2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 from North America - All Comments

Actually, I wouldn't count on gas staying under $3 a gallon for very long. A lot of people think the current administration (who are all oil people) are getting the oil companies to lower prices in an attempt to help their party. Regardless of whether that is true or not (and I really suspect it is), look for gas to head quickly for $5 a gallon after the election, regardless of who wins. I wouldn't put that small car in moth balls just yet.

Gas is only part of the ownership. Quality is also function, capability, features and warranty.

Seems obvious that lower cost to own over 5 years, better warranty, less mechanical issues, more room, better handling, better ride, better towing, better load carrying is why I did not buy a new Tundra and bought a new full size new Silverado.

I'll test the larger import truck offerings again. Small trucks, cars and vans have no basis when test driving and buying full size trucks.

Gas prices are going down for two reasons:

1) People are using less; and (you will not hear this next one on the news)

2) America is finally talking about tapping into its own oil supplies, which is causing OPEC to do some soul searching over its prices - i.e., they know that they soon (hopefully) may not be the only game in town.

The idea that president Bush is keeping prices down is not accurate. You might recall that Bush went to OPEC earlier this year and asked them to increase production to bring down prices (something which no American president should ever have to do, because we should be producing our own oil) and they basically told him to go pound sand. So, I do not think the current administration has any pull with them.

In actuality, it would not stand to reason that OPEC would want to do anything to help Republicans, because Republicans (with the exception of John McCain, who might as well be truthful and call himself a Democrat) typically want to tap into domestic oil supplies and eliminate the need for Middle Eastern Oil. Thus, OPEC would have every reason for wanting to RAISE prices, to make Bush look bad and get the Democrats elected in November because of their opposition to drilling.

Oil from newly drilled wells won't make a dent in our oil supplies (or pose any threat to OPEC) for at least 10 years.

Secondly, the total U.S. oil reserves hold roughly 5% of the amount of oil we currently use, so no matter how much of it we tap, it will make virtually no difference at all on our oil imports. Since oil companies want to make all the money they can, they will lobby our elected representatives to block any effort to develop more energy efficient cars or alternative energy. That is precisely why the U.S. auto industry has dragged its feet about building more fuel efficient cars. The current administration, which is composed of oil company puppets, has blocked all meaningful attempts to build more efficient cars or find alternative energy sources. Drilling will do absolutely NOTHING to extend our supplies or lower prices. When greed runs the country, we all suffer.

Seems like buying "correct" domestic classic cars is the way go... if you can afford a 57 T Bird, 60's Vettes, Shelby for example averaging 16% gain a year over the past 10 years... it seems better than gold or real estate.

The credit crunch, stock market fiasco, rising gas prices, mortgage mess has affected the rise in small economy car purchases, but I hate driving them just as much as the economy that has influenced people flocking to an unsavory direction to own them. I'll drive less and enjoy owning a better vehicle, rather than feel stuck in a vehicle I thoroughly hate driving and owning.

"Oil from newly drilled wells won't make a dent in our oil supplies (or pose any threat to OPEC) for at least 10 years."

Not true. Explored areas that have been shown to contain oil can begin producing within a year if the moratorium on drilling were lifted, contrary to the liberal talking points. And, how much oil non-explored areas contain is only speculation by people hoping for a particular outcome to suit their political agenda.

I agree that we need to develop alternative sources of energy, but right now our expansive energy infrastructure is unfortunately based largely on oil. It will take quite a long time (possibly in excess of 10 years) to convert that entire infrastructure to viable alternative sources. While, this conversion process has started to a degree, I fully concur that it needs to be expanded and take place at a faster rate than it is going.

However, there is nothing wrong with tapping the US tapping its own oil supplies in an environmentally responsible manner for use in the interim while our proportional use of alternative energy expands, or to supplement alternative sources as required after they become our primary source. The more domestically produced energy supplies we have available (including oil) the more secure we are. I do not want to be at the mercy of OPEC for the 10+ years I believe it will take to fully convert to alternative sources.

The 10+ year estimate to convert to alternative sources is my own personal estimate as an electrical engineer, but I would be happy to be proven wrong if somebody has good reason (i.e., not because Nancy Pelosi says so) to feel otherwise.

The current lower gas prices has absolutely nothing to do with anything other than that OPEC raised production in May and June, which lead to overproduction and oversupply. This is also loosely tied to people driving less and going away from large SUVs and trucks. It has nothing to do with drilling new wells. Trust me - prices are artificially low right now and once the oversupply is consumed, the prices will be going right back up again.

I also agree - the current Republican stump speech about drilling in the US will have ZERO effect on oil independence or lower prices. It takes years to develop such operations, and by the time they would be fully operational, wouldn't make an impact since by then global demand will have eaten up this additional production.

The simple truth is that oil will no longer be an option if we want to live the same lifestyles that we currently have. This means cars powered by electricity, hydrogen, or whatever other non-petroleum based fuels exist.

I'm not even sure a "classic" domestic is the way to go. A nearly new (2005) custom Mustang GT sold for $300,000 on the weekend's Barrett-Jackson car auction.

The Barrett-Jackson prices are insane. Classic car collecting has unfortunately been transformed from a fun hobby into a yuppie status symbol. Like everything else in our economy, the prices of classic cars are ridiculously over inflated due to the centrally regulated easy money economic schemes of the past decade and will eventually come down - probably crashing down - as people come back down to reality. When that occurs, I will buy a classic car at the correct price.

Barrett Jackson also supplied info on 16% return on selected classics and musclecars. Better than 401K's in my case.. They had a advertising billboard 2 Fords=1 house on the auction wall.

The problem with collectible cars is that they tend to be the SAME cars over and over. I used to go to shows all the time. Fully half are either Bel-Airs, Mustangs, or Cameros. That and a lot of 70's muscle cars like Chargers, etc etc. BORING!! I happen to drive a 55' Mercury Monterey. I only paid $1,800 for it and it is a California car. Only difference is that it isn't "popular" like a 57' Chevy. But so what? What's so great about having one of 75 identical Bel Airs at a car show?

In regards to using large trucks for work, well if you look at videos and TV shows filmed in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, seems to me that farmers and workers there get along just fine and dandy using small trucks and tractors to perform their jobs. To say that you HAVE to have a full size truck to work only means that you're inflexible. The equipment that trucks haul will likely change to work with more efficient vehicles anyway. Good example: My Dad, who traded his Ford F-250 for a Tacoma, sold his 30 foot camper that he towed with the Ford, and bought a smaller, all fiberglass camper the Tacoma now pulls.

I have yet to see rows of identical cars in any car shows I have ever been in. But it is perhaps I see more than one 1955 stock Chevrolet walking quickly by... I see 17 different 1955 Chevrolet 150,210 and Belair body styles and 4 different engines, as well as different paint and trim. And that it is stock alone. I have been in first generation Camaro as well as dedicated Vette shows the largest in Wheaton Village, N.J. They are not all identical.

It's also hard to imagine owning an old 50's domestic car and having no interest in car shows. I do like restored classics of all makes and models however today and the stories behind the hard work to restore them. I just saw a Barracuda owner yesterday that is unsure whether to restore a just purchased second car in need of restoration or just pull part out the $2000 rear window to finish his first car. That's what I find interesting in collecting are each cars individual history.

I am doubtful if we will ever see a collectible Tundra model however look at the value of clean 1990-93 full size Chevrolet 454 SS Pickups as a comparison. I am also not certain what a 18 year old Tacoma will be worth very much in the future. There's more than just getting from A to B in basic transportation. Old classics are also liquid and still able to be enjoyed vs. just watching home prices and retirement investments plummet. I feel buying the right models that you are walking by at the car shows are smart investments. The appeal of Mustangs,Camaros,early Vettes,Cudas,Road Runners have never hurt me selling vs. buying models that are less collectible or orphan models.

The idea of a "collectible" Tundra really gave me a laugh!! The ones that even last 25 years (if any could manage that feat) would hardly be worth a second (or FIRST) look. No Toyota has the style or flare to become a classic. Domestics are creating "new" classics all the time, such as the retro Mustang, Camaro and Challenger. In the truck field there are numerous special edition trucks (such as the Ram SRT-10, Ford Harley-Davidson, etc., that will be classics in years to come. A well restored SRT-10 will bring a fortune in years to come. A 25 year old Tundra might bring $100 at a scrap yard.

Collectible cars are only worth money because the people who drove them in their youth want to re-live their younger years, hence they buy the car they drive to their high school prom. If you look at the majority of old car collectors, most are in their 50's-70's. So in other words, the current collectible cars are what was available and most common in their day.

But I've actually started to see a number of old Japanese car shows out here in California. Cars like Toyota Coronas, Celicas, and Corollas from the 60's and 70's are starting to become quite valuable and desirable along with others like Datun 210's, 510's, 280Z's and the infamous "Ladybird".

I'm from a younger generation who grew up with Japanese cars. Don't be surprised if you start seeing a lot of us start restoring these and having car shows full of them. Thus its entirely feasible that indeed - A Tundra or Tacoma could very easily be at a future car show near you...

All of the back and forth banter means nothing. Toyota makes better cars and trucks than Ford, Chevy, or Dodge ever has. That's the point. If you don't like it, too bad.