Interesting thoughts from Toyota regarding the 250 in this week’s Automotive News

[Phillyd2]

We have finally reached the part of the program where even ABS is considered a bridge too far for the puritans.

 

[onemanarmy]

ABS is fine as a standalone thing.

 

[carboncycles]

I'm waiting for someone to start complaining fuel injection is the work of the debil!

 

[NTTD]

If their current efforts/offerings in the US dont sell, Toyota WILL change what they're doing

Exactly. Toyota will make what sells, this is the bottom line. They believe they foresee what is coming and are building for that. Only time will tell if they're right.
We here seem to keep forgetting that despite our passion, we're not the majority of the Toyota truck buyers out there.

 

[jayp2]

Exactly. Toyota will make what sells, this is the bottom line. They believe they foresee what is coming and are building for that. Only time will tell if they're right.
We here seem to keep forgetting that despite our passion, we're not the majority of the Toyota truck buyers out there.

While "MUD" may not constitute a majority.....the most common denominator that drives toyota truck/4x4 sales is and has been for 30 plus years a balance of just enough menial comfort options with bare bones functionality and super reliability/low cost of ownership.

The more complicated/more costly and more days in the shop a future truck requires, the less likely people will be to purchase that 5th, 6th or 7th toyota in a row.

Repeat and GENERATIONAL sales of vehicles are the bread and butter of the overwhelming majority of Toyota sales, more than any other brand I can think of

 

[Phillyd2]

Which current comfort options and over the top functionality negatively affects reliability?

 

[OGBeno]

Which current comfort options and over the top functionality negatively affects reliability?

And more importantly, how is that measured/quantified and against what criteria…

Reliability is merely a number. Its perceptions and meanings are where the clown shoes start getting put on.

 

[Phillyd2]

I’m ok with general concept of adding more means more could break but I’m not ok with the vague generalization.

No radio is reliable than a basic AM/FM with push buttons which is more reliable than a touch screen but unless someone can point to a systematic issue then I want my Apple Play. Same goes for E-KDSS over simple shocks, A-TRAC, MTS, etc. How about 2WD vs. 4WD? Lockers vs. None?

That said, the trend with ALL cars for more and more nanny nags is annoying so I do advocate for the ability to turn them off, but that’s not the same as negatively affecting reliability

NA over TT and Hybrids? Absolutely! But that’s a different conversation.