Quote:
Originally Posted by mjd1001
I partially agree, but I also think a large part of it is the price of a Toyota. 10-20 years ago, my impression of Toyota is similar to what I think of Hyundai now...great value in a car...mostly due to their price. Now, however, I am almost shocked at how expensive Toyota's are. A Matrix that is virtually the same mechanically as a Vibe, but costs more (when comparably equipped). A Camry, that is very hard to find at dealer lots for under $26000? (at least most I see on the lots are fairly well equiped and costing close to $30,000).
My opinion is, over the last 10-15 years..Toyotas have gone from a good value to actualy being rather expensive for what you get. Up until the last 2-4 years..the economy was strong enough that it didn't matter to most people. But now, that is a different story. It is not a general weakening of the economy only..it is the weak economy with the fact that the weak economy is causing people to really look at how expensive some Toyotas have become.
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That's because what a retailer wants you to see and wants you to consider buying are always upfront. Notice that the milk and butter and eggs and bread are always in the back corner of a supermarket. You have to walk through the high-margin junk to get to the staples that you need every day.
Walk into a department store and the first whiff that you get is ladies perfume. Bargain-priced everyday clothes are hidden on a rack in the back.
The basic staple LE Camry I4 which has an MSRP of just over $22000 but has special lease/finance rates are hidden away where the buyer has to look for them. Potentially they will bump into a $26000 XLE which they like more and get that one iso of the 'bread and butter' LE I4.
GM stores do the same. Upfront are the high margin trucks and SUVs. The row upon row of gleaming chrome-plated beauties grab the attention of the guys driving by. 'Cobalt? Oh they're over behind the building'. The local store has normally had 40-60 trucks and 20-30 SUVs up front along with 2-3 Aveo's, 2-3 HHR's, a couple of Cobalts, whatever Malibu's were unsold, 5-10 Impala's.