Toyota Cost Cutting, really grinding my gears.
#31
Lexus Fanatic
I just don't see how this can be considered a cost cutting measure. These pieces are molded plastic, its just a question of the shape of the mold.
Not every design decision you don't like is a "cost cutting measure". Its like the insinuation of the removal of the manual HVAC button on a $80,000+ LS is cost cutting when the button exists in a later designed $40,000 ES. That just doesn't make any sense. It was a design CHOICE, not a cost cutting measure.
Not every design decision you don't like is a "cost cutting measure". Its like the insinuation of the removal of the manual HVAC button on a $80,000+ LS is cost cutting when the button exists in a later designed $40,000 ES. That just doesn't make any sense. It was a design CHOICE, not a cost cutting measure.
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Interesting point, Steve, but it could (?) simply be just a small, minute amount less of plastic used to fill each mold, which, when spread out over the kind of hundreds of thousands of production-numbers we see in some Toyota products like the RAV-4, Highlander, Corolla, or Camry, will add up over time. Or, it could be simply cheaper to install the individual switches that way, saving time and labor on the assembly line.
#34
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
LS went to the new peg style door locks. They used to use the red LED lights as well as the classic door pivot style next to the handle.
#35
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Interesting point, Steve, but it could (?) simply be just a small, minute amount less of plastic used to fill each mold, which, when spread out over the kind of hundreds of thousands of production-numbers we see in some Toyota products like the RAV-4, Highlander, Corolla, or Camry, will add up over time. Or, it could be simply cheaper to install the individual switches that way, saving time and labor on the assembly line.
Here is an older Camry part, used on all kinds of models. The spacers would add cost when installed, removal should save money.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 02-06-19 at 02:07 PM.
#36
Lexus Fanatic
Many vehicles have the window switches close together, on the same panel, with the power-mirror, seat-memory, power-door-locks, and other switches/buttons. We can argue about it all afternoon, but IMO, look-to-verify never hurts.
#37
It comes down to the individual. For you and me I don't think that bothers us spacer or no spacer. It's not rocket science to roll down a window, and as long as one still has the sense of touch, one can tell there are two switches. Your Benz example was great. I've never heard of an S-Class owner screaming that their switches didn't have spacers lol
#38
Lexus Fanatic
#40
Lexus Fanatic
If anything, you have a new generation of Toyota's built on TNGA, and the new mold for the window switches just doesn't have a spacer. new Rav4, Prius, and Avalon all have the same one now.
It comes down to the individual. For you and me I don't think that bothers us spacer or no spacer. It's not rocket science to roll down a window, and as long as one still has the sense of touch, one can tell there are two switches. Your Benz example was great. I've never heard of an S-Class owner screaming that their switches didn't have spacers lol
It comes down to the individual. For you and me I don't think that bothers us spacer or no spacer. It's not rocket science to roll down a window, and as long as one still has the sense of touch, one can tell there are two switches. Your Benz example was great. I've never heard of an S-Class owner screaming that their switches didn't have spacers lol
Like the door locks, it would never even occur to me to consider that a "cost saving measure", you have all the same parts, you have a physical indicator that is moved between two positions indicating locked or unlocked, what's the difference if its on top of the door or above the door handle?
#42
Lexus Fanatic
Having a rotating door lock indicator above this door handle would have ruined the design aesthetic they were trying to achieve:
#44
The issue is that for some people a design change they don't like is automatically "a mistake". There has to be some nefarious motivation behind the change. There are many different tastes and preferences and desires and you can't please everybody. There are things in every single car I have owned that I would design differently if I were designing it, but then there are things that bother other people that would never even occur to me as being an issue, and my issues aren't issues to them.
Like the door locks, it would never even occur to me to consider that a "cost saving measure", you have all the same parts, you have a physical indicator that is moved between two positions indicating locked or unlocked, what's the difference if its on top of the door or above the door handle?
Like the door locks, it would never even occur to me to consider that a "cost saving measure", you have all the same parts, you have a physical indicator that is moved between two positions indicating locked or unlocked, what's the difference if its on top of the door or above the door handle?
#45
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
To be honest, I didn't have a lot to do today (clearly) And I was just posting to see what others thought as my parents mentioned the windows would both open which blew my mind that they would notice such a thing. I will not be trying to explain such a thing to them.