I'm considering a Tundra..financial suicide?

[Vipergrün]

The lease is almost up on my Subaru and I am thinking about getting a late model Tundra with the 4.7L V8

The good - prices are good and there are definately some deals out there. I can tow the car to the track and help all my friends move

The bad - what if gas hits 4 bucks/gallon or more?

My commute is 15 miles, so I'd burn thru a couple of gallons a day. With the Subaru it's half that.

Do I bite the bullet and gamble on gas prices staying low? I see they are already rising.

I have no doubt I'd be totally stuck with this truck for a long time.

Thoughts?

[JavaBrewer]

I think that by Summer gas will be nearing the $4/gal range again - especially here in SoCal. Life is short so drive what you want.

[sammyg2]

I get 16 mpg in my tundra.

Keep things in perspective, given a 15 mile commute you will be saving $4 a day with the subaru vs. the tundra IF gas hits $4 a gallon this summer which IT WILL NOT IMO.
If gas hits $3 a gallon this summer (which it will), you will be saving $3 a day. Given a 5 day work week that's $15 a week or $60 a month.

If that much money is a deal killer or financial suicide as you put it, buy a bicycle or take the bus.

[jyl]

How long will you keep the Tundra?

I think that within the next 3 years, oil will be back over $100/bbl.

[john walker's workshop]

financial suicide to the tune of plummeting resale value as soon as you drive it off the lot. get a used one.

[Vipergrün]

Thanks for the replies.

I am looking at 2006/2007 models. Dealers are hungry to make a deal on their used inventory and I've been looking at private party as well.

Decisions, decisions....

[VincentVega]

Tons of nice trucks out there, take your time and be picky.

Get whatever you want to drive every day. Personal choice, I'd rather have a car and an older truck.

[porsche4life]

If the extra gas isnt a killer I'd say go for it. My dad had an 06 tacoma and that was great truck. Easiest vehicle ever to change to oil on. I wouldnt be afraid of a Tundra at all.

[Tim Hancock]

I bought an '02 Tundra 4x4 Limited early last summer with nearly 140,000 miles on it for $9000. It still runs/drives like a new one. After putting 10,000 miles on it, the only thing I have done is change the oil. They are VERY WELL BUILT!

[look 171]

The thing has a lexus motor in there. My roofer has one. I think its at least 5-7 years old and it has over 300,000 miles on it. He doesn't haul anything with it but bid on jobs. The only thing he did to it was general smog stuff like O2 sensor and such. I have an old land cruiser that i drive all the time with 250k on the odo. Not a single thing wrong with it. The CD no linger works but who cares. They build a great products.

[Vintage Racer]

It isn't financial suicide since you are just buying a truck. I don't know how anyone can not own a truck in order to tow their car to the track.

I'd suggest something like this for the serious track guy:

[onewhippedpuppy]

If you don't care about gas prices, go for it. Otherwise they're great trucks.

[Rufblackbird]

I would recommend getting the current generation Tundras ('07+) with the 5.7L I-Force engine. IIRC the gas mileage is very similar between the 4.7 and 5.7, but with the 5.7 you get 381hp and 401 ft/lbs of torque...I absolutely love mine. Towing a trailer I averaged about 15mpg from San Diego up to Santa Clara, but then again I have the TRD supercharger installed...

[89911]

I drove basically the same car (02 Sequoia) for 2 years and it is really a reliable vehicle. I'd say it feels heavy and slightly underpowered for towing, along with just 4 speeds. The gas mileage is really bad, even with the new ones. I wouldn't consider it "financial suicide" unless your putting all your life saving into this vehicle. It is a simple equation, buy it for as low as you possible get it for, and then go lower. It may of been better months ago when dealers weren't even taking them in as trades and gas was $4/gallon. All the panicky owners wanted out as soon as possible. But, you can't tow with a Prius, so some of us still need them. I personally wouldn't buy anything new because the depreciation on them is happening meteorically. The Tundra/Sequoia if reliable if nothing else.

[Vipergrün]

Wow, great input all!

I have found a certified 2007 I really like. I hate to go with a dealer, but I think I can get a good deal, 4.9% financing and an extended warranty.

I had a first-gen Tundra and loved it. Then again, it was easy to like anything after having a POS GM truck

I am impressed at 15mpg towing with the 5.7!

[lendaddy]

I get 12-13 MPG with my 2000 Tundra.

[sammyg2]

The 5.7 liter is supposed to get slightly better gas mileage than the 4.7 because it has a six speed auto vs. the 5 speed for the smaller motor.

The biggest difference between the older tundras and the current generation (besides the size) is the brakes. OMG, they make 917 brakes look and feel small and wimpy.

And have you checked the drive shaft? It's as big at a telephone pole.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

I think that by Summer gas will be nearing the $4/gal range again - especially here in SoCal.

Based on what?

[Soterik]

I'm looking for something as well...

I'm considering an 05 or 06 Dodge w/ the Cummins 5.9 diesel, in a quad cab, you can get the 06 with the megacab but it's a lot more spendy.

Recent article in Diesel World shows a guy with this rig getting over 30 mpg unloaded with several tweeks, and 18 to 19 towing! Yes, diesel is more expensive, but it's a lot less maintenance, longer life, and higher resale.

cheers,
E

[rbuswell]

I have a 2005 Tundra Club Cab SR5 with fairly modest options, etc. and about 23k miles. I love it. It drives great and I get about 18 MPG in the summer.

I have a 1996 Camry LE 2.3 4 cylinder with 170k junk miles that I drive most of the time. I love it too. It may be worth $3,000 if I'm lucky should I ever sell it. It gets 32 MPG most of the time. It's a pretty comfortable daily driver; good A/C, decent radio, handles easily, a snap to park and lots of utility. Plus it really keeps me sane so I don't get any speeding tickets. It always starts, never puts up a fuss and always gets me there. I plan to drive them both for a very long time.

IMHO, I say buy a good used car or truck (I strongly advocate Toyotas), take care of them like they're airplanes and drive the heck out of them. Drive the Porsche for the fun miles.