one thing to be said for the new Fords. I have owned and driven every truck. There is a feature on the new Ford which is sweet, integrated trailer brake built right in. that is impressive, and hopefully one day it will be standard.
that being said, i hope it's quality... with a level and inertia sensor like the Tekonsha's have. Knowing Ford, though, it probably will have electrical issues. Still, kudos to them for taking the initiative.
Yeah, but for the 95% of 1/2 ton drivers who never tow a trailer or tow one heavy enough to require a brake controller, it's a waste. It's a nice marketing feature for Ford, but I think Tundra's pre-wiring offers the buyer a choice of whether or not to spend the money on a controller, or to equip with a better device than Ford's factory model.
I'm not bashing Fords or any other model. I've always been a Ford truck guy until I bought a Toyota.
This test was a joke. This was a bunch of car guys testing trucks. They are terribly impressed by Ford's 8" nav screen, Ram's snazzy interior, skidpad numbers, etc. Oh, yes, let's not forget that they claim ford has the highest rear seat volume (doubtful) but still fail to mention Crew Max's RECLINING rear seats! By far the most comfortable of the bunch. Is Tundra still lacking in a few areas, sure. But when it comes to evaluating trucks based on a truck's primary usefulness as a truck, PM gets a big fat goose egg.
With any other truck, you hope the dealer can find one with the right color and the right optional equipment to get "best in class" towing, hauling, this, that or the other. With a Tundra, you walk on the lot, find the 5.7s, and pick a color. Done. Yeah, PM... nice... at a time when the only people shopping for trucks are people who need a truck, base their review on cushy rides, nav screens and bird's eye maple dash trim and overlook the things people look for in a truck like towing and hauling capability, interior room for passengers and their stuff, and fuel economy. WAIT! What's this??? Tundra on top again??? What about shutting off cylinders? Apparently it makes for a good EPA test loop number and not very useful in the real world.
Anyone who's seen the Ford website with their comparison videos will notice that they seem to use the Tundra for comparison quite a lot and not Chevy or Dodge. I wonder why that is?
Yeah, but for the 95% of 1/2 ton drivers who never tow a trailer or tow one heavy enough to require a brake controller, it's a waste. It's a nice marketing feature for Ford, but I think Tundra's pre-wiring offers the buyer a choice of whether or not to spend the money on a controller, or to equip with a better device than Ford's factory model.
I'm not bashing Fords or any other model. I've always been a Ford truck guy until I bought a Toyota.
This test was a joke. This was a bunch of car guys testing trucks. They are terribly impressed by Ford's 8" nav screen, Ram's snazzy interior, skidpad numbers, etc. Oh, yes, let's not forget that they claim ford has the highest rear seat volume (doubtful) but still fail to mention Crew Max's RECLINING rear seats! By far the most comfortable of the bunch. Is Tundra still lacking in a few areas, sure. But when it comes to evaluating trucks based on a truck's primary usefulness as a truck, PM gets a big fat goose egg.
With any other truck, you hope the dealer can find one with the right color and the right optional equipment to get "best in class" towing, hauling, this, that or the other. With a Tundra, you walk on the lot, find the 5.7s, and pick a color. Done. Yeah, PM... nice... at a time when the only people shopping for trucks are people who need a truck, base their review on cushy rides, nav screens and bird's eye maple dash trim and overlook the things people look for in a truck like towing and hauling capability, interior room for passengers and their stuff, and fuel economy. WAIT! What's this??? Tundra on top again??? What about shutting off cylinders? Apparently it makes for a good EPA test loop number and not very useful in the real world.
Anyone who's seen the Ford website with their comparison videos will notice that they seem to use the Tundra for comparison quite a lot and not Chevy or Dodge. I wonder why that is?
ditto to most of this... PM just lost some credibility in my view... not because i'm biased toward the Tundra, but because that 'testing' was complete crap. they said the stability control can't be turned off?!? also, despite having the highest tow rating, handling payload the best, and having the best fuel economy, the tundra got dead last for a 'budget-class interior'?!? in a truck comparison test?!?
gimme a break
__________________ 2008 Tundra Crew Max Limited 4x4 5.7L Sunroof 20" Wheels Skid Plate Enhancement XM Anodized Aluminum 'T' Shifter Stebel Nautilus 110dB Compact Air Horn Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Air Springs
I picked up the magazine and just finished the article. First, the test was done in Detroit...at a factory that stamps out doors and fenders. Do I need to say more? I'm sure they had to bring the Tundra and Nissan in a plain-Jane moving van to avoid detection. Then they mention hooking a 7500 lb. trailer for testing. The Ford handled it "with ease", and the Tundra with "commendable verve". Ford's website shows 2 different towing capacities- 9700 or 11,200 vs. Tundra's 10,100. No specifics on what they mean by "handled", acceleration, lateral stability, etc. As for the Dodge, the trailer was 700 lbs. over the supplied truck's tow rating, but boy that coil spring ride sure is nice. No mention of how the Titan or Chevy "handled" the trailer. Payload- 1390 or 1560 vs. Tundra's 1510. Ford- optional equipment tested, Tundra- standard equipment. Titan slipped in there with a 1700lb rating but no mention of that. Tundra handily out accelerated every other unladen truck... while carrying 950 lbs of payload (exc. Titan which won 0-60 by .27 sec. unloaded Titan v. loaded Tundra).
Pricing- well Tundra somehow manages to get slammed for having a cheap interior for $41.8k. No mention of Titan's plastic, but they're $1k less. Ford- $45.6k, Chebby- $47k, Dudge- $49.4!!! OUCH!!
So I recommend everyone dont bother buying the mag. It's a Cliff note version of a real comparison test, with a bunch of writers' opinions skewing the results. The online version is a Cliff note of a Cliff note.
I have to agree with SITHOR in most respects, I have owned all brands and put literally 100's of thousands of miles on them. Finally Toyota has brought horsepower to the game. T100 and 4.7 were just not in the same game. But lets not blow the horn too loud as the tailgate, front axle, sinking and delicate dash.. are still not acceptable IMHO
I have to agree with SITHOR in most respects, I have owned all brands and put literally 100's of thousands of miles on them. Finally Toyota has brought horsepower to the game. T100 and 4.7 were just not in the same game. But lets not blow the horn too loud as the tailgate, front axle, sinking and delicate dash.. are still not acceptable IMHO
Too true! I think tougher sheet metal all around would be good as well as tougher paint. How about a sunroof option on all DC's and a bigger fuel tank!
Too true! I think tougher sheet metal all around would be good as well as tougher paint. How about a sunroof option on all DC's and a bigger fuel tank!
I would like to see a truck fully powder-coated from the factory. Powder coats can look just as nice as normal paints and are far more durable.
__________________
2007 Tundra 5.7 6-spd 2wd
Silver, double cab, short bed
TRD package
You ever had a ford guy in your truck and mash the pedal to the floor? They about load their pants. Ask any guy who drives a truck and they want 3 things...power, power , & power. I wish I could put 3k in the bed, but it's a half ton and it just aint gonna do that! No truck in this class tows better than this beast. The backseat of my crew max is limo-esque. I agree that that the interior is cheap at best. They should let those Lexus guys do a Limited version.
While there at it, put a DI 5.7 in there that puts out 450hp and 21 mpg on the hwy. I think they could stiffin that back end up a bit and give us a rear locking dif too. I also think they should put the shifter on the column and give me storage in the center console. Heated rear seats would make me quite the ladies man. I'm feeling a bit greedy, give me some storage drawers under the front seats and some cavernous compartments under the back seats! Give me more heating/cooling vents with more directional play...like my '92 Tercel!!!
Don't you dare take away my electric rear window or my heated mirrors...them is fighting words!
OOH, new ideas, put those heating coils in my backseat windows so I don't have to scrape them anymore and intigrate those gutters over my doors so I can have a smoke when it rains. I keep losing those plastic aftermarket ones at the carwash or on the highway. I got about 20 more on my wish list...
You ever had a ford guy in your truck and mash the pedal to the floor? They about load their pants. Ask any guy who drives a truck and they want 3 things...power, power , & power.
In that test discussed a while back, the F-150 managed a hair under 17 seconds flat in the quarter mile. That is not just below average, it is beyond pathetic. Add to this, the test was conducted with their up-optioned engine, not the base.
I came VERY close to buying a King Ranch F-150 last summer. The dealer was dumb to let us walk out of there. He did call me the next day to tey to get me interested in a lesser model but no deal. I have friends that have Tundras and they really like them so I did some research. After dealing with rust problems on my F-250 diesel, I am familiar with the undercarriage, brake lines, drive shaft and rear diff cover which all rusted after 8 winters and 70,000 miles. I needed to get rid of this truck before major $$$ would be needed to keep it on the road. I looked under the F-150 and then the Tundra. I'm not saying the Tundra is going to be rust-free after 8 winters but it appears as if Toyota paid more attention. Aluminum drive shaft, coated brake lines, coated frame and lower body coating all convinced me that this truck should hold up longer than Ford. Winters are brutal with salt, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride all being used before each snow storm.
So I bought a black 08 DC LTD with red rock seats. I still like the King Ranch leather better but the Tundra interior is really nice. I have had some issues (front diff, radio, dash sinking) but Toyota has been 100% in making things right. 17,000 miles and I love this truck. Winter is here and the snow is piling up. The Tundra has passed all of my tests with flying colors...so far. Gotta lot of towing coming up so we'll see how she compares to the F-250 diesel. It is cheaper per mile to run and there's plenty of power on tap so I can't ask for much more.
Yawn...these videos always bring the brand loyalists out of the woodwork.
The F-150 is a nice truck. Underpowered, but nicer interior materials and pleasing traditional exterior design. Just because YOU don't like it doesn't mean it's crappy, or that it sucks. Express yourself through your purchasing decisions - that's when your voice is truly heard.
When a video is done by one OEM, it will always be biased. Duh. Just take it with a grain of salt.
Well here we go..I just bought an 08 SR5 double cab long bed with the 5.7, my wife has an 04 F-150 Lariat with the 5.4 liter, all stock less a cat back Flow master exhaust and we have about 42000 miles on it, and in my opinion it is a great truck. Granted it does NOT have the acceleration of the Tundra, but still has more than adequate power. I did a roll on with my buddy from about 20 mph to about 80 and he only pulled me by about 4 truck lengths with his Dodge 5.7 hemi (although my Tundra would kick his @$$). I never had any issues with the power, but when I bought the 150, I thought it would be quicker than it was….and the Tundra was quicker than I thought it would be!! The video with the Tundra bed oscillation was a little scary, if I had seen it before I bought the truck, I probably would have put more thought into it! My first Toyota…ever, but I think I’m going to like it! HHMMMM……..supercharger.
Toyota option packages suck.
...The video with the Tundra bed oscillation was a little scary, if I had seen it before I bought the truck, I probably would have put more thought into it! ...
Then Ford marketing did their job! They rig their test to the natural harmonic frequency of the Tundra frame, then plaster the video all over the internet.
Now don't get me wrong, the Tundra frame has far more flex then the ford frame (because it's Open-C) but that's a good thing when it comes to load bearing (ask any structural engineer).
Use your truck, don't worry about propaganda marketing campaigns, and you'll be quite happy.
__________________
2007 Tundra 5.7 6-spd 2wd
Silver, double cab, short bed
TRD package
Re: Tundra vs. F-150 Test
Linear Mode
