22nd Jun 2008, 11:26
I started out with compact pickups years ago, as did a friend of mine who owned a VW Diesel pickup. Sure it was good on fuel, but actually very impractical to own. It got even higher mileage than Toyotas little trucks.
The compact Toyota 30 mpg may get you there, but is it really a truck? Over time with income rising and paying off my home, I am not sacrificing the benefit of what a full size truck is about.
There are also more choices than buying bare bones work trucks with V6's. I'll take 13-15 mpg, which is half the mpg of the little trucks, but they perform.
The newest GM's are absolutely great... I cannot comment on Aveos on a truck review, or even basic work trucks, even the Ford F-150 as I did not test drive or have owned any new ones.
If you can afford a nice 3/4 ton diesel full size no compromise pickup with 4 wheels, it will be a domestic.
I do not like the higher fuel prices, but buying less fuel to have less of a very small limited application truck again makes no sense. I could go backwards, downsize my toys I tow, and not be able to do half of the things such as my home I've renovated myself. Taking 2 trips if even possible to bring home materials seems senseless as well. Why buy a small truck if you maximize a full size trucks potential at home and on weekends? I am not a contractor or a farmer, but I see the benefit every bit as they do owning one. I am not the exception as my circle of friends, power boaters etc. are driving nicely equipped full size domestics and do not run the little trucks. They can't do it. I buy what performs, not what will never be able to tackle the applications ever.
22nd Jun 2008, 17:33
This is without any proof whatsoever. You simply think that you have the best truck ever made, like 3 million other guys. How many years of use? What do you call "merciless?" Spinning donuts in a hayfield? Please!
I suspect the truth of the matter is that you've owned an old Toyota for a couple of years, and you've taken it out in the hayfield a few times, and driven through a mud puddle or two.
Yeah, I know your truck -- not an undented panel on it, the marker lights are busted out, the bumpers are off, the tailgate fell off years ago, four mismatched tires, the grille is busted, and the vinyl seats have disgorged their stuffing, but it has "unparalleled quality" and "runs like new". The same line in every used car ad; that is the best that can be said about an old piece of crap.
You offer no data, no real life description of use, it's just the same old "my truck is better than yours!" line. I'll be chuckling about that when I drive my Dodge to work tomorrow, just like I've been driving it to work every day for the last 260,000 miles.
22nd Jun 2008, 19:23
"19th Jun 2008, 15:37.
Some people just can't accept the fact that the Japanese build better automobiles than we do here in the U.S.
Sometimes it hurts to accept the truth, but American auto manufacturers simply don't care enough to design, build, and sell cars and trucks that can match the quality of a Japanese product. Sorry if some people out there don't like that, but it's unfortunately true."
You can say this or that about your beat-up, 10-year-old Toyota truck, and make whatever unverifiable claim that you like. The FACT is that J.D. Power gave five "circles" for dependability ONLY to Cadillac, Buick, Lexus, Honda, and Mercury. Sorry, but Toyota did not make it. Accept that hurtful truth.
23rd Jun 2008, 09:25
To my knowledge Toyota has not won ANY awards for best vehicle status from ANY of the ratings sources most often referred to.
In 2007, when I was looking for a new car, I checked J.D. Powers and Consumer Reports ratings very carefully. In the sport coupe category, Mustang beat out the Toyota Solara. In the large sedan category, Pontiac Grand Prix beat out the Toyota Avalon. The Ford Fusion beat out EVERYTHING (including Honda).
Recently Consumer Reports stated that they could no longer recommend the Camry or Tundra due to "an uncharacteristic lapse in quality". On the flip side, there are 2 GM vehicles in the "Car of the Year" choices and 3 on the Car and Driver "10 Best" list.
Domestic car ratings have never been higher and import ratings (including European cars) have never been lower (except for British cars). None of this could conceivably be regarded as indicating that Toyota is superior to ANYTHING.
23rd Jun 2008, 14:40
I was born in the USA. I would prefer to buy a vehicle from Taiwan before I threw my money away on a Ford, GM, or Chrysler product. I hope Hyundai builds a truck soon.
23rd Jun 2008, 17:12
19:23 Uhhh... Lexus IS a Toyota. And Lexus has had the award 14 years running now, sharing it with Buick for the first time in the last 13.
23rd Jun 2008, 17:18
18:22 The fact that you claim to have not heard of Toyota or another 'import' auto-maker recalling for small issues does not mean it doesn't happen. In FACT, it does happen, and I am proof of it.
Toyota just bought my Tacoma back from me due to the frame recall. I got 2000 dollars MORE than what I paid for it 4 years ago, and after I put almost 70,000 additional miles on it. I guess you missed that one?
AS IF Ford, or GM for instance would even CONSIDER doing something that above and beyond for the customer. Toyota did the right thing here, and I know that the domestics never would have.
23rd Jun 2008, 17:26
If Toyota trucks are so great, then why do Chevy, Ford, and Dodge sell so many more trucks??? (The only reason Toyota cars have good sales numbers is that they dump them on car rental fleets). Incidentally, my friends who have owned Toyota's have had nothing but problems.
22nd Jun 2008, 11:04
I agree about having an economical car, supplemented by a truck to do work with.
I have had an economical car for years that serves as my daily driver, but also a full size heavy duty Dodge truck for hauling the boat, cleaning the yard, etc.
I put 15,000+ miles a year on the car, but less than a thousand miles a year on the truck. But, the truck is a life saver when I need it. A Toyota would not even be a consideration, because I want something that will hold up and can do real work.