Car ownership experiences

[Odinsraven]

Have a 2012 Hyundai x55 3l oil burner .....just passed 350k km thing is solid ...apart from one electrical fault that drains the battery solution dead switch .....just acquired a doner car for parts ....mso hope to have many more years with it

 

[KEC]

I was a Dodge tech for almost 35 yrs before changing occupation and retiring and will never buy a Dodge. I purchased a new F150 in 2021, that one was traded for a 4Runner last year due to constant problems and recalls, I swear the dealer had it more in 3 yrs than I did. Its Toyota from here out for us, we have a 2023 Tacoma and the 2024 4Runner, both with the tried and proven V6 and best of all trouble free.

 

[bigborelover]

This is basically the indian equivalent of landcrusier 70 series. 4x4 , barebones and reliable as hell. People have modified this into countless varieties.

 

[steve white]

This is basically the indian equivalent of landcrusier 70 series. 4x4 , barebones and reliable as hell. People have modified this into countless varieties.

No use showing us what we can't have....sigh

 

[Bonk]

Until recently, Toyota.

After Toyota quit using V8 engines in trucks and SUV'S, who knows???



In the US -

All Toyota "Land Cruisers" are all hybrids now.
Toyota Tacoma's and Tundra are "Twin Turbo" V6's or 4 cylinders.
Pretty pathetic, IMO.

I’ve owned two 5.7L V8 Tundra pick-ups. Excellent and durable trucks. I loved the V8. I bought a ’24 Tundra with the twin turbo 6. Initially I wasn’t thrilled that I could no longer get a V8 but I’ve been extremely happy with the twin turbo V6 mated to the 10sp transmission. Tows better than the V8, more HP, more torque, and better gas mileage.

 

[mdwest]

I’ve got a 2024 Tundra with the turbo v6 as well…

I haven’t been real pleased with the tech package… it’s been back to the dealership multiple times at this point for repairs to various electronic issues ranging from cameras to the phone interface, to knobs falling off the dash for no reason…

But I have to admit that I’m super happy with the drive train… I haul A LOT of heavy stuff, routinely… everything from beds full of grass sod, to truck loads of fire wood, etc… to pulling my boat, to pulling a trailer with my side by side on it, etc… and do A LOT of highway miles (I’ve only had the truck 18 months and it’s already got 38k miles on it)…

It is smooth on the interstate, pulls with no problem at all, etc.. and while it’s a gas hog, it’s not nearly as bad as I expected…

I think the turbo v6 is likely going to end up being just as popular and just as reliable as the old beloved Toyota 5.8l v8…

 

[Denvir Tire]

Agree, BUT...there are two others influences which have driven manufacturing standards. One is length of bank loans. In 1950's Germany the car loans could stretch to 10 years. Mercedes built to that standard and made a good reputation. But could they afford to build cars fell apart 5 yrs into payments if the buyers would then dump them? The other might impact refrigerators more than cars, but that would be the durable goods import standards. When older fridges lived eternally, standards were high for would be exporters, then they dropped to ten years, then to three years as an acceptable longevity goal.

I had not considered these two points previously, and although they appear to make good sense, I'd like an opportunity to examine them at length.

First, full disclosure, I have no knowledge of post war European economics, none. In fact, I don't know much about economics at all. I do however, know a little about machines, manufacturing, and Mercedes Benz automobiles. It's hard for me to imagine a scene in a boardroom, at Mercedes-Benz, where the current term of auto loans would determine the level of quality of MB products. Any exposure to German culture will quickly reveal their painstaking attention to detail in everything they do. Indeed the reputation for German quality is well deserved regarding all of their manufactured goods. Case in point, study any Leica camera or Kreighoff drilling from the 50's on.
In fact, MB lost it's perennial Number 1 ranking, on JD Powers new car satisfaction list, while trying to adapt to the ever increasing demands of the CARB. The increasing electronic engine management burden required to satisfy CARB, affected all auto manufacturers ,not just MB.
I'm not suggesting that without CARB, design and engineering would have stopped, however I absolutely believe that the CARB has brought us aluminum pickup trucks, the death of diesel cars, and an unrealized number of plastic engine components.

I'm not sure what the "durable goods import standards" are, but I'm convinced that China is peddling low quality, knock offs to us, in bulk.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Best advert for any brand of vehicle. Ever.

View attachment 709583

I choked on my breakfast, and promptly sent that to a half dozen people... Thanks for sharing.

 

[GuttormG]

Blood expensive, even worse if you aren,'t capable of doing maintenance and repairs yourself, and within a few years you can not but a real car anymore.

Welcome to Norway.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’ve got a 2024 Tundra with the turbo v6 as well…

I haven’t been real pleased with the tech package… it’s been back to the dealership multiple times at this point for repairs to various electronic issues ranging from cameras to the phone interface, to knobs falling off the dash for no reason…

But I have to admit that I’m super happy with the drive train… I haul A LOT of heavy stuff, routinely… everything from beds full of grass sod, to truck loads of fire wood, etc… to pulling my boat, to pulling a trailer with my side by side on it, etc… and do A LOT of highway miles (I’ve only had the truck 18 months and it’s already got 38k miles on it)…

It is smooth on the interstate, pulls with no problem at all, etc.. and while it’s a gas hog, it’s not nearly as bad as I expected…

I think the turbo v6 is likely going to end up being just as popular and just as reliable as the old beloved Toyota 5.8l v8…

Your heavy stuff is a lot different than mine.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’m different than most, my truck is a 95 F250 with the 7.3 power stroke. I’ve put 100,000 miles on it and it’s still as reliable as a new truck.
Only having 213,000 on it now I should be good for another 100,000 at least maybe 2.
It’s not uncommon for us to have 20,000 pounds behind a pickup.

 

[mdwest]

I’m different than most, my truck is a 95 F250 with the 7.3 power stroke. I’ve put 100,000 miles on it and it’s still as reliable as a new truck.
Only having 213,000 on it now I should be good for another 100,000 at least maybe 2.
It’s not uncommon for us to have 20,000 pounds behind a pickup.

Concur...

Theres a huge difference between a 3/4 ton truck and your typical "city" built/designed 1/2 ton truck..

Most of your 1/2 trucks are going to be built to find some sort of balance between its ability to be a truck and to tow/haul stuff, and its comfort to drive on the open road and city streets unloaded, etc.. and theres definitely going to be a greater focus on gas mileage, higher gear ratios, etc..

I love the power and torque that 3/4 ton trucks provide.. but I simply dont have a need for anything like that.. worst case scenario I've got a 3000lb pallet of sod in the bed of the tundra while at the same time Im pulling the trailer with another 3000lb pallet on it.. a 1/2 ton truck doesnt particularly like being under that sort of load, but it can do it pretty easily...

20,000 behind my truck would be a non-starter for me..

A typical load out for my 1/2 ton is a loaded/fueled fishing boat at about 2000lbs, and maybe another 500lbs of "stuff" in the bed... or an 1100lb UTV on a 400lb trailer getting pulled with maybe another 500lbs of "stuff" in the bed...

 

[Muskox]

I don't think there is a brand in current production that the quality is the same as in the 1990's.

Here in Europe we have a Toyota Sienna and a Subaru outback.

The Subaru is an electrical basket case, it has no idea if the tech in it will work or not. At least it finally stopped killing batteries.

The Sienna is 99.7% plastic, same as any other modern Toyota.

I am eyeballing a 2016 Sequoia. I am going to look at next week.

 

[uplander01]

Currently driving a 2023 Land Rover Defender 130. 60k miles on it and it has performed twice as good as any American SUV I've ever owned, and I've had nearly every one except for a Ford.

That said, Toyotas are a fantastic vehicle, but I honestly think their reign is over. We had a 21 4runner TRD Pro and that thing was great, terrible mileage though. Someone in management really shit the bed with this hybrid 4 cyl in everything they are making now.....wouldn't buy one if they sold it to me half price.

 

[BonUm16]

Concur...

Theres a huge difference between a 3/4 ton truck and your typical "city" built/designed 1/2 ton truck..

Most of your 1/2 trucks are going to be built to find some sort of balance between its ability to be a truck and to tow/haul stuff, and its comfort to drive on the open road and city streets unloaded, etc.. and theres definitely going to be a greater focus on gas mileage, higher gear ratios, etc..

I love the power and torque that 3/4 ton trucks provide.. but I simply dont have a need for anything like that.. worst case scenario I've got a 3000lb pallet of sod in the bed of the tundra while at the same time Im pulling the trailer with another 3000lb pallet on it.. a 1/2 ton truck doesnt particularly like being under that sort of load, but it can do it pretty easily...

20,000 behind my truck would be a non-starter for me..

A typical load out for my 1/2 ton is a loaded/fueled fishing boat at about 2000lbs, and maybe another 500lbs of "stuff" in the bed... or an 1100lb UTV on a 400lb trailer getting pulled with maybe another 500lbs of "stuff" in the bed...

What’s the payload of your Tundra? 3,000 lbs of sod must be somewhere between 50-100% over factory specs, and that’s not including everything else that gets factored in to that number. I’m a bit surprised a business nowadays loaded it and that your Tundra wasn’t sitting on its tires. Hope you are at least running 10plys if you’re doing that kind of stuff.

 

[mdwest]

What’s the payload of your Tundra? 3,000 lbs of sod must be somewhere between 50-100% over factory specs, and that’s not including everything else that gets factored in to that number. I’m a bit surprised a business nowadays loaded it and that your Tundra wasn’t sitting on its tires. Hope you are at least running 10plys if you’re doing that kind of stuff.

Youll see typical 1/2 ton trucks (Chevy 1500's, Ford F150's, Ram 1500m etc) lined up every spring between march and may at all of the grass dealers in NTX (cant keep a yard decent around here with all of the heat, lack of rain, etc).. Ive never seen a grass company turn anyone away..

Factory payload on the Tundra is 1940lbs..

I havent weighed a palate of sod before.. Im just relying on google, which says they weigh between 2000-3000lbs... Im guessing the variance is related to how wet or dry the sod is, and what type of grass it is..

I do know that when they put the palate in the truck, I look like a gang banger rolling in the barrio in a low rider truck.. it sets the truck WAY down on the wheels..

 

[rookhawk]

Youll see typical 1/2 ton trucks (Chevy 1500's, Ford F150's, Ram 1500m etc) lined up every spring between march and may at all of the grass dealers in NTX (cant keep a yard decent around here with all of the heat, lack of rain, etc).. Ive never seen a grass company turn anyone away..

Factory payload on the Tundra is 1940lbs..

I havent weighed a palate of sod before.. Im just relying on google, which says they weigh between 2000-3000lbs... Im guessing the variance is related to how wet or dry the sod is, and what type of grass it is..

I do know that when they put the palate in the truck, I look like a gang banger rolling in the barrio in a low rider truck.. it sets the truck WAY down on the wheels..

Just jumping in here to break up the fight. <kidding> I know a lot of Toyota fanatics with Tundras that add a leaf to the suspension and put air bladders in the coil springs just to get that “3/4 ton experience” from their Japanese car. And by Japanese car, I mean the #1 most American made pickup truck that exists. Point being, you can get 3/4 ton results from a Tundra for very little money and their reliability is way better than our Ford/GM/Ram options.

 

[mdwest]

Just jumping in here to break up the fight. <kidding> I know a lot of Toyota fanatics with Tundras that add a leaf to the suspension and put air bladders in the coil springs just to get that “3/4 ton experience” from their Japanese car. And by Japanese car, I mean the #1 most American made pickup truck that exists. Point being, you can get 3/4 ton results from a Tundra for very little money and their reliability is way better than our Ford/GM/Ram options.

Never heard of that.. but seems to be a very affordable and cool option… high quality leaf replacement kits are pretty cheap (found a really well reviewed one for $550).. and if you just want to add an additional leaf that appears to be as little as $110 (plus labor)…

I may actually have to look into that.. I’ve got maybe another 6-8 months and I’m going to be looking at new tires… I was already planning on going with a taller, more aggressive AT tire than what it came with from the factory… swapping out for heavier leafs at the same time might be a good idea..

 

[Tex .416]

...Point being, you can get 3/4 ton results from a Tundra for very little money and their reliability is way better than our Ford/GM/Ram options.

It depends on the location and use. Where I mostly spend time on ranches on the west side of South Texas in what is/was known as the Wild Horse Desert near Laredo, 1/2 tons just do not have adequate cooling capacity. I use a F250 diesel not because of towing capacity, but for the cooling capacity and payload capacity, as well as the extra room. Overwhelming, F 250/350's and GM 3/4 and 1 tons are the vehicles in use on all of the ranches. I've seen Dodges off pavement only twice in many, many years. Zero Toyotas or any other 1/2 tons. Occasionally, a company exec will show up in a F150, but inevitably ends up riding in someone's 3/4 or 1 ton around the properties.

Sand, dust, and sustained heat push equipment hard. Putting three or four people with gear in, there is extra room and plenty of suspension to handle it off pavement. The bigger diesel engines hold 15 quarts of oil and have larger radiators as well as coolers for the oil and transmission which make a major difference. Even the gas engines in the 3/4 and 1 tons are better able to handle the heat, dust, and sand.

An "average" year will have over 75 - 100 days of 100F+ days, with peak temps over 110F for two to four weeks depending on the year. In the summer, I leave my truck running all day with the A/C on max. We will work for a while, then sit in the cab to cool off and chug fluid. 1/2 tons just cannot endure that heat load on them while idling all day and the A/C does not have adequate capacity to keep the cab cool in the peak heat in the afternoons.

I hunted for a few years with a fairly high ranked Toyota exec on one ranch. He drove Toyotas on the weekdays, but drove a F250 diesel on the ranch were we hunted. He was very up front that the Toyota 1/2 ton just was not designed for that environment. Again, we are comparing vehicles available here in the US. If I could have one of the small diesel engine pickups available in Tanzania, I'd love to have one, but it is not available here for reasons already discussed.

I do also have and use a John Deere Gator that has a 3 cylinder Yanmar diesel engine and love it. It goes all day long and only uses 3 to 5 gallons of diesel running around all day long. It is an amazing engine and buggy. It does not have A/C, so on the hottest days, the truck with the nice big A/C blowing cold air is the go to choice.

 

[Tex .416]

Rookhawk,

seeing you are from Wisconsin, it is hard to convey the problems heat causes in the area I spend so much time. Trying to convey the challenge of heat here is like me trying to understand you explaining the level of cold in which you live. The heat is just an entirely different level and is as hard on equipment as the extreme cold in which you live.