2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 from North America - Off Topic Comments

I always picked out classics that had plentiful aftermarket support and high demand such as a 1955-57 Chevrolet. I have never lost money on the "right" cars.

I have a friend in a similar circumstance that bought a Desoto 4 door, but it's a nice car nonetheless.

My best ones have been convertibles and highly sought after models, not the orphans. I now live in Delaware; look at the individuals paying 6 figures for a low # single digit active Delaware license tag just to put on their classic cars!

Datsun 210's going for $10,000? LOL.

How about some cites to support that statement?

Datsun 210's and other old Japanese cars going for $10,000...?

You would have to find one that hasn't rotted away first.

I'm still looking for those 10-grand Datsuns (and I won't find any, as they are all rusting in junk yards) but we can be assured that the topic of this review, the Tundra, will NEVER be a classic.

Even the current resale value on Tundra is less than on the world-class Silverado, and after 30+ years the F-150 is STILL the best selling truck ever made anywhere on the planet.

It seems that when it has become obvious that the topic of the review has been thoroughly discredited, the import fans start straying very far afield with tales of 75mpg Camrys and Datsun 210 "classics".

There are NO Japanese "classics", and no Camry gets 40mpg unless it is coasting in neutral down the side of Mount Everest.

I drive V8's and live closer to work. In my office, quite a few individuals, the ones with the lengthy commutes, do so to be further out in the suburbs/country where they can have an acre or 2 of land for the same price. Some commute an hour or more one way every day. The justification is they do not lower their living standard with their families with more ground.

My home does not cost any different, and in fact we make the same income as far as I can tell. They have a bigger home and more land and small cars. I like driving what I own and likely burn less gas. It seems logical to not live in such far outlying areas today. In the event of an even more severe gas spike, I am where there is public transportation. Everyones case is different. Living closer to work for many is not more expensive. People are reluctant to give up the American dream of owning a home and will drive further and further away to have more of a home in many cases. Buying a small car is not necessary being the most thrifty overall.

I am glad I do not drive 100 plus miles round trip daily and face traffic, repairs and other headaches. I'd have my resume out the next day and move if forced to drive in congested traffic where I reside. It's not pretty to commute here.

Right after I posted the last comment (about the imaginary "classic" Datsuns), I read USA Today and they had a listing of the biggest losers in resale value in SUV's. The figures were for 3-year-old large SUV's (based on the years from 2004 thru 2007).

The biggest loser was the Nissan Armada (no big surprise there). It lost nearly 40% of its purchase price. The Ford Expedition, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon XL and regular Yukon ALL had higher resale values than the Toyota Sequoia (again, no big surprise).

The highest resale value was for the Chevy Suburban.

Since I have one friend who took a huge loss on a Nissan Pathfinder, and another who has tried (in vain) to sell his Murano, it appears that the real dog in resale is Nissan.

I thought I cleared the Toyota doesn't have any valuable classics last month, but I guess some didn't read those post. So here we go again.

The 1967-1970 Toyota 2000gt, which sold new for less than $7000 and now you will not be able to get one for less than $200,000.

How about the the 1960's Toyota FJ & BJ -40s (BJ were 4x4), which sold new for less than $5000, and good luck finding one for less than $20,000 that doesn't need a lot of work. One with matching numbers and in good shape will start around $60,000.

And let's not forget, not every vehicle Ford or GM has made will be come a valuable collector. Corvette can't even claim that all of them are really valuable, nor can Mustang. Face it, some cars will become more valuable and most will not. Not even Ferrari can claim that every vehicle will increase in price, the late 80's F40 was selling for $1.6 Million in the 90's, and now you can get one for less than $500,000. Actually, I would say less than 5% of all cars produced by any manufacture will ever become really valuable.

Now the 210's are a collectors car, but the 280z will more than likely become the better collector car for Nissan. Well until the new 09 GT-R hits the shores, first time the high performance line will be sold in the U.S. Of course if you can find one of the older Skyline GT-R and have it shipped here, they are a pretty good collector car.

"13th Aug 2008, 10:16.

The reasoning of comment 17:31 is flawed. If driving a V-8 a short distance makes sense, then driving a 4-cylinder a short distance makes even MORE sense. If you live close to work and drive a 4-cylinder, you still save gas and help both the economy and the environment. Also, moving closer to work simply is not an option for 90% of Americans."

But it doesn't make sense to sell your V-8 (or any existing vehicle) and buy a new 4-cylinder just to save a few bucks on gas. Buying a new car, regardless of fuel efficiency, will NEVER pay for itself on gas savings. I know a guy who was complaining that his Mercury got such "terrible" mileage at "only" 27 mpg so he traded it on a new Toyota that gets 32 mpg. So for an extra 5 mpg he dumped a perfectly good car and paid $25,000. Where's the sense? He will never make up that money on gas savings. If you live 10 miles from work, it makes even less sense to dump your existing V-8 or SUV for any more fuel efficient car. By all means, go ahead and buy something more fuel efficient next time you need a car anyway.

I love our GM black SUV, especially the comfort, ride and great warranty as well. I would buy another in a "heartbeat".

My wifes first new domestic since college and she and the kids love it.

11:51 "now the 210's are collector cars"

Please provide proof to support that statement or admit that it is just your own opinion, thank you. And do not try to say that because the Toyota 2000 GT (a very expensive car that hardly anybody ever saw even when it was new because so few were ever imported) is now a collectible car, a run of the mill econobox from the same country is now also collectible. Nobody is going to buy that argument.

To comment 15:56: Nothing was said about "selling your old car and buying a smaller one". The point being made was that smaller cars get better mileage REGARDLESS of how far they're driven.

It does NOT make any sense to basically give away a perfectly good vehicle because of "mileage panic". My wife drives a GMC Envoy that gets 24 mpg on the highway. It's fast, comfortable, trouble-free and like new. She plans to drive it another 150,000 miles before getting another car, BUT when she does, it will be a smaller, more fuel-efficient one. I own a new Mustang, but it sits in the garage a lot because I drive a 4-cylinder compact to save on gas.

11:51 has to be the most flawed comments I have ever read. Indicating maybe a couple Toyota collectible models in a narrow 3 year window, Did you buy and save yours?

There are thousands of collectible domestics that individuals have bought. I have bought (and sold) many that cost between 3K and $4500 new commanding 6 figures now. If they now dropped 15-20K it's a hardship that you have to live with. But the indication is they are going back up. Documented cars and ones with racing heritage are bringing the big bucks.

I think you are comparing new cars and appreciation in the future. That's so subjective. I personally like the new Challenger but would not buy the first year out as it is an automatic.

You have a tough argument for those that bought Boss Mustangs, Camaro Z28's, Challenger RT's for openers and my friend that bought a AAR Cuda that needed a trans for $500 in the early 80's. Look up the value of his abysmal investment in 2008. I'd love to be complaining that I sold other examples in 2008 for $800K instead of a million that cost me under 10K to buy at the time by the way.

How many collectible Toyotas are you sitting on that were commonplace? I wish I bought more late 60's early 70's domestics during the 80's; what an investment they have been! And you get to drive and enjoy them instead of boring rides.

A Caddy Northstar V-8 getting better mileage than a 4 cylinder car. If you get out and push it around, or maybe if you idle it consistently downhill for a tankful of gas; otherwise, forget it. Not even in the ballpark.

In 2008, and with the price of gasoline, putting a V-8 in ANY car is just plain stupid. There should be a government regulation on these kind of asinine cars.

And as far as the domestic, foreign debate continues to rage on here, the answer is even more obvious. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have ALWAYS made better cars than any domestic. If you choose to say otherwise, or refuse to admit that, you're only kidding yourself.

Why do I keep hearing about some miracle Ford Ranger in a magazine with 400-some thousand miles on it? WHO CARES? Do you people know how many old Civics and Tercels are running around with that many or more miles on them? Apparently not. While 300,000 plus miles may be a major accomplishment for Ford, it's routine for a Honda or Toyota engine that's received just basic maintenance.

Oh so we should let the government who likes to run our lives tell us even more so by what kind of car we can drive.

I love when people say these Hondas and Toyotas run this many miles and domestics cannot. I see way more old domestics, (especially the work trucks around), than any import.

Yes, I am also one of these "lucky" domestic owners as you would consider me. I had a 1991 Ford F-150 that I beat on with 260k. Same engine and tranny.

Toyotas and Hondas with 300,000+ miles are far more rare than domestics with that many miles. Just look at all the companies that use domestic trucks and keep them for a decade or more. I work with contractors who have full-size Ford and Chevy trucks that date back to 1987 and are still in use. Please cite real information, not just a biased opinion. We've asked repeatedly for hard data and gotten nothing but opinion. That doesn't make an argument.