24th Aug 2007, 13:07
Yes, I'll outright say that My tacoma is without a doubt considerably better engineered, better built, and more durable than the equivalent Ford Ranger or Chevy S-10. I've taken care of all the vehicles in my family: My wife's car, my brother's truck (Ford Ranger) and my dad's older F-250, and now current Tundra.
Why are they better-built? Well for one thing, just take a look at the hardware used to hold the engine and chassis together. Ford likes to use cheap painted bolts and hardware to attach many of their components. My Tacoma has mainly yellow anodized bolts. Big deal you say. Yes - it is a big deal because I've personally had to spend hours trying to bust the bolts loose on his truck that were permanently rusted tight. Not so on my Tacoma. Despite 220,000 miles and 12 years, things come apart easily. Ever changed the plugs in a Ranger? About the lamest procedure I've ever seen. The truck has EIGHT plugs. Yes - 8 plugs for a little 90 HP 4-banger engine. What's more, the plugs are located in deep pockets that allow water to get trapped. Result? - the plugs were FROZEN in the engine block. What geniuses those Ford engineers are huh?
Secondly, you're comments that " We know how to work in the country" is nonsense.I've heard this kind of self-righteous stuff before. " we country folks..." Well guess what? I too grew up and lived in the country for most of my life. I hauled mowing equipment, tools, rocks, firewood, and even a small camper with my Tacoma. Guess what? That little truck hauled 2 riding mowers, a push mower, the trailer, and all the other stuff in the bed just fine, and even up sharp hills. In fact, many of the smaller roads around my area were not even paved. So just like you, I too know how to work and use my truck for what a truck is meant for. My brother's Ranger bit the dust 3 years ago. Mine is still in practically new condition.
Long answer short, there isn't a single thing that you half suggested that has anything to do with the quality of Tacomas. And yes - a Tacoma is in most counts better built than anything Ford or Chevy can puke out of their shuttering factories across the rust belt and Canada.
Anyhow, You're more than free to keep right on buying outdated, antiquated, gas-guzzling trucks with Brazilian, Chinese, and Mexican parts made in Canada all you want. I'll keep right on buying my toyotas made with American built parts in American factories that help keep people who used to work for GM, Ford, and Chrysler employed. In my opinion, it's better to put money into the pockets of US workers instead of those of CEOs in companies that outsource most of their labor anyway.
This is one of those: " By-golly, I'm American and I'm gonna' buy American." arguments. Nobody is going to win this one, so I'm done.
24th Aug 2007, 13:30
Did you not read what I wrote clearly or something? I have over heated my Explorer to red line countless times because of a bad radiator, to the point where it was pinging and popping. What did I do? Pull over and let it cool off. Then what? Fire it right back up and keep on goin'. I have over 200,000 miles on it, the last 20000 spent over heating every day or every other day. With a new radiator, it runs like a champ. The MOST I have EVER had to do as a result of over heating was change the oil. No $1500 repair bill there, eh? Just about 50 bucks and a little bit of elbow grease.
24th Aug 2007, 14:06
21:40 Nice LONNNG comment. Yeah, I owned one of your 'work' trucks once. It didn't work. Because it's a Ford.
I don't care if it has 65 leaf springs. They're useless when the engine and transmission are garbage. A Ford cast iron block is good for anchoring a ship maybe, but not much else when the mileage gets up there. Of course the block won't be damaged, it's a big piece of solid metal. It's all the junk parts that they carelessly put into the block that break.
My Toyota works. And most people have the same experience I've had. The domestics fall apart; the imports don't.
The proof is the current sales numbers. People are buying more and more Toyota's and much less Fords. That's a fact.
I won't waste my time explaining why Toyota's are clearly better put together because you'd simply tell me I'm wrong.
24th Aug 2007, 16:41
Yes... I read your whole post all the way through. I'm not sure what point you're making about an Explorer overheating other than that Ford's (especially Tauruses) have a nasty habit of clogging up their cooling systems and blowing head gaskets. The initial argument was about quality. A quality car wouldn't overheat to begin with because the metallurgy, radiator, and cooling passages would've been designed to function properly. Simply put- an overheating car is either A: neglected, or B: crappy design. Probably B if we're talking Ford.
In fact.. I happen to have a classic car that I work on weekends. I go to a local junk yard and I swear- the Ford section is the biggest section of the yard. Why? Because I will pass hood after hood of an opened Ford carcass with the tell-tale sign of a blown head gasket: white foamy residue all over the engine bay. That goes for Tauruses, Explorers, and the occasional Mustang.
My Tacoma has 220,000 miles and I finally changed the radiator fluid after 75k. Guess what? the fluid was totally clean and the radiator is nearly perfect. Hmmm. I wonder if that means my truck doesn't overheat? ding ding ding!
I'm not sure if bragging about how well a explorer overheats would have me bursting with pride. I'm glad others are though. Ford must be glad to realize that if they design something badly, people will overlook the shortcomings.
I wish I had problems to brag about what problems my truck has. But unfortunately the durned' thing just keeps right on running perfectly. I'll be darned if it's too well engineered!
24th Aug 2007, 20:06
09:24 First of all cast iron can take 300 more degrees than any aluminum, no matter the alloy. Which I might add is part of engineering. I suppose the engineer did not consider the heat tolerance of the materials to be used in the engine; no they don't look at that info. Especially since the cooling system is calibrated to that info, or do those Tundra's use Corolla radiators because engineers wouldn't care how much heat to displace and the size of radiator required to do the job.
For your information I have had training in airframe and powerplant, as well as several years working on F-15's. First of all aluminum is mostly used as a skin or maybe for spars in the wing, depending on the performance of the aircraft. The engines such as turbine engines use titanium and steel; both very strong and heat resistant metals. Titanium is important because it is light weight as well as strong. However, it is very expensive and difficult to work on, so only high dollar items can afford to incorporate such materials into their design. As far as your metal, well I have some books that I can check if it is real, and the alloys involved, I will keep the people posted.
24th Aug 2007, 06:31
If I wanted a fast car like the new Vette, I would want a light high performance aluminum engine, or for racing. If I wanted lightweight for fuel economy, I can see aluminum in a little econo sedan.
In a truck carrying heavy loads and towing in bumper to bumper beach traffic, I want cast iron. I prefer not to overheat and destroy my heads. I could never use a Tacoma or a Tundra, and there are many that need stronger larger trucks Ford F250 class equivalent or above.