TRD goooooone!!!!!!!

[vanman_75]

simplifying to stay alive seems to be the name of the game .if it gets em through this down turn then its fine with me ,they may do something again in time .

[GK]

Originally Posted by Nappa

If i was a Toyota Dealer i would be a bit annoyed as TRD made them spend about 40K each on setting up a silly TRD stand display in each showroom.

Would the dealers be entitled to some sort of compensation?

GK

[Peuty]

I doubt it GK.

[JerseyVics]

as far as I remember TRD was never really a turn-key type of division, they were basically making performance parts like Ford Racing...

is TRD done for worldwide or only in Australia?

I know its been around for a while, when I worked as a salesman at a Toyota dealership back in 2000 we had plenty of new Tundras tuned by TRD.

[Bossxr8]

T u RD by name, T u RD by nature. A FWD SC V6 selling for 56-60k that makes less power than an XR6 Turbo that sells for 46k. Who could have seen this coming.

I like they way they blame the economic crisis for its failure. It failed long before that came along.

This was always going to happen, Toyota and performance aren't 2 words that go together these days. Cardigan wearers are scared by anything with more than 100 kw. Why do you think Corollas sell so well.

[XR6_190]

Not at all surprised, this is what happens when you do something halfarsed

[FPV70]

The sooner people stop commenting in this thread, the sooner we can all Totally forget about TRD.

Bye Bye T u RD

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by XR6_190

Not at all surprised, this is what happens when you do something halfarsed

Well it was hardly half arsed. I assume you are talking about the cars being front wheel drive. They were only working with what they were given. People will say they should have made it AWD, but I bet it is those same people who were complaining at the price as is.

[XR6_190]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Well it was hardly half arsed. I assume you are talking about the cars being front wheel drive. They were only working with what they were given. People will say they should have made it AWD, but I bet it is those same people who were complaining at the price as is.

No actually I'm not talking solely about FWD, There's also the fact that they were only available with Automatics (Aurion) they never did anything with the Corolla, which is probably the model they should have started with.

I just think that a turbo/ supercharged corolla pushing out about 160kw/320Nm going for about 35/40K would have been a better place to start, could have at least been a contender in a growing market sector and have a go against the likes of Golf GTI, Focus XR5, 3 MPS, etc.

Then they could have had more funds and experience to branch out into something like a AWD Supercharged Aurion with the RIGHT numbers, (about 300Kw/ 530Nm) Then it might of had a chance against FPV and HSV. I can't understand how they thought 241Kw/ 400Nm could be sold for the same as GTs and HSVs with 300+ Kw/ 550+Nm.

[Gobes32]

Who in their right mind buys a performance Hilux????????

[PepeLePew]

Jeez at least a manual would have been nice......

Didnt look half bad in some colours...

And a price tag reflective of a fancy Camry

[phillyc]

Wheels magazine compared a XR6T, TRD 3500 & Liberty Turbo GT either late last year or earlier this year.

They said despite the TRD being priced against the F6, the XR6T was the more relevant comparison and even it spanked it! Not just straight line, but cornering, overall handling etc...

Earlier this year, TRD lopped off $8k from the price, but still it didn't solve it.

As for the Hilux. Woeful. Poor handling, average build, thirsty, crap braking etc. Save 20k and buy a XR6T or XR8 or even SS. Can't believe they sold as many as they did.

PS I agree with most and think they should've started with Corolla. Much more sensible to have a 160kw/300Nm beastie.

[XR6_190]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Who in their right mind buys a performance Hilux????????

I know, and who then goes ahead and forks out 65K + onroads for that same hilux

[Gobes32]

I was thinking buy a hilux for 45k then spend 20k on it. Would end up with a much better end product.

[Sapper]

A total of 17 people were directly involved in the TRD business and all have been offered re-deployment opportunities within Toyota.

That says it all really. It takes more than 17 people to do a thorough job researching, planning, designing, engineering, testing, advertising and managing the development of a new car model.

TRD could have been something decent but they didn't have the right base vehicles to start with. Realistically they would have fared much better playing with a Celica and an MR2 as opposed to an Aurion and a Hilux. Shame on Toyota Australia for no longer selling any coupes.

[Trek]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Who in their right mind buys a performance Hilux????????

My neighbour opposite me in my street (I kid you not). Damn ugly and annoying to look at. He's 50-something and tries to show it off all the time (midlife crisis, for sure).

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Who in their right mind buys a performance Hilux????????

Right mind being the key words here.

Although I’m ashamed to say it, I’ve just checked their website and really can’t believe how ridiculously overpriced these souped up Camryollas and Buggerluxes really are.

TRD, in my opinion is a classic example of why Japanese motoring executives, cocaine, alcohol and raw fish should never be mixed.

[XR Martin]

Its kind of ironic that people are bagging out the $65k TRD Hilux, when the FPV Pursuit is the exact same concept.

[Full Noise]

…eeer what?

Concept and reality are two very different things. The Super Pursuit has street cred. Something that no Toyota will ever have.

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by VenomST

That says it all really. It takes more than 17 people to do a thorough job researching, planning, designing, engineering, testing, advertising and managing the development of a new car model.

I would beg to differ. When Tickford first opened it's doors in Australia I believe there was less than a handful of people operating it and they did okay.

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Its kind of ironic that people are bagging out the $65k TRD Hilux, when the FPV Pursuit is the exact same concept.

I dont think so. The Pursuit/Maloo have sedan origins. The Hilux is basically a fancy truck. Not really the same in my opinion.

[BlackLS]

F150 Lighting has cred. TRD Hilux isn't bad concidering it can go offroad, but it shouldn't have been one of only 2 models in the range...

[MRJUCY]

Well if the numbers are accurate they did better then FTe.

[Windsor220]

Over 500 Aurions? I thought a couple of months ago people were sayng they struggled to sell the first 100.

[tex]

Yes the front wheel driven, plastic embellished te rd proved that the cardigen set, or is it the book review comittee - care not enough for fast boredom.

Exciting?? Give me a break, they are (were) just another rung up the tackiness ladder from the spew evo. Yes any defenders of the Cardigen te rd concept, I have driven one, unfortunately I know someone that spent a considerable amount of money on the , and the only excitement that thing provides is the bung hole puckering it induces under hard acceration through rutted and bump ridden corners.

Dynamically floored concept.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by tex

Yes the front wheel driven, plastic embellished te rd proved that the cardigen set, or is it the book review comittee - care not enough for fast boredom.

Exciting?? Give me a break, they are (were) just another rung up the tackiness ladder from the spew evo. Yes any defenders of the Cardigen te rd concept, I have driven one, unfortunately I know someone that spent a considerable amount of money on the , and the only excitement that thing provides is the bung hole puckering it induces under hard acceration through rutted and bump ridden corners.

Dynamically floored concept.

Yeah well..........its intent was there but the execution was flawed........and I also agree with you regarding the whole street cred issue with the product. TOYOTA would always have an uphill battle trying to sell fast fridges to their traditionally conservative clientelle........and there was no way in hell they were going to impinge on FPV or HSV territory........Doomed from the beginning you might say. Shame really.......was looking forward to the whole TRD evolution to see how it would have panned out and what new products and technologies they would have bought to the market in future years......

[CAT600]

The way people were talking at launch, The TRD Hilux was going to re-define that niche market (performance ute that CAN go off road) and therefore clean up.

I hope my bagging it out had no bearing on people NOT buying it. I would hate to think that it was my doing, and not the "Global financial crisis" that brought TRD down.

Sarcasm off.

An overpriced heap of crap, that was lined up along side a poorly handling and ****-dragging pile of poodoo. I'd buy a Clubby before I bought one of those heaps.

Goodnight TRD, you'll be missed by few.

Daniel

[FPV+fteT3]

Who actually modified the cars heard thru the media early on that pro drive were doing the mods on the trd's they also have a hand in FPV, pro drive are fpr's driving force if pro drive modded the toyota's What were they thinking!

[Mark351]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Not good, this will impact some of HSV's suppliers too.... While they weren't a big player they still provided income to critical suppliers to the performance car manufacturers, and if they struggle guess what....

If any supplier was going to be adversely affected by a performance arm that sold less than 1000 units and hasn't been around two years, they probably weren't good shape prior to TRD... I don't think it will have as big an impact as the drop in HSV sales.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Mark351

If any supplier was going to be adversely affected by a performance arm that sold less than 1000 units and hasn't been around two years, they probably weren't good shape prior to TRD... I don't think it will have as big an impact as the drop in HSV sales.

Its a compounding issue.. if a company is only just breaking even and they loose 25% of their business in one hit what happens?? What would happen if they fell over and HSV couldn't get components for 3 months due the specialised nature of the component/supplier??
Love or Hate TRD this could have wider reaching implications..