First I will say that, up until 2000 (and a little after) the only vehicles parked in most any of my families driveways were Fords. This goes back before my time.

My parents got a Sequoia new as an '03 as a replacement for their troublesome Expy after having tranny problems with most every ford in the decade before. The Sequoia, while lacking personality IMO (not a "Drivers car"), never let them down. It was traded with 98K miles tonight....for a new Tundra.

Why not F150? Besides still having a bad taste from vans and Expy's, the F150 just didn't match up for their needs. They got a decked out Crew max Limited 5.7 with TRD (2wd) package. The back seat in the F150 SCREW was no match, the Expedition's was fine, but they had decided they wanted the bed of a truck vs. an SUV this time around. Bilsteins from the factory, much better power (was fairly far down on the list though) and the tranny seemed much more suited for it's role.

I would still get an F150 for myslf (just because), but putting myself in their shoes I have to say I think they made the right choice. It wasn't cheap, but...

The only other contender was a Ram Mega cab. it just didn't stack up. They placed it about even with the F150 overall, but only because of the monster cab. GM and Titan weren't considered.

They took my truck tonight and I'm picking the Tundra up in the morning to give it a good Zaino'ing and change/add some small things (headlight bulbs, adding a bed mat and maybe a couple other things). Get to drive it until Sunday when I take it up to them.

Even after driving the new trucks tonight (I was already pretty familiar with the new F150's), I still like my 160K mile '99. My Dad said he had forgotten how nice it drove when they called to check in. Not as quiet, but...

 

Check what the owners manual says about waxing new paint. Clearcoat paint is usually still soft for the first several months.

 

Thanks, I had thought about that. Was a question on my mind. It just came off the delivery truck too. It's at least getting a coat of spray wax. The biggest thing I don't like, while looking nice, is the painted front bumper on the Limiteds. Bug juice eats them up.

My parents are not the best about keeping them clean either.

 

...and here I sit reading about 6 spd. tranny failures on a tundra forum....

 

One drive (actually two) is all it took for me................Hope Ford is paying attention.

 

Suggestion = use a clay bar with a quick detailer, till clearcoat sets up. I use a clay bar and a CA duster on a regular basis, and keep the truck garaged. It still looks new after 17 months, and it hasn't been washed since March.....of 2006!


FYI: Newest Blundra...er..uh....Tundra forum: tundratalk.com

The Tundra left me cold. No power adjustable pedals available, overpriced, jukebox dashboard, lousy seats.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

I beheld, didn't like it.

Yes, I did drive one..ho hum.

 

I have to admit, I didn't drive it but a couple miles so far. Actually I drove a functionally identical truck, my dad did take the one they are buying around the block though.

It was also lightly raining and with a fair amount of traffic. I didn't get a good feel for the handling and overall driving feel yet. It will be better than the Sequoia, from what I can tell so far. I will probably put quite a few miles on it in different situations in the next couple days.

I am excited to pick it up.

The looks, while not handsome like the F150, have grown on me. It's a nice looking truck.

Oh, I did send them the "bouncy bed" vid this morning, didn't seem to make much difference. Still good stuff.

 

The "bouncy bed" video should be taken with a hugh grain of salt. Watch the video carefully, when the F150 takes those same bumps that the others took, all the camera shots are taken from a 3/4 left front end view, so one can't actually determine how much bounce the F150 bed has.

Besides, a Ford "commercial" if that's what the video is, is going to show Ford in the best possible way. Beds are designed to bounce, that's the whole purpose of a separate bed, it isolates the bed flexing from the cab. I'd rather have bed bounce, than what the integral bed Avalanches and and wanna-be Fridgelines experience. Take one a those over the same course...make sure your dentures have plenty of Poly-Grip!

 

Correct on the pedals, but they seemed well placed, especially with telescoping steering column. They did pay a good amount for it (it actually was physically hard for me to swallow when I heard the $40K price offer...). Not the deal breaker, but they did offer almost $2k more for the Sequoia trade at the Toy dealership vs the Ford. They got $1,800 off and 0% for 60 months (or an additional $3500 off instead). After that, the difference wasn't as big as I'd first thought. Still a lot of money.

The seats we all liked more than the F150...hard to say which would be better on a longer trip. They do not like the seats in my sister's '06 F150, but the '07 seemed a little different.

Dash, eh whatever, that was at the bottom of the list, if important at all. It didn't stand out as being hard to read, though it did have lots of gadgets. There were things that didn't "fall into place" for my hands now that I think about it, but that will just take some time.

Thanks for the tips. I need a new clay bar anyway.

 

I'm 6-5 335 lbs, what DOHCMarauder calls an oversized sasquatch. The Tundra seats don't have enough height adjustment, and without the power pedals, it's uncomfortable for me to drive. To say I was disappointed in the new Tundra would be an understatement.


The F150 Lariat seats are as hard as a rock. Within weeks of buying a 2004, I had the seats repadded, didn't help much. The tilt wheel on the F150 doesn't have enough adjustments, and the height distance between the gas and brake pedals is excessive. If the 2009 F150 adds a telescopic wheel, I will consider one. The Sequoia is a nice vehicle, but the step in height is excessive, rather surprising considering it has 16" wheels.


I've driven every large truck and suv sold in the US. Finding something that's a perfect fit is impossible. Tho, what I'm driving now is the best yet.

 

They're Sequoia has 17's and slightly oversized (265-70's) tires on it. Step in I never had a problem with really, especially with the running boards.

The thing I didn't like was the drivers area. I'm not all that big, but my dad is a sizable guy (though not quite your stature). It's just too small for how big the truck is. The doors are thin and the center console is relatively small, it just always seemed so confined for the size of the vehicle. My dad fits in it, but just barely. The A pillar is way too close also, the grab handle is maybe 3 inches away from the steering wheel. Just not a drivers car. Middle seats aren't all that great, never spent time in the rear.

Will report my feelings on the Tundra as I get a few miles on it. I've driven MANY different vehicles too (dealerships and body shops for a few years). I like to think I've developed a good sense of what works and what doesn't.

Haven't been in a the new generation Gm's, was not impressed with the previous style. At all. Titan is so-so. Dodge wasn't bad, but I'd like to drive a non mega cab.

I could just like my '99 F150 so much as I'm used to it...I still like it very much though. The 04-ups do feel quite a bit different from the drivers area compared to it. Better in a way, but mostly just different.

 

One thing I'm unsure about is the oil filter on the Tundra. I think i found it, if it's a cartridge style instead of spin-on.

Sure didn't see a regular filter anywhere and the salesman couldn't figure it out either. he though they were up top, but it was nowhere to be found.

 

Cartridge oil filter? That's a throwback to the 1950/60's on US engines. Ford's first spin on was available in 1957.

The Sequoia I drove was 3 or 4 years ago, and had 16" wheels. The step in height is a problem when you add age, spinal stenosis and arthritis to the mix.


The 2006 and earlier versions of the Tundra were so cramped, I never drove one. Believe it, or not..the Saturn Vue was roomier.


Dodge has styling, and the "semi" Hemi, and little else. No bucket seat/center console shifter is available, which is a MUST for me. The Gm'ers are underpowered, and still use the 4 speed auto...try one on a long hill, they seem to be gasping for breath. The Titan will run circles around the GM and Ford half tonners, if speed is what you're after. Titan is a far better hill climber than any GM truck I've driven. The Titan styling (short hood) takes some getting used to.

 

OK, it is a replaceable "element". Looks easy enough to get to on the I was looking at in the showroom but, now that I think about it, I think my parents has a light skid plate that will cover it up. It was too wet out to get a good look at the time.

We'll see. The sequoia was kind of a pain to change. Tiny filter, but hard to get hold of it with anything and in a weird spot. Spark plugs were a cakewalk though, that kinda made up for it. The 5.7 looks fairly easy, much better than a 5.4.

The showroom truck was a reg cab short bed 2wd 5.7 with exhaust. I'd sure like to take it for a ride. I might just try to swing it if it's dry out in the morning.

 

Useless trivia time:

Our '06 Jetta TDI has a cartridge filter at the top of the motor.....recommended oil change is pulling the oil out from the dipstick tube with an extractor. So much smarter pulling a filter out after all the oil has drained out of it.

No need to even get underneath the car. (even though I still do every other change to inspect)