madams557 said:
That works only if the assumption is that people with $60,000 to spend are wanting to get the longest, roomest truck for their money.
That isn't always the case. Its possible that if you don't need the length and room, that you would be willing to pay for refinement, style, and comfort.
Not only is Madams557 correct... but...
Do this:
Get somebody to put a Land Cruiser and a Sequoia (new ones) up on two hydraulic lifts.
LOOK CAREFULLY underneath them both.
You *won't* need to ask which is the LC and which is the Seq.
You'll *know*.
That's how hubby's previous Boss - the PO of my LC - showed me (back in... June, I think) the difference between the two beasties, when I asked him about it. He also put his own LX470 (forget if it's a 2004 or a 2005) on the garage's 3rd lift, for comparison.
His LX and my LC looked alike. (well - other than mine's older, and a bit rusty in places); Not so the Seq.
The Seq didn't have the off-road suspension the LC and the LX had. The Seq (I beleive) also didn't have center diff locking; the LC & LX do. The Seq's wheelbase isn't nearly as good for wheeling/off-roading as either the LC or the LX.
We test-drove the Seq. (Boss told them that I was looking to buy new, to replace my '92 LC, and couldn't decide between the LC and the much-cheaper Seq.) It rode harder, less smoothly, and was a less pleasant ride than either my old LC or his newer LX. He & I both agreed on that.
Finally, mistaking me for Boss' daughter or step-daughter (since I call him by his first name) -- the salesman asked me what I used it for. Was I a soccer Mom, would it be used to haul the kids & their friends?
Nope, I said, I don't have (and cannot have) kids.
Salesman then asked me if I really needed the "luxury extras" of the LC? Or would I be happy with the Seq, and enjoy it's extra space?
I go camping a lot, I told him.
Salesman then asked me if I camped on "real off-road codition places" or campgrounds?
THe former, I told him.
Apparently deciding that money was no longer the issue (after all, my "father"/"stepdad" had a LX, and had given me his old LC), the salesman then told me to forget the Seq, because it wouldn't do the job off-roading, and I wouldn't be happy with it.
he then got a crafty look in his face. He said, "Come with me, you two. I have something brand new to shoew you..."
And, as he led us out to the off-side of the lot, he casually asked us if "dad" had ever owned any of the "old LCs".
He showed us the just-delivered FJ Cruissers.
He insisted we take it out for a test-drive, over some marginally boggy swamp just off of I-80. (we live in northeastern NJ, there's plenty of bog/swamp all around!)
Boss let me drive it, telling the salesman in the back seat that I drove off-road far better than he did. (not true - he taught me)
Thought the salesman would have a FIT when I took it thru the local branch of the Raritan River. hehehe
*SPLASH*
We went back to the dealership.
I pointed out that it was LOVELY to drive, and that I LOVED the fact that I could just over the CD player with plastic and hose out the whole daarn thing. BUT --- it was too darn small for my camping needs. (all true - even if I was going to buy, I couldn't have bought something so tiny to replace my FJ80)
Point is - I learned that the Seq IS NOT "as good as" LC/LX .
And the dirty looks the sales manager gave us when we returned with a filthy, muddy once-pristine-white FJ Cruiser was priceless!
(we were only the 2nd or 3rd people to take it out for test-drive)
Wonder how badly the salesman got chewed out? *
thinking*
So, go do what I did and see for yourself.
(compare the Seq and the LC side-by-side up on hydraulic lifts, that is...)
(unless you're up for some fun and don't care if you tick off the local Toyota dealership folks... lol)
I seriously doubt eveyone copied the LC look when they made a suv. Touareg looks nothing like a TLC. Two totally different beast.
