OEM Sliders? [Scanned from 4x4 Australia November 2007]

[OTEP]

I was reading through some of my older magazines here and found this piece on the 200.

Was looking through the photos and the units used in the press launch seem to be fitted with rock sliders instead of running boards.

Were these ever available or just one offs commissioned by the Toyota PR people so that 'car magazine' people don't bash it up (the same guys that loaded the new Hilux with 450kg at the back so the journos wouldn't notice the stiff ride)?

 

[OTEP]

Continued...

 

[xkennx]

actually about a yr ago it was common on alot of the GCC ones. I had to throw away dozens of them and had to install aftermarket running boards. But ours also did not come with the roof rails.

When your doing factory orders you will be amazed at what you can add and subtract. For example Saudi GX models do not come from TMC with parking sensors but have a 3rd party version installed when entering the country come the importer refused to pay TCM price.

 

[OTEP]

"OEM" anti-theft, rear cameras, hi-fi, even the leather seats are also added by third party providers over here (with full factory warranty).

So did Toyota make these sliders available for the general public in the US? Or were they for specific markets like the GCC?

I couldn't find info on those sliders anywhere.

Plus are they really good at protecting the rocker panels?

 

[OGBeno]

No sliders were ever offered in any iteration of the 200 series currently in the US.

 

[OTEP]

Ok, but the press launch attended by 4x4 oz was held in the u.s. hence the left hand drive test cars as depicted in the photos