Sold my Mustang, bought a Tundra

[Nathans_Dad]

Well, I finally gave in and jettisoned the Mustang. Yes, the same Mustang GT I bought about 15 months ago. Once the new and cool factor wore off I was left with a pretty impractical car that got poor gas mileage. Turns out I didn't like sitting low and the fact that there was no room for my kids in the back nor could I actually go to Home Depot in it was starting to wear on me. Add that to the fact that Mustangs are holding their value about as well as water through a sieve....well you get the idea.

I decided I wanted a truck, originally I was looking at the Toyota Tacomas. Test drove one today and it was ok, pretty springy suspension on the road though, same problem it seems the 4 Runner had years ago. Then I drove the Tundra, much bigger, smoother ride, tons of room inside.

I wasn't planning on buying today but the dealer wanted to move the truck and basically gave me the deal I asked for, including both my price on the new truck and my price on my Mustang (which I set very high, IMO). So, I pulled the trigger. I figure it's a Toyota, I should be able to drive it for quite a while. Representative pic below, it is the same color with the Crew Max cab, I didn't get the fancy wheels or the chrome mirrors though:

[pwd72s]

Well, Gee...I guess we all need to become practical sooner or later.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

nice truck! I'm not sure why, but I didn't see the Mustang lasting long.

I'm guessing springy 4Runners were 96 on. My 95 has huge torsion bars in the front and is buckboard stiff.

[Nathans_Dad]

My step father owned a 4 Runner back in the 90s, I just remember that you almost couldn't sit in the back because every time you hit a bump your head would hit the ceiling. The Tacoma wasn't that bad, but I could definitely feel some hop with the bumps in the road.

The only bad news is that I underestimated the length of this thing, it fits in the garage with only about 3 inches to spare. So the wife's Tahoe gets the garage from now on...

[cab83_750]

Congratulations. I love the Tundra!

A lot of times, (as posted above), practicality speaking, I think about selling my LandCruiser and my 911 and buy the Tundra.

What is your MPG? I am sure it is better than my 10MPG.

[nostatic]

aren't you required by law to own a truck in Texas?

[Nathans_Dad]

Nostatic: Only if you plan on having testicles...

As for MPG, I'm sure it won't be high, I have heard people getting 18-20 in the city, it is rated for 16 in the city and 20 on the highway...

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by nostatic

aren't you required by law to own a truck in Texas?

Especially if you live in West Dallas, otherwise known as Ft. Worth. Thats where the real people live, and they try to keep the plastic people, aka rich and famous (and those acting that way) on the East side of I-35 in Dallas!

[Chocaholic]

I've heard it called Fort Worthless...

[Zef]

Excellent Choice.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Texas law requires all men to own not only a truck, but at least one firearm.

Nice tuck Rick. Should run until the end of time, you can't beat a Toyota truck.

[slow&rusty]

I hear you on the Mustang. Alot of friends have also sold their GTs for the exact same reasons, its a Mustang buyer's market now...wow!

As for the Tundra, its is still growing or has to grow on me. I now see there is model with Red calipers that look like 993TT Big Reds!!!

I feel the new Tundra looks alot like a Japanese styled version of the Ford F150\250 and has lost the original handsome lines of the the first Gen. Personally I find the Titan is really good looking truck.

Yasin

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yasin, I totally agree. I think the Titan is a better looking truck, though the Tundra kills it on the interior. Personally, I think the new GMC Sierra is the best looking full size truck available. But, I would have trouble not buying a Tundra if I was in the market. Toyota trucks are just so damn good.

[Nathans_Dad]

Joe:

I live in the "Mid-Cities" area which is smack in between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is really amazing to see the difference between the two cities, completely different vibe.

I thought about the F-150, but either Ford raised their prices or Toyota dropped theirs, I'm not sure. If you price out comparable trucks the Toyota is only a few hundred more than the Ford. Plus Toyota is offering a $3,000 rebate right now. On this truck the sticker was $31k, I got the dealer down to $27.5k after quite a bit of haggling and then took my $3k off from there. So I bought the truck for $24.5k in the end. I thought that was a pretty decent deal.

[sammyg2]

I've had a new tundra for almost a year now, absolutely love it. no problems at all. My only gripe is the visibility out back sux big time, it's one big blind spot. I put those 2 1/2" fish eye mirrors on the lower corner of the side mirrors, that made a big difference.

The 993 TT wishes it had brakes as good as the new tundra. 6 piston aluminum calipers with 14" rotors up front, 4 piston with 13.5" calipers out back. I can kick in the anti-locks on all 4 corners by using only my big toe on the pedal if i waned to.

ND, which engine did you get? I've got the 4.7 with 5 speed (still plenty of power) and I'm getting about 16 mpg with about a 50/50 mix of normal driving and stop and go.
I've heard the 5.7 engine gets around 17 due to the 6 speed tranny.
Have you noticed the size of the drive shaft or muffler? Take a look, they are HUGE!
There is something cool about a V8 with an all aluminum block and heads, dual overhead cams with variable valve timing and hemi heads.

And yes, you got a smoking deal. I paid $28k for mine, but that was closer to when they were first coming out. For the price you paid you got one heck of a truck that will last forever.

PS to me the titan is the AMC pacer of trucks; ugly, cheap POS but that's why they make so many different brands and models, so everyone can find what they like.

[Nathans_Dad]

Sammy, I got the 4.7 L engine with the 5 speed automatic. I am hoping for 16-17 in my daily driving, we'll see. The MPG on the Tacoma wasn't much better, rated at 16 city, 18 highway as I recall. Trucks just aren't fuel efficient vehicles, at least until they start making more hybrid trucks. Maybe whenever I am ready to trade this one in (at LEAST 7 years) they'll have affordable hybrids. I have driven mostly trucks in my life, the list goes something like this: 73 VW Bug, VW Cabrio, Bronco II, Ford Ranger, Isuzu Trooper, Honda Accord (wife's car at the time), Chevy Tahoe (wife's current car), Ford Mustang and now Toyota Tundra. I really do prefer the ride of the truck and sitting up higher. Plus it is nice to have a bed to haul things in, I was getting pretty tired of having to clean out the Tahoe, take out all the kid's seats, then put down plastic, then haul stuff (assuming it would fit), then vaccuum out the debris, then reinstall all the seats. Bleh.

I'm very happy with it so far, drives very smooth and is amazingly quiet.

Nice blue on your Tundra, BTW, I like that blue color as well but they didn't have one in the configuration I wanted so I went with the gray.

[NICKG]

love toyota trucks!

[sammyg2]

Ive had ford (ugh) chevy, toyota and honda, and always prefer toyota.
My 2002 tundra had issues like the brakes faded way to easy and it warped rotors, but other than that I loved it.
Plus my new tundra was built in San Antonio, my last chevy silverado was built in Canada.

[berettafan]

honda doesn't make a truck sammy.

[JavaBrewer]

Trucks are cool. I prefer the ride over a sports car or sedan. When they come out with an oil burner here in SoCal I'll be getting one for sure.