17th Jun 2008, 14:15

Since there is not one import truck capable of what my full size domestic can do, where is the superior comparison? I would endanger everyone on the roadways.

If you keep emphasizing the best, how about referring to applications? I certainly cannot tow or carry any equivalent load safely... even the Hyundai and Aveo and Tacoma cannot perform, so why should I buy one.

The rear end, trans and engine would be scattered no doubt on the highway, but I could see someone adding a tow hitch on here. It would save gas right?

I see the opposite engine and transmission woes throughout this site on imports. Toyota/Honda warranty is no where near equal, there is less room, the domestics have better handling ability and load, bed and people carrying ability, and ride better. I see that as superior... not doing less, being in an uncomfortable vehicle, does not handle as well, half or less the warranty, not being able to tow or carry as much.

I have a 3/4 ton... are you saying a half ton is superior as far as capability or function? Maybe I am missing something; buy a lot less, but it's superior?

Has anyone test drove the newest models import/domestic full size trucks besides me. I suspect we will still read about Tacomas, Hyundais and Aveos. Why buy a full size truck? I'd rather read about Ferraris on a full size truck review; at least it's something I find interesting.

17th Jun 2008, 15:36

"But even so, why should I switch when I've never had a problem with any of the Toyotas I've ever driven or owned? I gain nothing from taking a chance on a product that I suspect is hit or miss even today. You'll find that most of us who have had decades of trouble-free service from our Toyotas and Hondas feel the same. There's your answer."

Funny, I feel exactly the same about my Dodges. Are you willing to accept that I could have had the same experience with my Dodges as you had with your Toyotas? Or are you convinced that only Toyotas can be as great as you say, and domestics are and always have been junk?

18th Jun 2008, 16:36

If you drive 40,000 miles plus a year with that logic, you at some point have a decision to make.

The last truly reliable import, my mid 90's Legend, would have somewhere around 500,000 miles on it in 2008 if I never sold it. As usual it was purchased as a new vehicle. Although never cheap to buy, they were durable. I have found even with the best Hondas I had, at 100,000 miles a lot of repairs come forth nonetheless. I have gone as high as 150,000 miles, but it involved just about everything needing expensive attention.

I do not see the logic in driving a vehicle forever unless you drive very little. With imports, I would buy a low mileage old import, and in fact did buy my youngest driver a low mile 1999 Honda Civic 5 speed.

I know this is a Toyota full size truck forum, and this has absolutely no relevance. I buy new trucks full size however, and might comment on one that I had new 25 years ago that was great, but what relevance does that have on a late model full size truck review?

I can comment however on test driving new full size import and domestic models, and in fact buy. I will not hold back a relevant recent late model full size truck comment to give my opinion. I found more reasons to own a new GM full size than a Tundra at this point in time. If more benefits, function and practicality arise in the future, I may buy one. But I see limited applications for us to even contemplate, and I did not like the ride or handling. Maybe I am extremely hard to please, but I buy and put a lot of mileage and strain on a full size truck. I tow long distances in intense heat and have had zero issues.

I have lost faith in reliability in imports unless they are older models... and I feel my son is better having a 1999 than a 2008 model. He doesn't want to be out breaking down as my wife frequently did.

18th Jun 2008, 17:16

I'm perfectly willing to accept that you may have never had any problem with your Dodge trucks. I am also happy to accept the fact that somewhere out there, a couple of guys driving Yugos are also very happy that despite the "negative perception" that they've never had any problems with their particular Yugo... just to prove us all wrong.

But that doesn't automatically mean that Yugo, or any other manufacture defy market data that still show that by and large, Toyota and Honda still have an extremely high reliability and quality rating over American automakers. This only reinforces why I have no reason to switch, or reason to believe that a few on this site who claim they've never-ever had a problem with their Dodge/Ford/GM product, come close to representing the average owner of such products.

18th Jun 2008, 21:45

15:36 No, domestics have not always been junk. They are now, and have been since the mid 70's or so. The top 'imports' took the lead spots in quality decades ago.

Your Dodge; any Dodge, absolutely could not stand up to the years and years of merciless off-road abuse that my Toyota trucks, and every single other one I know of, have taken and are still running. No domestic truck can. Their engines simply can't handle the abuse. Plain and simple.

If you've put your Dodge through the same kind of abuse that I've put my Toyota trucks through, over the same number of miles and years, then you've done work on the engine or transmission, or replaced one of them, when, in the Toyota, I've never had to.

I've owned Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota trucks; the Toyota trucks are tougher, hold together better, get better gas mileage, break down MUCH less, if ever, and are without a doubt built with a level of workmanship that you will NOT find in anything the Big 3 have ever built or build today.

There is no comparison. Toyota always did and still does make the far superior vehicle when it comes to reliability and good solid craftsmanship, whether it's a car or truck.

19th Jun 2008, 14:36

I do not off road, but have a 2001 Dodge Dakota that I am driving as a company vehicle, and will break the 200,000 mile before the year is out. A co worker has over 240,000 on his as a company vehicle.

I believe there may be one lone off roader on here over and over. Whether they are driving a new Tundra off road, I do not know what the point is.

My Dakota has the V8 engine, runs flawless and is almost carlike on trips. I can easily carry 4 adults with the 4 door and having a bed and cap is great. I carry heavy equipment like it is not even in the back. I would recommend this vehicle without hesitation, and since it's a company vehicle I am impartial.

I suspect the import commenter owned old vehicles maybe abused that were cheap and did not have them since they were new. My Dakota was not cheap new; in fact I thought the company paid too much at first. The V8 eats gas; it runs $80 a fill up, sometimes every day or every other day, but it's used for business.