Has Toyota Underestimated Truck Buyers?

Ignorance, thats all it really is....Ignorance! You can't accept that maybe Toyota can build a good truck.

— blueice4589 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 11:23:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

And so does GM and Ford. Toyota, although great trucks, haven't really provided a product that excelled the domestics in all catagories. And with the new Silverado out, Toyota is facing an uphill battle again.

— paul3230 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 11:50:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I can accept Toyota building a GREAT truck !!! I can't accept the fact of them producing an UGLY truck ....

— bubbahotep (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 11:50:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Import truck? Built in Texax - only name is import and nothing else. But then again Truck buyers don't think in that way.

— kart1 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 12:05:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Maybe Better looking Trucks, More Power, more Fuel Economy, and Prices to match Ford and Chevrolet, then Truck buyers will look at Toyota Trucks as an alternative.

Don't know if what I stated above is already the case, but that is my opinion.

— 07mcs (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 12:10:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

People that work in construction and are part a Union will not buy the Toyota anytime soon and will continue to drive a Dodge, Chevy or Ford and that is al there is to it.

The guy that just wants a truck for the hell of it will consider the Toyote or Datsun.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 12:26:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

I dont think it has anything to do with the quality. The fact is that the Tundra is not truly full size. Does not look full size. Its bad gas milage. Worse than an older Chevy and just doesnt have the loyalty yet. Also it is not a very good looking truck.

— SteveL (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 12:55:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Are we surprised? No, considering the demographics of the average truck buyer.

— cynic (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 12:55:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Nissan and Toyota both have an uphill battle in the fullsize truck segment. Remember the T100. Vastly undersized and underpowered. Nissan Titan, big power, big size, ultra nice interior, not so much on sales though. IT's a tough market.

— rocker (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 1:03:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Wow that pickup is hideous.

— Bill (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 1:05:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

First of all, in person this truck is very handsome. Especially in the Street trim, shown at the LA Auto Show.
Second, what do you think the JD Power survey would have said about family sedans in the mid-80's? Could anyone have predicted that Camry, Accord, Altima and now maybe Sonata would DOMINATE?
Toyota already sells 100k of the underpowered, undersized Tundrasa year. It's no stretch to imagine them doubling this number when the new powerful, full sized brute debuts, in a very short time.

— 1970toyotamarc (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 2:14:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

True, Toyota is starting to have a lot of recall issues, however the amount of recalls are still about a third to a half of the amount of their domestic counterparts.

— mkk21 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 3:09:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

What's with the wheels?

This is only Toyota's 2nd serious try at a full-size truck. Attitudes are hard to change, look at the Europeans yet Toyota still managed to sell a million cars there.

At work, my Director and Manager were Chevy guys, now they both own Tundras. Efficiency, reliability and a smaller turning radius (of all things) were the selling points. They have V8's but Chevy/Ford/Dodge still had more powerful engines in the last gen trucks.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/5/2006 8:24:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

If I were a Texas, southern born and bred, country, potato eating, Bud drinking, white male (large demographic of truck buyers), I don't think I'd buy a Toyota either.

My choices would be the F150, Silverado, and Ram. I wouldn't even consider a Japanese import. These buyers just won't buy it.

— AUDIMAN4 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/6/2006 5:47:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

JakeKann, now I know your Bull $h!tin' us because you cannot put pickup truck and gorgeous in the same sentence.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/6/2006 10:40:35 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Have you ever owned a truck?

— rocker (View Profile)

Posted on 12/6/2006 12:00:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This question was for Jackie Chan.

— rocker (View Profile)

Posted on 12/6/2006 12:02:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Even if the 2nd gen Tundra doesn't sell as good as the Big Three's trucks, Toyota is a company that won't stop until the Tundra's sales match that of the Big Three.

I respect the fact that Toyota has built, and is building U.S. factories and putting Americans to work.

Yeah, I'm a Toyota guy.
No, I can't afford the New Tundra--I'm a typical poor college kid.
If one of the Big Three gave me a new truck, I'd check the sticker, and if it said "Mexico," I'd trade it in for a new U.S. built Tundra.

— dustyg54 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/7/2006 2:09:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Why are we talking about trucks on this site?

— t_bone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/8/2006 9:17:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Of course, some people are already saying the new Toyota truck is the best just by looking at a picture. If only the competitors had that kind of magic. That's okay, all good things comes to an end and Toyota's glory days will be over. The big three have woken up and it'll be history repeating itself such as when the Zero (WW2 Japanese plane)were knocking out our planes until we came out with the P52 Mustang).

— joeray (View Profile)

Posted on 12/8/2006 9:26:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

BUSINESS WEEK

The Most Recalled Cars 2006

From SUVs to sedans, a look at which 2006 model year cars experienced the biggest recalls

So much for Toyota's vaunted reputation for quality. On July 18, the Japanese auto giant announced a recall of 418,570 vehicles worldwide for faulty engine parts. This follows an even larger global recall of nearly one million cars and trucks at the end of May for faulty parts that could cause drivers to lose control of the steering wheel.

The current recall affects about 150,000 cars sold outside of Japan, mainly in the U.S. and Canada, though no accidents have been reported due to the faulty engine component that could lead to oil leakage. In the U.S. more than 34,000 cars were recalled, including 26,200 Echo and 8,500 Prius models. While Toyota (TM) is no stranger to recalls—in May 2005 it recalled more than 750,000 pickup trucks and every single 2006 Toyota model line from the Avalon to the Tundra has experienced some form of recall—this latest round may finally dent its Teflon image if steps aren't taken to improve quality.

— Interested (View Profile)

Posted on 12/8/2006 7:35:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

In case you people with the warped perspective on Toyota quality didn't get the one above how about:


WASHINGTON: Toyota Motor Corp. said it would recall more than 200,000 Highlander and RAV4 sport utility vehicles to fix a malfunction with the "check engine" light.

— Interested (View Profile)

Posted on 12/8/2006 7:41:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I don't care how ugly a truck is!The bottom line is performance, gas mielage,reliability off-road ability,cargo/hauling tow capacity.I have owned 2 Toyota truck and currently a toyota 4 runner,If I wanted a truck to haul and tow heavy stuff I wouldn't even consider a toyota product because toyota presently doesn't have a 3/4 -1 ton 4x4.I would only buy a toy for light duty stuff!Another major reason I would never consider this toyota is because it only carries 5 people!If I were to buy a big truck there is only one worthy,the Dodge Power Wagon!The only real truck you could take hunting and driving off road.The rest are nothing more than trailer Queens! That includes ford and chevy toyota and nissan.I owned a 1993 3/4 ton ford 4x4 with a 4inch lift and that was a great truck.Fords are tough trailer queens, there drivetrain hands way too low.This toyota is too big!

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 12/8/2006 9:52:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

ellives, My Toyotas were great, they just don't like to haul a lot of weight like a camper or a big load of wood.When I needed a work truck I bought a ford.My 93 f-250 4x4 would carry a big and I mean BIG load with ease,of course I am comparing a mini truck to a 3/4 ton.I never said I think Dodge is the most reliable brand out there,I actually agree with you they are probably the worst for reliability, but they are the only truck that comes with an off road package that consists of more than a sticker package and shocks with some kind of plastic skidplates.I am one of the few percentage of people that actually take my 4x4 off road.I am loyal to none!Off road performance is important to me.The new toy looks soo long and low!The suspension is shure to disapoint me!My old ford had tons of suspension travel something toyota guarantees to lack.If you don't know what I am talking about you should be driving a car!

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 12/9/2006 1:03:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

If I were to choose a small truck I would pick the toyota hands down!Although it is too long! The crew cab toyota is around 2.5 inches shorter than the full size 4 door chevy!For 3/4-one ton Dodge is no 1! If I would only need a truck for towing on the highway and the ocosional gravel road then I would consider the toy and chev full size.The toy would make a good trailer princess!Seriously, I would love the ride and it is pretty!Just not something I would put my gun rack on!

— truckmen (View Profile)

Posted on 12/9/2006 2:01:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1