Toyota Cost Cutting, really grinding my gears.
02-10-19, 07:20 PM
#197
Lexus Champion
Nah, I did not think it was a snide comment at all.
Here is something I do not like in modern cars vs older. Both of our SUVs have fixed overhead grab handles, made of rubber, they feel very solid.. Our two cars have plastic pivot handles. I think all Toyota/Lexus model now uses this method. I would say this is a form of cost cutting I do not like.
Here is something I do not like in modern cars vs older. Both of our SUVs have fixed overhead grab handles, made of rubber, they feel very solid.. Our two cars have plastic pivot handles. I think all Toyota/Lexus model now uses this method. I would say this is a form of cost cutting I do not like.
02-10-19, 07:31 PM
#200
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Why not? The ones in my 4Runner are made of rubber, or something resembling rubber. It physically takes up more space, so shipping and packaging the part would cost more. Whereas my mothers 4Runner and my Corolla and Matrix are just a cheaper plastic part, with a spring. Likely ship far easier.
02-10-19, 07:36 PM
#201
Lexus Champion
Why not? The ones in my 4Runner are made of rubber, or something resembling rubber. It physically takes up more space, so shipping and packaging the part would cost more. Whereas my mothers 4Runner and my Corolla and Matrix are just a cheaper plastic part, with a spring. Likely ship far easier.
For a fixed handle, you'd be looking at 5 parts:
Handle
2 Fasteners
2 plastic cover clips/tabs that cover the fasteners
For a swinging one, you'd be looking at at least 8 parts.
Handle
2 bases
2 pins
1 or 2 springs
2 fasteners
Then there's labor. Which of those do you think will take longer to assemble/install?
02-10-19, 07:43 PM
#202
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
For a few reasons. In general, in engineering/designing parts, more parts cost more than fewer parts, and moving parts cost more than fixed ones.
For a fixed handle, you'd be looking at 5 parts:
Handle
2 Fasteners
2 plastic cover clips/tabs that cover the fasteners
For a swinging one, you'd be looking at at least 8 parts.
Handle
2 bases
2 pins
1 or 2 springs
2 fasteners
Then there's labor. Which of those do you think will take longer to assemble/install?
For a fixed handle, you'd be looking at 5 parts:
Handle
2 Fasteners
2 plastic cover clips/tabs that cover the fasteners
For a swinging one, you'd be looking at at least 8 parts.
Handle
2 bases
2 pins
1 or 2 springs
2 fasteners
Then there's labor. Which of those do you think will take longer to assemble/install?
02-10-19, 07:46 PM
#203
Lexus Champion
I didn’t say you 4Runner ones weren’t solid or they were just thrown up there.
What is cheaper, rubber or plastic? In my engineering experience and on a part that size, I’d call it a wash.
What is cheaper, rubber or plastic? In my engineering experience and on a part that size, I’d call it a wash.
02-10-19, 07:47 PM
#204
Lexus Fanatic
Nah, I did not think it was a snide comment at all.
Here is something I do not like in modern cars vs older. Both of our SUVs have fixed overhead grab handles, made of rubber, they feel very solid.. Our two cars have plastic pivot handles. I think all Toyota/Lexus model now uses this method. I would say this is a form of cost cutting I do not like.
Here is something I do not like in modern cars vs older. Both of our SUVs have fixed overhead grab handles, made of rubber, they feel very solid.. Our two cars have plastic pivot handles. I think all Toyota/Lexus model now uses this method. I would say this is a form of cost cutting I do not like.
Whenever there is a mechanism involved its always more expensive to produce. A fixed plastic handle is the cheapest kind of handle you can have.
02-10-19, 07:51 PM
#205
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
What would be easier to ship? The obviously heavier and larger piece? Or the lightweight plastic? Size wize, much easier to put more plastic handles in a box than the larger rubber size.
02-10-19, 07:53 PM
#206
Lexus Fanatic
The cost difference to ship is nothing, since they are shipped in large quantities. Nothing outweighs the difference between 8 parts vs 5 parts, the engineering required to dampen their retract mechanism, etc.
02-10-19, 07:54 PM
#208
Lexus Champion
I’d call shipping a wash too. The fixed handle may weigh more but the pivot handle is more parts to ship.
