TTAC Questions: Is The Tundra Inviting Controversy?

TTAC Questions: Is The Tundra Inviting Controversy?
Trivia buffs, scholars of ancient history and encyclopedia-reading geeks know the first month of the year is named for the Roman god Janus. Janus didn’t have any special powers. His entire claim to fame was based on having two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Since Janus could keep an eye on what was coming as well as what was going, he was placed in charge of gates and doors, transitions, and beginnings and endings. Being two faced also meant he could talk out of two mouths at the same time. Kinda like Toyota.

Toyota spends millions of dollars touting themselves as the automotive equivalent of the Sierra Club. They’re out to save the planet with their Hybrid Synergy Drive and put OPEC sheiks on the public dole with their fuel sipping econoboxes. They’re so magnanimous they’re sharing their hybrid technology with Ford and Nissan (and anyone else willing to pay the price).

Toyota’s even bragging that their new manufacturing plants will produce no waste to clog the landfills. Yes, the birds are singing in the trees and daisies are blooming in the meadows thanks to Toyota. And then there’s the Tundra.


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rockerrocker - 1/19/2007 1:46:38 PM
+2 Boost
Recalls, hatemail from the greenies. Toyota just needs some union issues and they will look like any other US car company.


lewissalemlewissalem - 1/19/2007 1:51:23 PM
+3 Boost
According to a few podcasts, the interior quality is below average. Which is very surprising out of Toyota. Will this make a difference in the marketplace? Probably not. My father in law doesn't stroke dash plastics when he's buying a truck.


Agent009Agent009 - 1/19/2007 2:34:19 PM
+2 Boost
I heard that too but I will reserve judgment until I see it.

Interestingly these same conversations questioned the durability of the construction in typical hard use.


Both of these issues will pan out after the vehicle goes on sale. But typically all Toyota vehicles are well thought out.


adoptgreyhoundsadoptgreyhounds - 1/20/2007 8:08:02 PM
+1 Boost
It's well known with in the industry Toyota did not spend as much money or time on the interior. Most true truck buyers don't really care, and the fakes don't care because they want to look tough and rugged. Remember trucks are for work.


Agent009Agent009 - 1/19/2007 2:35:23 PM
0 Boost
It is just the writers style nothing more. TTAC always has been a bit eloquent with their prose.




S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 1/20/2007 11:17:24 PM
+1 Boost
Will, I agree with you, but this is akin to you chastising Audi fans about the Q7 Hybrid. Toyota is simply putting their money in the right places. Trucks are still a significant market, and if the Tundra succeeds, it will help them a lot. The Q7 Hybrid is the same idea. RX400h will finally have a competitor. I'm sure BMW will follow with an X5 Hybrid, and there will be inevitable comparisons to the ML and GL diesels (as well as Q7 diesels).

Green luxury SUVs abound!


jt716jt716 - 1/19/2007 3:21:22 PM
+2 Boost
Toyota's Reliability i find has dropped..And I was driving by and saw i thik a 2000 Tundra broken down on the road. Kind of disappointing i love the older models the new ones suck at lexus also


ElSparquitoElSparquito - 1/19/2007 4:05:49 PM
0 Boost
That's not too fair to say that Toyota's reliability has dropped just because a 7 yr old Toyota truck was broken down...c'mon. I know a bunch of drivers that do not perform regular routine maintenance and develop car troubles (belts, oil, filters, plugs, etc.). They expect their vehicles to last just because of the reliability of the nameplate...most were female.


1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 1/19/2007 3:34:37 PM
+3 Boost
Typical TTAC slam on Toyota. What manufacturers do they like? They have death watches for GM, Ford and Chrysler. They post negative reviews of most recent Toyotas. I cant remember the last vehicle they liked. Maybe they have just staked out an adversarial position on everything, that's their schtick. And they mask their negativity with clever one liners and pithy prose. TTAC's bloggers eat it up. (Boggers are not allowed to criticize the authors on TTAC.) I am so over them.


RupertRupert - 1/19/2007 4:01:52 PM
0 Boost
how big is that truck!
i have never seen anything that huge in my life...talk about designed for americans...


EL34EL34 - 1/19/2007 8:14:35 PM
-1 Boost
It's only about as big as a Lexus IS-350.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 1/20/2007 11:18:48 PM
+1 Boost
And that's only the base, two-door version. Wait 'till you see the extended-cab, four door! And the heavy duty!


chewychewy - 1/19/2007 4:07:37 PM
+3 Boost
No big crime from Toyota here. This is not the first vehicle to try to dodge the new 2008 MY EPA fuel economy ratings. In fact I believe that the Tundra will benefit from the new ratings when they all get tested by the new ratings.

However, the new recall is going to hurt badly.


MrLazyBoy07MrLazyBoy07 - 1/19/2007 5:30:09 PM
+1 Boost
Business is business. Any company will tell you what you want to here. The only thing that matters at the end of the day for Toyota is increasing their sales year after year.



EL34EL34 - 1/19/2007 8:13:25 PM
-1 Boost
Ewwwww, that's a funky lookin' truck.


truckmentruckmen - 1/19/2007 9:02:18 PM
0 Boost
This truck is a disapointment from an enviromental point of view obviously and very disapointing to the 4x4 crowd! So who wants this truck? "MORONS" The gas mielage worse than an H-2 with the off road prowness of a Corola! (Almost) Let me desighn this truck! Or better yet let one of those off road race truck builders make one! Whoever built this doesn't understand trucks! It needs to be lighter, shorter, larger tires, more suspension travel x3, tubular frame like the race trucks (that makes them strong and light.)I am dreaming!


chewychewy - 1/20/2007 4:52:44 PM
+2 Boost
No you idiot, the H2 doesn't get an EPA fuel economy rating, because its too heavy. If it did, it would get something like 10 city and 14 highway.


truckmentruckmen - 1/19/2007 11:20:04 PM
0 Boost
Nobody makes a capable 4x4 1/2 ton truck! The market is wide open for one of the companies to make a capable 4x4.They are all crap and the tundra is the best example of how not to make a truck! At least the chev is improving slightly but still a princess and lacking off road prowness but may out four wheel a corola.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 1/20/2007 11:20:14 PM
+3 Boost
LOL, "prowness". That should be a word.


truckmentruckmen - 1/20/2007 11:34:36 AM
0 Boost
For off road prowness the auto companies will show the vehicle splashing through puddles and driving up some mountain a corola could drive! This Tundra is a princess!


lexusis350lexusis350 - 1/21/2007 2:09:28 AM
+1 Boost
This article makes Toyota seem like a bunch of tree huggers. Why does Toyota make hybrids...because of all the liberal hippie's who make it seem like any manufacturer not making hybrids is evil.


webguywebguy - 1/21/2007 4:31:25 PM
-1 Boost
Anybody who tells me they’re telling me the truth is probably lying.

Toyota is not two-faced because they built a full size truck that doesn’t get the mileage of a Prius. The mileage is at least on par with other full size trucks… oh I get it. They’re mad because Toyota built a full-size truck. Period.

Wow, what I wouldn’t give to have enough free time to go try and make the rest of the world conform to my shallow, media distorted understanding of global priorities (of course I’d spend that time on something else, personally.) Not everyone uses their vehicle for a commute to a pampering desk everyday. Some people, and I know this is hard for some cubicle dwellers to digest, NEED a full size truck. The ones who constructed the building they’re writing from, for instance, need to haul things and tow trailers; and a Camry hybrid, well, doesn’t quite cut it. This isn’t a suburbanized image SUV like the H2, it’s a work truck. Its gas mileage reflects that, so what. Aren’t there enough cows to keep these people busy?



truckmentruckmen - 1/21/2007 5:23:22 PM
+1 Boost
"Webguy" some good points!I have had three toyota trucks and been impressed with the reliability and with some much needed modifications unfortunatly it aquired aceptable off road abilities. My expectations of a truck is to have off road capabilities. Gas mielage is obiously not going to be as good as a "Mercedes smart car" but this probably achieves the worst mielage of the group! I am not picking on Toyota because I am disapointed in them all,it is just this Tundra is by far the worst truck ever desighned acording to my expectations! Some people say it is not what you buy it is what you make! Or For cars it is what you buy because you car guys are spoiled with many sports cars right off the showrooms with no need for modifications.Unfortunatly for 1/2 ton trucks they all suck and would require heavy $$$ modifications to be capable for off road capabilities.I know Toyota has the ability! Toy would have to start from a clean slate to save this! As a pavement princess I think this would be a sucsess.


webguywebguy - 1/21/2007 11:48:17 PM
+1 Boost
No thanks. I’m already full on spam from your first post. You should be banned.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 1/21/2007 11:51:04 PM
0 Boost
He brags about Lincoln styling.

That deserves a banning in itself.


truckmentruckmen - 1/22/2007 11:30:10 PM
+1 Boost
"Webguy" maybe you should stick to your BMW /car blogs if you don't understand trucks. I am generally a Toyota fan and a truck MAN and if you don't believe I am a man check out my photo! And as a hunting MAN this Tundra doesn't meet my expectations, I am sorry to hear my critique of this truck upsets you.I would like this truck if I never went off road and just used it as a highway hauler.XO


truckmentruckmen - 1/22/2007 11:32:03 PM
+1 Boost
I don't care how ugly a vehicle is, as long as it performs.And I don't like the lincon for that reason.


ElSparquitoElSparquito - 1/22/2007 8:59:32 AM
+2 Boost
I finally saw the '07 Tundra up close and was kind of disappointed. The exterior was typical Toyota, not too banal - not overly garish, middle of the road styling. The interior flat-out sucked. Cheap, cheap plastics and an ergonomic disaster. The real only thing to love is the new 5.7L V8. No it won't get 50 MPG (maybe 20), but it will get other truck makers to take notice and re-engineer their engines. Competition breeds better cars.


webguywebguy - 1/24/2007 12:01:58 AM
+2 Boost
truckmen, my comment was not aimed at you. It was a reply to a post with a link on it from someone pushing their scamming website... which apparently was removed, but my reply to it was not.



truckmentruckmen - 1/24/2007 8:50:15 PM
+1 Boost
Thanks for clarifying that.Now I know.Did you see the photo of me? Actually it isn't me, my Wife put that photo of my actor friend in there as a joke. It may be offensive to some.Webguy your posts are inteligent!


truckmentruckmen - 1/24/2007 8:50:29 PM
+1 Boost
Thanks for clarifying that.Now I know.Did you see the photo of me? Actually it isn't me, my Wife put that photo of my actor friend in there as a joke. It may be offensive to some.Webguy your posts are inteligent!
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