After owning my brand new '06 Tundra for 2.5 weeks I'm finally registered here (again) This whole "mid life crisis" thing I'm going through has been a real roller coaster these last one and a half (or so) years. Started out replacing my totaled '95 Buick Century wagon (back in March of '05) with what I thought would be a perfect replacement for my wagon, a brand new '05 Hyundai Sante Fe. Actually not a bad little scoot. V6,200 h.p.,AWD, and pretty loaded. After towing a doner/parts Buick Century with it on a rented car dolly, I realized 200 h.p. was only adequate. I'm a bit of a horsepower/speed junkie. So then with only about 4,700 miles on it, I traded up to a brand new '05 Toyota Highlander. I still thought an s.u.v. was the way to go. Silver, 2wd, 230 h.p.,moonroof,and quite spunky. I'd owned two Toyota pick ups back in the late 80s (brand new '86 red base model, and a used '87 SR5 x-tra cab 2 w.d.).My wife at the time was on her 2nd new Toyota ('03 Sollara) and she was very pleased with them both. My Highlander however had a couple traits that displeased me It's initial hessitation on take off and an engine "moan" at take off got to the point where it annoyed me everytime it happened. Plus, I'd realized after putting a few scratches on the rear interior panels, that I really did need a pick-up truck afterall
So,on to the next vehicle!The Highlander had only 3,500 miles on it when I realized I'd again made the wrong choice for my needs. This was getting frustrating to say the least, and expensive.I'd seen only 1 or 2 of the new Honda trucks on the road and was curiously drawn to them. I do own 2 Honda motorcycles and knew, being an auto body mechanic of 30 years, that their build quality rivals Toyota.The thought of driving a rough riding live axle bouncy, crude truck didn't thrill me. I test drove a Highlander and was VERY surprised at it's quiet smooth s.u.v. type of ride. I'm (now) a single man with no children or dogs and hadn't even considered a full 4 door "crew cab" truck until I fell in love with the Honda.It's small-ish bed and 255 h.p. (by the old rating standard), and 5,000lb towing capacity was surely gonna fit my needs (I thought). It did have some first year design "gremlins", but nothing of any real consequence. It wasn't until I towed my new 6'x12' enclosed trailer that I realized it's lack of serious low end torque, and transmission always hunting for a lower gear, plus a bed length that had presented itself as a lack of length (on more than one occassion), led me to think, yep, here I go again!
With gas prices on the rise BIG TIME, and a brand new , re-designed Tundra on the horrizon, I knew now would be the ideal time to look into buying what I should have almost 1.5 years ago,a Tundra. I'd test driven a new '05 last year before I bought the Sante Fe(remember that one?) I'd put 7500 mechanically trouble free miles on my Honda.Thing was, to my advantage,no Toyota dealer knew just how much my base model Ridgeline was worth in trade! That vehicle was so new no info on trade in value had been established yet. I'd gussied it up a bit, and except for a few very minor flaws in the exterior, was in very good cond.Some of the add on accessories were removed and I'm selling them separately. I didn't even know Toyota had a $1,500 sales insentive going on at the time either. The only problem I was facing was trying to find a 2wd model in the PA,NJ area. Seems almost every dealer had only 4wd models I really wanted maximum towing capacity and maximum aceleration. I wasn't interested in a dealer trade with another dealer.They all gave the best deals to move the trucks they had in stock. I'd almost settled on a nice white SR5 access cab (V8 of course!). Then I decided to give my closest dealer one more call to see if they had any leads on a grey pearl or silver one. My fingers were crossed ,but my hopes were waining. Turns out they had JUST received , right off the truck that day, a silver SR5 access cab, 2wd, V8.WOOHOO! Only had 1 whole mile on it! Based on my two previous dealer's prices, I offered them this rediculously low amount of $1,300 plus my Ridgeline for the Tundra. The salesman said "if they agree to this price, would we have a deal?". I said yes, never actually expecting them to agree to such a miniscule amount.
I now have almost 500 miles on her, and actually towed my trailer for about 10 miles to see how'd she'd handle it. Oh what a feeling! I'd have prefered captain's chairs and a center console to my split bench, but except for a bit of extra storage capacity, my set up is comfortable and quite nice.
I still need to get used to a rear wheel drive set-up. It's been many years since I had a vehicle that relied solely on it's rear wheels to move it. It's also been a while since I had a V8 too. Damn, this baby moves out with some authority! A lot quicker off the line than the Ridgeline.
I'm not saying the Ridge was a bad vehicle, not at all actually. This one just suits my needs the best out of all the last 3 vehicles. Hell, my Honda was sticker rated at 16-21 m.p.g. The Tundra is a close 16-19 m.p.g. If I could just rlax my right foot more often, I'm resonably sure I could get close to that! My 2nd tank netted me a dismal 13.18 m.p.g.
Sorry for the long post. Glad to be back!
your MPGs will get better as you rack up those miles.
mine started at 13.xx and now im at 16.xx with only 2500miles.
afte the first oil change it might even hit 17.xx
good luck.
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2006 Natural White Tundra SR5 4x4 DC sold
2007 Honda Civic Si Sedan tafetta white
DISCLAIMER: Poster makes no guarantee that the above expressed information is accurate, complete, current, funny, new, spelled correctly, or grammatically correct. The above-stated information is instead provided on an "AS IS" basis, and is subject to revision with or without notice.
For a pickup, I strongly feel that I have the best truck out there. It is reliable, comfortable to drive and gets pretty decent mileage for me.
I've researched the Ridgeline, and for a family car, it is my first pick. I agree with you that the bed is small and is best suited for those small tests. I do like its in-bed trunk area. It seems it would be extremely useful.
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Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don’t have that problem. —President Ronald Reagan
Welcome back You made a fine choice I also believe the Tundra is the best pickup out there, unless you really need a heavy duty hauler like an F350 the Tundra should fill the bill nicely, and if you did need a heavy duty truck there is always the 07 Tundra. I also think the Ridgeline is nice BUT don't really consider it a truck. Also if off road performance is desired the Ridgeline severely lacks ground clearance IMO and the Tundra is KING in that department. Enjoy your new truck.
its all about what you need. my truck is way more than i need, but then again, it needs to satisfy my ego.
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That whole mid-life crisis thing will get you every time. I traded in my 2002 Tundra last year on a new Nissan Titan, then went back to the Tundra a few months ago. Lost some money, obviously, but I'm happier and the lesson has been learned.
That whole mid-life crisis thing will get you every time. I traded in my 2002 Tundra last year on a new Nissan Titan, then went back to the Tundra a few months ago. Lost some money, obviously, but I'm happier and the lesson has been learned.
Please tell of the reasons.
I really like the bed utility accessories on a co-workers Titan.
I have had thoughts of getting one.
I need an intervention.
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Former Dodge Boy
Now a Toyota Man
Proud to be doing
Life@TS
Please tell of the reasons.
I really like the bed utility accessories on a co-workers Titan.
I have had thoghts of getting one.
I need an intervention.
Titan? One word; brakes.
Like Toyota, Nissan screwed up big time with their brakes which are woefully "underpowered" for the vehicle they are on. Even recent 2006 Titans still have the problems. I've been keeping up with the Titan, and was on a dealerships interest list. I like it's design, it does have a rock-solid engine, but they are still working out the bugs. Give it another couple of model years for it all to, hopefully, be sorted out.
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Actually, I had no problems with my Titan whatsoever. It was a beautiful truck. It was spacious, comfortable, and the placement of accessories seemed pretty well thought-out. And I have to add that Titan's "premium" stereo (Rockford Fosgate) simply blows away this JBL crap that Toyota has pushed on us.
Problem was it was way more truck than I needed, and I came to realize that later rather than sooner. It's probably pretty obvious that with a truck that big, gas mileage sucks. With 305 hp, that hog would blow by anything on the road - except a gas station . When you pay $80-90 to fill the tank...AND you're filling it far too often...it gets really old. And I only drove it on weekends (because I have a government rig for M-F). I can imagine what gas must be like for Titan owners who drive their trucks daily. I don't haul anything other than my kayak and I don't tow anything, so those aspects of the truck were sorely under-utilized. Some people can own a truck that's faster than a scalded cat, spends most of it's time sitting in the driveway, and is a hole that you pour gas into - but I'm not one of those people. Yes, my Tundra sits M-F, but it's much more user-friendly, cheaper on gas, is much more of a known quantity as far as quality and workmanship (I had a 2002 Tundra previously), and just seems to fit me better.
But mid-life crises being what they are, I'm now mulling over swapping it out for a 2006 double cab - before the 2007 behemoths start populating the market and the Tundra we all know and love ceases to exist.
Congrats on getting back into a Tundra!! I hope you are happy with it for the long haul! I still LOVE mine!! I still smile every time I drive it!
__________________ 2006 Tundra,double cab, Limited, with the TRD package. It is Spectra Blue Mica. UPGRADES: all lights are HIDs, Gaylords X-2000 hard tonneau cover, and I have an extra 4 ports hard wired in. Alpine CDA-9886, w/iPod integration, BT & Sirius.
Traded in Ridgeline. Back to Toyota! ( long)
This whole "mid life crisis" thing I'm going through has been a real roller coaster these last one and a half (or so) years. Started out replacing my totaled '95 Buick Century wagon (back in March of '05) with what I thought would be a perfect replacement for my wagon, a brand new '05 Hyundai Sante Fe. Actually not a bad little scoot. V6,200 h.p.,AWD, and pretty loaded. After towing a doner/parts Buick Century with it on a rented car dolly, I realized 200 h.p. was only adequate. I'm a bit of a horsepower/speed junkie. So then with only about 4,700 miles on it, I traded up to a brand new '05 Toyota Highlander. I still thought an s.u.v. was the way to go. Silver, 2wd, 230 h.p.,moonroof,and quite spunky. I'd owned two Toyota pick ups back in the late 80s (brand new '86 red base model, and a used '87 SR5 x-tra cab 2 w.d.).My wife at the time was on her 2nd new Toyota ('03 Sollara) and she was very pleased with them both. My Highlander however had a couple traits that displeased me
It's initial hessitation on take off and an engine "moan" at take off got to the point where it annoyed me everytime it happened. Plus, I'd realized after putting a few scratches on the rear interior panels, that I really did need a pick-up truck afterall
I really wanted maximum towing capacity and maximum aceleration. I wasn't interested in a dealer trade with another dealer.They all gave the best deals to move the trucks they had in stock. I'd almost settled on a nice white SR5 access cab (V8 of course!). Then I decided to give my closest dealer one more call to see if they had any leads on a grey pearl or silver one. My fingers were crossed ,but my hopes were waining. Turns out they had JUST received , right off the truck that day, a silver SR5 access cab, 2wd, V8.WOOHOO! Only had 1 whole mile on it! Based on my two previous dealer's prices, I offered them this rediculously low amount of $1,300 plus my Ridgeline for the Tundra. The salesman said "if they agree to this price, would we have a deal?". I said yes, never actually expecting them to agree to such a miniscule amount.
I also believe the Tundra is the best pickup out there, unless you really need a heavy duty hauler like an F350 the Tundra should fill the bill nicely, and if you did need a heavy duty truck there is always the 07 Tundra.
Re: Traded in Ridgeline. Back to Toyota! ( long)
2006 Tundra,double cab, Limited, with the TRD package. It is Spectra Blue Mica. UPGRADES: all lights are HIDs, Gaylords X-2000 hard tonneau cover, and I have an extra 4 ports hard wired in. Alpine CDA-9886, w/iPod integration, BT & Sirius.
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