Cars that aren't really made, but are made, but aren't, really. But are.

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1X83Z

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I was looking through one of the consumer magazines the other day and noticed that Toyota offers six trims of the Highlander, including two four-cylinder trims. As an avid follower of Highlander, I can say that I've never in my life seen a four-cylinder - it's displayed very prominently on the rear, and all I've ever seen is "V6."

Nissan does the same thing with the Altima - nobody's ever seen or heard of the Nissan Altima 2.5 - such a thing doesn't exist, it's all 2.5S and 2.5SL and 3.5SE.

In both cases, the non-existent base model starts at more than $2000 less than the next model - could it actually be that the manufacturers of these vehicles are claiming trim levels to exist - when they don't - just to be able to advertise a cheaper base price?

Brilliant, methinks, if it's true. 👍
 
Could be - often it's a stripped out base model that's pretty well only available to fleet (i.e. Govt) buyers.

An Australian example - the TR series Mitsubishi Magna (think slightly wider Galant) in 1991. The base model was available with fuel injection as a delete option (i.e. you have to specify that you don't want it), but you could only delete it if you were a very large fleet buyer. Why you'd buy a fleet of carburettored Magnas is beyond me, but given the parlous financial condition of a number of Australian states in 1991 I guess penny pinching was pretty popular at the time.

Friends of ours had bought one of these asthmatic beasts second hand. Nothing like cranking the engine over and over on a cold morning to remind you of the benefits of EFI!
 
I've seen several 2.5 Altimas. Donno why anyone would buy one though...
 
It could be export versions for 3rd world country markets, especially the 4-cylinder Highlander. Since people make less money and gas is more expensive in many 3rd world countries, some cars are sold there with smaller engines...
 
Originally posted by MazKid
I've seen several 2.5 Altimas.
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No you haven't.

2.5S and 2.5SL don't count, they're actually produced. I think what vat_man says has lots of truth, but neither than Altima or Highlander are popular in fleets; Accord and Camry are fleet favourites here and they're well-represented in all trims with all engines...

On the lines of the vat_man comment - Ford cancelled the Escort in something like 1997 in the US but carried it through 2001 for sale to fleets and rental car companies only. Useless, yes, but vaguely interesting.
It could be export versions for 3rd world country markets, especially the 4-cylinder Highlander. Since people make less money and gas is more expensive in many 3rd world countries, some cars are sold there with smaller engines...
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Both cars are North America-only.
 
i think huyndai racer is right ,but if you say is only to u.s in that case vat could be right too.

may could be a special model to canada or something like that ?
 
Originally posted by f50

may could be a special model to canada or something like that ?
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Nope, I'm checking US price lists here.

On the topic, I've got another interesting thing to ramble on about:

The 2003 Mercury Sable LS Premium, which starts at $23000, has a power sunroof as a $995 option. However, the option is no charge for residents of California, Hawaii, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington DC - what kind of logic is in use there?
 
This happens all the time.

A good example is a car close to my heart, the M3. Here's a car that stickers for $47,000, but no one ever leaves the dealership for less than $50,000 because leather and sunroof is OPTIONAL. A typically optioned M3 SMG Coupe is about $55,000.

I didn't think a "base" M3 with cloth seats and no moonroof even existed unit I saw a picture of one on autotrader... rotting in a dealer's lot because no one wants a $50k BMW without leather seats.


///M-Spec
 
Ahhhh....Evil marketing tactics. For newer popular cars such as the Mini S, there's also dealer markup, just so they can make even more money off people who just <u>have</u> to have the newest and greaest car. Usually, prices you see quoted in car mags or internet are the MSRP, manufacturer's <i>suggested</i> retail price.
 
Originally posted by ///M-Spec

I didn't think a "base" M3 with cloth seats and no moonroof even existed unit I saw a picture of one on autotrader... rotting in a dealer's lot because no one wants a $50k BMW without leather seats.
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Yeah, I knew of the base M3 thing, but in this case there's actually a reason - as you say, no-one wants a $50k BMW without leather. I think somebody (many people, even) might want a Highlander for under $24k - Toyota just doesn't want to sell them (unlike BMW's M3, Toyota doesn't make huge margins off each unit sold, and it'd be even less with the smaller engine).
 

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