# Is the Toyota Tundra good? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874 "2011-10-17T02:31:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/21 "2011-10-19T03:43:51Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Tacoma, possibly. There seems to be a big problem with frame rust on Tacomas, however. Not only did this mechanic tell me about it, but a completely random guy with a Tacoma who I struck up a conversation with also mentioned it. Roomie has a 1999 Tacoma. She loves it. It’s a four-cylinder, manual transmission Extended Cab. I told her about the rust recall a few years ago, and she didn’t have any. It seems it’s really only a problem where they salt the roads. And I recall Toyota had fairly generous recall remedies. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/22 "2011-10-19T06:44:04Z")
Do all of the first-generation Toyota Tacomas have [these](http://www.scott-industries.com/4sale/04tacoma/Index/images/Instrument%20Cluster.jpg) hideous, wretched, vile, cheap-looking white instrument binnacles? I absolutely could _not_ tolerate having to stare at those fucking things every time I drive. Is there a way to remove them and replace them with binnacles that don’t look like they came off a fucking PowerWheels? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/23 "2011-10-19T09:38:56Z")
Old Hilux: [http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-gear-killing-a-toyota\_part-1\_168169.htm](http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-gear-killing-a-toyota_part-1_168169.htm) [http://www.streetfire.net/top-gear/top-gear-season-3-episode-6-2003-killing-a-toyota-part-2-b\_742339.htm](http://www.streetfire.net/top-gear/top-gear-season-3-episode-6-2003-killing-a-toyota-part-2-b_742339.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/24 "2011-10-19T20:26:33Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > he brought that up because Top Gear did a segment some years ago where they took an old diesel HiLux and bashed the crap out of it. Well, the body, anyway. they did nothing that would have hurt the engine, then made it out like it was amazing that the thing still ran (and the ninnies who think watching Top Gear makes them automotive experts ate that shit up.) keep in mind that this vintage of diesel truck requires a single 12 volt wire to the injection pump for the motor to run. Er…didn’t they submerge it in the ocean for half a day and then put it on top of a building that was being demolished by explosives? It may have been for entertainment purposes, but it was still impressive that they could get it to turn over after all that. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/25 "2011-10-19T21:09:39Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Er…didn’t they submerge it in the ocean for half a day [Yes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk) > [@](#): > > and then put it on top of a building that was being demolished by explosives? [Yes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFnVZXQD5_k&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/26 "2011-10-19T21:29:35Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Forget the Tundra then…between the replies here, and a conversation I just had with a Toyota mechanic who told me that the first generation Tundra is plagued by transmission problems, I am no longer interested. > > Tacoma, possibly. There seems to be a big problem with frame rust on Tacomas, however. Not only did this mechanic tell me about it, but a completely random guy with a Tacoma who I struck up a conversation with also mentioned it. Again your paying a lot more for not enough IMO. A few years ago I was shopping for a small pick-up. I mainly looked at Chevy Colorado’s, Toyota Tacoma’s, and Ford Ranger’s. I rejected the Colorado’s do to really bad ergonomics. I really liked the Tacoma’s but I couldn’t justify the extra money over the Ranger’s. If I had a plan other then running it into the ground the Tacoma’s resale value would have done it for me but I don’t resell cars I kill them. The lifetime ownership cost of the Ranger was far cheaper then that of the Tacoma. Ranger parts and service are dirt cheap in comparison. If money was no object I’d have gone for the Tacoma over the Ranger in a heart beat, it is a better truck IMO. As money is an object I’m very happy with my Ranger. Keep in mind with small pick ups they are not a bargain over full size trucks. You will still be paying for a truck and the poor gas mileage that entails. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/27 "2011-10-19T21:43:02Z")
Your last sentence doesn’t make sense. Of course a small pickup will give you better gas mileage than a big one. Bigger trucks tend to have V-8 engines and be a great deal heavier. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/28 "2011-10-19T21:53:09Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Your last sentence doesn’t make sense. Of course a small pickup will give you better gas mileage than a big one. Bigger trucks tend to have V-8 engines and be a great deal heavier. Compare F-150’s to Rangers. You’ll find some F-150’s that have better mileage then some Rangers. Smaller does not equal better mileage. Sure if you compare the most powerful versions of each you’ll find the F-150’s on the higher end, but many seem to get stuck in your mind set. Smaller equals smaller, anything else you need to look at the data. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/29 "2011-10-19T22:07:53Z")
Be careful you aren’t overlooking crash survivability too - Buying a used car it obviously isn’t the number one priority, but it is important. I bought a 2002 Tundra brand new back in 2002 and I believe that the IIHS crash ratings vs the domestics were somewhat better, and that is what sold me on it the most - mechanically, hauling wise it was pretty similar or worse than the comparable domestic trucks (Dodge Ram, Ford F-150 are the others I was looking at). ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/30 "2011-10-19T22:55:56Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Er…didn’t they submerge it in the ocean for half a day Then changed the fluids and cleared out the cylinders before trying to start it again. you know, exactly what you’re supposed to do if your engine takes on water. > [@](#): > > and then put it on top of a building that was being demolished by explosives? they didn’t blow up the truck. And after all, the frame did break after that. but why is it so amazing that the engine started? it’s not easy to bend a heavy iron casting. > [@](#): > > It may have been for entertainment purposes, but it was still impressive that they could get it to turn over after all that. you are, of course, assuming that what they showed on TV is actually what they did. They’ve stretched the truth a number of times, like with their “test” of the Tesla roadster. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/31 "2011-10-20T23:20:40Z")
We get mid 90s Toyota Hiluxes here in Canada. The diesel versions (most of them) almost always have head gasket problems. The 4runner/Tacoma sold in the US also had head gasket problems with the last generation V6 engines. All are due to badly specced parts/engineering from the factory. Maybe submerging in seawater and being blown up is OK but regular highway driving, especially in climates hotter than Japan, is quite enough to do them in. Japanese vehicles are big outside of Japan because Japan has a massive infrastructure and government incentives to export their used vehicles. > **[Japanese used vehicle exporting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_used_vehicle_exporting)** > > Japanese used vehicle exporting is a grey market international trade involving the export of used cars and other vehicles from Japan to other markets around the world since the 1980s. > Despite the high cost of transport, the sale of used cars and other vehicles to other countries is still profitable due to the relatively low cost and good condition of the vehicles being purchased. Contributing factors to the feasibility of such export include Japan's strict motor-vehicle inspections and high de... It is extensive enough that in many places like the Russian far east, Right hand drive cars Japanese imports outnumber left hand drive cars, in a place where left hand drive is theoretically the standard. There are some small island countries that have actually switched from LHD to RHD for this reason. The continued strength of the JPY has basically killed this market. The Toyota pickup was all right in the 1990s when USD$1=JPY130. Now that the rate is JPY75 most African/third world pickups come from China. Here’s another pro-tip: Most African drivers are not wealthy and don’t watch Top Gear. They just want a cheap truck. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/32 "2011-10-21T01:52:05Z")
> [@azraiel](#): > > FWIW, I own an 06 Tacoma bought new. I’ve put 130k on it, and have never had any issues. I replaced the break pads two weeks ago, and that was the first non-fluid/non-standard maintenance I’ve done. You drove your truck for 130k miles and just now did your first break job on it? Are you kidding me? Either there is a part of the story I’m not understanding or you are a great example of someone who doesn’t take care of their vehicles. Unless it is all highway miles, like 100k+ of highway miles, I don’t see how this is possible. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/33 "2011-10-21T02:00:19Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Acquiring an American truck locally at a good price is certainly much more do-able than a Toyota. I’ll take a look at some Dodge Rams. I bought an 04 Ram 1500 quad cab 4x4 5.7L brand new in 04. It’s got 77k on it now and I have done nothing other than the brakes since I bought it. I’m getting ready to change the tie rod ends, which is easy and cheap, and replace the O2 sensors, which is also easy and cheap. They are pretty easy to work on and they are old enough now to find lots of after market parts for them. Love my Ram and would definitely buy another one. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/34 "2011-10-21T10:46:55Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > You drove your truck for 130k miles and just now did your first break job on it? Are you kidding me? Either there is a part of the story I’m not understanding or you are a great example of someone who doesn’t take care of their vehicles. > > Unless it is all highway miles, like 100k+ of highway miles, I don’t see how this is possible. brakes can last a heck of a long time these days. When I had a 2000 Ram, by 88,000 miles the front pads weren’t even 1/2 worn. The pads on my Neon would probably have lasted 130k if one of the front calipers hadn’t stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/35 "2011-10-21T12:00:35Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > You drove your truck for 130k miles and just now did your first break job on it? Are you kidding me? Either there is a part of the story I’m not understanding or you are a great example of someone who doesn’t take care of their vehicles. > > Unless it is all highway miles, like 100k+ of highway miles, I don’t see how this is possible. I drove a Suzuki Vitara for 290,000 km / 180,000 mi in a ten year period with only one brake pad change. I took it in for service every 5,000 km. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/36 "2011-10-21T12:13:24Z")
I have an old Nissan pick-up with almost 260,000 miles. Front brake pads have been replaced, four or five times (just last week) but rear brakes are original. Mechanic last week said they were still fine. I think brakes get a little less use in a manual-shift vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/37 "2011-10-21T14:34:18Z")
Had a 2011 Dakota (4.7 V8) and Ram. Have a new Ram (for pleasure) and old Ram now (for a side biz). The Dakota was a V8 and logged 130k miles. Dakota: Tires = over 70k miles Brakes = Fronts at 68k miles, Rears @ never Repair list for Dakota: Rear window gear @ 75 U.S. bucks. Actually, I think the Dakota should have been mentioned in here as a consideration given the size, power, economy and number of good reviews, etc. I like the new Tundra. However, I just can’t get past the issues over repair reliability in the long run. The sheer depth of lineage in American brands means that when you have an issue at 130,000 miles, the repair predictability is going to be solid. If you fix this for 350 bucks, go along your way. At 130,000 miles from now, when the Tundra needs X, the cost is going to be ‘unknown’ and the success of the repair is going to be ‘roll the dice’. . ---
**Author:** ![dionmax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@dionmax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dionmax)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/38 "2016-07-12T19:39:47Z")
You need your head examined. I sell Ford,Dodge,Chrysler and Jeep plus any other brand of truck and Toyota is as good as it gets. Calling them junk kinda takes away any credibility that you might have. My family has owned more than 15 Toy Trucks from 83 till the present and not only have we never had one break down with less than 300 k on it but brakes and oil changes are about the only thing you need worry with. I have a 2003 Toy Tundra V8 SR5 and I am the original owner and I have 327 k miles on it and the truck runs so quite that my friend who is a full time mechanic is amazed that every time I stop by he cannot hear me pull up and swears it is the quietest v8 truck he has ever heard and that is with over 300 k on it. The truck runs like a corvette and Gets 20 miles a gallon on the Highway. It has never leaked or used oil, and the gas mileage is identical to the day it was bought. We gave two toyota’s away to family members in the past because they were over 200 k and both of them got 350 k and as far as I know they never had a critical failure of the engine to this day. All vehicles are going to soar past 100 k today or your brand with be out of business within 5 years but Toyota Trucks are amazing and I have never had a Transmission problem. Just because you had a bad experience does not say anything bad about toyota and says more about you and how you must treat and maintain your vehicles. Do not make statements as if you are some expert please and stick to posting on the sporting sites where exaggerating and telling lies is common. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/39 "2016-07-12T21:23:12Z")
> [@dionmax](#): > > Do not make statements as if you are some expert please and stick to posting on the sporting sites where exaggerating and telling lies is common. Runs like a Corvette, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874/40 "2016-07-12T21:26:20Z")
**ZOMBIE ALERT!** Blather blather blather. Opens a five year old thread, responds to – who? can’t tell – run-on sentences, no paragraph breaks. Thinks his experience is significant but whoever’s isn’t. What a waste. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-toyota-tundra-good/599874.md?page=3)