2002 Toyota Tundra Sr5 from North America - All Comments

The F-150 is garbage, as are all Fords. It ties for dead last place with any Chevy truck. Any Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, hell, even Dodge is a little better than Ford. Anyone with the common sense God gave a six year old can clearly see that if Ford made the best, or even AVERAGE quality trucks, then they would not be in the worst financial shape in their whole history. That's dumb$#@ logic to say that they must be making good trucks because their profit margin demands it. Making junk is what got them to this point, and the added pressure of losing billions is only going to make a bad company even worse. Simple, common sense.

19:59, you are in denial.

19:59 with all your logic why do more Americans buy the F-Series over 700,000 sold last year and a little over 100,000 for the Tundra? The first place vehicle car or truck sold in America. The Camry in third place. I own a new Silverado and I would personally buy the Ford F series before any Tundra. Its kinda like a Mercedes post I saw on here saying they would drive their new Mercedes and you can drive your new Lexus. I agree. Reading this is not a test drive. I gave the Tundra a very fair shot, but I also compared and examined it too many new other full sizes. If you walk only into the Toyota dealership drive it around the block and not do test drives with many other types it may not be immediately or obviously apparent what you are giving up.

Having test driven a V-8 Tundra extended cab and a Ford F-150 extended cab V-8, I'd take the Ford hands down. It was smoother, quieter in the cab, handled bumps better and had much more power. In addition, the F-150's luxurious and well-appointed interior makes the Tundras look incredibly cheap by comparison. In all fairness, the Tundra I drove was an '06. I hear the '07's have taken some cues from Ford and beefed up a little.

Toyota is just starting to find out what a pain in the ass it is to assemble trucks over here, I read some recent report on it and soon toyota will get owned by the labor union over here.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3069054

For the last time: The reason Ford and GM are in such trouble is mainly because of gas prices and pension for retired workers. Why can't you people get this? Just because you hate Ford and think that they make junk does not automatically connect that to their financial situation.

Say it with me, GAS PRICES, GAS PRICES, GAS PRICES.

Neither company was having this many problems until gas went up to three dollars a gallon. If the F-150 is such garbage, the sales numbers would keep dropping each year, not going up and breaking new records. That is just plain and simple logic. The Ford F-150 is what is saving Ford during this time. It's their mediocre cars and mini-vans that might be "junk". The F-150 is not causing them their problems, if anything, it's what's keeping them alive.

Ford managed to still set a new record with F-150 sales even after gas shot up to 3.00$ a gallon. That should really say something about the vehicle. 912,000 F-150's were sold around the world last year, are you saying that all 912,000 of those people are just stupid for buying it and you're a genius for buying a futile (original) Tundra?

Maybe the contrary is simple logic to you because you are so blinded by hatred towards Ford and GM. I'd imagine you're foaming at the mouth just thinking about them. How many times can I say it? You don't make your preference of vehicle look better by calling the alternatives garbage and constantly bashing them. I guess that's all you've got to offer. You can't explain how the Tundra is better, so you just keep calling the Ford's and Chevy's junk. Very compelling.

Oh wait a minute, that's right, the Tundra is better because the (lighter) doors and the (un-used) tailgate shut smoother than those junky Ford's. Wow.

I wonder why they do not bash the F-250? Last night I parked my new Silverado next to a new Tundra. I normally do not base an opinion on strictly a visual, but you are immediately aware of how nicer a Silverado is. Heres my opinion and immediate observation. One walk around Tundras narrow chassis and looking in at its cheap interior immediately reaffirmed my wisdom. I remembered the test drive being the main reason I walked away. I suspect the majority of the comments are people that have not owned a new Ford or GM full size the past few years and are working their memories over antiquated domestics in comparison to today. I wonder how many commmenters in fact own a 2002 or new Tundra or a 2002 or newer full size domestic to offer a comparison? If you do not own this year or newer why comment unless you are commenting on world events that we can read just as well as yourself. If you are buying a newer vehicle 2002 to the present... please be aware that there are many older Toyota owners that haven't set their foot let alone owned a new Full size Ford F-250,Silverado SS etc. Remember Gas...Gas...Gas...and pensions... and drive both and then make a comment. Theres no way you will not notice the difference. But you would have to actually test a new domestic and have the resources to afford a higher end model. Mine is loaded and I am still upgrading its engine performance so maybe I expect a lot more than just getting around.

Wrong. The reason they're in trouble is because people are buying from other, better manufacturers (Toyota, Nissan, Honda). Why do you think GM's new add says "everyone at GM is concerned with quality", and Ford's says "more trucks on the road with over 250,000 miles..."? They know they are losing more and more buyers every day to better makers. This will continue. Listen up, Ford and GM; just SAYING you're concerned about quality isn't enough. You actually have to BUILD them properly. Toyota has made quality vehicles since day one, their massive growth reflects it. The Big 3 could once afford to make them crappy because there were no other manufacturers to compete with them. Now there are better choice available, (Tundra) and people are buying them. Hence Ford and GM's well deserved and self-inflicted poor situations. Believe what you like, that's the REAL reason for their plight. Maybe if they actually do get their acts together and learn to build something properly, they might begin to lift their reputations out of the mud, but it will take awhile. There'll be no catching Toyota though.

<<For the last time: The reason Ford and GM are in such trouble is mainly because of gas prices and pension for retired workers. Why can't you people get this? Just because you hate Ford and think that they make junk does not automatically connect that to their financial situation.

Say it with me, GAS PRICES, GAS PRICES, GAS PRICES.>.

The big three were slipping in marketshare BEFORE gas prices went up. GM used to have a 50% marketshare, and Ford was very strong as well. That was over 30 years ago.

Speaking of 30 years ago, the big three went through an oil crisis before, but instead of doing what Toyota and Honda did they simply went on building gas guzzlers.

And anyone could see that making all your profits on gas guzzling SUVs was NOT a long term strategy. But the big three can never see beyong the next quarter, so just look for profits profits profits without PLANNING.

It's the classic case of the ant and the grasshopper.

The F-150 has always been a popular truck, but is NOT indicative of the auto industry as a whole. Big SUV/Truck sales are down 13% and continue their slide. This is NO surprise, and a three year old could point out the folly of betting your company on an unstable fuel source.

The ONLY thing remotely interesting the big three have done is GM's Chevy Volt. If this comes to fruition (with its combined 150 mpg) GM will once again be on top. But the other two still aren't learning the lessons, with Ford showing a concept car of the gas guzzling Ford Interceptor and Chrysler launching its failure Aspen, another gas guzzling SUV no one wants.

"Toyota has made quality vehicles since day one, their massive growth reflects it. "

This is hardly the case. When the first Toyotas, Hondas, and Datsuns hit the shores of California in the mid and late 1970's, they were hardly top-flight. They carved their niche in the marketplace based on low price and higher gas mileage, but they were not known as especially reliable cars. Nor were they known as comfortable, stylish, or powerful. To their credit, they did innovate and work to increase their reliability in a serious way to bolster their reputation. They have worked their way up from the bottom.

Toyota may easily be overtaken down the road if they don't correct their engine problems. The new Camry's are having engine problems like crazy not to mention all of these air-bag, sticking gas petal, and transmission problems that are currently becoming more common. Remember, they are humans and as they grow, they will become more like the big-three with their arrogant corporate corruption. That's why they are having to slow down their growth to stabilize their "quality". Sounds to me like they can't handle the high demand any better than the other companies. Let the Tundra start selling at 700,000+ U.S. in one year and see if everyone of them are made with quality.

Well, as a Toyota owner today (and hopefully in the near and far future), we will indeed see how they handle their growth. Only by forgetting everything that got them to the top- (great material, even greater build quality, excellent, well-planned designs) could they possibly go downhill. There's no way they are going to be easily overtaken. You have that one upside down, THEY may take over some other struggling companies that are on a slow, but steady course to bankruptcy (Ford), but for there are NO signs of their going downhill in anyway yet seen. You say that the Camry is having engine problems 'like crazy'? No way. Toyota motors are rock solid. Yeah, we all know nothing is perfect, and I'm sure there might be a few bad ones somewhere in the world, but very, VERY few. Nobody, but Honda makes a 4 or 6 cylinder that is even in the same class. They are the cream of the crop. As are the rest of their cars and trucks.

18:11, all your post has shown us is denial.

Again...what if you drive this model and do not like how it rides, handles, engine performance and cheap interior? Are you supposed to buy it anyway? No one seems to ever be able to answer this other than myself. Doesn't work that way for me. I have owned many imports-domestics and they have to pass my test drive every 2-3 years or I am not buying. Again drive a new fully loaded domestic full size truck and then this. What am I missing? I know they missed a nice sale with me... I give them a bit of credit with the new Supra replacement concept for 2009-2010. If it is as nice as it looks I may return to Toyota again for my next sports car. The rest of the models have zero appeal for me... The only full size truck to buy is a Ford or GM in my opinion... no comparison...drive a 2007 and then comment. If you are riding in around in 99's or older whats the point in commenting........I liked imports til then myself but too much has changed. They dropped in quality and domestics got me back.

You stated that the new and OLD Tundra embarrassed the F-150 in every possible way!? REALLY NOW? You mean by having every single working component that made up its existance being weaker and of lesser quality? I'll give you ONE thing, the NEW Tundra can actually hold a chance against the domestic trucks, but there is one major thing they are lacking, A DIESEL. NOPE! not yet... let me ask you one thing, what parts of the ORIGINAL Tundra fully embarrassed the F-150? If you would like a breath of what the F-150 has to offer, here you go. A post from another review:

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"Tell me. Is the Tundra's little, thin frame superior to the F150's thick, fully boxed frame?

Is the Tundra's three or four thin cross-members superior to the F150's large and bulky cross-members which are welded through the sides of the frame rail? (This ensures that there is very little frame twist and flex. These trucks are solid over bumps.)

Is the Tundra's three 2.5" leaf springs superior to the F150's 3.0" wide leaf springs which can come between 3 or more amounts of springs per assembly?

Is the Tundra's skinny little front control arms superior to the F150's bulky, re-enforced control arms?

Is the Tundra's axle shafts (which are about the size of an average thumb) superior to the F150's axle shafts (which are about the size of an average wrist)?

Is the Tundra's "silky smoooooooth" engine with its aluminum components superior to the F150's cast iron engines?

Oh, but of course the Tundra rides smooooooooth. Whooooopee!

Oh, but of course the interior is soooooo pretty and luxerious. Whooooopee!

Yeah, that's what hard workers like Farmer's, construction workers, and contractors are all looking for when shopping for a truck: a smooth ride and a comfortable interior. Heaven knows they're not all looking for a heavy metal machine that can handle lots of abuse. Who needs that?

Now is the Tundra infinitely better? It sure isn't when people actually try to do work with them."

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SO, now that seeing MY post here was factual, and YOURS wasn't, would you like to for once offer factual information and parts to put the F-150 to shame? And I would like not to hear of Toyota's superior build quality that magically makes every single component stronger and better.