Getting oil changed at the dealership and spotted this.....

This shit is just getting out of control. I was never a fan of dealerships to begin with, but the past two years have convinced me that the franchise dealership model needs to go. I think maybe Tesla is onto something.

 

Totally agree. Why we can’t just order what we want then have dropped off at the house is silly. All we really need are service centers. Dealers will fight it tooth and nail though.

 

They likely never updated the mileage. I test drove a 2022 4Runner TRD OR last month and it said it was a demo with 500kms on it. Turned out to be a demo with 6,000kms on it and a smashed up windshield lol.

 

I would only add that we also need a place to test drive. Tesla has taken care of that with their stores and making online test drive appointment. The stores can't sell you a car though. When you are ready to buy you order online.

 

Supply chain is the issue. If you are a boutique manufacturer like Tesla, you can do that, but it is cheaper to mass produce and have the cars sitting on the lot to be picked over.

 

When I was looking at Fords last year before I bought the Tacoma, they encouraged you to order it because of supply chain issues. I “think” that is the way it is going. Much more efficient system. Like Toyotas “just in time” manufacturing philosophy.

 

19/21 mpg.... thats rather sad....

 

Yep, just need a few demos and that is it. I don’t care for how Toyota specs their packages, in this day in age with most everything computer controlled would think you could order exactly what you want.

Ford is much better at ala carte. Was able to build a Ranger much closer to want I wanted than a Toyota, but the Tacoma won in the end. Wasn’t by much though, couple nick picky things.

 

I think Tesla has moved out of the boutique category. They are in the same sales category as Nissan, VW, and Subaru:

 

For how heavy that thing is, think it is rather impressive. Only thing that will beat it is diesel, but that won’t happen.

Swears wanted one, but corporate shot it down.

https://carbuzz.com/news/toyota-wont-rule-out-plug-in-hybrid-tundra

 

At that price, all I think I can afford is the tire valve caps.

 

I would disagree. Well, sort of. Agree in the sales category but still boutique in the delivery category. Clearly they sell more than they can make. That has long been their problem. Their production model is similar in the efficiency of a traffic circle. Works well in low volumes, but as that volume increase, they can't scale. Maybe Musk being the genius that he is can over come it, but he would be the first. Mike Dell ran into this with his PC business. It was great building to order until you are getting your ass handed to you by a Tiwanese company that can crank them out by the thousands. His solution? Sold the manufacturing part of the business to those Tiwanese.

 

I saw a 'dayglo' orange Tundra driving in my neighborhood the other day. Not sure if it was a hybrid or not.
But the Solar Octane color is BRIGHT! You really got to want to be noticed to drive a truck in that color.

 

Saw the first one in person the other day. Lunar Rock. Still can't get into it. The grille is still too big and the rest looks like any other truck. Not to mention the price. I want to like the Tundra but I'd rather buy an F150 or Silverado if I was shopping that category.

 

I haven't test driven my last 5 vehicle purchases and 3 of them were motorcycles. I find almost no value in a test drive.

 

For a "hybrid" it should be getting way better than 19/21 ..... those are like standard NA v8 numbers from other companies.

 

Lightbar is tacky, but "raptor" lights are required by law on the Pro.

 

Dad's getting 3-4 mpg better than that in his Ram with the v6 NA.

 

I was at a dealership that had a Solar Tundra Pro. it was sold. they had no markup.

 

The F150 Powerboost isn’t much better.

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/long-term-2021-ford-f-150-hybrid-first-10k-miles.html

Better mpg and way more power than the 1st Gen Tundra, those could barely squeak out 15.