Base SR Tacoma's LAME missing safety feature

So, I wonder how much Toyota actually saves on the non- intermittent stalk? $0.05?

 

Top of my skull I think you can buy the regular new around $40..so let's say $100-125 for the sake of argument.

 

I was thinking about the cost difference to Toyota per stalk when buying them wholesale in multiples of thousands/millions. Less than a dollar, I would think.

 

Back in the old days cars had wipers that you worked with a hand lever, then vacuum wipers can along then them new fangled electric wipers showed up! With two speeds! Now everyone expects intermittent wipers! What’s next? Demanding rain sensing wipers? Come on Toyota get with the program!

 

Price has gone up about $5 and shipping to my house was a little over $16...

 

Much truth, but as my friend said long ago the people who design cars don't work on or drive them. He was a mechanic for many years and said also that if it saves half a penny of cost or half a second on the assembly line it's great, not caring they've now made tons of extra work to repair/replace..even routine maintainence stuff like light bulbs

 

Intermittent wipers are a must in areas subject to frequent misty rain and snow flurries. Sure, it isn't much work to move your hand up and give the lever a flick but it gets old after the 5000th time. Many manufacturers have an annoying habit of bundling features, often times it costs 2 or 3k to get a $50 feature you want. Had my 2011 Tacoma about a month and called local dealer for quote on upgrading to int. and they said it required stalk, relay and two hours labour. Discovered TW and found detailed info on what to buy and how to do it. $80 and 15 minutes later, done deal!

 

How does that work in the winter months when it is snowing? LOL! Oh it don't snow in the Carolina's.

 

2021 SR I bought this past July has intermittent wipers.

 

MSRP on non-intermittent stalk is $135: https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2...dshield-Wiper-Switch/66834262/8465204160.html
MSRP on intermittent stalk is $186: https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2...dshield-Wiper-Switch/62983445/8465206340.html
Rule of thumb for dealer markup is 40% and Toyota OEM markup is 300%, so the two stalks cost Toyota:

$135/1.4/4 = $24
$186/1.4/4 = $33

Looks like Toyota saves $9 on the non-intermittent stalk, which is huge in the cutthroat automotive business. (Figuring out a way to save $5 is typically a career achievement award with an article in SAE magazine, etc.)

 

I wish it snowed down here

 

I did the intermittent wiper mod today after purchasing the intermittent stalk online from McGeorge Toyota. It took about 20 minutes following the steps in the thread and there were no issues. I wish I would have done this sooner!

 

lol. like toyota doesn't have rust issues.. it seems like toyota has been replacing rusty frames for 30 years now.

you want to know why people buy ford,gm and ram over toyota many times? payload capacity. sometimes ya need to use a truck as a truck.

 

How is intermittent wipers a safety feature. it's not like they said F those ppl who dont but TRD we are not giving them any wipers. You have HIGH and LOW speed for wipers. Or dare I even say use you right hand that should be on the steering wheel at all times for safety and hit the wiper switch.