2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 from North America - All Comments

With regard to comment 11:55, some further comparisons between the Tundra and F-150 might be in order:

1. Sales: The F-150 outsells the Tundra more than 7 to 1.

It has been the world's best selling vehicle for 30 YEARS.

2. Engine reliability: The Tundra engines have proven to possess numerous serious problems (sludging, uneven combustion temperatures, etc). The F-150 uses the same solid and reliable engines that have powered our company trucks to 250,000 miles without ANY problems.

3. Frame, brake, steering and suspension: Although Tundra copied some of Ford's excellent frame design in the new Tundra, it still falls far short of the rugged reliability of the F-150. The newer Tundra has made great improvements over the tinny, flimsy first generation disasters, but are still prone to premature brake, steering and suspension issues.

The tried and prove F-150 has none of these issues.

4. Warranty: Except for the Smart, Japanese companies offer the WORST warranties in the automotive business.

The reason? See points 2 and 3 above. It would cost Toyota a small fortune to match the domestic warranties of Ford, GM or Chrysler because they would lose too much in repair bills. Any time a car maker refuses to match competitor's warranties, it is for one reason, and one reason ONLY. They can't afford the cost of the additional repairs a longer warranty would entail.

More torque and horsepower don't mean a great deal if the truck is in the shop for repairs weekly after a few thousand miles. And if power is the issue, buy a Dodge Ram SRT-10. It has way more than any other pickup.

11:55 Thanks for the specs. These Ford fans are pretty funny. Toyota trucks are rated higher in reliability and quality; always have been. Not to mention the Tundra's capability of hauling and towing more than the F-150. And most importantly, not breaking down like Fords are known to do.

I often wonder why these Ford guys can't or don't accept that Toyota makes a better truck. I guess if they like them, that's what they'll buy. Common sense would dictate buying the higher quality, more powerful Tundra: better truck, better resale value, less breakdowns (which IS documented), and all of that from a company that isn't in financial ruin. Oh well. It takes all kinds I guess. I'll continue to reap the obvious benefits of driving a Toyota.

21:21 Great, now it's my turn to compare my new GM Silverado. Better load, people carrying, towing, ride, lower cost to own over 5 years on Edmunds, far better warranty and better handling. The handling I have found to be far better and the comfort is what sold me compared to the Tundra. I prefer the V8 engine and mileage is good as well.

I like Ford as well, and it seems you forget about the F-250. It's a great truck especially diesel as is the GM Duramax. They are higher priced but if you can afford them, have a family and tow, they are great.

21:21 so do you own a Tundra? That was the comparison, not a Camry or a Tacoma.

04:48 No, I don't own a Tundra. It doesn't take owning one to know that it's the better truck. Obviously, if I were in the market for a truck that size, that's what I'd buy because nobody else makes one nearly as good.

As far as my truck ownership goes, I've owned Ford's, Dodge's, and when I finally wised up, a couple of Toyota's; after which I realized my earlier mistakes in buying any other kind.

The Tacoma with the V-6 had just about the same towing capacity as the Dakota, and got literally almost twice the gas mileage.

I never towed with the Ford because I couldn't trust it to get down the road all by itself without breaking down once a week. They all saw off-road use, and anyone who has any off road experience at all, and has driven Toyota's versus anything else knows that Toyota's off road capabilities are the best; nothing else is even close.

So if I do buy a full size truck, common sense and research would dictate buying a Tundra.

"No, I don't own a Tundra. It doesn't take owning one to know that it's the better truck"

Gee, how logical. I don't own one, haven't driven one, and yet I can say that it's "The better truck". Typical of people who rely on Toyota ads for their vast field of automotive knowledge.

Buying a small Tacoma most likely indicates that the individual has no need for a full size truck. Or better yet why buy a full size truck unless you have the application for one.

Toyota Tundra is extremely limited as far as model line up and 1/2 ton. It's best to define applications and utility before locking into a limited offering. If I were mostly driving by myself and had small loads to carry and tow, the Tundra would be a candidate if the handling were equal to our domestic.

Other than that having no import available that accommodates our applications, it is not the best new truck to buy. Maybe the Tundra sales figures bear this out as well.

Comparing a small Tacoma V6 in the large truck category is disregarding the utility and function that prompts individuals to buy new larger trucks. If you are staying with a small truck forever, it seems of limited benefit to us that buy vehicles relating specifically to this review.

16:22 Again, your leap of "logic" makes no sense. I didn't say I haven't driven a Tundra; I have. I said I didn't own one. And my knowledge of the FACT that Toyota makes better vehicles comes through 15 years of Toyota ownership, after making the switch from crappy, wallet-emptying domestics that break down, get poor gas mileage, poor resale value, and poor performance in general. I remedied ALL of that by buying Toyota's.

21:54 Incorrect. Any Toyota IS the best new truck you can buy. If you're buying anything else instead of a Toyota of the same size, you've made a mistake.

I understand that Toyota (wisely) doesn't offer something equivalent in towing capacity to an F-250 or larger, but if you're buying an F-150, or anything else the size of the Tundra, you screwed up.

The Toyota has the better engine, drivetrain...well, EVERYthing about it is superior.

Logic dictates that if one owns a specific category of vehicle and consistently replaces such vehicle, they gather first hand ownership experience.

Again, all your Toyota comments are opinion and since you have not throughly tested and/or owned late models in a different (not entry level category) I cannot see how you can condemn any entire mfr.

I have seen good and bad within even a few years both domestic and import. I am not an unequivocal authority until I have driven specific makes and model years.

I tested the Tundra twice lately and did not buy. It is not the best choice and that's an opinion exactly as yours.

The opinion has value as it's your own, but not everyone is agreeing. You have to determine your needs and budget and make extensive test drives. I do not walk into any dealership without comparing anymore. However I draw the line not condemning every single Toyota model as I have not driven them extensively, lived with them on a daily basis just as you have with your Tacoma ownership.

21:54 is very accurate. You can't begin to assess the usefulness of a 2008 Tundra based on a 1988 Tacoma. In truth Toyota is currently selling far fewer Tundras than they were a year ago not only because of the economy, but because they simply can't compete with the Silverado, F-150 and Ram. The sales of the Tundra has dropped by a much larger percentage than the F-150 in the past 6 months. This is mainly because they simply are not as competitive in business applications as real trucks are.

Also, comparing a 1988 Tacoma to ANY new vehicle makes very little sense. ALL of the Toyota line has been hit by what automotive magazines are referring to as a "lapse in quality". The new Tacoma is not all that reliable either. Just check some of the new Tacoma reviews.

To all the domestic owners posting here: refer back to the headline of the review; "Great truck, no more GM". The reviewer's last post was in July. The truck is six years old, is the best truck he has owned, and is flawless. Not surprised at all. This is the experience that ACTUAL Toyota owners usually relay. It only comes as a surprise after you switch to Toyota from Ford, GM, or Dodge.

The first Toyota is a surprise when you realize that you can drive them for years without fixing ANYthing, like you have to with a domestic. Same experience I had, and everybody I ever knew that ACTUALLY owned a Toyota.

I've said this before, but difference in design and build quality is plain to see on the road, but it's painfully obvious off road. Always got a laugh out of some guy showing up with an S-10, Dakota, or Ranger (or any full size domestic) trying to follow us Toyota owners around in the quarry we off road in. If they tried to go where we went (we're talking stock trucks here) it never took long before they were hung up on the frame (S-10's especially, the frame hangs down well below the body; useless off road), or they broke something in the suspension, stalled out in a 3' deep puddle, transmission went out... etc. Just like today, the Toyota's went right through it all and the rest got stuck or more often, broke down. Other than Jeeps, and they only survived because of the short wheel base. Now Toyota has embarrassed the 'big' 3 with the Tundra in the full size truck market.

Refer to comment 14:55. It pretty much says all that is necessary in this debate. Comparing a 20-year-old Tacoma to ANY current vehicle is pointless.

"Now Toyota has embarrassed the 'big' 3 with the Tundra in the full size truck market"

Gosh, maybe they'll "embarrass" the big three back into a high-profit situation. With "competition" like the Tundra, that is a very real possibility!!

21:46 I would not consider the Tundra as a highly successful launch vehicle, and should have stayed in the small truck segment only.

The recent annual sales less than 200,000 is embarrassing to whom? There are far superior choices and the full size truck segment is very savvy... it's not just like a small car to get A to B. If the vehicle is the truck of your dreams, why not buy a new one rather than drive an old small Tacoma truck? It seems like your time could focus on trucks you own in the same class vs. Rangers and the like.

Full size truck owners have utility and function aspects that prompt their buying decisions as well as great service, warranty, features and performance. I certainly hope others throughly test drive all and make the best personal decision that meets all their applications, and add each up accordingly. Then buy.