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Seriously, how can you comment on such things when you've never traveled?
I'll put it this way: What's your definition of "first"? What criteria is used to come to that conclusion? We DO have the best system of government, a democratic republic (socialism and communism are miserable failures time and time again). We DO have the best healthcare system in the world (since you haven't been to Europe, you don't understand that in the UK you typically wait 6 months for a doctors appointment or up to a year for an MRI; I have friends who come here once a year for vacation and healthcare). Economy, we've had unprecedented growth in the last few years. Sure, things have slowed down in the last year but come one, stop reading the paper and watching the news because all you get is doomsday predictions that are simply unrealistic. For example, do you honestly think that 95% of the population being employed is bad? Check out France where an 8% unemployment rate is cause for celebration. When was the last time a news organization made money giving us good news?
I will agree with your initial statement regarding the domestics. I personally will not buy something just because it's American made. I'll buy what I WANT and what's best for ME, not what's best for Joe Blow the Detroit factory worker making $35/hour to pop some rivets on an assembly line.
Come on, folks. Life is great here. Turn off the TV and live it.
Well put!
I would like to add we are not in a recession, only a growth recession. If you paid attention to the fact our economy was at an all time high and booming prior to the recent slow down and didn't believe everything you saw on CNN you would probably realize this.
__________________ 2007 Tacoma DC 4x4 V6 TRD Off-Road
Supersprings
TRD Exhaust
AFE Cold Air Intake
URD Short Throw Shifter
TRD Supercharger (coming soon)
1967 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
Springover
Rear Detriot Locker
Front ARB Locker
Longfield Super Axles
SM420 Transmission
Orion 4.1 Transfer Case
Chevy 327 V8
Teraflex Revolver Shackles Rear
Trail-Gear Six Shooter Knuckles
37x14.00 Super Swamper Bias Ply Irok's
**Just to name a few**
You can't seriously believe that you have the best health care system? Other systems do have flaws but the US system is based on $$$. It may be ok for those with $$$ but ask those without.
It is not perfect... but here in the real world nothing is! It is one of the best if not the best!
__________________ 2007 Tacoma DC 4x4 V6 TRD Off-Road
Supersprings
TRD Exhaust
AFE Cold Air Intake
URD Short Throw Shifter
TRD Supercharger (coming soon)
1967 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
Springover
Rear Detriot Locker
Front ARB Locker
Longfield Super Axles
SM420 Transmission
Orion 4.1 Transfer Case
Chevy 327 V8
Teraflex Revolver Shackles Rear
Trail-Gear Six Shooter Knuckles
37x14.00 Super Swamper Bias Ply Irok's
**Just to name a few**
IMO, all cylinder deactivation does is scam the EPA ratings system, it is hardly as efficient in real world driving. If you compare EPA numbers, the Tacoma still is significantly better in the city. Of course the American made vehicles have their own technology, and IMO Toyota has more efficient real world driving vehicles with out the use of cylinder deactivation. The 5.7 is more efficient than the 4.7 because of new technology. I would be willing to bet the next replacement of the 4.7 (when ever that may be) will be more powerful than the 5.3 and offer better fuel economy with out cylinder deactivation.
LOL, my brother in law has one and as long as the gas pumps continue to be fooled by this "scam" too he's pretty happy! The advertised EPA mileage is very close to reality just as it is on the Tacoma. Seriously, why is it important to you HOW a vehicle achieves good mileage? Cylinder deactivation may not have worked well in the past but that's true of lots of things that work much better now due to newer technology allowing better design and control.
I seriously hope you are right that the replacement for the Toyota 4.7 will in the future raise the bar even more than the GMC 5.3 currently has it set at, and then I hope that Ford raises it even higher and then Nissan and then GMC and then...but for right now, it's an American company that has the most fuel efficient V8 full size pickup truck and I think that's worthy of note just as it would be if anyone else had done it.
Another little thing I like about my brother in law's GMC extra/access cab pickup is that the rear clamshell door hinge has been redesigned so the door can fold all the way back, almost parallel with the the side of the truck, great for gaining access to the back seat to load groceries in a tight parking lot. My Tacoma is narrower overall so that isn't usually as much of a problem, but still, if GMC can make little improvements like that to their design, it would be nice to see Toyota do the same.
LOL, my brother in law has one and as long as the gas pumps continue to be fooled by this "scam" too he's pretty happy! The advertised EPA mileage is very close to reality just as it is on the Tacoma. Seriously, why is it important to you HOW a vehicle achieves good mileage? Cylinder deactivation may not have worked well in the past but that's true of lots of things that work much better now due to newer technology allowing better design and control.
I seriously hope you are right that the replacement for the Toyota 4.7 will in the future raise the bar even more than the GMC 5.3 currently has it set at, and then I hope that Ford raises it even higher and then Nissan and then GMC and then...but for right now, it's an American company that has the most fuel efficient V8 full size pickup truck and I think that's worthy of note just as it would be if anyone else had done it.
Another little thing I like about my brother in law's GMC extra/access cab pickup is that the rear clamshell door hinge has been redesigned so the door can fold all the way back, almost parallel with the the side of the truck, great for gaining access to the back seat to load groceries in a tight parking lot. My Tacoma is narrower overall so that isn't usually as much of a problem, but still, if GMC can make little improvements like that to their design, it would be nice to see Toyota do the same.
It's not important to me on how an engine achieves maximum fuel efficiency. However, I am still a little hesitant on activating and deactivating 4 cylinders constantly. Seems like it would add some excessive wear and tear. I was also hesitant on the Hybrids when the first came out but they have proven to be very reliable... time will tell. You may very well be right and GMC may have the most efficient V8 on the road. But IMO from what I have read and heard it seems as if the 5.7 in the Tundra is pretty efficient and offers a whole heck of a lot of power. Again, comparing apples to apple (sorta) the Tacoma still gets more than 10% better city MPG's and 5% highway MPG's compared to the GMC's Active Fuel Management Sierra EPA ratings.
Maybe you should trade your Tacoma in for a GMC like your brother and laws. You seem to be drooling over it, so why not. That is a choice you that you may very well be happy with. Look at the bright side, Tacoma's really hold their value so you should be able to get a lot in the trade.
__________________ 2007 Tacoma DC 4x4 V6 TRD Off-Road
Supersprings
TRD Exhaust
AFE Cold Air Intake
URD Short Throw Shifter
TRD Supercharger (coming soon)
1967 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
Springover
Rear Detriot Locker
Front ARB Locker
Longfield Super Axles
SM420 Transmission
Orion 4.1 Transfer Case
Chevy 327 V8
Teraflex Revolver Shackles Rear
Trail-Gear Six Shooter Knuckles
37x14.00 Super Swamper Bias Ply Irok's
**Just to name a few**
It's not important to me on how an engine achieves maximum fuel efficiency. However, I am still a little hesitant on activating and deactivating 4 cylinders constantly. Seems like it would add some excessive wear and tear. I was also hesitant on the Hybrids when the first came out but they have proven to be very reliable... time will tell. You may very well be right and GMC may have the most efficient V8 on the road. But IMO from what I have read and heard it seems as if the 5.7 in the Tundra is pretty efficient and offers a whole heck of a lot of power. Again, comparing apples to apple (sorta) the Tacoma still gets more than 10% better city MPG's and 5% highway MPG's compared to the GMC's Active Fuel Management Sierra EPA ratings.
Maybe you should trade your Tacoma in for a GMC like your brother and laws. You seem to be drooling over it, so why not. That is a choice you that you may very well be happy with. Look at the bright side, Tacoma's really hold their value so you should be able to get a lot in the trade.
I think your % MPG differences are just about right at 5% to 10% but the payload/towing differences are more like 20% to 30% so the GMC is doing a great job in that regard and that was the point I was trying to make.
As far as getting a GMC, I guess you must have somehow missed the context of this whole discussion which started out with some people slamming anyone who owned a full sized American vehicle, so I wanted to point out that SOME American vehicles had some pretty nice features, even such as surprisingly good efficiency compared with "our" Taco's. I actually traded in a '05 GMC for my Taco and I have no regrets. I don't need the extra towing/payload capacity and I don't need the back seat room in their extra cab, and I much prefer the way the Taco looks and drives and fits into tight parking spots. But just because I prefer the Taco overall, doesn't mean I have to delude myself into thinking that every single feature about it is superior, just that it's features and strengths are more suited to my needs than other options might be.
i bet the web site was huntingpa.com? i love my new 08 tacoma and gladly traded my 04 2500hd chevy for it. the prices are going down on the fullsize trucks. i feel i got rid of mine in the nic of time. i have a home in bradford county pa. i travel from se pa to ne pa every other or sometimes every weekend. im a waterfowl and turkey and deer hunter. i have hunting dogs and a wife and daughter. the dc with the short bed does the trick for me. dont liston to those guys on the web site they will be selling their full size trucks soon too. by the way im budcar on huntingpa.com see ya there.
I get 19.5 mpg on the hwy and about 17 mpg driving around town, V-8 Chevy.
I looked hard at the Taco's and was not impressed by the gas mileage, not too mention the bigger price tag for a smaller vehicle. Taco's aren't getting any better gas mileage than a full size properly geared truck. REALLY, we are talking about 2-4 miles per gallon difference! Big Deal! Most people will blow that $ saved at the pump inside the convience store on a coke and candy bar!
Why can't Toyo, Chevy, Ford or Dodge make a truck that can get 25-27+ mpg in a decent 6 or 8 cylinder? I know the technology is there.
I've owned or had considerable experience with lots of variations of pickups... from ElCaminos to Cummins diesels... but I keep coming back to a small Toyota pickup. Last year I bought a new Prerunner Access Cab with a 4 cylinder, 5 speed, since in my experience it would get better mileage than the 2001 V6 Prerunner I owned before it.
I'm happy to report... unlike full size trucks, this one will actually fit in my 3 car garage, it has a better turning radius than any pickup I've ever owned, I can park it in most any parking space with one try, I've had over 1,500# in the bed more than once, and the last 2,000 miles I've averaged between 22-26 MPG. Hmmm... now why would I want another full sized truck? :-)
My only complaint is that Toyota baits us just like American truck manufacturers do. They won't give you anything you want with a 4 cylinder... and price the bigger ones such that you feel like an idiot buying something smaller with fewer features... for the same price.
Everything these days is getting bigger, so that the only truly compact truck left is the Ford Ranger, and its days are numbered. I wish Toyota would come out with a compact pickup. Maybe as sales of the Tacoma and especially the Tundra decline, Toyota will respond to market forces and produce a smaller pickup.
Well having been to several other parts of the world... including Australia... I know Toyota makes what I want and sells it in other markets. It wouldn't take much modification for them to give us a product they already sell elsewhere. Unfortunately American buyers have convinced themselves that they want monster trucks, so that's what Toyota gives us. It's rare that Toyota actually gets "outside the box" and develops something new for the market. They typically just do the Japanese thing... copy and make it better.
As for me... give me the diesel cab and chassis version with the "tray" in the back. This Tacoma composite bed is a JOKE.
My only complaint is that Toyota baits us just like American truck manufacturers do. They won't give you anything you want with a 4 cylinder... and price the bigger ones such that you feel like an idiot buying something smaller with fewer features... for the same price.
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Toyota does seem to "punish" those who want the basic models by limiting some options. I loved my old reg cab V6 Tundra, except the bench seat which forced the passenger too close to the airbag if there was a short driver. Most manufacturers have gone to at least split bench seats in reg cabs and recommend everyone stay as far back from airbag as possible. I would not want every option in a base truck, but I think split seats, effective dome lights, and some additional nooks and crannies for storage would be nice, and do away with Toyota's favorite delete: intermittent wipers deleted in lieu of 2 speed wipers.
It is not perfect... but here in the real world nothing is! It is one of the best if not the best!
It is one of the best if you mean in the top 40 but no where near the best.
Did you ask those without health care insurance and money how it ranked?
Ours' is not the best system either. There are 30 other health care systems that are better than anything in North America.
Re: Why a fullsize?
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