Hilux no.1 beats Commodore sales

[0497]

Hilux no.1 selling vehicle in Queensland.

PS: Queensland is Australia's Texas, very strong regional identities.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...010760,00.html

Utes top wish list
By Stuart Scott
August 19, 2007 12:00am

THE top-selling vehicle in Queensland isn't a family sedan or fuel-efficient hatchback – it's a work ute.

The Holden Commodore has been toppled from the No.1 place it has held for decades, and its position has been taken by the Toyota HiLux utility.
It is a Queensland-only victory, which even Toyota describes as "quite extraordinary".

Buyers include tradesmen, mining companies, farmers and, surprisingly, a growing number of families who buy versatile dual-cab versions that can mix the school run with work and play.

The Commodore still rules in other states and nationally.

Australia-wide, the Commodore leads this year's sales race by more than 8000, ahead of the Toyota Corolla. The HiLux is a further 3000 units behind in third place, followed by the Mazda 3and the Ford Falcon.

But in Queensland, the made-in-Thailand utility is ahead of the Commodore by 883 sales.

HiLux sales have shot up 20 per cent in Queensland so far this year, taking it past the Commodore, which has gone up 2.4 per cent.

Queensland's strong economy and increasing population have made it a boom state for vehicle sales. The local car market has been growing far faster than the national average for years.

Toyota's northern region manager, Chris Beuth, said: "The race has been close before, but we've never had the HiLux in front until this year.

"There is strong demand right across the board, from one-man plumbing outfits right up to big companies."

There are 30 variants in the HiLux range.

The top seller in Queensland is the cheapest of them all, the four-cylinder, two-wheel-drive WorkMate, priced from $17,990 to $26,490.

More utes would have been sold, but demand for the diesel-engined models exceeds the supply.

"We could sell another 15 to 20 per cent more diesels if we could get them," Mr Beuth said.

Fishing expert Dave "Nugget" Downey is a HiLux driver, and can see why they are so popular.

Mr Downey, of Beenleigh, south of Brisbane, said he had done 32,000km in less than a year. His six-cylinder, 4WD model had not missed a beat.

"This is the vehicle I drive 24/7," he said. "It's my daily commuter. In terms of ride and comfort, it's like a car."

Toyota is on track to be the best-selling vehicle brand nationally

[Hidden_Hunter]

and I expect that to be reversed with the release of the ve ute

[watto]

Queensland is Australia's Texas?? Interesting...

Hidden_Hunter, I'm not so sure about that, they're probably buying the Hiluz for the fact that it has a diesel, 4WD, dual cab, big tray etc etc, none of which the VE ute has.

[0497]

Originally Posted by watto

Queensland is Australia's Texas?? Interesting...

Hidden_Hunter, I'm not so sure about that, they're probably buying the Hiluz for the fact that it has a diesel, 4WD, dual cab, big tray etc etc, none of which the VE ute has.

Not to mention that the Hilux petrol-six has a lot more pulling power and greater load carrying capacity.

[Dsemaj]

Queensland isn't Australia's Texas! Queensland is Australia's Florida. If anything, Western Australia is Australia's Texas!

[andyhui01]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

and I expect that to be reversed with the release of the ve ute

I would expect the Hilux to continue topping sales... I;m pretty sure most of the car buyers know that Toyota's car pretty much bullet proof in terms of reliability... I know a mate who drives a 89 Camry with 250,000km's, car isn't taken care off... service every year or when possible, no warm ups and it still starts every time.

I guess this would be pretty important for tradesman who's tool is their car, if it breaks down on them... it would be a days salary gone.

[Hidden_Hunter]

also, queensland is the state that no-ones like run by an idiot that no-one likes

[Red_Bull]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

also, queensland is the state that no-ones like run by an idiot that no-one likes

Surely you're referring to Victoria there?

You mentioned the VE ute, probably a better comparison is the Holden Rodeo. We've owned Rodeos for years and they're great work horses as well.

[WellsieTRD]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

also, queensland is the state that no-ones like run by an idiot that no-one likes

Hey now, no need for that. But in our defense, have you seen the alternitive?

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by WellsieTRD

Hey now, no need for that. But in our defense, have you seen the alternitive?

true, that's the only way that fuckface beatie can stay in.

[WellsieTRD]

Very true. Anyways, the hilux would want to sell strongly as most of its sales go to local governments, councils etc. Toyota have shot themselves in the foot with the new v8 diesel because governments and councils will not buy v8's which playes into the hands of Nissan who still offer six cyl patrols.

[watto]

Originally Posted by WellsieTRD

Very true. Anyways, the hilux would want to sell strongly as most of its sales go to local governments, councils etc. Toyota have shot themselves in the foot with the new v8 diesel because governments and councils will not buy v8's which playes into the hands of Nissan who still offer six cyl patrols.

V8 diesel? Who's got that?

[WellsieTRD]

The 70series Landcruiser Utes have a 4.5l Turbo Diesel now

[Devon]

Originally Posted by WellsieTRD

The 70series Landcruiser Utes have a 4.5l Turbo Diesel now

Governments don't generally buy the Landcruiser traybacks though, they usually go for the dual cab Hilux. But I agree the V8 is unnecessary.

And to all those Qld bashers, Qld is the best state in Australia...but then I may be biased .

No I'm not from the N.T. as some may have believed.

[watto]

Originally Posted by Devon

Governments don't generally buy the Landcruiser traybacks though, they usually go for the dual cab Hilux. But I agree the V8 is unnecessary.

Bah! 151kW/430Nm(Cruiser) vs 114kW/360Nm (Patrol). 11.5l/100km (Cruiser), ~12.5l/100km (Patrol). 180L tank (Cruiser), 175L tank (Patrol).

The V8 LandCruiser makes sense to me.

[WellsieTRD]

Originally Posted by Devon

Governments don't generally buy the Landcruiser traybacks though, they usually go for the dual cab Hilux.

Qld Rail, Energex, The SES, Brisbane City Council, Pine Rivers Shire Council do. I can understand a new engine for the cruiser cause there was no way the 1HD-FTV was gonna be able to comply with Euro4 emissions regs, but why a V8? a V6 or I6 with those sort of power and torque figures would have made sense and leave the big banger V8 for the 200 serise cruiser wagons.

Which is why Hilux needs to sell strongly to make up for that loss in buisness. I doubt VE ute will have much of an impact on the figures because without the one tonner and even crewman varients, theres really not much in the way of proper work utes with decient load carrying capacity.

[Spectre]

I think they're going to be selling that diesel here in the US shortly - makes sense to standardize on one engine - and you have to remember that the US version of the Land Cruiser can weigh as much as a ton more than the stripped variants you get there.

Also, you may be getting Tundra variants to fill that gap there. They're spinning up the Tundra factory in San Antonio, Texas for world sales.

[WellsieTRD]

Would I be right in assuming that the Tundra is around the same size as an F150/250 or Dodge Ram? If so, we probably have no real need for it, judging by how many F trucks Ford shifts down here

[Spectre]

Yes, but your "trayback" Land Cruisers aren't significantly smaller than a shortbed crewcab Tundra.

F-150s sell well in the US because they're stupid cheap and they generally get the job done, not because they're particularly reliable in the long term, or even particularly well screwed together. Elsewhere... not so much.

[0497]

Originally Posted by WellsieTRD

Would I be right in assuming that the Tundra is around the same size as an F150/250 or Dodge Ram? If so, we probably have no real need for it, judging by how many F trucks Ford shifts down here

Ford Australia only ever offerred the F-Series in Super Duty (F-250) form - not the regular model that was smaller. It was only a niche vehicle with the Ford Ranger/Courier and Falcon Ute as its staple. [http://www.*****************/car-review/2063109.aspx]

Toyota could certainly do the same, import the Tundra 5.7L as a niche. Maybe slap a TRD badge on it. It'll look great on a dealer showroom. Though lack of RHD and diesel models might be a problem.