2007 Toyota Tundra from North America - Off Topic Comments

If comments are purely subjective and based on a commenter's opinion only, they have little value on this site. Unless an import fan can offer some evidence that anyone "smart enough to buy a Toyota would never buy anything else" is not very helpful to the import image in this country. It also doesn't explain the large number of Toyota Camry owners who say they will NEVER buy another Toyota, or the number of them who have traded their unreliable Camry's for Fusions or their unreliable Tundras for F-150's or Silverados (or GMC's). Please LOOK AT THE CAMRY AND TUNDRA REVIEWS before making such statements.

You know I find it funny, that in every Toyota review that there is a number of Domestic faithful that always want to bring up the few Sludge problems and very few with transmissions problems. They feel that Toyota should be strung up for this and they would never own one because of these problems. Yet, in the next breathe they will tell you they will only drive domestics because they don't have these problems.

Dodge 2.7 engines, have one of the worse design flaws that has caused extreme engine sludge. Most of these engines don't make it past 40k miles before blowing. Faithfuls and Dodge's response..."The people didn't take care of the regular maintenance." Doesn't matter that it has happened to just about everyone of them. (evidently no one does oil changes on their Dodge) Worst yet, this engine is still being used and Dodge still has not done anything to fix the problem.

GM/Chevy engine cooling systems. How many people have suffered from the Dexcool that is used. Clogged cooling systems and rotted seals before 60k. Faithful and GM's response "You should have flushed the system and replaced all the seals at 40k" Even though they say it doesn't need to have anything done to it before 100k. You guessed it still in use today.

GM/Chevy Transmissions Honestly I don't even know where to start. There is the faulty 3/4 bearing design on the 700R4 which causing loss of 3rd and 4th gears, still in use and still no recall. How about the 4t60 and 4t65 that GM has admitted (after lawsuits) is built in poor work conditions and may contain debris which could cause transmission failure, but if it happens after warranty you are S.O.L. Never recalled, but hey there is a number of service bulletins put out.

As far as Ford goes, you don't need to look any farther than than the reviews about their Contour, Taurus, Windstar and the Expedition and their numerous problems. Sorry I don't work on Fords so I can't give more details.

I am not saying that everything Toyota makes is perfect or that the domestics don't make any good vehicles. I am just saying you have a better chance of getting a problem free Toyota than a domestic.

If you really want to know which cars and trucks to avoid don't believe everything you read online or sales numbers. Your best bet is to look at which vehicles are being traded in the most and clogging up used section of the dealerships. There is a reason everyone is unloading it after 2 years.

Checking the Dealerships around Knoxville Tn. (online) I can't find one used Tundra at any dealership other than Toyota. There is 2 used Tacomas (2001 and 2004) between all the domestic dealerships. Checking just one Toyota dealership, they have a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500, 2005 Ford 150, 2006 Ford F-250, 2004 Ford Ranger, 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, 2006 Chevy Colorado, and 2006 GMC 1500 Sierra. So as far as everyone dumping their Tundras and Toyotas to buy domestic as someone stated. Well it just doesn't seem to be that way here.

As far as the Tundra goes, my 2003 Limited with 128k miles has had no problems.

Any Toyota, the worst one ever built even, is many rungs up the ladder from a Ford or Chevy. I've owned them all. If someone told me they'd buy me a Ford truck, pay for it, and just let me drive it for free, I'd turn them down. I'd literally make the payments on my Toyota and still drive it instead of a free Ford. And Chevy trucks are even worse.

If mechanical is the direction that this is going, have an equivalent warranty standard 100,000 miles on Toyota. No since letting the manufacturer off the hook... match it in writing.

Has anyone commenting on here taken a Tundra and a new Silverado on a back winding road and compared the handling, room and comfort? Took me a few miles and I came back and bought GM.

I haven't spent a dime on repairs other than expected basic filter changes, fluids tires and brakes as well.

Again and again we get caught up in car conversations on a full size truck review. Even if it's a car comparison, drivability and handling come before settling with driving boring basic bland appliances I'm sorry to say.

I hit the car shows and the dealerships, and continue to test them thoroughly every 2-3 years. And buy not dream. That's a difference, and I do not live in the past.

Guess I enjoy driving too much to lower my expectations that a car is just a car to drive from point A to point B. More important, it doesn't break than to enjoy driving?

I'll take durability and drivability; both present with new domestic full size trucks.

17:59 sums it up the hype is unreal. You would turn down a new 3/4 ton domestic pickup truck for free to make payments on an new smaller import.

I have had numerous company vehicles, and rest assured import/domestic I could care less. That's OK as it beats having a mortgage with new paid for vehicles I have had, and just pay taxes on personal use.

I cannot imagine why someone would want a Tundra when they can own a far superior domestic diesel 3/4 ton domestic pickup.

A Tundra cannot tow my boat (low tow ratings) or have the load capacity, room or warranty.

The domestic Tahoe hybrid is 2008 Green Vehicle of the year, matching Camry's city mpg, and the new Silverado hybrid is also a great example of the latest domestic technology advancements.

I can read about 1980 GM models someone once owned or old Toyota 10 year plus models, but what is the point reiterating 10-20 year old archaic technology? If you own a 2007-08 full size truck, you have my attention however.

22:04 The point is valid; and the point is, the engine in a 20 year old Toyota is a better engine than anything the Big 3 (what a joke) have yet to come up with. A 20 year old 22RE engine in a 1988 Toyota truck is a more efficient, higher quality engine than anything in a brand spanking new Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or anything else for that matter other than Honda. If the Big 3 expect to be taken seriously, they need to take some cues from Toyota and Honda, and for the first time ever put some serious time and effort into designing good engines and drivetrains.

Yes, you might get lucky enough to get a Ford truck to go to 250,000 miles. Doubtful, but let's say it happens. The same size Toyota engine will go 100,000 more than that, getting 10 or 15 miles per gallon better than the Ford the whole time.

It's a matter of design and efficiency. Rev an old Ford up to 4 grand. Do the same with an old Toyota with the same size engine. The Ford will sound like it's ready to blow up at any second and the Toyota will sound like a tightly built, proper engine.

As far as the rest of the truck, Toyota wins hands down. Anybody who has a good amount of offroad experience knows for a fact that a Toyota will hold together when anything else falls apart years sooner under the same treatment.

To 22:04:

Show me a 20 year old Toy engine, or even just a modern toy engine, that can match the performance and economy of a LS3 or LS7. GM has many more advanced engines. If you really think that those engines they put in Cadillacs these days couldn't hold a candle to 20 year old Toy engines, then I don't know what to tell you.

GM has invented more than Toy and Honda combined.

GM was making hybrids before Toyota was building the Prius. Not cars, no, but Diesel Hybrid buses.

16;06 Yes, GM and Ford were at the cutting edge 70 years ago. Not anymore; not for the last 30 years. Proof of it is that Ford turned to Toyota for help making hybrid cars. And yes, a 20 year old Toyota engine is a more efficient, longer lasting engine for it's size than anything in a Cadillac or any other 'domestic' (which now apparently means made in Mexico) car.

Toyota and Honda are responsible for most of TODAY'S technology in automobiles. The domestics have been trying to play catchup since the early 80's and are failing miserably. Granted, they are taking forward steps, but Toyota takes 3 to their every one.

GM and Ford will never catch up. Too little too late. They should have worried about making quality cars and trucks back when they were the only game in town, and maybe they wouldn't be in such sad shape now.

16:20 so your arguments are off road based, and then revving the engine as to why you buy a truck... which you could even buy a 4x4 SUV, a Jeep or a very little 4 wheeler on a trailer to ride in the woods; even a dirt bike.

I bought a new truck for 100% function first... to fully utilize its 8 foot 3/4 ton capacity bed, not a light bouncy 1/2 ton bed... also to tow a large heavy boat up a slick ramp, and drive to and from the shore in heavy traffic with plenty of interior room for a family.

Maybe some families ride in the woods all day and go to dealerships with that pursuit in mind... I see the long bed, hitch, frame strength otherwise I see buying a car to use. And actually I own both.

You need to weigh every component on a truck, not focus entirely on a motor alone, although the new domestic motor and warranty is superior as long as that topic is brought up. Especially the diesels!

16:20 poses any interesting comment. Trucks experience an even harder life than cars. If you carry loads and tow with a goal of 250,000-300,000 miles in mind what will the actual mechanical repairs as well as frame rot and paint rustissues cost to get there on a new 2008 full size truck? In the 60's detergent oils came out and have progressively improved ever since which can be attributed to longer engine life. The metal parts are less likely to grind internally. 100-150,000 miles is not uncommon whatsoever today its expected and 200,000 is not uncommon. I have a friend with an older Silverado the majority of his usage is large weekly commutes on interstates with 220,000 miles same drivetrain. I just bought yet another GM a G20 high top conversion van also with the 350V8 and have already communicated with other individuals with equivalent mileage durability with my latest vehicle type. These vehicles typically have an easy life unless towing large trailers. Mine has been from Delaware to Florida and back many times. My import experience however meaning (new cars I owned) with smaller higher revving engines cannot tolerate any mistep of maintenance especially stretching oil changes. Over 100,000 miles a lot of very expensive maintenance comes out timing belts, water pumps, front end and suspension components, a/c.electrical issues while the vehicle. If you add up all the repair parts on imports to attain high mileage it might not be worth it in my opinion. If you want an import maybe a Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi with a 10 year drivetrain warranty even Chrysker announced a lifetime limited power train warranty. And keep them a long time. If Toyota are so outstanding I do not understand why anyone owning one shrugs off the lesser warranty saying they do need one. Why not? I believe in not advertising less than the competition. The consumers pay or trade in and buy another to keep sales up in my opinion. The import hype is strong when something fails buy another which I actually have done, but no more. I am not letting the manufacturer off the hook. There are some great used car buys on second or third vehicles due to the depressed economy and gas but I will always have a new full size truck with a warranty in place.

It seems that some owning new imports skirt this fact just as much and then pound other makes. At any rate this is a full size truck review and I wonder how many 2008 owners plan on using their truck as its intended to go 250,000-300,000 miles? At 100,000 miles my domestics is up and I will buy a newer latest technology version likely the high mpg hybrid.

16;12 Well, most of that is opinion, so I can't argue with it, but you are surely dead wrong on one point: any domestic engine, new or old, is not in the same league as a Toyota engine, new or old. Sorry.. not so. The warranty is longer, that's true. Too bad you'll actually need it with the domestic and you can just drive the Toyota and probably never worry about it.

19:12 agreeing with above domestic commenter, however that is the complete opposite of their own import comment. What's that about?

In addition, Toyotas being more American than the big 3 because of a commercial they simply watched on TV? I think the power of advertising and it's influence is clearly evident by this import commenter and the import hype attached. Sorry I do not accept hype.

Get out there behind the wheel and test drive several new import/domestic trucks with a list of expectations that will not be deviated from, and buy on your own, not from hype or from salespeople. Evaluate negative reviews to be informed, but at least get out there and test first hand and evaluate your own driving opinion. It's your money and you owe itself to you to not buy on hype.

I test drove and had a list of expectations. I fully compared first hand new many full size trucks, and now drive a new Silverado.

12:14 -- Ford did not get help from Toyota in developing its hybrids, nor did it buy Toyota parts to build them. Ford and Toyota simply cross-licensed some of their hybrid vehicle technology patents. It would be just as fair to say that Toyota uses Ford technology in their hybrids as it is to say that Ford uses Toyota technology.

8:11 Wrong. Ford engineers consulted engineers at Toyota about hybrid technology. Toyota would not need to stoop low enough to use any Ford parts or ideas.

14:20 Well, as a proud Toyota owner, I don't accept hype either. Like, 'Ford Tough'. I drive them and decide. I've owned them all. The Fords and GM's proved themselves to be junk over and over again. The 3 Toyota's have never needed a dime in repairs. End of story. Telling a story about bad Toyota's and good domestics that you've owned doesn't change things. It's the opposite in reality.