29th Jan 2007, 19:47

NO, it's called supply and demand; it's a law of how ANY mass produced product in the country is sold. Chevy parts are dirt cheap because everybody that drives a Chevy needs them, so GM can afford to sell them for cheaper, because they make their money off of the QUANTITY sold.

I wouldn't be surprised to see complete Silverado and F-150 engines sold in Walmart for $10.00 apiece in the toy section, that's about all they are worth.

29th Jan 2007, 20:54

17:59 I meant aluminum is used more on areas such as hoods and body panels... on Ford F Series.

30th Jan 2007, 05:28

To 20:07, I did name components. It's EVERY component. Start listing them in your head. EVERY one of them in a Toyota is better because of the ASSEMBLY. Using quality material does Chevy no good when it's put together by people that don't care. I believe I already said all of this earlier. Toyota's motors have better pistons, crankshafts, cam's, connecting rods, lifters, rods, differentials, transmissions, drive shafts, mirrors, glove boxes, bumpers... right down to to the ashtray! Because it's the care put into the ASSEMBLY. With a Chevy, you're screwed from the start because it's a loose collection of misaligned, poorly fastened, sloppy parts. Junk right on the showroom floor.

30th Jan 2007, 07:17

Assembly in and engine and PARTS USED in an engine are different. SURE it might be very well put together, but it does it no good if the PARTS AND COMPONENTS are weak and worthless, ie. ALUMINUM. we don't care how well it might be put together, we care about the fact that the engine itsself CANNOT withstand the high heat and pressure put on it, not because of how well it might be built, but just because of the weak material used. Assembling and engine with greater "care" does not make up for the fact that the Tundra still uses and aluminum engine block, good in sports cars, NOT good in TRUCKS, and it does NOT make the components of the engine any better.

30th Jan 2007, 07:23

I would take a "junky" Chevy that every part is out of place that can still withstand abuse for 30 years and haul 4000 lbs and pull 10,000lbs over a Tundra that is assembled perfectly, but still made of scrawny parts and incapable of any real work. You still can't explain how the Tundra's components are superior. You just say the people build them with care. So? They build the scrawny useless trucks with care. Yee-haw. It's still useless, just a well-built useless truck.

None of the American trucks I have driven have parts out of place. Maybe they are out of place because the workers or being worked to death to produce 700,000+ in one year as opposed to Toyota's 100,000+ in one year. You let Toyota try and make 912,000 Tundra's worldwide in one year and see if there are not parts out of place, and on top of that, all 912,000 would still be useless for any work and yet cost more.

A truck that can't accomplish hard work is useless. It shouldn't be called a pickup truck, it should be called a sport-utility truck.

30th Jan 2007, 08:12

Really? That's all I see around here as far as old cars. The American stuff just falls apart.

30th Jan 2007, 08:35

5:28...exactly what year vehicle do you own? Did you acquire it new? You have demolished 2007 domestic vehicles. This review is 2002 model year. Do you own a 2002? If a domestic reviewer wished to compare a 2002 full size truck equivalent or newer its relevant. The Ford owner has a 2002 with high mileage. I own 2 new 2007's have owned 2002 and 2004 prior. What gives you the right to condemn the entire auto industry? Its ridiculous... If you own a 90's import why not say I know about my model and my year only. You have absolutely no right to condemn all vehicles.

30th Jan 2007, 09:25

You've got to explain this one. Stress is stress, so why is an aluminum engine suddenly inferior when it goes into a truck? I mean, if aluminum engines are so destructible, why would an automaker put it into a $200K car? Lightness only goes so far if your engine is going to blow up.

Sorry, but all this talk is simply posturing by people who are afraid to admit their homegrown heroes may have competition.

30th Jan 2007, 09:32

5:28 where do you get your data on 2007 vehicles? This is on trucks, but pick one Toyota engine currently available and compare to GM LS7 aluminum block with titanium rods, valves, forged steel crankshaft with six bolt main and CNC machined heads. All GM suck? Wheres Toyotas equivalent 7.0 litre 505 hp with 470 lb-ft of torque? And still avoids the gas guzzler tax? I'd like to see where your basis of how your aluminum engine is built superior with its components to all GM. I drove the ho hum Tundra what a yawn...

30th Jan 2007, 10:13

It is definitely a lost cause, trying to make this Toyota lover understand that up until now, the Tundra has been a total joke of a full size truck. The verdict is still out on the new 07 model, but it sounds like it may be a better offering than the previous Tundra. If the Tundra was so great before, why the complete overhaul of this truck for 07??? I will tell you why, because they did not have a truck that could compete with the big 3, in any way, shape, or form. Heck, the Tundra was no more capable than a Dodge Dakota, let alone a full size offering from the big 3. How come it took Toyota 8 years to finally offer a larger motor??? If the 4.7 was so great, why now offer a 5.7??? Because the previous Tundra could not haul anything close to a big 3 truck, so they could not compete. The sales numbers do not lie, the Tundra has a long way to go to reach the volumes sold by the big 3. People who want to haul golf clubs buy a Tundra, while people who want something capable, buy from the big 3.

30th Jan 2007, 11:08

Look, the whole Tundra thing had nothing to do with Toyota as far as NOT being able to make a good truck, it had to do with Japanese management. For years the Japanese did not understand the full size market in the US, both for cars and trucks. They got the cars (Lexus, Infiniti, Avalon, etc.) but still didn't understand trucks. Once they did, the yen exchange rate was too great for them to offer compatible vehicles for domestic prices.

Now that they both understand the market and are able to build the trucks cost effectively they have created a true competitor. Whether it will win the hearts and minds of truck buyers is another story, but according to BusinessWeek Ford is pretty scared. They even were going to run a commercial saying the guys who make the Toyota drive Ford trucks, something a confident leader would NEVER do. They ultimately pulled the ad.