Shopping for a Tundra?

[Lars]

We are thinking about trading in the wife's 2000 4runner for a Tundra.

We also have a 93 LandCruiser and a couple of heeps. All have been very reliable although the Cruiser needed a new head gasket at 117k miles. The last thing I want is to be dealing with is warranty issues on a new vehicle.


Any thoughts on the new Tundras? They just recently started catching our eye so I know nothing about them. Just trying to get some basic opinions and info. Any good tundra related websites? Are they made in Japan? Do they have a reputation of being reliable?

Any must have options? The vehicle will be used to tow a light camper and will see some offroad use but by no means severe duty. Daily driver 2 or 3 weeks out of the month.


Any thoughts or links would be greatly appreciated.

[Matador98]

Originally Posted by Lars

We are thinking about trading in the wife's 2000 4runner for a Tundra.

We also have a 93 LandCruiser and a couple of heeps. All have been very reliable although the Cruiser needed a new head gasket at 117k miles. The last thing I want is to be dealing with warranty issues.


Any thoughts on the new Tundras? They just recently started catching our eye so I know nothing about them. Just trying to get so0me basic opinions and info. Any good tundra related websites? Are they made in Japan? Do they have a reputation of being reliable?

Any must have options? The vehicle will be used to tow a light camper and will see some offroad use but by no means severe duty. Daily driver 2 or 3 weeks out of the month.


Any thoughts or links would be greatly appreciated.

What do you want to know?

I love my 2000 Tundra. I bought it certified used from a dealer in February 2004. The 2000-2003 Tundra have had brake problems, and a TSB was issued. It wouldn't hurt, if you buy one of those years, to see if it has been done. If not, good aftermarket slotted rotors and ceramic pads take care of the problem. My brakes haven't had either done and are just fine, maybe a little vibration at high speeds when I really hit the brakes hard.

Body style changed lightly on the front end in 2003. Double cab came out in 2004, and a new engine came out in 2005. 2000-2004 is a 4.7L, 245HP. The new one is 4.7L, 282 HP with VVTi. On the early model year Tundras, the engines were made in Japan and shipped over, and the bodys are made in Indiana. I believe the entire vehicle is built in US now, and I forget when the changeover was.

My truck has been very reliable, and have never regretted the decision to purchase it. Options? Really is up to you, the buyer. Mine is an SR5, non-TRD, 2WD. About as basic as it gets, but it has all I need. The limited jump up to leather, etc., and the TRD package comes with Bilstein shocks and progressive coils. I am going to shortly upgrade my shocks to bilstein, and buy some used TRD coils. They go for 100 bucks. So you really don't have to buy the package from the dealer.

That is all I can think of, for now. Sorry if I rambled, just trying to help you out. For more information and questions, check out www.tundrasolutions.com. It is kinda the Tundra equivalent of IH8MUD....just a little less personal.

[Lars]

Do you know if there is a locker option available?

[dylan]

no, its just a limited slip on the trd tundra.

[Bear80]

I don't know how Toyota got 282 hp on the new engines but I can tell you that I can chase down my friends new 05 mustang with my dad's new 2005 tundra.

I would really like to see a rear locker but the lsd seems to work well. There are a few things my dad and my self do not like.

1. The tires are too SMALL! They look goofy on the step side, but I just bought a set of lx450 wheels and some 305/70's to fix that for my pops.
2. The whole truck seems like a domestic truck, the dash is not layed out like a well thought out toyota and the just a rip off of a ford. Because of this I will NEVER buy a truck targeted to get domestic buyers into toyota and any toyota made in the USA. The quality in the materials are noticably cheaper.

What we do like:

1. The step sides look really slick with a bed cover and wider bigger tires.
2. The new 282hp VVTi can hall and you forget the crapy interior and cheap materials.