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SUVs Toyota Venza 2009 Toyota Venza Crossover
1078 messages, Last post on Nov 17, 2009 at 1:50 PM
You are in the Toyota Venza Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: stickguy (Nov 08, 2008 4:00 am) Maybe with the market being so down and the the Venza being assembled in Louisville could there actually be a turn around to actually supplying to the customers order? I won't hold my breath.  Luckily, I have another year on my lease and I'm hoping things will be sorted out by then. I'm also hoping there will be more competitors available by then that will offer a similar vehicle. |
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Replying to: qs933 (Nov 08, 2008 12:22 am) That's interesting. Thanks for the information. I wonder why L.A. wouldn't have the same options. I had thought about a standalone GPS but the car's for my wife who gets technophobic over anything more complicated than "push a button and speak" I've never bought a Toyota before. Do they really not offer build-to-spec cars? I can't imagine spending four thousand dollars on options I don't want.
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Replying to: radiowave (Nov 08, 2008 7:44 am) Toyota is very decentralized when it comes to selling. In fact Toyota Motor Manufacturing doesn't sell anything retail. It's all done by TMS and the regional distribution arms and the dealers. All three get together monthly at the regional level and decide what will sell in each region and how the vehicles should be configured. Don't like your regional offerings? Look at the region next door. These offerings are not set in stone either. It's a flexible situation depending on market demand and need. In Maine there is a strong demand for 4WD and AWD vehicles. In NYC there is almost no demand. In WV it's all basic strippie 4WD trucks. In NoVA it's upscale hybrids and crossovers. TMMC might believe that it should product 60% V6 models evenly split between FWD and AWD and 40% I4's all in FWD. Overtime the market may make its preference known for 40% V6's with most being AWD and 60% I4's split 50/50 between FWD/AWD. This normally takes 6-12 mo's to be sorted out.
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 08, 2008 9:22 am) The regional concept needs to be more flexible. When I bought my Highlander my region only stocked third row seat models. I bit the bullet and bought one but the third row seat has never seen the light of day except to show my friends what joke it is. I paid extra for it because the region said I must have it. Next time I don't think that is going to happen for me. Provide the vehicle I want and need or I will go elsewhere and not 3-500 miles to another region.
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Replying to: roho1 (Nov 08, 2008 5:24 pm) I doubt it. As kdhspyder mentioned, the domestic manufacturers are moving toward less customization to improve efficiency. Why would Toyota and Honda repeat the errors of the domestics? Simply put, building many different combinations of a vehicle is inefficient. Of course, that has to be weighed against providing customers with at least a bit of flexibility or they won't buy. That's the mass market dilemma. Look at the Maybach -- you can order one tailor-made to your specifications down to the interior materials used. The non--mass market price allows them to make those kinds of accommodations. |
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| Ok, so I need a car real soon. Like around Tgiving/ early Dec. Thought Venza would be a good choice as my Subaru Outback is lacking in rear seat legroom and not quite enough luggage space. I had a nearby dealer send me a glossy for the Venza. The strange thing is in the volume behind the second row seat. Venza: 30.7 cu ft; Rav4: 36.4 cu ft. For a vehicle 7 inches longer (plus no rearmount spare tire), 5 inches less height and 2 inches wider - where did the luggage space go? Is it the sloping tailgate, or am I missing something? Even the '09 Outback, which is nearly 5 inches narrower, has 3 cu ft more cargo space. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I don't want to settle for a RAV4 until I have the facts. | |
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I bet the height and slope to the tailgate ate up the CF. But, IMO, that is a measurement tht isn't real world (at least not my world). I work off of the top of the set back and still see out the back window measurement. I won't pile stuff to the ceiling, so raising the roof does little for me! For th eoptins, people don't seem to have a problem with Honda (other than an occasional moonroof complaint). It is clear what car has what, and every dealer has the same choices. ANd an EXL is an EXL everywhare. Toyota is frustrating because they claim to have models (and clearly list them in the brochure) that they never actually make. I went through this with a SIenna. Decided that an LE with say package #3 was exactly what I want. Then find out that they make package 1,2 and 9 only, so to get what I wanted out of #3 would cost me many thousands of dollars extra. the domestics did (or would) actually make all the different permutations. Thats what cost them so much. I think they are trying to go the Honda route, not Toyota.
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Replying to: stickguy (Nov 09, 2008 4:31 pm) Unfortunately your request for a package 3 Sienna or the prior request for a Highlander w/o a 3rd row seat happen to fall into a minority of demanders. The majority gets served in these cases. TMMC offers a slate of production possibilities but the regions determine what the majority want and this is what is offered locally. It's not arbitrary it's based on customer and visitor input at the store level. It's also not inflexible. It gets changed all the time - from input at the store level - in order to meet the greater demand. |
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Replying to: stickguy (Nov 09, 2008 4:31 pm) I guess I'm one of the few that dislikes Honda's approach. I understand why they do it, though. Essentially the number of combinations of each model becomes a function of the number of trim levels multiplied by exterior colors. It's great that an EX-L is the same everywhere -- it also means it's missing features everywhere that force you to purchase a Touring (such as a power liftgate or Bluetooth on the Pilot). As far as Toyotas go, I've been pretty lucky that my needs/wants have matched up with what they've ordered (and they do order a finite number of combinations). The Highlander Limited and Highlander Hybrid Limited I've been looking at have had packages that met my needs. I'm hoping to be able to get a 2WD V6 Venza with Premium Package 2, JBL 6CD, and the moonroof. Test drive units are supposed to arrive mid or late November, or so they've said. |
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I understand why they do it. What annoys me (and unlike Honda) is they give you a nice shiny brochure showing all the wonderful packages they offer. In theory (or maybe another part of the country?) At least Honda is consistant. You might not like it, but at least they don't bait and switch you!
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