I'd rather have a....PX10?? (1 Viewer)

[Turtle]

I've been reading as much of the FJ Cruiser stuff as I could today. It's a lot to get through What I find interesting is that everyone is complaining that Toyota isn't, but should be trying to compete with the TJ. The other big complaint is that Toyota won't bring over the 70 series trucks(though there was an interesting post from someone claiming to be from ToyotaR&D, saying that it was in the works)... Again thinking that if they did they would win some significant market share for bringing an incredibly capable out of the box vehicle to the off road market. I would have to say that the offroad market by comparison is relativly small. However there are markets that are significantly large that no one has mentioned. The industrial and fleet markets. The mining industry has already figured out that the 70 series trucks are worth their weight in gold as far as durability is concerned.
How hard would it be for Toyota to convince other industries of the 70 series durability and reliability.

Think of it:

Cab/Chassis 78/79 TLCs

Federal/state/provincial levels

BLM
Forestry,
Fisheries,
Wildlife conservation,
Environmental research,
Highways and roads maintenance.

Municipal

Roads
Parks
Etc. Etc.

Any where that you see bulk quantities of big three trucks and vans in multiple configurations, you could see 78/79 series trucks. The only problem for these kinds of sales? The "typical" (not entire) demographic of government workers who would not want to drive one of them foreign trucks. For government bean counters, if the 78/79 trucks proved to be more economical they would have no problem buying them. If they were available in a factory Crew cab... All the better.

That's just government, how about private industry?

Ranching
Dude Ranching
Farming
General contractors
Welders
I'm still just talking about the cab/chassis. Wanna try the trooppie?

There's a pic of its direct competition at the bottom of this post:

I've been seeing a lot of these around here, there's even a local bar using it as a promo vehicle.

Set up a plumber, locksmith, mobile mechanic, Snap-on tool guy, how cool would that be.

Show any government, industry, or tradesperson the history of reliability, hard duty service, and the bottomline of running a 70 series vehicle... You'll be beating them off with a stick! I hope! The biggest problem for Toyota again is "Buy American"! But that line is getting thinner and thinner all the time. Chrysler= built here, money goes to Germany, Toyota= built here, money goes to Japan.

What's my point? If my pipe dream were to happen... then we, the general public, could buy them too. Then we could buy them at gov't auctions and we could have spare parts! Eventually we could find 78/79 Troopies that have been sitting in barns for 20 years.

If Toyota is listening, you could sell quite a few troopies just as billboards, the same as H2s, Minis, Beetles, and even the odd Sprinter. You could fool most of North America into thinking the 78/79 series is some new retro cool thing you built just for them! Exactly what they think you've done with the FJ Cruiser, except you'd be making us happy too, and THAT, wouldn't cost you a dime!

Thanks for letting me rant, and if this post is better suited to another thread, then so be it!

C!

 

[firetruck41]

I can't think of a non-"American" vehicle that my city owns, or the county, except for the Subaru WRX one of the law enforcement agencies was given free for a year. Not that that's how it should be, just how it is. Not many State or Federal "foreign" vehicles that I have seen, either.

 

[rick_d]

Q: what does Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) want to do?

A: sell a new car/truck to everyone at or below 100,000 miles on their previous vehicle.

They do not want cars/trucks to remain in buyers hands that have the disposable income available to run out and get a new car. For all the American auto companies its a matter of rotation in the ownership cycle.

One more point, we have more paved roads in the lower 48 than the rest of the world- we don't need a "third world" truck.

We all know the true LC chassis is desirable, but it lasts too long for TMS. And daily driving a 7X series (74) is a dream. You would all throw your 40's away if you had one. PX10 idea is unique, but 70 series has been made since 11/84 and is available in a large variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

seek out ye ....

 

[G-Cat]

The federal government (at least the portion I am (intimately) familiar with) does not buy foreign. The will seize and put into sevice foreign vehicles, and occasionally lease one or two...but the large majority of fleet vehicles (by policy) are American made. (Met a Deputy US Marshal that was issued a seized '98 100 series).

 

[Exiled]

I bet if Toyota brought some NEW 70's in it would throw you in to turmoil...

I'd buck up that kinda cash. I'd bet they sell 10k units. Just as you said they have platform and as long as they redid the interior and add some more creature comfots like cup holders galore and a kickin stereo it sell. THe d90 sold well and the g-wagons sell good too. Both are base tough vehicles with some modern american comforts. JMHO

I'll take you up on that bet, my friend! See, you're already starting with the mods, which would increase the price!

The D90 sold in *small* quantities in the US, so did the G-Wagon. 10K units a year?? Neither one EVER came even close, I don't think they ever got to HALF that.

I don't argue that if given the chance to buya brand-new HZJ70 from Toyota, LHD and already here, I'd jump on it. So would a lot of Cruiserheads that I know. But you'd have a bitch of a time selling the rest, and you won't find 10K Cruiserheads willing and ABLE to buy one. That's my whole point. It's not MAINSTREAM, and Toyota doesn't like to cater to the niche market, they shoot for volume (i.e. efficient manufacturing, economies of scale, overhead cost reductions, etc...).

Seriously, guys, I know we're all diehards and all, but can you picture the AVERAGE joe sitting in a rattly diesel 70 series, with his Big Gulp in between his knees, trying unsuccessfully to push the seat further back? C'mon, dudes, give Toyota some credit, they know EXACTLY what they're doing.

 

[wesintl]

Seriously, guys, I know we're all diehards and all, but can you picture the AVERAGE joe sitting in a rattly diesel 70 series, with his Big Gulp in between his knees, trying unsuccessfully to push the seat further back? C'mon, dudes, give Toyota some credit, they know EXACTLY what they're doing.

I know they know their market and volume. Heck I'm really starting to dislike all their cars. Everything is vanilla. The damn sequioa looks like 100, the camry and avalon are almost teh same, the tundra is just a bigger version of the taco. Toyota is completely plain jane. What I'm saying is toyota has the platform for the 70. Add a bit more creature comforts like cupholders a decent sound system maybe even leather (gasp) which isn't going to jack the price but maybe $1500. I'm 6'4" and this mid 80's 70 has more room for the driver and passenger than an 80 series.I think it do ok with a diesel and not the rattley ole 3B from the 80's, even a nice smooth 1fz-fe would be killer. I mean toyota can't sell many of those mr2's or whatever they are.

I just gotta look on the bright side and there is always hope.

 

[Hulk]

With the way gas prices are going, anything that gets better mileage is a potentially hot seller. Is there a version of the 70 series that has three rows of seats? My brother-in-law, a stay at home Dad, just bought a new Honda Pilot because the new ones have that 3rd row seat. Hauling kids takes many seats.

 

[wesintl]

With the way gas prices are going, anything that gets better mileage is a potentially hot seller. Is there a version of the 70 series that has three rows of seats? My brother-in-law, a stay at home Dad, just bought a new Honda Pilot because the new ones have that 3rd row seat. Hauling kids takes many seats.

That's what an 80 or 100 is for, 3 row.

 

[Spook50]

With the way gas prices are going, anything that gets better mileage is a potentially hot seller. Is there a version of the 70 series that has three rows of seats? My brother-in-law, a stay at home Dad, just bought a new Honda Pilot because the new ones have that 3rd row seat. Hauling kids takes many seats.

Strap 'em to the roof.

 

[Gus]

Oh no! I love the PX10. Not too many of them though.....and not any in the states

PX10's look great, a nice blend of FJ70 and FJ40.

 

[NCFJ]

I was just turned on to this truck, too cool. 7 years....................