8th Jan 2009, 18:20
If I were in the mood to laugh, I would. To compare a Ford Exploder (yes, Exploder) to ANY Toyota is laughable. I suppose the S-10 does better than a Tacoma off-road? I guess a Cavalier or an Escort is as good of a car as a Corolla?? I'll bet a Dodge Neon has as good of an engine as a Civic too... you guys are a riot.
8th Jan 2009, 21:17
"I simply do not believe everything I read especially when it comes from domestic fans ranting about their vehicles on a Toyota thread, and with no way of proving a single word of it."
OK, then check out the October 2007 issue of Consumer Reports article on high-mileage vehicles. The champ is a Ford Ranger with 488,000 miles and no problems. I suppose you think they made that up too??
9th Jan 2009, 14:42
18:20 the mood I am in is about the topic of the review full size trucks... it deviates for some reason to Toyota Tacoma, Corolla and Civics what on earth for? They are not even the subject of this review, and I am waiting to see if you will ever comment on foreign steel, thin sheet metal, engine sludging failures and transmission issues, undersized brakes, faulty air bags on Toyota models...
But small sedans and small pickups are not the topic anyway. I did not like the ride on the Toyota Tundra, however I love the handling and performance of the Dodge Viper. If a potential full size truck prospect can benefit from my off topic comparison I feel domestics are far superior. The Viper is the best car I have ever driven... makes about as much sense as talking about a Civic or Corolla on a full size truck review. Hope my info helps.
9th Jan 2009, 19:40
The Ford Explorer has from day one been the best selling SUV in America. We've owned 3. Never a single problem.
And YES, the Cavalier and Escort ARE better than the Corolla. The only car I've ever had break down on the road with us was a Corolla (TWICE). Our Escort never once had a single problem, nor did our Focus, or any of our other Fords. I've rode in a friend's Cavalier that had over 170,000 miles with no problems. My friend's Neon just turned 100,000 with absolutely nothing but routine servicing. I don't know of anyone who has ever driven a Corolla 100,000 miles without some fairly serious mechanical issues.
As for the Subject of this review, the Tundra, the first generation models were no match for any full size domestic truck by any wild stretch of the imagination. The newer models are a step up in size, but a step backward in build quality and reliability. I think this is why I'm seeing so many new F-150's and Silverados and virtually NO new Tundras. Ford and Chevy sales are off by less than Toyota and Honda, and in our area there is a "Buy from Americans" movement to encourage more people to support American industry. I expect this movement to catch on, as more people see the need to help our economy by buying American.
10th Jan 2009, 07:44
21:17 Wow. ONE Ford truck that gets the kind of mileage that every old Corolla, Civic, Tercel, or Toyota truck with a 22re engine is capable of getting. I can see why a Ford doing that would make headlines though. Because it's about as rare as seeing a unicorn. Read the Honda CRX reviews. Many of these cars have 3 or 400,000 miles and are still going. I've seen it personally. You should talk to a good friend of mine who is a long-time (certified) Honda mechanic. That is newsworthy for a Honda or Toyota, but it's miraculous for a Ford.
10th Jan 2009, 13:25
Wow wants to make you sell your full size truck and ride in a CRX. I could pay someone (a transporter) to tow for me 4 plus hours every weekend and ride in my CRX in style. Can I at least drive the Viper and you tow for me? The relevance again escapes one on a full size truck review.
I go in and test and buy a new truck. Can I test drive a car first and then write my check? I buy a full size based on utility and performance, ride, handling, towing and load capability as well as best function and warranty. Hope others might follow this example it works and quite effectively.
10th Jan 2009, 19:04
The 22RE is not made anymore. It was discontinued in 1995 due (presumably) to new emissions regulations in 1996. Aside from its propensity for head gasket failures, the 22RE was a durable engine, not the least of reasons for which was it having a cast iron block (oh how I miss cast iron blocks!!), with a no frills tried and true basic design, which I do not say as a criticism. I am no Toyota fan, but have seen that engine in action and will admit it was a great engine.
However, the period of time 22RE's were made (pre OBDII) was a different era for the automotive industry, and especially Toyota. By contrast to the 22RE's of Toyota's hey days, the new Toyota engines of 1996 and beyond have a horrible track record, e.g.:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html
How many late model Toyota engines have you heard of holding up for high mileages like the the 22RE? Everyone I know that has a late model Toyota has had major problems with them, in many instances requiring engine replacements. Sorry if some people do not want to hear that, but it is simply reality. Things change and not always for the better. I will say however, that I have always had excellent luck with all my domestics.
8th Jan 2009, 17:20
"I also suppose it's acceptable that their frames and frame hardware already show rust on the showroom floor."
I admire your diligence, but once again, you (a typical Toyota fan) are trying to excuse the inexcusable.
Firstly, I have never seen any of the problems with domestics you are talking about and was not making any concessions that I had in my statements. But you completely ignored what I said and take a whole different meaning from it in an attempt to support your misguided convictions. Yet you have not refuted a single fact that anyone presented, nor presented any of your own. You just use the typical Toyota argument (paraphrasing) "Toyota's are better because I say so, everybody knows it."
Secondly, how can you even bring up rust issues? Toyotas and other Asian cars are well known from being made from inferior metals of insufficient thickness. You have not addressed how it can possibly be acceptable (to a Toyota fan) for the Tundra to be constructed so flimsily that it bends itself out of shape just from driving down the road. As much as you might want to ignore it, this is a fact.
Have you heard about all the Toyota Tacoma frames snapping in half? It is all over the Internet. Is this how you define quality? Will you admit that any of these are serious problems that are unique to Toyota and not found in domestic vehicles?
Why don't you address some of these issues and all of the Toyota engine failure issues on Consumer Affairs? How about giving it another try and answering with a substantive argument this time?
To summarize, the points not yet addressed are:
1) Tundras bending out of shape from driving down the road
2) Tacoma frames snapping in half
3) The Toyota engine failure epidemic on Consumer Affairs.