29th Apr 2008, 07:22

20:38 Not sure how you or anybody else calculates the cost of ownership for a NEW truck, but whatever you want to believe is fine. Must be a crystal ball or something.

All I can tell you is that my Toyota's have never broken down and all of the GM's did, as well as getting worse gas mileage consistently, so you go ahead and explain to me how that made them cheaper to own.

A truck isn't a warranty by the way. A truck is a machine. A warranty is a piece of paper, and you can't drive a piece of paper. I look for the better machine, which is why I buy Toyota's instead of GM's, Ford's, or Dodge's.

And by the way, if the Big 3 were the only automakers around, GM is the LAST of the 3 I'd choose. Even Ford and Dodge, crappy as they are, make better engines than GM does. Not good, just not quite as miserable as a GM.

29th Apr 2008, 10:37

I've test driven a new 2008 Silverado and ridden in a friend's Tundra (which, incidentally has already spent a good bit of time in the shop for repairs). There is no comparison and I wouldn't even visit a Toyota dealership.

The Chevy is a real truck. Very smooth, very solid and very comfortable. I never worry about warranties with domestics as they never break down anyway (mine have routinely gone 200,000 miles with virtually no repairs). I also like the F-150, but have to admit the new GM's are a better vehicle.

29th Apr 2008, 22:16

Anyone who's driven a Toyota for any length of time knows how 'happy' the engine feels in the mid-range rpm's, 2500 to 3500 or so, and how a domestic engine feels loose and sounds threatening after a few years when you run them this way. Or how much tighter the assembly on any Toyota feels compared to any domestic.

30th Apr 2008, 23:45

My next door neighbor's "happy" Toyota engine just gave out (again), and the vehicle (a Tacoma regular cab) was hauled away on a flatbed tow truck. Between my neighbor down the street with a Camry and the people next door with the Tacoma, we see a lot of the towing service people.

1st May 2008, 06:32

23:45.

Funny you should mention that.

I was in a big traffic jam heading home on the Garden State Parkway last week (not an uncommon occurrence for the GSP). After sitting in traffic for a few miles, I arrived at the source of the catastrophe. What was it? A motionless late model Camry broken down in a traffic lane. A tow truck had not yet been able to get to it because of the same gridlock I was in.

What was ironic about the whole thing was not that I saw a Toyota broken down, because I see that all the time, but I was delayed to a lesser degree THAT VERY SAME MORNING on the way to work by a Toyota Sienna broken down on an exit ramp, which everyone had to slow down to take a look at.

Needless to say, I was not very happy with Toyota that day, but probably not as unhappy as owners of those broken down Toyota's.

1st May 2008, 13:27

I've not only been delayed by broken down Toyotas (usually Camrys or Tundras) but we've also ended up stranded when traveling with friends in their nearly new Toyota. There should be a law against littering the roads with these things.

1st May 2008, 20:14

I have had a few GM big blocks just begging to go beyond 6000 rpm. In all my years of driving and racing, I have never heard of a "threatening engine" unless its meant to intimidate the driver alongside.

As far as engines go, any new domestic I have had has easily gone well beyond 100,000 miles; it's no tremendous feat. Nowadays how many people even pull the plugs prior to 100,000 miles, most barely showing minimal wear.

Since the discussion is trucks... is your 2500-3500 rpm under load or just another empty import tooling down the interstate. Pull a real load on that engine... carry full rated capacities in the bed or tow consistent loads on the back of your pickup long distances or in heavy traffic. I suspect empty loads... big deal. Put a consistent load and get back to us with a transmission durability review and or engine durability indicating loads on it. I wonder how smooth the towing and hauling is when I have discovered how springy the ride is already. Maybe loading it down makes it ride better, but let's see how long the drivetrain endures. And spinning on the dirt is not pulling or having a full bed on long trips. Only you know ultimately if you are towing and loading the same...... I would love to see your truck equal mine in any category.

1st May 2008, 22:16

Yeah sure, broken down Toyota's everywhere but the GM's just keep running. Gimme a break. As if there aren't 50 broken down GM's on the highway for every ONE Toyota.

2nd May 2008, 06:06

Just because the one Toyota owner has not had issues yet with a relatively low mileage vehicle does not mean they are immune. It could be alongside the road with many others at any time. Not wishing that on anyone, but it's a reality. When you own more new or newer ones after 2000 instead of just one vehicle to ever report on.

I actually just bought an import for my youngest son that just got his license. A 1999 Honda Civic 2 dr. coupe. Note that it's not an after 2000 model when every one my wife had failed on her. My son still likes Hondas them so I bought him one. I have no qualms on the older imports.

I currently have 4 vehicles...3 GM and 1 import. I have a daughter almost 15 and she will be driving no doubt in another year as well. I have a lot of vehicles to at least know of what is holding up. I will not even evaluate the 99 Honda even with relatively low mileage as I did not purchase it new and cannot realistically know its mechanical issues. It could have been cleaned up after driven hard but appears to be in excellent condition.

We buy a lot of new vehicles and I will comment on them good and bad. I am open minded or would not have bought an import again. I firmly believe that late 70's to late 90's the imports we had beared out the fact they were dependable and reliable. We had 4 after 2000 enough to indicate it wasn't just a couple lemons they all needed work. My wife has not changed her driving habits; in fact being over 50 she is not up for going into service shops and wasting her time.

I hope my son's Honda lasts for a while and gets him through college later. It has no warranty so if it breaks down that's the issue with buying a used car. We had good luck with our late 90's however.

Come up with am extremely impressive Tundra and I will buy one. And I do love going out looking around; it's a lot of the fun getting out seeing what's new and driving one home. The manufacturers are not buying our vehicles, we are, and I buy the best at the moment. I love my Silverado and tomorrow it will will be pulling my boat and it runs well and has a far better warranty. I cannot chance breaking down along the road and leaving my boat unattended even briefly along the road. It has to be extremely dependable and it is. Build a great performing handling strong Tundra with 100,000 mile warranty and I'll buy a new one if it's a nicer truck.