2005 Toyota Tundra - Solid, Dependable & Reliable
In a pickup truck market filled with choices, the Toyota Tundra is, without question, one of the best possible choices anyone could make. Mine currently has 196,000 miles and has undergone almost no repairs in the entire time I've owned it. The fit and finish is great, as over the past 10 years, all the gaps, like between the hood and the quarter panels, are exactly the same as they were when it was new. No matter what the weather conditions, it starts every time and runs strong. The 4-wheel drive is effortless and completely reliable - With one push of a button on the dash, the truck goes into real time 4-wheel drive, which is great because you can drive over snowy, slippery roads, knowing that the front drive axle will engage only when it needs to. Even in those conditions, it feels ... (more)
In a pickup truck market filled with choices, the Toyota Tundra is, without question, one of the best possible choices anyone could make. Mine currently has 196,000 miles and has undergone almost no repairs in the entire time I've owned it. The fit and finish is great, as over the past 10 years, all the gaps, like between the hood and the quarter panels, are exactly the same as they were when it was new. No matter what the weather conditions, it starts every time and runs strong. The 4-wheel drive is effortless and completely reliable - With one push of a button on the dash, the truck goes into real time 4-wheel drive, which is great because you can drive over snowy, slippery roads, knowing that the front drive axle will engage only when it needs to. Even in those conditions, it feels solid, planted, and sure-footed. The interior is great too. It's roomy and spacious without feeling cavernous. The cloth seats have held up extremely well, and continue to do so. The best part about the interior? The electric rear window. I've lost track of the number of people who have commented on what a brilliant idea this is. With one push of a button, the entire rear window glass slides down into the rear wall of the cab, making it feel almost like a convertible. It just makes sense: In a crew cab, the driver can't reach a manual rear window, so Toyota had the good sense to make it electric, which was the best idea ever. Frankly, I can't believe that other manufacturers haven't done the same.
All in all, I've never owned a more reliable, trouble-free, rugged vehicle. It simply works. Every time, all the time.
Once, I drove it into my yard and set up a ladder in the bed, so that I could reach a tree branch with my chain saw. I climbed in the bed and scampered up the ladder, and then hauled the chain saw up on a rope. Starting it, I sawed through the tree branch in nothing flat, but it fell awkwardly and just nicked the bed rail on the passenger side. The result was a very small dent, about the size ... (more)
Once, I drove it into my yard and set up a ladder in the bed, so that I could reach a tree branch with my chain saw. I climbed in the bed and scampered up the ladder, and then hauled the chain saw up on a rope. Starting it, I sawed through the tree branch in nothing flat, but it fell awkwardly and just nicked the bed rail on the passenger side. The result was a very small dent, about the size of a silver dollar, and a spot of equal size where the paint was busted off. Although it didn't at all affect the operation of the truck, I paid a body shop to fix it - I just felt that, because the truck had continued to provide me with unbelievable reliability and quality, I owed it at least the repair of the small amount of damage that I'd caused. Plus, I promised myself I'd leave any and all future high tree work to the professionals.
The reliability of the Tundra is definitely one of its greatest strengths. Usual vehicle parts that wear or break down over time simply haven't broken on this truck. The usual suspects like ball joints, control arms, and steering racks have all remained solid and haven't been touched. While on the Ford F-150, for example, the rocker panels beneath the doors would have rusted out at about 50,000 miles, the ones on the Toyota look brand new. You just can't put a price tag on that kind of reliability and quality.
My other favorite feature is the electric rear window. It's one of those things ... (more)
The reliability of the Tundra is definitely one of its greatest strengths. Usual vehicle parts that wear or break down over time simply haven't broken on this truck. The usual suspects like ball joints, control arms, and steering racks have all remained solid and haven't been touched. While on the Ford F-150, for example, the rocker panels beneath the doors would have rusted out at about 50,000 miles, the ones on the Toyota look brand new. You just can't put a price tag on that kind of reliability and quality.
My other favorite feature is the electric rear window. It's one of those things that you just can't believe that every truck doesn't have. It just makes that much sense. Even with that big, expansive piece of glass, the button works every time and that window glides up and down on its motor just like it did the day it rolled off the dealer's lot. Dependable.
The ride feel of this truck is probably my other favorite thing. Although it sits high and you know you're in a truck, the ride is smooth and quiet. I'd feel just as comfortable driving this truck into the city to attend a symphony concert as I would taking it through 12" of mud. I'm that comfortable and confident in this truck. It simply does everything well and it keeps doing those things year after year after year, with no signs of getting tired, worn out, loose, or compromised in any way. In fact, I'd have a hard time thinking of another product that provides such a high degree of solid, consistent reliability. It just doesn't break.
The Tundra really isn't that exciting to look at. Mine is gray, which I think is a color that should be reserved to rental vehicles. The corners are all rounded, which, I think, give it a little bit of a cartoonish look. The newer model Tundras have been designed with sharp, aggressive edges and lines, while the 2005 model sports curved radiuses, which make it look less aggressive than I would like. It's appearance simply doesn't stand out. This, although it's a personal preference, is one of the few negative things I can say about this truck.
One other annoyance relates to the rear window... (more)
The Tundra really isn't that exciting to look at. Mine is gray, which I think is a color that should be reserved to rental vehicles. The corners are all rounded, which, I think, give it a little bit of a cartoonish look. The newer model Tundras have been designed with sharp, aggressive edges and lines, while the 2005 model sports curved radiuses, which make it look less aggressive than I would like. It's appearance simply doesn't stand out. This, although it's a personal preference, is one of the few negative things I can say about this truck.
One other annoyance relates to the rear window, although this would be the case with any truck that has an operable rear window. If there is anything at all in the bed of the truck: Leaves, dirt, dust, paper, trash or any other kind of lightweight material, it will likely blow into the cab if you power the rear window down. And it blows in all at once. If you forget that you didn't completely clean out the bed and you power the rear window down at speed, everything that you left in the bed is going to end up on the back seat. Although I can't think of a way for the engineers to prevent this, it is an irritating side effect that, no matter how many times I do it, I can't seem to remember.
2012 Toyota Tundra - Best 4wd 1/2 ton pickup. Period.
The reliability and maintainability of this truck are exceptional. The build quality is good. The ride is comfortable, and the truck handles well. The power output is not lacking, in fact it outperforms every other 1/2 ton I compared against and approaches 3/4 ton capability. The only complaint I have is that it consumes more gasoline than similar V8 1/2 ton pickups, though not by a wide margin. I have found the truck to be extremely useful, especially for moving furniture and building/landscape supplies for my home. The 4wd system is incredible, even with all season tires I never lost traction in the snow or mud this past winter and I could always get up my 20% grade driveway.
The reliability and maintainability of this truck are exceptional. The build quality is good. The ride is comfortable, and the truck handles well. The power output is not lacking, in fact it outperforms every other 1/2 ton I compared against and approaches 3/4 ton capability. The only complaint I have is that it consumes more gasoline than similar V8 1/2 ton pickups, though not by a wide margin. I have found the truck to be extremely useful, especially for moving furniture and building/landscape supplies for my home. The 4wd system is incredible, even with all season tires I never lost traction in the snow or mud this past winter and I could always get up my 20% grade driveway.
Getting up my driveway with three feet of snow while my friend's 3/4 ton Silverado couldn't make it up even with knobby tires!
Getting up my driveway with three feet of snow while my friend's 3/4 ton Silverado couldn't make it up even with knobby tires!
Towing/hauling capability exceeds other 1/2 ton pickups. Reliability and maintenance are easy and affordable. Comfort and room are exceptional for the price point. Comfort features like Bluetooth are readily available for a fair price.
Towing/hauling capability exceeds other 1/2 ton pickups. Reliability and maintenance are easy and affordable. Comfort and room are exceptional for the price point. Comfort features like Bluetooth are readily available for a fair price.
Higher gasoline consumption than similar engines. Six-speed automatic transmission rather than more common eight speed.
Higher gasoline consumption than similar engines. Six-speed automatic transmission rather than more common eight speed.
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