When manufacturers seemingly get it wrong
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 3:04 pm
Sometimes it appears that quite a few manufacturers are completely out of touch with where the demand for certain 4WD vehicle models is, vs what they actually bring to the market.
Here’s some examples that I can think of:
- Nissan NP300 was until recently only available in 4x4 petrol. The diesel version that was recently launched still seems elusive.
- Whilst the Suzuki Jimny doesn’t sell in massive numbers, they still move quiet a few of them globally. But indications are that the new one will sell in vastly better numbers. Yet no other manufacturer offers a competitor. Suzuki must be laughing all the way to the bank.
- Toyota never replaced the FJ Cruiser with a new one. It’s not as if it didn’t sell. This just doesn’t make any sense.
- Land Rover - the best 4x4xFar no longer make a proper 4x4 that can do a Grade 5 off the showroom floor.
- Nissan - where’s the Pathfinders replacement in SA? It’s not as if the old one didn’t sell [emoji15]
- Jeep Wrangler - I think they missed a trick by not having an overland version to rival the Defender & fill the gap it left in the market. They could have whipped the roll cage out & stuck a permanent solid roof on. Job done.
- 6 cyl Petrol bakkies. Toyota is the only one that I can think of. Everybody else has thrown in the towel. Even a 4 cyl turbo Petrol would make sense.
In addition, there’s some obvious design shortcomings that they either didn’t think of, or just didn’t bother with.
Examples:
- Terrain response systems. All of them have some sort of sand mode, but no dune mode that doesn’t switch off if you go faster.
- Mahindra has 8 seats. But you can’t use the 2nd & 3rd rows at the same time if your passengers all have legs.
- VW built the Amarok to take on the established bakkies, except that those established ones have a usable reverse gear offroad & can reverse a trailer.
- The AMG G-Wagon has all the lockers & one of the best 4WD systems, but it’s wheels are too big for offroad so all that effort was for nothing.
These are just a few examples of some seemingly weird decisions by manufacturers.
Agree or disagree?
Maybe there’s some more examples?
Here’s some examples that I can think of:
- Nissan NP300 was until recently only available in 4x4 petrol. The diesel version that was recently launched still seems elusive.
- Whilst the Suzuki Jimny doesn’t sell in massive numbers, they still move quiet a few of them globally. But indications are that the new one will sell in vastly better numbers. Yet no other manufacturer offers a competitor. Suzuki must be laughing all the way to the bank.
- Toyota never replaced the FJ Cruiser with a new one. It’s not as if it didn’t sell. This just doesn’t make any sense.
- Land Rover - the best 4x4xFar no longer make a proper 4x4 that can do a Grade 5 off the showroom floor.
- Nissan - where’s the Pathfinders replacement in SA? It’s not as if the old one didn’t sell [emoji15]
- Jeep Wrangler - I think they missed a trick by not having an overland version to rival the Defender & fill the gap it left in the market. They could have whipped the roll cage out & stuck a permanent solid roof on. Job done.
- 6 cyl Petrol bakkies. Toyota is the only one that I can think of. Everybody else has thrown in the towel. Even a 4 cyl turbo Petrol would make sense.
In addition, there’s some obvious design shortcomings that they either didn’t think of, or just didn’t bother with.
Examples:
- Terrain response systems. All of them have some sort of sand mode, but no dune mode that doesn’t switch off if you go faster.
- Mahindra has 8 seats. But you can’t use the 2nd & 3rd rows at the same time if your passengers all have legs.
- VW built the Amarok to take on the established bakkies, except that those established ones have a usable reverse gear offroad & can reverse a trailer.
- The AMG G-Wagon has all the lockers & one of the best 4WD systems, but it’s wheels are too big for offroad so all that effort was for nothing.
These are just a few examples of some seemingly weird decisions by manufacturers.
Agree or disagree?
Maybe there’s some more examples?
, so they know that they cannot compete, and in anycase, the only other micro car maker worth any note is FIAT, and they are still trying to make a PANDA that actually is 4x4... Shame)