60% drop in sales for 2024

I walked around the yota dealers lot in Ann Arbor for 30 minutes yesterday looking at a couple rides and the new LC. Know how many salesmen asked me if I needed any questions answered? ZERO. And there were multiple sitting behind their desks doing exactly jack and s--t. And it's not like I looked like a slob because I had just come from my investment guy.

Firing a good chunk of sit on your ass salesmen [because they probably never had to work hard before] would probably end up saving yota dealers money AND increasing sales. The same thing happened the last time at the dealer in Lansing.

 

They used to come running out, it was crazy, lol

 

I walked around the fancy BMW dealer showroom near me a couple of times and wasn’t approached. This is a two story showroom. I guess sometimes they just leave you alone until you ask for help. It’s fine with me.

 

You just offended a bunch of 3rd gen bros, but I agree. The gen3 V6 vs just feels off compared to the 2nd gen's 1gr.

I'm really liking the turbo 4, at this point I honestly would probably take it over the 1gr as well. I traded in my 2nd gen for this truck and it just feels much better, especially at altitude (5k+ feet).

I did a 2000 mile round trip drive (NM to Montana and back) last week and it performed beautifully.

 

A good salesman always wants his name out there and a face someone can recognize. Takes just a minute, no bugging, walk out, hand them a card and tell them if they have any questions, you'll be happy to answer them if and when they have any. Then you leave. If they walk inside, the chances they look YOU up have just increased immensely. They also have you number on the card if they call later.

 

Wasn’t intending to insult gen 3’s.. They are solid!

What part are of Montana did you visit?

 

The real heart of the matter was I did ask for help later. I wanted to test drive a 540i, and later the X5. The douche assigned to me in their CRM system couldn’t be bothered to do that. They were in the loaner pool. I told him to give me a call when they came back in. Never heard from him.

They lost a $80,000 sale as a result.

I got a follow-up email from the GM asking how I was treated. I called and he was always in meetings. I requested a call back. Never heard from him either.

I guess they can afford to lose customers and sales.

 

More and more people are hanging onto their used vehicles longer because new vehicles cost so much nowadays.

 

BMW is sometimes very strange. Like announcing an $18 dollar per month heated seat subscription and then having to back off the idea.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/7/23863258/bmw-cancel-heated-seat-subscription-microtransaction

 

Yea, that was pretty lame.

 

Better than the 4.slow ?! Travesty, lies and deception ! Ban this man!

 

It's actually very comparable in the way both engines behaved. Good power off the line, but does wheeze out in the upper range, both 2.4 turbo and 4.0 V6. We can't really compare efficiency due to two vastly different transmissions (5AT vs 8AT), but I could never really get better than 18 in my 2nd gens.

 

I always go in looking like an absolute bum and for some reason it has the effect of getting more attention. I went to the Lexus dealer last week to test drive an IS500 and came in wearing flip flops and a tank top. They let me go drive it alone without even getting a copy of my license lol.

 

My neighbor has one with exhaust on. Rev’d it up for me, one sweet sounding ride

 

I really want to like it more than I did after the test drive. Maybe I just need to go back and drive one again since I had my expectations set so high before the first drive.

 

I’m surprised they still make the IS 500.

 

I don't think it's long for this world. Hasn't been updated in about a decade (still comes with a CD player and track pad) and my guess is the next gen will be all turbo/hybrid drivetrains.

 

Naturally aspirated V8’s are pretty rare these days. Hell, the V6 in my 2024 4Runner is a dinosaur.

 

I’ve owned two 1GR’s and three 2GR’s. Drove the 2.4T, which is ok as far as 4cyl turbos go, however not quite as good as Jeep’s 2.0T. And, albeit noticeably more responsive down low than a Gen3, also definitively not a V6.

Instead of alienating a large portion of your fanbase by band-aiding a four cylinder with turbos, balance shafts, electric motors, and fake noises, just simply offering a better V6 paired with eight gears seemed like a good path forward.

But, much like paper straws, the Toyota experts here insist that’s impossible. Sigh.

 

Who said it was impossible? They still make the 4Runner with a V6.