1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Toyota readies "WAR ROOM" in Tundra launch

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by malorn, Dec 21, 2006.

?

How successful will the new Tundra be?

  1. <125,000(est 2006 total)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  2. 125,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  3. 150,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  4. 175,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  5. 200,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  6. 225,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  7. 250,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  8. 275,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. >275,000

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Page 2 of 2
  1. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2004
    4,333
    7
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Dec 21 2006, 06:30 AM) [snapback]365031[/snapback]</div>
    Hey Malorn,

    Didn't you write a while back that you were buying a Toyota dealership to go along with your GM, Ford and Mopar franchises? What happened, did the deal fall through? Is that why you are so full of scorn?
     
    #21 IsrAmeriPrius, Jan 3, 2007
  2. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2005
    2,010
    353
    0
    Location:
    Outer Banks of NC.. Retired to play golf and poker
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm in on the upper end at 225,000 units in the first full year. 2007 will not be a full year but I think by the end of the year the vehicle will be at an 18,000 unit / mo sales volume ( adjusted for seasonal factors ).

    Why? Well earlier in the year I'd have said that going to 150,000K is a good target but in the last 3 months more has changed.

    GM has come out with two new very capable winners in the segment ( negative for the Tundra ). Lutz has estimated that GM will gain 100,000+ units.

    However...

    Ford just slashed 50% of it's hourly workforce and is closing one of it's main F150 assembly plants ( Norfolk ) and in the just released figures it's sales slipped from 901K to 796K units. I wouldn't be surprised to see a further slippage to the low 700K range. While the owners are THE most loyal ( think Prius owners ) the model is old and the engine is the smallest in the class.

    Dodge, being part of DC, is in a world of hurts. The whole Chrysler/Dodge picture is one of chaos and mountainous losses. They have not bitten the bullet to cut back as GM/F have. The dealers are revolting against Corporate and RAM owners are the least loyal of all. They are shutting down the main production plants for the entire month of January. The RAM too is an aging model. From a volume of about 350,000 units I wouldn't be surprised to see it go under 300K for 2007.

    The Titan is so limited in engines and cab configurations and carrying capability it is not in the ball game at all. It can tow. Period. If it stays in the 50K range it will be lucky.

    I can see the three of these losing over 200,000 units together with GM getting half and Toyota getting half.

    BIG caveat. Fuel prices. If fuel goes north of $3.00/gal and stays there all the truck makers will take a major hit - again. Then it will be a rush to see how quickly all the trucks can be converted to diesel and or some hybrid configuration.
     
    #22 DeadPhish, Jan 3, 2007
  3. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2005
    1,242
    252
    0
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DeadPhish @ Jan 3 2007, 02:35 PM) [snapback]370367[/snapback]</div>
    If Toyota decided to do this 5 years ago, then it would be a success. Now with more drivers are more and more aware of gas prices, I hope Toyota good luck.

    If they introduced a hybrid Full size truck with low/mid 20 mpg, and still tow 7000 lbs, that is a different story.

    Guess it is still a fairytail at this point.
     
    #23 dipper, Jan 5, 2007
  4. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    4,281
    59
    0
    Location:
    &quot;Somewhere in Flyover Country&quot;
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Jan 3 2007, 01:41 PM) [snapback]370237[/snapback]</div>
    Deal did not go through as of yet. Whatever happens with that it will not change my feelings about Toyota and the American economy.
     
    #24 malorn, Jan 7, 2007
  5. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    4,281
    59
    0
    Location:
    &quot;Somewhere in Flyover Country&quot;
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(malorn @ Jan 7 2007, 12:43 AM) [snapback]371978[/snapback]</div>
    Interesting article on Toyota's choices and the all-new Tundra:

    http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...08/REG/70105020

    SEARCH | Click here for Advanced Search
    Past 30 Days Past 14 Days Past 7 Days Past 6 Months Past Year

    Sign up for email alerts


    HOMEPAGE » »


    E-mail article | Print article | Order reprints




    The CrewMax version of the Tundra, shown, is available with a rear seat that slides and reclines.


    New Tundra: Power counts more than mpg
    Execs think that's how buyers of big pickups like it

    Mark Rechtin | | Automotive News / January 8, 2007 - 1:00 am




    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Advertisement


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Toyota is doing a very un-Toyota thing with its redesigned 2007 Tundra pickup. It is not aiming to be the segment leader in fuel economy. Instead, Toyota is putting torque and horsepower first.

    Executives think that's what counts most when it comes to competing against domestic full-sized trucks.

    None of the redesigned Tundra models gets more than 20 mpg on the highway. Only the base V-6 version gets more than 16 mpg in the city. But the Tundra's optional 5.7-liter V-8 roars with 401 pounds-feet of torque -- a number that truck buyers will respect.

    Toyota marketers and engineers think the sacrifice was worth making. More truck shoppers buy a pickup because of its power ratings than reject one because it gets lower gasoline mileage, says Jim Farley, Toyota Division vice president of marketing.

    With Toyota's rush to get the Tundra to market, not everything is ready. Because of limited engineering resources, the big 5.7-liter V-8 was originally planned to be delayed until September. That would have been unacceptable, so Toyota gave its engineers a new deadline. Now the 5.7-liter V-8 version will get to dealers in March.

    Similarly, the large CrewMax version will not be available in large numbers in February. That was due to the complexity of launching a new truck at the new San Antonio assembly plant. Every dealer will have one CrewMax to display, but units for sale won't dribble into stores until March.

    Also, Toyota earlier had said it would announce pricing for the new pickup at this week's North American International Auto Show. At press time, though, executives said they were unsure whether they would meet that deadline.
     
    #25 malorn, Jan 9, 2007
  6. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    4,281
    59
    0
    Location:
    &quot;Somewhere in Flyover Country&quot;
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    #26 malorn, Mar 29, 2007
  7. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2004
    4,333
    7
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    #27 IsrAmeriPrius, Mar 29, 2007
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 2 of 2