. Makes zero sense.

curious how others feel. Thanks

 

Agree especially with the two colors you mentioned. I still feel a Pro is worth it for those of us who want the extras and don’t want to take it to a shop or do it themselves. To me a Pro is more than badging and that’s just haters who don’t have one. If I were going to do the work myself or wanted a white, black, or silver I would’ve gotten an ORP because it’s without a doubt the best to purchase for that reason. But those who think we are paying for “badging” I think is absurd. Don’t believe me look up the price of a used Pro vs any other trim. They hold value better than any vehicle on the road and I think the special color Pro will always be worth the extra price just because if times got tough it could be sold after a couple years of enjoying and you can get most of your money back. Don’t regret the purchase. And who’s to say how may they’ll be making of these special colors in the other trims. Haven’t seen any yet and I’ve seen quiet a few 2021 already and two Pros in white and silver.

 

Curious which one did you buy?

 

If you're treating your car as an "investment", I think you'll have to kinda accept that investments, by their nature, appreciate or depreciate.

If you're holding onto something for its exclusivity and the market is flooded with duplicate or similar assets, this is known as being "caught holding". That's the free market baby.

 

LoL Toyota never stated to keep the color life long exclusive, nor did they charge extra for the paint color itself when applied.

These are also colors thrown back from the FJ Cruiser as a heritage thing. Good luck though with your crusade.

 

This first post will go well.

 

I first saw this happening with the tundra and thought it was bullshit.
To be honest, I got the pro because I fell in love with the voodoo blue.

previous years didn’t do this, so it certainly peeves me lol

 

All Pro colors on the Tacoma and Tundra have "trickled down" to the other trim levels after the first year. For example, in 2015 inferno orange was a Pro exclusive color, but 2016 and onward you can have it on any trim. Same with cement, quicksand, voodoo blue, army green, etc. This is because both trucks are built on large production lines in the US and they can accommodate additional product mix. The 5th gen 4Runner is built on an older production line at the Tahara plant in Japan. It would be silly to expand production for a 10-year old sunset truck.

Toyota is doing what it can to maximize feet in dealerships and money out of wallets with the least effort required. The idea that Toyota would be "allegiant" to pro buyers instead of maximizing profit is hysterically laughable to me. I'm giggling as I imagine it.

 

I wanted and bought a white one so my opinion is crap in this regard lol.

 

It appears that the OP just ghosted the site. Probably a robot.
Why are we arguing colors & depreciation?
Honestly, if we could have got a cement 2019 ORP that would have been amazing. That said I love our black & we didn't want a pro.
Ryan

 

Actually I’m with you. I wanted white but my wife has a white limited so I figured that would be kind of weird. Or weirder than owning two 4runners

 

I agree. I would’ve opted for a new cement ORP. Oh well. I think we all did ok considering the possible changes to the next gen 4R. I’m happy with mine as most seem to be.

 

I don't think this will affect your resale value, so I'm not sure why anyone would be so upset.

This made me laugh!

 

For me it has nothing to do with value. Color has always been something that has set the pro apart.

 

don't give a rats a$$. I buy whatever I think looks good. Whatever someone else has doesn't concern me.

 

I don’t really care that Toyota is releasing the AG and Cement in the lower model. There going to do whatever to make money. I told my wife when I traded my 17 up for the 20 I wanted the extras features that my 17 did not have. I’m very happy with my Pro. I told her I was keeping this one and she laughed. But then again so did my mechanic who I have known for years working on all my vehicles. She knows me well how I like different vehicles. So I will keeping this for a long time if everything goes well.

 

ok Clint Eastwood

 

I was under the impression they didn’t make the 15’ inferno color again and was only produced very limited for the 4Runner that year.

 

Inferno, Quicksand, Cavalry Blue, and Voodoo Blue and were only made for the Pro models on the 4Runner as far as I'm aware.

 

Your impressions are correct. The "trickle down" of the Pro colors that I described only occurs for the Tacoma and Tundra. The 4Runner Pro colors have not gone to any other trims until now, with the addition of the new "Trail" trim. Which is also a funny ambiguation, as the previous Trail (2009 to 2016) is the exact same model as the current TRD Off Road. The new one is based off of the SR5 trim and does not offer the same rear locker, manual transfer case, crawl control, KDSS option, or multi-terrain select.

 

Don’t Pros just arrive to the US as ORPs? They throw on some decent wheels and lift, mediocre AT tires, and a few badges stateside? What’s the big deal? They’re not exclusive enough to warrant OP’s reaction lol

 

Ostensibly, yes, that is exactly what a Pro truck is. However they do have a unique VIN that identifies them as a Pro. Plus the unique color (if selected). Minus the option to add KDSS.

 

Correct me if I am wrong; but the salesman told us that the Pro does not have mirror indicators, heated seats or the option for a sunroof.
Again, I am going off of what I was told about the 2019's.
Ryan

 

The Pro does come standard with heated (but not ventilated) seats and moonroof, but no mirror turn indicators and of course no blind spot monitors.

 

This is correct. I had forgotten about the mirror turn signals. Moonroof went from no option to standard equipment for the 2019 model. Previously the moonroof was unavailable, except for the Canadian pros I think.

 

That used to be the case the early TRD Pros were a joke. For a long time the Pro was a bullshit package of port installed accessories slapped onto a low optioned TRD Off-Road. That’s not the case anymore. The new Pro has a few things you can’t get with an Off Road Premium (not including the regular Pro stuff they are known for obviously) like auto headlights, LED high beams, premium JBL audio, dual zone climate control, heated sidemirror glass, and I’m not 100% on this but I believe the Pro gets smart key now and Off Road still does not? For the first time a valid argument can made for the value of a Pro.

 

SR5 and Off Road Premium trims have had heated side mirrors (with puddle lights and turn signals) since the 2014 refresh. And they got the smart key upgrade the same time as the Pro (2020). I don't think they get the dual zone climate or JBL sound though. Those ones are still Pro/Limited only.

 

I specifically remember seeing heated mirrors not being available on Offroad Premium so I went back and looked. You’re right, Toyota website lists them as 2 separate options. “Heated power outside mirrors” are unavailable on the Offroad, but “Heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators” are standard lol

 

I wonder if I can swap in that dual climate control system into my Off Road.
SO is always hot and I'm always freezing.