Considering new Tundra

[tacomasrock]

I am replacing my Tacoma with a new Tundra. I am tired of taking the wife's SUV when I need four wheel drive (she get's pissed when I bring it home dirty, too)

Any help would be appreciated. I just hope not to get screwed on my trade and I want to get the best deal. I drove a Ford, Chevy, and Toyota. The Toyota has the engine that I want, but you can pick the worst of the three and I'd be happy with it. Trucks have come a long way since I bought the Tacoma. The Silverado might be best all around, but that Tundra motor is just too sweet...and the interior looks neither cheap nor preppy (the two options in the GM trucks).

According to the EPA the 5.7 liter that I test drove gets 18mpg highway, which is the same as the 4.7L engine. I need a double cab 4x4. I drove a TRD package Tundra with the big engine in white. The engine was stupid fast. I loved it. It rode pretty good despite the off road package, and the sticker was a resonable $35K. I can easily make due with the 4.7L, but not if it gets the same gas mileage as the 5.7L.

My question to you:

This late in the year, what kind of deal would I get on a SR5 double cab 4x4 with the 5.7L? The one that I want stickers for $35K.

What kind of "real world" fuel economy can I expect from that monster? The Chevrolet gets better mileage with the 5.3L, which I drove and found to be plenty powerful enough. My commute is typically 75mph highway with the A/C. I also drive in 30 mph stop and go traffic in the suburbs.

Is the extended warranty worth it on the toyota? GM has a better warranty, and Toyota has 401 lb-ft of torque thorugh that transmission, which makes me nervous about longevity of that six speed. I still feel like I'd be stupid to not get the 5.7L over the smaller engine....I like it that much.

Thanks a million in advance for your responses.

[TacomaTN]

I just got a DC 5.7 and love it1 It hauls A$$ break-in milage has been around 16 with a heavy foot. I was looking at the Taco but the 1.9 for 60 and more off the sticker I came out ok with the Tundra. Now I just picked up an Airstream and want to go "camping". Taco wouldn't pull it. I wasn't even looking at the other trucks I wanted the Tundra. I say get the 5.7 and then if you need to pull something you have the power to do it.

[jocoyn]

I have been looking at both the Tundra and the Silverado and hope to have a Tundra in my driveway in the next 2 weeks.

My understanding is that the Silverado is not getting anywhere near the 20mpg that is EPA (the theory was that you would go to 4 cylinders while highway cruising) ... I have been reading all over that 19-20 is realistic real world hwy mileage with the Tundra and a light foot with the 5.7 engine.

I think the basic 4WD TRD with some other stuff in that option package looks like it can be had for between 28 and 29K

From all I have studied and from people with both trucks I had it narrowed down to those two (Siverado and Tundra)

[mhadden]

Originally Posted by tacomasrock

My questions to you:

This late in the year, what kind of deal would I get on a SR5 double cab 4x4 with the 5.7L? The one that I want stickers for $35K.

If you are willing to drive, it seems as if Jim Barkley in Ashville, NC is cutting great deals. See: What did you pay?/What should I pay?

What kind of "real world" fuel economy can I expect from that monster? The Chevrolet gets better mileage with the 5.3L, which I drove and found to be plenty powerful enough. My commute is typically 75mph highway with the A/C. I also drive in 30 mph stop and go traffic in the suburbs.

See our MPG thread here. I have a 5.7 and have been posting around 15 in city driving, and 20 highway (75mph). See: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t205657.html

Is the extended warranty worth it on the toyota? GM has a better warranty, and Toyota has 401 lb-ft of torque thorugh that transmission, which makes me nervous about longevity of that six speed. I still feel like I'd be stupid to not get the 5.7L over the smaller engine....I like it that much.

Extended warranties are worth it if you can afford it. I didn't opt for it, but that's primarily because I don't keep cars much past warranty expiration. I should've bought it on this since I plan on keeping this one. If you decide to go that route, you may want to talk with Troy at Toyota of Greenfield (MA) since he has a killer deal. See: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t209851.html

[Gcastle]

Well, here is my take on the decision. I got the 5.7L 2wd DC. It has the Navi System and backup camera. Also, bluetooth and upgraded JBL system and controls on the steeering wheel. It is an SR5, I drove a 4x4 DC with the TRD package, and one without. I also drove this 2wd without the TRD package. Both had the 5.7. The 4.7 did not impress me. There was a huge differnece in the ride of the ones with the 5.7's. The 4wd TRD drove, well, like a truck. You feel every stone in the road. The 2wd SR5 truck without TRD and the Navigation comforts was right for me. It rides like a dream and is insanely fast. I think even faster and smoother than the 4wd. Good on gas too. At first I really regretted not getting 4wd. I wanted both the 4wd and the Navi. No TRD package though. The only one on the lot with that setup was a Limited DC here in the south. I needed to keep my payments within reason. So I chose the 2wd DC with Navi. I have a boat and do alot of camping. I decided to really test it and have no regrets. So, I have gone camping 4 times already, not a trail yet that the ASLD didn't get me out of. I have towed my boat out of three different ramps. This truck with 2wd walked right up them, algea and mud. It didn't even spin. I did use the ASLD again there too. It worked fine and got me out. I have no second thoughts, and I absolutely love the Navi and backup camera. Of course I live in Georgia though, so not very often will it see snow. I also have the BBS wheels and 305/50/20's Michelins that come on the X-SP trucks. They wouldn't look good with salt!! I used to live in Ohio, I know salt. I kept the payments down to where I was comfortable. Drive both with and without the TRD. 4wd and 2wd. I commute pretty far to work in Atlanta traffic. It was ride comfort, gas mileage, and the monthly payment that made my decision. So, I hope this helps.

[override]

Well, I was in the same boat as you about 3 months ago. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

Test drive everything a couple times. The first time i found i was amazed... the second time i really felt the truck, third time was probably the best, but i pretty had decided on it with the first test drive.

I got the 5.7 , CM . i have 2000 miles on it now and get 16 HWY, 14 city. 10 towing my trailer. by 5000 miles i expect it to improve a couple MPG. Long drives is very comfortable... it was an 1100 mile drive home after i picked it up.

I looked at the ford, gm, nissan too. I did not care for the interior of the GM at all, but the longevity of the GM i think was probably the best. has a good reputation for their trucks to last a long time.
I found the Ford to be good for the first 50,000 k ( 30,000 miles in your case ). then they really deteriorate.... I drove one with about 20,000 miles on it and it drove like my 7 year old expedition with 200,000 kms on it.... rough, rattled, not smooth engine and all over the road... that got me away for Ford right away.

The ford motor is a well tested motor and lasts a long time... but i found that the re-sale value the worst on the fords and that for nearly the same price new... the toyota was FAR better.

The nissan i found just OK, reasonable power and good option packages.. .but the design was old and needs an update... good premium stereo in them.. but the dealership i was at had such bad customer service I left there feeling used and dirty... i will never be back there.

The toyota was the best dealership, best truck for me and i got a deal by going south of the border ( i am in Canada ) and saved a pile of cash.

I am totally happy with it.

I could probably sell it now and make money... Try and do that with a FORD...

I got the premium JBL stereo, TRD ( I like the wheels ), sunroof, sonar. The stereo was well worth it ( also because the option is not even available in canada SR5 models ). You can add the electric rear view mirror on your own for $200 . I would have liked to get the tow mirrors, but the standard ones are plenty big... i think the tow mirrors would have been too big.

my 2 cents.

[Giff]

Haven't bought a Tundra...yet. But I did check out the new GMC, as I like it's looks and I like that I can get one in brown.

Unfortunately, I was not impressed with this truck. My brother is high on this brand and tells me GMC is better than Chevrolet (he's owned Chevy and had lots of trouble with them).

Well, this GMC didn't have anything on my Tacoma, and was nothing like I thought it would be. Rough riding, noisy ride, sluggish. Plus, you sacrifice Toyota's legendary reliability and durability, which puts the domestic brands to shame.

But, I had to check out the competition. And consequently, I'm one step closer to the truck that's "Changing it all."

[tacomasrock]

Yall are going to hate this. I am sorry in advance for dissapointing you guys.

I bought a Silverado 4x4 Extended cab Z71 last week and I love it. It has the 5.3L flex fuel engine, the LT2 package, audio package, and trailering package. I had the dealer add a Line-X bedliner.

I now don't own a Toyota product..and it's not that the Toyota is a bad truck. I loved the Tundra...especially the engine. I just happen to like the Silverado a little more and the dealership had the exact style and color that I wanted. I love the interior, the XM radio, Bose stereo, and the gauge cluster. It's light years ahead of my Tacoma trade and my wife's Trailblazer.

The only problems that I have been able to find through extensive research were customer complaints about the cloth seats collecting lent and being difficult to clean. After owning this truck for 6 days now, I can tell you that those complaints are warranted. The seats are difficult to clean, but not impossible. It's a truck afterall...it's going to get dirty. We haven't had any problems (other than two recalls) on the Trailblazer, so I expect this truck to do at least as well.

I have already put lots of miles on this truck. My first tank of gas was pretty bad...but now I have some miles on this truck (approaching 1000). If I keep it under 70 on the highway, I get 24 mpg with the V8 mode switching on only on inclines. Overall, I am getting around 21-22mpg on my fourth tank of gas with over half of that highway. If I drive over 80 mph, my mileage drops to about 19. I don't know if that would have been possible with the Hemi Dodge, overweight Ford, or 5.7L equipped Tundra.

From what I understand, my fuel mileage should go up again after the truck is used a bit more.

On my test drives, I found that the Ford rode the best, the Chevy was best overall, and the Toyota was the hot rod. I don't like Nissan and I don't trust Dodge's products enough to consider them even with the lifetime warranty. I am not sure about the Ford reliability...my positive experiences are with Toyota trucks and GM trucks. Toyota's double cab is bigger than the Chevy extended cab, but I really don't care about that. I sit up front, and I have plenty of room. I do think GM needs to consider in the future a double cab sized model (smaller than a crew, but bigger than the Ext. cab).

I'll post pics soon.

[mhadden]

Bummer.