2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 from North America - All Comments

Toyota's sales are down as well so what's your point? Forgetting about sales volumes or politics, what specific reason do you walk in and then buy a new full size truck? I buy function and applications rather than run a talk show/stockholder meetings at a new truck dealership. It's not just a car that you jump in and turn a key. Utility, function, features, benefits, warranty and even appearance the Ford F Series is much sharper. Maybe the mechanical reliability has hurt Tundra sales or value...

At any rate it's not making a dramatic dent compared to the new domestic full sizes. Maybe you had issues in 1980 not seeing any problems whatsoever in our new trucks.

Both the high cost of fuel (which has now temporarily dropped) and major reliability issues have hurt Tundra sales. It never was any serious competition for the Big Three trucks among company owners are others looking for reliability and serious hauling capability. It is great for someone such as the reviewer, who leaves it sitting in the garage most of the time. For actual daily use a domestic truck is generally a better bet.

19:24 how does your Camry comment differ any than the best selling truck in America? Plus go to consumeraffairs.com and look at Camry issues? Toyotas sales are down the past 2 quarters and the Tundra sales were never that great to be significant as compared to the domestics. Since this is a full size truck review it is quite pertinent to compliment the highest rated domestic full size trucks on here. People are not buying a lot of Tundras vs. Ford F Series. I drove them myself and compared and did not buy a Tundra.

Ford makes junk. The F-150 is a piece of junk. I wouldn't take one for free, which might be Ford's next sales ploy.

I switched to Toyota a long time ago and never looked back.

Ford, GM, and especially Dodge are a joke. Their time is over. Obviously. Better products are available and people are buying them.

The first thing I read when I picked up my newspaper today was a big headline about Toyota losing money. When it was the Big Three losing money it was always "because they build crap". I guess someone else must be building "crap" now too?

Tundra sales are tanking, so, oddly enough, are PRIUS sales.

"Ford makes junk. The F-150 is a piece of junk"

An interesting comment about a vehicle that has been tops in sales by a huge margin for 3 DECADES.

Yes, Toyota posted an annual loss of 1.7 Billion dollars. It is the first loss in 71 years for their company. I knew that you domestic guys would jump all over that, but before you do, perhaps it helps to see just how much money GM alone has lost over the last several years. In 2007, GM posted a $39 Billion dollar loss for just the 3rd quarter. In August, 2008, GM posted a $15.5 Billion dollar loss. In November of 2008, they posted a $12 Billion dollar loss.

So in less than 2 years, GM alone has lost close to $63 Billion dollars, or approximately 17 times the amount lost by Toyota.

Once again, the story here shows what most people already know, which is that GM, Ford, and Chrysler are in deep, deep trouble, and what's more, they didn't do it by building great cars or in managing their companies appropriately. In our capitalist country, money talks. That's the cold hard facts, and even if Ford sells more full size trucks than Toyota, it obviously isn't working as they along with GM and Chrysler will likely be out of business in less than a year.

20:52 so what new vehicles are you buying at all to stimulate the economy? Based on what I am reading Toyota truck sales, both Tacoma and Tundra, are way down, as are cars. Why not buy a new one be current and we can read some new on topic full size reviews. Apparently Ford F-150's sales are doing fine as they have for the number one spot for 27 years and Tundra is down. Or is this a small old Tacoma truck comment again.

I have had several cars that I could have kept forever and knock 2009 Toyotas on here... for whatever relevance that may have. On full size truck domain Tundra is not number one... face it. I have zero usage for a small truck so that includes Tacoma, small Rangers and the like. At least I have recent ownership on full sizes... maybe I can write about my new domestic full size truck success on a new Ferrari review and have others scratching their head on relevance.

21:21 Incorrect. The domestics have all been crap for over 30 years, and have never built anything comparable to a Toyota or Honda, which is why there is a market for imports in this country in the first place.

Their subpar automobiles are also the reason the imports have had such success in the U.S. and also why the imports have had better reviews for decades.

I've said this all before, but think about it; realize the obvious truth: GM and Ford cars cost less than Toyota's and Honda's... you guys are saying that they are better than the imports also... so if they really were better and STILL cost less, do you really think that Toyota and Honda would have grown to such proportions in the U.S.? The answer is obviously NO.

The fact is, people would rather pay a few thousand more for a Toyota and get a vehicle that will cost less to run, break down MUCH less, get more miles, last longer, and sell for more on trade in because of those facts.

I know it's difficult for some of you Big 3 fans to accept, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

22:52 Toyota just sells a lot of inexpensive low end economy vehicles, and not all domestics are inexpensive. Low end in my opinion are not necessary the best to own and enjoy. Honda and Toyota are just not as exceptional anymore. How many people own Land Cruisers and Tundras anyway vs. Corollas, Civics, Camry, Accords?

Maybe you have not bought many vehicles, but we have and have seen the complete opposite of mechanically reliability decline of imports vs. newest domestics. I try to narrow my new vehicle comments within a few years, and certainly am not an expert on every single make and model of an entire manufacturers line up, and there are probably few that are. However we have owned 2-3 vehicles new every 3-4 years since the mid 70's.

If in fact all domestics are complete crap as you indicate, then the past 2 quarters posted by Toyota should have shot up dramatically displacing current domestic sales. At any rate, if you have even compared new full size trucks, the domestics are far superior. I tested them and pricing was not the main factor; mainly features, utility, practical applications and far better warranty.

I prefer the best I can buy and afford, and the Tundra was not the best when we compared. And buying or talking about Tacomas that are far to incapable, underperforming on a full size truck review has absolutely zero applications. It's way too small. We can have a 100% functional non compromised utility full size truck and carry light loads as well as individuals in comfort in a new SUV. You can also lock everything up unless the small truck has a cap with the flimsy locks.

Its interesting to wonder why Toyota vehicles should actually cost half as much if the employees want to work for $14 hour. Thats a very low wage by the way.

22:52 That is exactly why I bought a new Silverado. Better cost to own over 5 years than a Tundra (Edmunds) better reliability, better warranty and better ride, better handling, more people carrying capacity, better towing, better load carrying.

I understand people are worried about the economy, have concerns with layoffs/ job loss, high fuel pricing and just getting around inexpensively. But the Prius 180,000 or so sold the past year has to be the ugliest vehicle I have seen. It remains to be seen how $5K to 9K for replacement batteries at some point in time may affect a cost conscious young family.

I feel fortunate to have owned some truly outstanding domestics; some I kept and some appreciated to the extent of taking the money.

I have bought many new domestics and imports lately at least and feel I have to my part to stimulate the economy.

As far as full size trucks if you have driven any lately... take a new one and really put it through its paces. I found that to be the best way. I have a company car besides my new truck and have applications to own one... I like handling, smooth ride, family capability and load and towing characteristics on lengthy drives. Maybe if you just ride to a store, hardly tow or carry loads you can be satisfied with something different. If the Tundra handles better, improves the warranty and maybe the supercharged version is at least a start to be more enjoyable to own one. At least I will examine them behind the wheel before I buy.

20:35 makes an excellent point. You need to drive vehicles from different manufacturers and buy the one with the most obvious advantages, such as a decent warranty, good ride and handling and the ability to perform the tasks that you need them to perform. That's why our company fleets are all Ford, Chevy or Dodge. We have to have reliable vehicles that can do the job. You won't be seeing any Tundras with our company name on them any time soon.

"It remains to be seen how $5K to 9K for replacement batteries at some point in time may affect a cost conscious young family"

The batteries ARE very expensive, but I think it is more like $2000-$3000. However I have been told that some Toyota dealerships are charging $2000 labor to replace them, so your figures aren't too far off if you meant to include labor.

Prius sales have really tanked and have dropped 48% in the past couple of months. That's more than Ford and GM sales have dropped. Part of that may well be due to articles regarding the extremely high cost of maintenance on the Prius.

I am basing my battery comments on both the Prius and the Volt even. What happens when a young family gets hit with high replacement battery costs down the road? I think the verbage economy means more than buying the car and putting gas in. It's total cost of ownership.

I have absorbed high import repair bills to the point of bitterness... it's utterly ridiculous.

Here's another source of tracking repairs... go to a very high volume junkyard and ask what late model cars are worth repairing with durable bodies, frames and drivetrains. My friend rents a shop buys and sells late models, both former wrecks and unwanted cars, and it's a good way to see premature deaths of vehicles. I even ask at the places like Jiffy Lube what are the best engine life vehicles they see based on mileages etc.

Test drive, ask questions from numerous sources besides getting so wrapped up in politics is my opinion on the buying brand new late models. Find repair centers that work on many different new models, not just a specific dealer that either wants repairs or another new car replacement from you. I can go import or domestic and I buy. I do not keep vehicles and then act like I know what is the best current ones.... do extensive homework and test drive them all. If a car dealer buys a brand new car for me that's different, but it has not happened yet.

04:50 Well, what I do know is that whatever wages the people at Toyota are making, they're producing far, far better cars than the higher paid employees at GM or Ford. I know people (whole families in fact, fathers and sons) that work at GM, and if you heard half of what I've been told about the quality of their assembly, you'd never consider buying another one. Guess that's why they fall apart so quickly and Toyota's last for many years.