Shoppin around for a tundra Questions.

[override]

Hey all,

I joined a few days ago in my quest to decide on which new truck i want to purchase... given the finances work out...

Anyways, i first want to thank everyone for being here and posting, if and when i get a tundra, i will be here often.

I have settled on a crewmax but am torn between the TRD or not... primarily over the stiff ride concerns. But i will go and test drive a TRD, then a non-TRD right after it so i can see if there is a significant difference.... my current truck is rougher then hell, so anything will probably be better to me.

I have a few questions for everyone...

1. Does anyone here have a Pyrite colored one they can post a pic.
2. Does anyone have a slate metalic one too ?

- I am partial to Black though... it just looks great.

3. Stock performance Exhaust option? or go for an aftermarket one... I personally think the factory tuned performance one would be the longest lasting and best on the motor.

4. I know this is a Toyota forum , but i am comparing the Tundra to similarly equiped F-150, Titan and Silverado. Has anyone else done the same comparison when doing there purchase? what were your deciding factors on going with the Tundra? No truck is perfect, i just need an honest opinion.

I currently have a 2000 Expedition that i had to replace the entire motor on this summer because someone hely coiled it before i bought it and it fried the spark plug, damaged the cylinder..... blah blah blah... dropped a new motor in. I am not particularily liking Ford right now and need to drop expedition soon ( it does run and drive great now with the new motor )

thanks.

Ryan

[mhadden]

2. Click on my sig to see pics of the Slate, that's what I have.

3. I think the stock performance (TRD) is a great exhaust, just pricey. You could go Flowmaster or the like for cheaper and sound just as good, though.

4. There are many people who have made the comparison. Look on TundraSolutions for a lot of comparisons. Be careful over there, though, some of them are A-holes. Doing your own research and drives will give you the best comparisons though

Good luck with that Expedition. My wife drives one as a company car and it blows ass. 3 coil packs were just put on it at a cost of $900+. I drove my Ford Focus (01, ZX3) for 80k miles with no problems before I got rid of it, though. I think Ford only has 2 good products F-series and the Focus. Just my opinion though.

BTW, welcome to TN

[engineer]

First, what are your priorities in a truck? Power, price, fuel economy, towing, family hauler, features, looks. . . . . .

Second, you can't go wrong with any of your choices, but your probably not going to an unbiased answer here on a Toyota Tundra forum. For some balance, go ask the same question on a GM, Ford, or Nissan forum (if you haven’t already). People here like their truck and bought it for a reason, so they are going to be a little partial.

Lastly, welcome and good luck!!

[override]

mhadden: i really like the picks, helps me see what it would really look like in real life and i like the colors, good choice. you have the same options i would have chosen too..

As for my priorities: family hauler and trailer tow. i might use the box occationally, so i am opting for the crew max over the DC. I would have to add enough options on the DC to the TRD crewmax and it would end up being close to the same price anyways.

I also am looking for something more fuel efficient... my expedition might get 14mpg if i get lucky on the highway and it is unloaded.... Can you guess my towing and city driving mileage?

Exhaust: I mostly want something long lasting and looks and sounds good mostly. i will have to do some price comparisons and installation costs compared to the factory one, but if it is only a couple hundred bucks difference , i will be going with the factory one.

I will be doing more of my own comparisons and test drives, but i think i have already eliminated the fords... after pricing one and adding the options i like that the TRD has standard it was nearly the same price.... eliminated!

Thanks for the tips.... on with the hunt for a new truck i go.

[override]

uh oh... i just saw a picture of the Salsa Red one.... That is a great color...

i don't like regular red, i like that dark shades and that salsa one really stands out.

[mhadden]

Glad I could help out a little. Yes, the Salsa Red is a beautiful color. I agree, too, that the plain red is "too red". The plain red does stick out, though (there's a guy around town I see with it). There are a couple mpg threads here, but I get 15 in the city alone, and that's hot rodding a little. I usually get 18-20 on the highway, depending on how fast I go. I can get 20 going 65-70.

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by override

I know this is a Toyota forum , but i am comparing the Tundra to similarly equiped F-150, Titan and Silverado.

Like Engineer said, what are your priorities? Right now you can get a damn good deal on a F-150 and the Titan is a decent truck also. Buy the one that feels/costs right for you. Personally I'd buy the Toyota

[override]

I drove the F-150 and i really don't like the Drive-by-wire ... you can floor the pedal and it does "NOTHING" until it thinks you are sure you want to go that fast... then it goes... that is most iritating.

I might not have been looking for that issue unless my brother-in-law pointed it out... that was the first thing i noticed on it.... the Titan is supposed to have the same design but i have not tested it yet... will be after the weekend.

I price compared a similarly equiped F-150 to the TRD crewmax and the price is really close.. the 150 needs at bunch of "options" to bring it up to snuff...

My preference is Toyota as well and it keeps getting re-enforced the deeper i look at them all...

As for the color update... the Canada brochure does not have salsa red as an option... just radiant red... and it is not as nice... oh well.

[mhadden]

ALL new vehicles have drive-by-wire now. Hippy-emission crap. Every manufacturers system is different; some have a sensitive throttle while other have a slow response. Either way, if you hate it, you'll get used to it. The Tundra has a mild to fast response, so I find myself getting on it off the line more than I should

[override]

I suppose that is the case, but the response was good on the Tundra i drove. the F-150 was really noticeable. I guess i will get used to it either way.

thanks

[TRDSucker]

Ford has a re-flash that will take care of that issue. The reason behind them setting it up with lag, is for all the pansy ass bureaucrats in the world. A superchips will take care of it also. The Tundra rides smoother, gets better mileage, and is a HELLLLLLLL of a lot more comfortable. I had a very nice FX4 for 2 years, and it was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever riden in after more than an hour of seat time. Sierra is a nice truck, I don't like the front of the Silverado, so it was'nt an option. THe Titan is nice, but I wasn't a fan of the layout of the interior, although it has a better standard engine.

All of them make nice trucks, all with their benefits and downfalls. Either of them will make a good vehicle for you. Besure to take long test drives in all of them before you buy.

[CrewMax07]

I also own a SLate Metalic..

From different angles and different lighting..

The truck can Look black, dark blue, and silver.

BTW: I shopped and compared all the trucks similar to the Tundra.
At the END of the day or Payment, you want a truck to be reliable
and at least have a company stand behind their vehicle..

So Toyota was a easy choice..

[engineer]

Originally Posted by CrewMax07

I also own a SLate Metalic..

From different angles and different lighting..

The truck can Look black, dark blue, and silver.

BTW: I shopped and compared all the trucks similar to the Tundra.
At the END of the day or Payment, you want a truck to be reliable
and at least have a company stand behind their vehicle..

So Toyota was a easy choice..

You could also make the point that GM and Dodge stand behind their products, because both have longer powertrain warranties than Toyota (5 year 100k mile for the GM's, and LIFETIME for the Dodge). They also have just as long of a "bumper to bumper" warranty as Toyota, 3 year 36k miles. To me, warranties speak louder than perception when talking about a vehicle.

I'm not here to debate "quality", but one look in the Tacoma section is all that is needed to see that Toyota does not ALWAYS stand behind their vehicle. . . . .(same can be said for GM, Ford, Dodge, Nissan, etc).

[CrewMax07]

Originally Posted by engineer

You could also make the point that GM and Dodge stand behind their products, because both have longer powertrain warranties than Toyota (5 year 100k mile for the GM's, and LIFETIME for the Dodge). They also have just as long of a "bumper to bumper" warranty as Toyota, 3 year 36k miles. To me, warranties speak louder than perception when talking about a vehicle.

I'm not here to debate "quality", but one look in the Tacoma section is all that is needed to see that Toyota does not ALWAYS stand behind their vehicle. . . . .(same can be said for GM, Ford, Dodge, Nissan, etc).

Dont fall for the Warranty bait..

Believe me. If you change your own oil, change your spark plugs, air filter.. What ever
they'll try to void your warranty or not cover under warranties.. When the time comes.

Thats why the BIG 3 are now LITTLE 3. Obviously, DODGE can't/unable to learn from
others mistakes. Ask Misubishi about their lifetime and such and such warranties.
Almost put the auto maker into bankrupcy with countless law suits.

Now do you think Chrysler will be around in the next 20 years??? If so, think billy bob
wont' nit pick until they find a loop hole not to fix your car under warranty.
Diamler/Chryler, Mercedes(Chryler owner) is seperating from Chrysler and even
trying to reimage their image and logo.

Not sure about GM/FORD/CHRYSLER service dealers. I stoped buying Domestic (now
foreign cars back in the early 90), Every one knows why... Quality sucks, to much
variations from Monday built cars to Wednesday built, friday built. and etcs.
Cheap parts and cheap materials.

NE ways.. What I mean by standing behind their vehicles.
There has been instances.. TOYOTA will fix your problem before there is a problem.
IE: TSB would say "Corolla" are having toe link issues.. Customers even before they
even had a problem.. The Dealership replaced, preemptively..

NOW try that with a GM/FORD/CHRYSLER product.. They'll pat you on the back and
tell you to tow it in when it fails.

Plus i like to buy American, so I bought a TOYOTA.
NOT CANADIAN, NOT MEXICAN

[override]

Word of mouth is also a good indicator to me... most people that i talk to really like their Toyota's and have all had other brands... but the Toyota's were the ones they all kept and are still keeping the longest... so that tells me a lot.

My first car was a corolla and i loved it... but i traded up to a 280zx and had that for 10 years and i reallly loved that car... until all the piston and valve seals went and it used 1 q of oil a week and smoked like a chain smoker... but i bet that corolla is still running fine.

most people keep coming back to a Toyota and sticking with them.

I have pretty much already made up my mind to get the Toyota... that is primarily based on the comparison sheets, pricing and options each of the bigger trucks have. Plus the word of mouth and that i really like the looks and feel of the Tundra. There are not many around town and I really hate having the same damn thing as my neighbor does, i prefer the unique. mileage is also rated better then all the other 4x4's i have compared... except the Chevs.

I am also in Canada and price difference is huge... so i am looking into importing a US model and still save over $10,000 on the same model. then i can get the color i want, which is not available on Canadian models. Then i will surely have a unique truck with the color no one else has around here.

i have decided on the Desert Sand , or the Slate metallic. The salsa red is a great color in a picture, but any Red shaded truck i see around town just does not apeal to me. the Sand colored or dark grey ones stand out for me. Black is great, but harder to maintain... it is my 3rd choice in color and i would be happy with it.

Bank says ok... so now i just have to wait to talk to a us dealership to see what they have or can get and is within driving distance for me...

If anyone is in the Montana area, or Idaho, send me a pm. that is likely where i will purchase one and drive it back from.

Out of all the brands of vehicles i have had ... the only ones i would buy again are the toyota or nissan products.... so my decision was fairly easy.... i also find the looks of the Titan boring.