Toyota Cost Cutting, really grinding my gears.
02-10-19, 08:33 AM
#166
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I would say that plastic shattering loses force compared to a solid piece of metal hitting an occupant during an crash. I am willing to bet that plastic shattering is weighted into crash scores.
02-10-19, 10:06 AM
#168
Lexus Champion
Door locks--with the proliferation of key fobs, many (most?) vehicles no longer have a physical key lock on the passenger side door, since most people will use the key fob, or now the proximity key. I have no problem with this.
In that vein, my '07 IS had a little plastic cover over the physical lock on the driver door since most people aren't using the physical lock with the Smart Key. It looks to me from internet pix like the current generation IS has an exposed lock (as does my BMW and my wife's Mazda). This is clear cost cutting--again, doesn't bother me.
I had a 2000 Acura TL. There was no physical lock on the trunk. You had to open the trunk lid with either the inside trunk release, or with the fob. This seems like cost cutting to me, and was slightly annoying, but not a major problem.
The new Toyota RAV4 does not offer leather interior--only fake stuff. Cost cutting or social consciousness? Most likely cost-cutting. Bothersome? Not sure--I'll let you know if I end up getting one.
I saw the new Mazda 6 at the auto show--no fog lights. Cost cutting.
And how could I forget--eliminating the spare tire. I find it shocking that even Buick does this. How many of the prototypical Buick Regal buyer knows that the car has no spare?
Here's one @mmarshall will relate to--cars nowadays have fewer dials--no oil pressure or volts like my '78 Mailbu had. Instead, they have warning lights for those functions. Cost cutting. Again--bothersome? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Here's probably the most egregious cost cutting: option/option package combos/prerequisites. You can look at a list of all available options, but you can't get, say, the panoramic sunroof unless you get the "Premier" option group. So, in the name of reducing overall production costs, manufacturers may make an individual purchase more expensive, because that person may be forced to pay for options he/she doesn't want, in order to get those that are truly desired.
Last edited by tex2670; 02-10-19 at 02:59 PM.
02-10-19, 10:11 AM
#169
Lexus Fanatic
Here's one @mmarshall will relate to--cars nowadays have fewer dials--no oil pressure or volts like my '78 Mailbu had. Instead, they have warning lights for those functions. Cost cutting. Again--bothersome? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
02-10-19, 10:38 AM
#170
Lexus Champion
Well, my Lacrosse actually has MORE gauges and dials than many of my previous vehicles did. It has an analog gauge for engine temperature, and analog-style electronic gages for oil temperature and voltage. It's unusual, BTW, to find oil-temp and voltmeters in non-sporting sedans.
02-10-19, 11:49 AM
#171
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Well, there are many things. Some may bother me; others not.
Door locks--with the proliferation of key fobs, many (most?) vehicles no longer have a physical key lock on the passenger side door, since most people will use the key fob, or now the proximity key. I have no problem with this. Never thought about this.
In that vein, my '07 IS had a little plastic cover over the physical lock on the driver door since most people aren't using the physical lock with the Smart Key. It looks to me from internet pix like the current generation IS has an exposed lock (as does my BMW and my wife's Mazda). This is clear cost cutting--again, doesn't bother me. Cost cutting for sure (what if someone decides to be mean and they steal the cover?)
I had a 2000 Acura TL. There was no physical lock on the trunk. You had to open the trunk lid with either the inside trunk release, or with the fob. This seems like cost cutting to me, and was slightly annoying, but not a major problem. With modern day key fobs or proximity sensors, kinda pointless
The new Toyota RAV4 does not offer leather interior--only fake stuff. Cost cutting or social consciousness? Most likely cost-cutting. Bothersome? Not sure--I'll let you know if I end up getting one. I used to be very against faux leather, but whatever I don't really care anymore. The real stuff in my 4Runner is crap, so I guess you could have nice fake leather, but crappy real stuff
I saw the new Mazda 6 at the auto show--no fog lights. Cost cutting. Cost cutting for sure. Some will say it is because of design, I don't know about that. The new UX has both fog lights and cornering lighting.
Here's one @mmarshall will relate to--cars nowadays have fewer dials--no oil pressure or volts like my '78 Mailbu had. Instead, they have warning lights for those functions. Cost cutting. Again--bothersome? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Never really considered this.
Here's probably the most egregious cost cutting: option/option package combos/prerequisites. You can look at a list of all available options, but you can't get, say, the panoramic sunroof unless you get the "Premier" option group. So, in the name of reducing overall production costs, manufacturers may make an individual purchase more expensive, because that person may be forced to pay for options he/she doesn't want, in order to get those that are truly desired.
Door locks--with the proliferation of key fobs, many (most?) vehicles no longer have a physical key lock on the passenger side door, since most people will use the key fob, or now the proximity key. I have no problem with this. Never thought about this.
In that vein, my '07 IS had a little plastic cover over the physical lock on the driver door since most people aren't using the physical lock with the Smart Key. It looks to me from internet pix like the current generation IS has an exposed lock (as does my BMW and my wife's Mazda). This is clear cost cutting--again, doesn't bother me. Cost cutting for sure (what if someone decides to be mean and they steal the cover?)
I had a 2000 Acura TL. There was no physical lock on the trunk. You had to open the trunk lid with either the inside trunk release, or with the fob. This seems like cost cutting to me, and was slightly annoying, but not a major problem. With modern day key fobs or proximity sensors, kinda pointless
The new Toyota RAV4 does not offer leather interior--only fake stuff. Cost cutting or social consciousness? Most likely cost-cutting. Bothersome? Not sure--I'll let you know if I end up getting one. I used to be very against faux leather, but whatever I don't really care anymore. The real stuff in my 4Runner is crap, so I guess you could have nice fake leather, but crappy real stuff
I saw the new Mazda 6 at the auto show--no fog lights. Cost cutting. Cost cutting for sure. Some will say it is because of design, I don't know about that. The new UX has both fog lights and cornering lighting.
Here's one @mmarshall will relate to--cars nowadays have fewer dials--no oil pressure or volts like my '78 Mailbu had. Instead, they have warning lights for those functions. Cost cutting. Again--bothersome? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Never really considered this.
Here's probably the most egregious cost cutting: option/option package combos/prerequisites. You can look at a list of all available options, but you can't get, say, the panoramic sunroof unless you get the "Premier" option group. So, in the name of reducing overall production costs, manufacturers may make an individual purchase more expensive, because that person may be forced to pay for options he/she doesn't want, in order to get those that are truly desired.
02-10-19, 12:16 PM
#172
Lexus Champion
I had a 2000 Acura TL. There was no physical lock on the trunk. You had to open the trunk lid with either the inside trunk release, or with the fob. This seems like cost cutting to me, and was slightly annoying, but not a major problem. With modern day key fobs or proximity sensors, kinda pointless
02-10-19, 12:31 PM
#173
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
So back to the windor spacers. I find it hard to believe people with a straight face could honestly say the removal of the spacers is not for a cost cutting reason, while at the same time, Lexus keeps the spacers for new models.
02-10-19, 12:38 PM
#174
Lexus Fanatic
02-10-19, 01:22 PM
#176
Lexus Fanatic
There are tons of things I don't like. I hate the use of hard touch plastic in luxury cars, I hate to see companies go from double stitching for leather to single stitching, I hate to see grainy bare plastic trim on cars instead of nice painted trim, I don't like the shift towards the use of 4cyl engines over V6 and V8 engines. I hate CVT transmissions. I hate prop-rods for hoods. I don't like to see any model reduce the quality of its build generation to generation.
Like I said though, I feel like cost cutting is on a decline, not an increase. I think cars made today have some of the best quality materials and build as of any time in my life, with even economy cars dramatically improving in that area,
Like I said though, I feel like cost cutting is on a decline, not an increase. I think cars made today have some of the best quality materials and build as of any time in my life, with even economy cars dramatically improving in that area,
02-10-19, 01:33 PM
#177
Lexus Fanatic
One thing I would like that will never happen, is to put true dual exhausts on the cars, and then with the increased exahaust flow, let off the aggressive mapping of the ECU or DME. Make the power and torque by the hardware, not the software. Since most car are turbo'd nowadays be it 4, 6, or 8 cyl, make sure they are twin, have two manifolds, and smaller turbochargers, with engineering looking to lower the boost and still achieve the HP/TQ numbers.
02-10-19, 01:36 PM
#178
Lexus Fanatic
There are tons of things I don't like. I hate the use of hard touch plastic in luxury cars, I hate to see companies go from double stitching for leather to single stitching, I hate to see grainy bare plastic trim on cars instead of nice painted trim, I don't like the shift towards the use of 4cyl engines over V6 and V8 engines. I hate CVT transmissions. I hate prop-rods for hoods. I don't like to see any model reduce the quality of its build generation to generation.
Like I said though, I feel like cost cutting is on a decline, not an increase. I think cars made today have some of the best quality materials and build as of any time in my life, with even economy cars dramatically improving in that area,
Like I said though, I feel like cost cutting is on a decline, not an increase. I think cars made today have some of the best quality materials and build as of any time in my life, with even economy cars dramatically improving in that area,
02-10-19, 01:44 PM
#179
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
BINGO! My dad always felt gas struts to support the hood was a sign of being quality. I've never owned a vehicle with a power pull down trunk, and actually, don't need that. So I want gas struts for the trunk lid as well. Not those big arms that eat up the trunk space. My 335i and LS430 both use struts at the trunk. That 2020 Subaru looks like my 1998 Maxima, with crudely shaped trunk lid arms, and a cheap wire with zip ties running up one--bizarre for 2020.
02-10-19, 01:47 PM
#180
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Going the opposite way for just a second. On my 4Runner, it the weather is very, very cold, like at -25c like it was last week, the hood struts had a hard time keeping up the hood. And when there is a lot of frozen ice on the hood, it wants to lower itself. Still held up, but it wanted to drop slowly.