How are those new Broncos doing quality-wise?

Count me in that group. Owned nothing but fords for last 20 years. Tired of stupid little parts breaking like electric windows, door locks, radio displays, wheel bearings. The repair bills add up. I bought a 4 runner because my 10 y.o. Explorer was wearing out. and I wanted a break from repair bills.
Always admired Toyota owners who brag about how reliable their trucks are and how all they did was change the oil. I was jealous.

 

Mine had the throwout bearing go bad on the 6MT.

 

Unpossible!!

What did you do to make that bearing go bad?

 

hahaha!

I saw one in person finally, and it looks like a ginormous rectangle box. The 2 door looks good at least

 

Nothing, but Toyota claimed it was a deep water crossing.

 

I'm hoping that most of these are just the usual first model year Gremlins and most of the issues are fixed for '22. I've got an order in for a 2 door Wildtrak. Just holding out for the MY22 options. Starting to debate if I'm really wanting to throw down that much money now or drop back down to a cheaper trim level.

 

Jeeps are not reliable and even the jeep guys acknowledge it as a jeep thing, I imagine the Ford will be the same so as long as someone goes into it knowing that (fun toy that will rattle, cheap plastic etc but probably very capable and fun off road) they should be good. Point is don't expect it to be a perfect reliable daily driver/off road beast

 

Worst car we ever owned was a Grand Cherokee. Second worse is a toss-up between a diesel Scout II and a full size Bronco. Best: '85 Toyota P/U SR5 (300+K), '68 Toyoya Corona (200+K), '95 Toyota Taco. '83 FJ40. Tell you anything?

 

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/07/30/toyota-70-series-land-cruiser-updated-australia/

If only we could get cool stuff like this here.

 

I don't know why Toyota doesn't bring those here. Sell them at a decent price and they would sell boatloads.

 

Maybe emissions or safety related. Our fuel economy requirements are based on wheelbase and track width. Maybe the 70's have too small of a footprint for the potential fuel economy.

But, who knows.

 

Its a first year vehicle, they more often than not have issues that will be sorted out as time goes on. If you produce something long enough you should have those issues fixed.

I wish we got the 70 series here but I've beginning to understand why Toyota wont. Lets overlook the fact that it wouldn't pass US emissions and safety standards. The price of a new 70 series is very expensive, it is also very spartan in features. I believe it has a manual transmission only (a thing that maybe 30% of Americans can use at best), AC was a dealer option until recently, exposed painted metal on the inside, analog gauges, you get the picture its a lot like a 4runner 30 years ago.

The starting price is like 50,000 usd, and that might be for a 2 door wagon (as you know every 2 door SUV fails in the US when 4 dr is available). Its already not looking very compatible with the US. What the 70 series offers is something the US buyer can't understand- an overbuilt vehicle. There isn't a large market for a vehicle like this, we like to think there is but we are enthusiasts. Even if there was the price to make the 70 series sellable in the USA is too high.

 

Yeah I'm sure the emissions alone is why we won't ever see one here. I would think most if not all models could be modified to meet crash safety standards.

- bulletproof reliable V8 turbodiesel engine puts out 202 HP and 317 lb*ft torque. Full torque band is available from 1200 to 3200 rpm.

- 5 speed manual transmission with full time 4x4. Couldn't find if lockers were available but I would guess so.

- 22 mpg average

- 7700 lb towing capacity

- 47.5 gallon fuel tank (optional on some models).....

- optional factory snorkel for all you tacticool types

It may be a nitch market with only a manual transmission available, but I would absolutely buy one in a heartbeat if I could. I prefer driving a manual anyway.

 

Agreed. I think they could sell a million of them.

 

Aussies get all the cool shit.

 

We get this turd instead.

 

I would bet that despite all of the comments about how people wish we got the "cool" Toyotas here in the US, none of the members here would actually trade their 4Runner for one of those.

Sure, it's totally badass. But, really look at it and think about how you use your 4Runner. Where are you going to put all of your stuff? Outside?

 

I’d get the wagon or troopie.

 

That looks a lot more practical.

I think Toyota does a good job figuring out what will actually sell in the US. As cool as some of the vehicles they offer in foreign markets are, there's probably not enough market here to make it worthwhile to offer them here.

 

I use my 4Runner and 200 to haul stuff, with never more than one passenger. I could use one.

 

Dont forget the aussies also get the Prado, Hilux (more overbuilt than a Tacoma comes with manual trans and single cabs), and Fortuner. The 70 series and Prado are the only ones I really miss. The very reasons I like all those vehicle are the very reasons they would fail in the USA: Single cabs, manual transmissions (especially in SUV and trucks), poor amenities, and diesel engines.

Its a bummer that Americans have the vehicle preferences that they have, keeps all the cool vehicles away. Also we don't get the Jimny

 

My daughter and son-in-law spent 4 years in Japan in the military. I went over and spent 3 weeks with them.

The reality is that larger vehicles are not sought after in Japan. They value efficiency in space and usage. I saw a couple of Hilux. Took a pic of one...



Saw tons of odd models of all the Japanese manufacturers. Japanese love small and boxy. The most common Toyota I saw?



Truly ugly vehicles were everywhere...



And some unique and oddly lovable ones...



No shortage of sexy and fast sporty cars, though...









My daughter drove a Toyota Alphard minivan. Extremely cool and practical vehicle for a mom. They bought it used with 70,000 miles for $7k.

 

And the Jimny was everywhere...



My son-in-law fell in love with them, despite being 6'4" and unable to drive a manual version since his legs are too long. He bought a rare 1994 SCOTT edition turbo model for $3000 and brought it back to the US.

 

My son-in-law was a Subaru fanboy (now a Toyota fanboy after experiencing the rock solid reliability and engineering of the Alphard. Owns a Sienna and Tundra. So proud.).

So in Japan, he bought a 2005 Subaru Forester wagon. What? Is he a lesbian? Nope. He bought a WRX STI Forester with 350hp.

But, those don't exist. Well, in Japan they do.







His was mint and cost him $7500. Used cars are incredibly cheap in Japan.

I took a video of him giving me a test ride and tour around the Air Force Base.

 

Yeah, you and about 7 other people in this country.

So do we. It's just called GX460 here.

EDIT: Which is the same platform as the 4Runner.. So smile! We all drive Prados!

 

As much as I'd want this too, market research probably indicates a LOT less than a million. Then you match it up against the breakeven point, which might require more than a million sales. However, how many do they sell a year? The 4Runner sells around 100k to 150k units a year or so, so it would take Toyota maybe 10 years to sell that many at the rate in which they sell 4Runners.

In other words, that won't happen when they cost more, are more spartan, and the average consumer wants features not a cool factor.

I'd imagine they could sell 3000 to 4000 a year, about how many Land Cruisers they sell...which they are discontinuing.

Again, I'd love to have the optoin to buy one, but at the price they would offer, I'll probably stick with the 4Runner. So at best, it would be cool to have the option but as selfish as humans are, I'd probably pass on it anyways and then just make Toyota's investment in the US a failure. Just being brutally honest with myself.

 

The back seats haven’t been up since I bought it. Much better and safer family haulers than a BOF 4x4.

 

My back seats are down most of the summer. It's nice to have the option to flip them up and take a few passengers occasionally, though. I only have one vehicle, so it has to do everything.

 

LOL. Japan loves those little Kei cars, I think they are taxed way differently so they are way cheaper than a normal full sized vehicle

 

Man, I'd love that Troopie, but need four doors, so it would have to be the wagon.