The Xtracab T100 versus Access Cab Tundra

[Shite2k]

I'm sure there are a good number of you guys who own or may have owned or own Access Cab Tundra's, who may have also owned T100's in the past. Other then the engines, of which the Tundra has a 4.7 V8, the T100 doesn't, these trucks are remarkably comparable from a specifications standpoint. They appear very similar in width & length, however the Tundra has a 7" longer wheelbase, but for front & rear leg room they're quite close for the xtra cabs versus Access CAbs, in fact the T100 has 1" more front leg room. I heard someone say once the T100 they felt had more rear seating room than the Access Cab.

The other thing that concerns me large, especially with all this rust recall crap, is build quality. The T100 I know is built in Japan, only, with if I'm not mistaken a fully boxed frame. I hope no one gets offended, but I place much higher value in a Japanese built Toyota than I do in a North American one right now. This coming from the guy who just sold his 93 Xtracab Pickup which was built in Japan. There are also lots of good stories I've read/heard about the T100 going the long haul without issues. It seems like the Access Cab Tundra's are a little more quirky. Yes, they have more power, more capability pulling wise, etc.

Having said that, T100's ARE few and far between compared to Access Cab Tundra's. I've heard lots of guys say the T100 is "the camry of trucks," inferring some refinement, and the Access Cab is considered the "Lexus" of trucks (well, it's got a Lexus Engine in it, and having driven one before I know it's fairly quiet). The T100 seems to have remarkably good payload caacities from the few specifications I've read. The Access Cab Tundra 4x4 is around 1500 or so pounds which is also pretty good.

The other thing that interest me is rear seating room. I have sat in the back of an access cab Tundra. Even myself being 6'0 with long legs, with the front seat up a little bit I didn't mind it, even though it was a little upright. Is the T100 xtracab similar in seating room?

Anyways - a comparison/opinions are much appreciated,

Thanks.

[spkrmakr]

Shite, I drove a 95, T-100 for 4-years before moving to the brand new V-8 Tundra in August of 99. Mine was a manual, DX model and was about as flawless as you could get from a mechanical prospective. In the 80k that I put on the truck the only requirements were routine maintenance. It was significantly underpowered with the V-6 and if I rremember there were issues with head gaskets on earlier models. The truck seemed to get 19 MPG no matter what, where or how it was driven. Though I pulled a small trailer often, I was sure glad to move to the Tundra. Back seat room was about the same as the 1st generation access cab Tundra. Early Tundras had engines and transmissions shipped in from Japan and placed into the assembled truck in Indiana. My 2010 Tundra DC seems flawless, has piles of room in the back seat and with the 5.7 it pulls anything I can throw at it!

Bob

[Derek24]

I had a 98' T100 Before my Tundra. Seating was about the same in the back, the T100 had little padding as a seat just a pad on the back and a seat, while the Tundra has a full seat which is alot more comfortable for anyone who sits back there. It looks like they made the Tundra's seats bigger and more supportive making it similar to the T100 in leg room. Either way I'm 6'4" and I fit just fine. I never once had a problem with my T100 and I have to say it was put together better then my Tundra because it was built in Japan. All Toyota trucks bulit in Japan pre 98' are like tanks, we also have a 83' 4x4 with almost 300k miles and still on the factory clutch! But I'm very happy with my Tundra and I would not go back to the T100, the Tundra pulls better, quiter, faster, same MPG, better offoad, bette ride, and more aftermarket parts. I'm very confident my truck will last another 120k miles no problem, these 4.7L have been tested and have came to be a very dependable engines! If anything my next truck will be a 2nd Gen Tundra with the 5.7L.

[t -150]

I agree Japan built trucks are better. Just bought a clean low milage 2000 tundra drives great has 82k 2wd really smooth ride compared to my 95 T 100 4wd DLX ex cab bought it new drove it 225k mi. and it never laid down on me turn the key & drive. it never failed to start always got me where i needed to go great truck sold it last week now I am dealing with check engine light on my tundra o2 sensors what the heck, read on here or toyota nation forum somthing about a bad batch of sensors used on earler models. if they were bad why did they use them. any way I hope I can take this one to the 225k mark will see. I do have one question I know that all toyota v6 are non interference engine is the 4.7 v8 the same or is it an interference engine. the sales man told me it is a non interference but a mechanic told me it is if the timing belt breaks the motor is trash. which is it does any body know for sure. any way the acess cab is a little larger but not much the extra doors help to load & unload gear. the bed is the exact same size I have a toneau cover and it fits the same on both trucks.

[kenairmk]

Yes, the 4.7 v-8 is an interference motor.

[H2O_MAN]

I sold my '96 EC T100 a few years ago when it hit 208K, I owned my RC Tundra at the time and my buddy had an AC Tundra.

We compared trucks and agreed that the 4.7L made the move to the Tundra a no brainer,
and the ride in the Tundra was much smoother than the T100s torsion bar front suspension.
The stand out advantages of the EC T100 included a better built in Japan fit & finish and a cab
that had less rattles. This rattle reduction was due to the T100 not having those two little doors.


I love my Tundra and I wouldn't mind the opportunity to buy my T100 back some day

[Tundra06DC]

I drove a 96 T100 extended cab SR5 for nearly ten years. Low on power but an awesome pickup. Can't imagine trying to find one now. I had to make one unusual repair right after I bought it. There was a loud popping sound in the front right area whenever I turned or caused similar stress on the frame. Paid $300 to have the dealer cut a temporary hole in the frame and repair a spot weld. Actually they subcontracted it to a body shop. Other than that the only repairs I remember were brakes, muffler, and O2 sensor. At ~75k the alignment cams were permanently seized.

Bought a 2003 Silverado from a family member and had a hard time letting go of the T100. After a year I traded in the Silverado for an 06 Tundra DC!

I like the Tundra with the exception of the dash noises. They aren't bad but could be better. Don't remember that with the T100. The Silverado made so many noises they all just blended together.

I've now become obsessive compulsive with the dash noises and have taken various things apart several times. Is it even possible to make them go away altogether? My wife's 06 Camry is even worse. It eventually got so many rattles in the dash I had the dealer fix it before the warranty ran out. Now same as the truck, not bad but not great.

[CJM_T100]

Have a 96 T100 right now that seems to vibrate no matter what I do (and trust me I did it all short of replacing whole axle assemblies, but it still wont stop). I test drove a few Tundras and can say I like the power of the V8 better. What I dont like is the higher gears vs my super low 4.30 gears with V6 and automatic in the T100(I love that low range gearing).

However the tundra is a way nicer ride, I like the opening x-cab doors, the V8 and the more comfy seats. My only dislike is this problem about rusting it seems, the truck overall is more complicated, I want a bench seat, and the thing stock sits lower than my stock T100-even a mild lift on the Tundra my T100 is still higher overall. I wil be sad to see it go, but I welcome the Tundra due to the power and amenities it offers vs the T100. Either I get a Tundra or a pre 97 F250 HD.

[normshark]

Replaced my '95 T100 ex-cab with an '05 Tundra access cab. Loved the T100. Tough, reliable, comfortable and well made. Even my teenager couldn't kill it (and believe me, he tried). My feeling so far is that the Tundra is everything that the T100 was, just a little more. A little more (well, alot more) power, a little more comfort, a little more style, a little more fuel consumption (but the motor sounds great with maganaflows). The jury is still out on the reliability but at this stage, i'm not worried.
I miss the T100 but I'm happy with the Tundra.

Cheers.

[Diego]

Well I can't really comment on the T100 because I've never had one but as far as comparing the North American made 1st gen Tundra vs the earlier Japanese Toyota trucks I would have to say the build quality is close. I have had my 05 Tundra for 5 years now and it is just off warranty and I have only had one warranty issue and that was two O2 sensors needed to be replaced. My previous truck was a 1988 Toyota extra cab 4x4 that I bought brand new and owned up until I bought my Tundra in the fall of 04. It was made in Japan and was a great truck also BUT it had many more warranty issues than my Tundra ever did. I love my Tundra and plan on keeping it for a long time. I will say though that IMO the newer Toyota vehicles seem to be made cheaper than the older ones, especially in the interior. The plastics used and fit and finish with more rattles. I see this with the new gen. Tundra and also with my wifes 09 Corolla comparing them to the build quality of my 05 Tundra and my wifes previous 03 Corolla.

[ctateusa]

CJM is your t100 a manual trans or an automatic? My boss had a auto with the v6 4x4 and we had a vibration and a tick going on in it. ended up being the flex plate going to the torque converter had cracked. Pull off the inspection plate and rotate the motor by hand to check and see if there is any cracks in it.

As far as the t100 to tundra. I have drove both. The t100 is a little small feeling to me and rides like a log wagon compared to my tundra. I love the power and the AC doors. The t100 is just too tough to throw a kid in the back in a car seat compared to the tundra.

I use the comparison of drivability between the older tacos and the tundra as taco is a car tundra is a truck. The t100 i feel kinda falls inbetween those two. The t100 feels more like an old nissan or an s10 to me. And the tundra is a fullsize.

[Derek24]

Here's a comparison of my old T100 and my Tundra now. I like how Toyota gradually progressed their "Full size" truck from the T100 to now. Good History

[H2O_MAN]

Here is a picture of my '96 4WD Extra Cab

[PapaPS]

Well, I had the 96 2.7 automatic........not a race car, but it would pull........1 1/2 yards of wet cement.....17 miles no issues
except the brakes......crawling through sand and some fresh plowed fields with 305 70 15 ltx's......never got stuck at all.......2wd too......pulled a van out of a ditch without a tire spin while being laughed at by some of the local 4x4 youngsters, who couldn't believe it was a 4 cyl with 2wheel drive.........I can't comint on back seat as mine was reg cab.....it did anything I asked of it......including towing a bobtail semi three plus mile to get him off interstate....