Man American consumers are generally shallow and lazy. Jim I can't disagree with you, It is unfortunate. H2 Hummers and Expeditions, Escalades, Navigators, Durangos, ad infinitum. but they sell.
Yep, those are the magical words..."they sell." I'm sure the management doesn't give jack-squat about how ugly some of their vehicles are, as long as consumers keep buying them (e.g., prev. Ford Expedition...reminds me of a top-heavy bathtub w/ wheels.). It seems most consumers don't keep cars longer than 5 yrs judging from what I see on the road. Part of the culprit has to be the cheap financing, short-term lease options, etc. How about the good 'ol days when everyone had to buy their car w/ CASH!? If this were the case, there would be more of a market for vehicles with great longevity & simplicity vs. the latest body style and electronic gizmos, like LC78's, Hilux crew cab turbo diesels, etc. People in other countries can only often buy one car every 30 yrs or longer, so what do they buy? The LC78 and hilux TD!
Looking at the JDM LC magazine (they now feature the FJC), the opinion I get from those in Japan is, they're wondering why "we always get the good stuff". It cracks me up. Nowhere does it mention that some of us would love to have a 100TD or HZJ73 2-door FRP top but don't have that option.
OTOH, if one is looking for a loaded 100 like the LX470, prices here are lower than overseas. I checked the Oz and Canadian websites and a new LX goes for the equivalent of $90K USD! (IIRC, it was $123,000 AUD). Is that what you guys pay down there? Also, it seems like in Oz, although you can get the good stuff, you have to pay dearly...basic stuff like A/C (isn't most of the country either desert or rain forest? Who wouldn't want A/C?) is optional, and you have to pay a princely sum for the 100 TD over the petrol. In Japan, the V8 or TD sell for the same price (comes to about $41K USD w/ cloth seats, no running boards or roof rails). That's the cheapest I've seen anywhere.
