Consumer Reports Recommends All Full-Size Half-Ton Pickups

[smithb]

Originally Posted by Michael_S

Hush you. We hate Toyota here. Never let facts interfere with the discussion.

You are missing the point. Read ksr's comments above, he is exactly right. The issue isn't with current car quality, but the lingering notion that Japanese cars are flawless, even when they have similar or even more issues. Japanese car problems are seen as an anomoly when an equal or lesser problem in an American car is seen as systemic. CR relies on their reader surveys who already have a bias in the fact that they all subscribe to that publication. It would be similar to a study done of people who subscribe to Evo magazine. The evaluation of a vehicle is extremely subjective, as well as the identification of a "problem". Where one person may think a car handles great, most likely a CR reader would think it rode rough.

People think they are right and work to confirm their own intelligence to themselves and others. If a person purchases a car and they believe it has superior quality, they are far more likely to ignore anything that goes wrong. If a person buys a car thinking it is inferior, then they will inflate every issue to prove their notions to be true. It is human nature.

The issue is that so much weight is given to one evaluation and it is unquestioned by all the outlets that report it as if it were fact.

[goochman]

Is this the begining of the end of CR Auto issue? When everything is 'recommended' then there is no reason to read a mag on 'reliability' - you will find a mag that covers items more in line with your expectations.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by smithb

You are missing the point. Read ksr's comments above, he is exactly right. The issue isn't with current car quality, but the lingering notion that Japanese cars are flawless, even when they have similar or even more issues. Japanese car problems are seen as an anomoly when an equal or lesser problem in an American car is seen as systemic. CR relies on their reader surveys who already have a bias in the fact that they all subscribe to that publication. It would be similar to a study done of people who subscribe to Evo magazine. The evaluation of a vehicle is extremely subjective, as well as the identification of a "problem". Where one person may think a car handles great, most likely a CR reader would think it rode rough.

People think they are right and work to confirm their own intelligence to themselves and others. If a person purchases a car and they believe it has superior quality, they are far more likely to ignore anything that goes wrong. If a person buys a car thinking it is inferior, then they will inflate every issue to prove their notions to be true. It is human nature.

The issue is that so much weight is given to one evaluation and it is unquestioned by all the outlets that report it as if it were fact.

You are absolutely correct on all points. I'm not defending Consumer Reports.

I'm defending the current Tundra.

Dana_15 and I are responding to the people who are acting just like Consumer Reports, and blaming the Tundra for a number of problems that were either exaggerated (like the camshaft failures that affected less than 20 trucks total) or have been fixed since they were discovered.

Anti-import bias littered with falsehoods is not the proper response to pro-import bias littered with falsehoods.

[Montana Mike]

Like the Rusting Frame on the Toyotas is falsehood I supose. Mike

[91 s-10baja]

Originally Posted by V8GMT360 Guy

Interesting that the GMC press unit for these tests always seems to be a Sierra All Terrain.... yet the A/T package is somewhat rare to find. Not that I'm complaining, I own one, but it's noteworthy to me for some reason.

CR Buys all their test vehicles. These are not press cars.

[rsinsel]

Originally Posted by TuffG929

LINK

Does the Dodge still have a fender mounted antennae?

[CaptainDan]

Originally Posted by K-1

That's a "feature," not a problem.

If you can hear the tailgate rattling, then it didn't fall off! That's an EXCELLANT feature!

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

CR Buys all their test vehicles. These are not press cars.

Well, then in that case I find it interesting that CR always seems to buy an All Terrain.... must be someone there likes them (can't blame them)

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

Flaws aside, I do wish GM and Ford would adopt the damper from the Tundra's tailgate. That is a cool feature. You unlatch it and let go and it just slowly drops down. Handy feature if you're trying to load something with your hands full without trying to hang on to a heavy tailgate. It also makes it easier to raise.

You must not have much exposure to GM pickups. They do have the "EZ Lift Tailgate" package which uses a spring loaded mechanism inside the tailgate to make it feel lighter when closing it, and the gate latches without much pressure at all.

As for the damper when opening the tailgate, about $50 and 15 minutes of install time gets you exactly that in the aftermarket:

http://www.ezdown.com/

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by Rocket 88

Overblown? Like Bed Bounce? (Google what you don't know) or the other complaints and recalls. Heck, the floor mats don't even work properly (recalled). Or what about the complaints regarding the spare tire mounts rusting out, and severing the brake lines?

I'd only have trouble sleeping at night if I paid all that money for a pretender POS Toyota prickup truck.

Google, why would I need to google something if I own one . Bed bounce? All half tons have bed bounce, its called unsprung weight. I have seen videos where it is pretty bad (esp on concrete or really tight bumps, but in the real world it its totally unnoticed). Floor mats work perfectly fine, excellent actually.

As for complaints about the spare tire mounts, thats all it is...complaints. I checked mine and they appear to be fine, but the weld joints on the trailer hitch are rusting to hell.

I have had more than my shares of trouble with this truck and have 10 months left on the lease and can't wait to get rid of it, but please come with some facts to your biased post...

Originally Posted by ksr

It's funny hearing a Toyota guy calling those problems "overblown." That's exactly how most Honda and Toyota owner seems to view their vehicles problems.

Imagine his reaction to the same issue with a GMC pickup. Find a piece of trim that doesn't quite line up on a domestic, and they're just horrible vehicles.

Honda has recalled how many tens of thousands of cars for transmission issues - I personally knew a guy who has owned two Accords, both of which blew their transmissions, but he still loves Hondas. But he has nothing good to say about the Dodge he owned before that that never seemed to fail to get him to work every day.

For the most part they are overblown. Haters are just quick to point out everything. Go on a Toyota Truck site and I'm sure you'll find people laughing about the lint issue on the seats of some GM trucks. Overblown.

Originally Posted by Michael_S

Hush you. We hate Toyota here. Never let facts interfere with the discussion.

More seriously, to my knowledge Toyota has not fixed the "bed bounce" issue - if you load the bed up to the factory rated hauling capacity and drive on anything other than smooth pavement, your cargo is going to shake far more than it would in a competing truck. But with lighter loads, it's fine.



If you're concerned about towing, the 5.3 will haul almost anything a half-ton pickup can be expected to handle.

If you're concerned about speed, Toyota offers a dealer-installed supercharger with the full factory warranty for the Tundra that puts output over 500 horsepower. Until GM, Chrysler, and Ford re-enter the "fast pickups" wars, Toyota holds the crown. But I bet the number of people that get the Toyota supercharger is extremely small. Super fast pickups have fallen out of fashion - there's a reason the Ram SRT-10, F-150 Lightning, and Silverado SS are no longer sold.

True. The Tundra I own rides best with about 150#'s in the bed. I herniated a couple of disks in my lower back as soon as I got the truck so anything to help the ride quality helps.

The TRD Supercharger is nice, but not for the price. Not a good bang for the buck IMO.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by Dana_15

True. The Tundra I own rides best with about 150#'s in the bed. I herniated a couple of disks in my lower back as soon as I got the truck so anything to help the ride quality helps.

We should start a club. I herniated a disk in my back in June lifting weights. Took about two months of Physical Therapy to get back to normal.

I hope your back is better.

The TRD Supercharger is nice, but not for the price. Not a good bang for the buck IMO.

Nah, but the Dodge Ram SRT-10 cost somewhere north of $40,000 and the Ford Lightning cost north of $35,000. A Tundra 5.7 RWD plus the supercharger package is probably in the same range. Not worth the price, but in line with the older competition.

[smith7629]

This Tundra could have used that supercharger you guys keep touting.

You Tube

[smith7629]

Here's a comparison of the trucks in this article performing 0-60 tests.

You Tube

[plane]

Originally Posted by ksr

I think the Colorado is underrated.

Yes. The Colorado is underrated.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by smith7629

This Tundra could have used that supercharger you guys keep touting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Er5par5Mvs

We don't know if either of those trucks was stock, or if the guy behind the wheel of the Tundra feathered the gas for the sake of making Toyota look bad. The second video you posted was far better - the Tundra is behind the Silverado with the 6.2, but not by a huge margin.