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TundraGeneral discussion forum for the 2007 and later Toyota Tundra.
This is a discussion thread titled "Hard decision:Tundra CM/Sierra", within the Tundra forum, part of the Truck Forums category.
I agree, there is a delay in the auto-trac and even if miniscule it can let you slip a little. The faster you're driving, the more delay. What I get into a lot is partially snowy/partially clear roads which means I have to switch in/out of 4x4 to keep the front tires from binding. Autotrac and 4hi both have their places, but I found Autotrac to be very nice for a lot of conditions. Also very nice when driving around town in/out of snowy lots onto clear streets.
Stubble and I probably drive the same road to work everyday, so I'm with him on the Autotrac vs AWD or 4Hi. I have an 07 Silverado Z71 Ext as a work truck. Drove it in Auto for the first 2 weeks back in Feb until I hit a patch of ice going up Super Test Hill at 100 KPH....the rear end kicked out instantly in the half a second the Auto took to kick in. Scared the !!!!! out of me since I was beside a bus and had some bozo contractor about 6" from my rear bumper!! I put it in 4Hi when I go to work and it stayed there for 2 months. My 4Runner on the other hand has AWD which is perfect for the 6-8 months of snow/ice/winter we get up here.
Right now I'm in the Denali / CM debate, have till fall to decide. The AWD option on the Denali is in the plus column for the Denali in my books. The negative column is the same old one everyone has...concerns about reliability. I had an 01 Silverado that was great for 2 years, then started rattling and shaking like a 20 year old clunker, and that was living on the Sunshine Coast where the truck never saw snow. Contrast that with my 4Runner, which has seen 3 of the harshest winters I've ever experience with not a single issue!
Priorities are the big question... for me it is interior space, so a Tundra CM fits the bill nicely this way. But I will say that I wasn't impressed with the Denali's interior -- again that may be because my expectations were higher with everyone talking about the redesign and all the leather, etc.
Well, the best thing you can do is look at it yourself. What I found was that the leather was restricted to the seats only, and it is slightly better than the leather in the Tundra Limited that I saw. However, everything else was plastic. Put your hand on the dash of the Denali, and it is rock-hard plastic; Tundra Ltd has a much softer feeling material. The black shiny plastic in the Tundra is a little weird for some people, but it isn't trying to be something too special. I can't stand fake wood in autos -- either put the real stuff in or nothing at all. The Denali has this fake, shiny wood stuff which may appeal to some, but to me it just looks as tacky as when minivans and station wagons had wood panelling on the outside of the body panels.
Both vehicles have a lot of plastic on the doors and virtually everywhere else. Guages on the Denali look like they came from the 80s except for the addition of some electronic display info. Optitron guages on the Tundra are definitely better than anything out there. There are a lot more storage areas in the Tundra and more use of space. Also, the shifter can be had in the center console instead of on the side of the steering column (a much appreciated solution if you decide to park on any type of slope).
The Denali does have a rear-locker, and it does have a 6-speed transmission, which is very smooth in their other vehicles. Also, if you are looking for a good size crew-cab, the Denali is great because it falls somewhere between the Tundra's double cab and the crewmax. AWD vs 4WD selectable is personal choice.
One annoying aspect on the Silverados and Sierras (including Denali) though I can't think of a reason why it was left out, is that there is no grab handle for the driver getting into the vehicle. As a result, you're either grabbing the top of the frame or pushing on the side of the seat to get yourself in.
Both vehicles are great, I just tend to favor the Tundra in the luxury department on this one. GM seems to think that adding a better drive train means more luxurious. No other real "luxury" features are found on the vehicle; even Cadillac doesn't really have anything much better than a Denali or LTZ Silverado. This is something that needs to change. But otherwise, both trucks are great; it is really splitting hairs when you think about it. You're not going to lose picking either one!
Also, the shifter can be had in the center console instead of on the side of the steering column (a much appreciated solution if you decide to park on any type of slope).
I'm not getting the connection between the column shifter and parking on a slope
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2007 5.7 CrewMax Limited 2WD; Pyrite Mica/ Red Rock Leather
20" Alloy | Nav-JBL | Moonroof | Sonar | Cold Kit | Daytime Running Lights | BedRug | ConsoleVault | SoftTopper | TRD sway bar | Weatherguard Tool Box
NAV Mods: Speed Pulse Generator | AUX video input
Buy your truck outside of the Gulf States Toyota monopoly if you don't want to compromise.
I'm not getting the connection between the column shifter and parking on a slope
When you park on a slope, getting the vehicle back out of "park" means grabbing that column shifter, pulling it in, and cranking it down to get it into "drive". The problem is, when you're parked on a slope, the normal "gap" around the pin that keeps your vehicle in park is lost because the weight of the vehicle is pushing against the pin. What frequently ends up happening is that you see people lean forward in their seat and crank down on the shift lever, often passing by the "D" mark and then putting it back up into "D" because they had to pull so hard to get it out of park. It is wearing on the gearing and pretty soon you have a pretty "soft" pull because the teeth that hold the vehicle in are worn down.
By having the shifter on the console, even though you are still missing the "gap" around the pin, it is much easier to put into gear without damaging the shifter or the teeth that help keep it in place. It is a straight pull down without much, if any, grinding of those teeth.
I hope that helps!
Using the Park Brake doesn't help much unless it is engaged before the "gap" is closed when you put the vehicle in park. Most people may not know to do that. All it does is engage the wheels' not to move. Getting a console shifter is just loads easier than a column shifter. Look at virtually any truck with a column shifter and I'll bet that the needle indicating where the vehicle is (unless it is digital, then you can't tell) in has a much more vague alignment (i.e. not centered on the letter) than on a console shifter where it is true from day one onward.
I first of all want to thank the contributors to this forum. I have learned so much . I am also one of these guys trying to decide between the crewmax LTD or the Sierra SLT (I really liked the look of the Titan but after test driving, for me I was not impressed). I am finishing off a lease with my current Sierra which has been a good truck for me. I bought my wife last May a RAV 4 (V6 limited) and she just loves it. So here we go: they both drive really nice and I look the looks of both. I am planning to buy and hold long term this time so I do have a concern with GM quality. However I have read that the new platform for GM has made a marked improvement on quality. Finally the question. In your experience with Toyotas first year new vehicles, have they generally held up in quality. I guess the example I am thinking of is the Titan. From all accounts it took at least 1.5 years before they worked out the bugs. I appreciate your feedback. It is a big financial decision to spend over $50000 cdn on a vehicle.
I don't recall any real "bugs" with the new design Tacoma, but I don't pay a whole lot of attention. That was a whole new platform.
Ok just helped my brother pick up a 2007 Tacoma and so I tagged along for the purchase. Saw a brand new crewmax! Wow this will give my kids lots of room for those long road trip. I think tomorrow I am going to place an order for a white TRD CM. The extra $7000 for LTD in Canada is just too much. Thank you all for your opinions. This really helped me make my decision.
IMHO if we could place the gm instrument cluster in the tundra then we'd have something. The deep tunnels are retarded and make it difficult to scan the gauges without diverting your attention which should be on watching the road instead of looking a overly recessed dials. A 2d cluster is so much easier to read than the 3d they've come up with.
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Re: Hard decision:Tundra CM/Sierra
. I am also one of these guys trying to decide between the crewmax LTD or the Sierra SLT (I really liked the look of the Titan but after test driving, for me I was not impressed). I am finishing off a lease with my current Sierra which has been a good truck for me. I bought my wife last May a RAV 4 (V6 limited) and she just loves it. So here we go: they both drive really nice and I look the looks of both. I am planning to buy and hold long term this time so I do have a concern with GM quality. However I have read that the new platform for GM has made a marked improvement on quality. Finally the question. In your experience with Toyotas first year new vehicles, have they generally held up in quality. I guess the example I am thinking of is the Titan. From all accounts it took at least 1.5 years before they worked out the bugs. I appreciate your feedback. It is a big financial decision to spend over $50000 cdn on a vehicle.
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