My new Tundra this weekend: it was a good news, bad news kinda day

duck911 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 04:44 PM

Well, I ended up at my dealer last weekend and he made a deal on a 2008 Tundra I couldn't refuse

I LOVE this truck. It's my first "full sized" truck, and replaces my 2005 Tacoma, which was a decent truck in it's own right.

So, this weekend, I went to fuel up my new truck. After 221 miles and the fuel gauge showing under a half a tank, I was really curious to see what kind of mileage I've been getting. My truck toook 13.8 gallons of gas, which worked out to 16 MPG.

That's actually worse case, because the dealer "filled my tank" with 14 miles already on the truck, and I suspect it was not quite a full tank. Quite a pleasant surprise, especially in Colorado's mile-high altitude and with gas that includes ethanol! No idea if it will continue, but I was very pleased.

That was the good. Now for the bad: While walking around the truck at the gas station, I found out that within 7 days and 221 miles of owning my truck, someone already ran into me. The right corner of the front bumper has a nice rash where someone clipped me. What's worse, it's the 3rd new Toyota I have owned in 10 years that didn't make it out of the first week without getting dinged. And trust me, I have been parking in BFE, taking up 2 spots 1/2 mile from the store and work to NOT get dinged. NO idea the cost to repair, but it was a very disheartening find. Sometimes I feel like no matter how nice I try to keep my stuff there's someone out there who doesn't care about my things just as much.

Nevertheless, I am in love!!!

--Duck911

jcneng · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 04:48 PM

Very nice! Congrats! Now you have to wait 6 mo. to get some feathers and blood in it! I have been getting 16 mpg with mine when empty. When you attach a decoy trailer it goes down to around 12.

dbarnett66 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 04:50 PM

I had a 95 Dodge Dakota that was hit three times in two weeks. It was hit twice parked, and one other time I was rear ended. I could not believe my luck. I had to replace 2 bumpers and painted the right rear quarter panel.

mgsw530 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 04:55 PM

Sometimes I think you pis$ people off when you take up two parking spots, And they use that for an excuse to ding ya

JBK23 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 04:57 PM

Nice truck so people just have no respect for other people's property.

duck911 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcneng

Very nice! Congrats! Now you have to wait 6 mo. to get some feathers and blood in it! I have been getting 16 mpg with mine when empty. When you attach a decoy trailer it goes down to around 12.

Ahhh, but turkey season in Nebraska is just around the corner! Feathers and blood in weeks, hopefully not months!

ponyuk · #7 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 05:00 PM

I agree with that comment. A friend drives a Merc and said he parked at the back end of the parking lot, with plenty of free space nearer the store, but he took two spaces. He came back to find someone had keyed the car from end to end.
My advice, don't take two spots - some a$$hole will ruin your day. A sad fact of life

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgsw530

Sometimes I think you pis$ people off when you take up two parking spots, And they use tha for an excuse to ding ya

duck911 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgsw530

Sometimes I think you pis$ people off when you take up two parking spots, And they use tha for an excuse to ding ya

I'd agree if I was near the store front, but I am off to the side and out in the boondocks in an obvious attempt to be out of everyone's way, or parked next to planters where one side of my truck is not accessible to other vehicles.

In any event, it just goes to show that some folks just don't give a rat's *** about other people's things.

My wife's friend works in an auto body shop, and since nothing is dented, I hope he can do something to just repaint the section.

93cruiser · #9 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 05:49 PM

I am not saying what happend is your fault, and the person who did it obviously is an arse, but I have to ask.
If you were way out in left field, all alone, away from everyone, why the need to take up two spots?

FIVEPOINTSEVEN · #10 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 05:57 PM

Soo did anyone else drive your truck because that little mishap on the front corner of you truck looks like it was caused by the person driving your truck?? I actually had the same thing happen to the front corner of my bumper just like yours when I was pulling into a really tight spot and mis-judged how close the passenger side car was. I lightly clipped the side of the parked car and ended up with a dent and scuff very similar to yours. Great choice on the truck though its awesome!

VaTundra1 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 05:59 PM

Congrats on the truck...I also went from a 2005 Tacoma to my 2007 Tundra. The Tacoma was a great truck...but I have an obsession with my Tundra. What you're feeling should only grow in the coming months!

The ding doesn't look to awful bad. Try taking some quality wax or compound and buffing it out.

Enjoy the new truck!

guntech · #12 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 06:33 PM

Congrats on the truck. I think you will find that the more you drive it, the more you'll like it. Spend some time cruising this forum. It will blow your mind how much you didn't know about your truck

.

duck911 · #13 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93cruiser

I am not saying what happend is your fault, and the person who did it obviously is an arse, but I have to ask.
If you were way out in left field, all alone, away from everyone, why the need to take up two spots?

Laziness? I dunno. I guess I'd ask, why not? If I am 400 feet from the entrance and the nearest car is 100 feet from me, I'd ask why would anyone (including you) care?

duck911 · #14 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaTundra1

The ding doesn't look to awful bad. Try taking some quality wax or compound and buffing it out.

Enjoy the new truck!

Yea, it made it through the paint, I can feel a ridge where the paint is now gone. At least it's not dented. I think a skilled paint guy can probably cover it up OK. Or, at some point if the bumper gets more dings I'll just replace it.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

duck911 · #15 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIVEPOINTSEVEN

Soo did anyone else drive your truck because that little mishap on the front corner of you truck looks like it was caused by the person driving your truck?? I actually had the same thing happen to the front corner of my bumper just like yours when I was pulling into a really tight spot and mis-judged how close the passenger side car was. I lightly clipped the side of the parked car and ended up with a dent and scuff very similar to yours. Great choice on the truck though its awesome!

I know where my truck has been for 220 of it's 229 miles. My wife drove it to take my stepdaughter to work, but she SWEARS she didn't do it

The only other option is that I clipped a car while backing out and never noticed, but I don't know how I couldn't have noticed - I've been anal beyond reason while driving my new Tundra.

Anything is possible though...??