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HiAce does in ROW while its been replaced with a far superior minivan (Sienna) dedicated to the US marketplace
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Hiace was never replaced by the Sienna. It was actually the Previa that was replaced by the Sienna.
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. why would it matter to a canadian if Toyota decided to retain only the Sequoia/Tundra platform for Americans and drop the outdated and poorly selling LC/LX platform (sales in the US are essentially dead for the LC) from the US product lineup
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200 series LX is up here in Canada. Landcrusiers were always availabe in Canada before the LX450 was introuced. I am looking at a new Suv. We have a imported 200 series Landcruiser here in GTA..so yeah it does matter to me.
There are only three thing thats Sequioa does in IMO that are better than the 200 series. Everything is better in 200 series from there on including the details. Fold flat seats, artificial high 10,000 tow capacity and interior room are what the Sequioa excels at...you should be driving a minivan if you don't need to tow. To me the interior size of the Sequioa is too big for my needs and I have no need for fold flat seats...plus the rear floor is now higher.
What really concerns me is how cheap the interior is made and lack of details compared to 1st gen Sequioa or Landcruiser and that is where my biggest beef is against the Sequioa. Come on..a spray painted dash and poor built quality and a cheap silver driver side...all this in $55,000 SUV is a shame.
It matter to me because all of this is because North American standards are lower compared to the rest of the world when it comes to interiors, payload and design of features for Toyota USA designed lineup. Yes the platinum can tow 8700lbs but the LC can haul pull 8500lbs yet has more payload.
Personally. I would give up a little in advertised towing capacity and rather have pull out rear seats that the hideous interior quality of the Sequioa's $55k pricetag...in that I would much rather see a better interior.
The Sequioa was never intended to replace the 100 series or 200 series Toyota SUVs. The Sequioa is not a premium product from Toyota. The LS, SC, 200 series are all premium markup products from Toyota. Premium products get the all the interior details, latest techonology, lowest defect of parts, high quality manufacturing facilities and are made closest to spec. There is a reason why Toyota Landcruiser engine was built in Japan whereas the Sequioa was made in Alabama.
The intention of the Seqiuoa was to establish a full size SUV for the north america market and in that it does very well. But to suggest the Sequioa was designed to replace the LC is wrong as the needs and income levels are much different in that LC income is close to $250k which is double that of the average Sequioa owner. Also the LX is in $340k range. A whole different buyer than the average Sequioa owner.
As for sales. The 200 series will sell just a many (if not a few more) units this year than they did 10 years ago when the 80 series was available and I think that is around 12-15k. I will gurantee you that Toyota will not sell as many Sequioa's this year (2008) then they did in 2001 (around 60k units) when 1st gen was introduced.