So lots of us including Scotty are saying Toyota is making a mistake removing the v8 in favor of the turbo v6. So my question is, would you still chose a Tundra over an American truck with a gasoline v8? By American I mean the two that are still truly American. We all know the rams are junk. F150 vs a GM 1500 the F150 would be a better choice imo. So I guess it just comes down to F-150 v8 vs Tundra v6 turbo. Would you still chose a Toyota over a v8?
I'm perplexed by Toyota. I had a 2014 Tundra, which was the first year of the previous remodel. The ride was a little bouncy, but overall it was the best vehicle of any kind I've ever owned. But when I bought my current truck, they had just released the current model; new Tundra's were extremely limited and the dealers were marking them way up. So I went with a GMC Sierra instead.
But now in retrospect, I am not so sure about the new Tundras. First they had the turbo waste-gate thing. I figured that was just the normal teething issues you always see with new tech. But now they have this humongous recall. In my understanding, every single one of the non-hybrid trucks is in the recall. Now still, only a small % of the trucks actually have the problem, but it adds to the hassle factor regardless.
And this in on top of the infotainment nonsense (basically Toyota makes you pay an extra subscription to get normal functionality on the system; not a huge deal, but again, it's amateur-hour stuff and adds to the hassle factor). So you put it all together and I don't know that the Tundra is still the best choice in half ton trucks. If I had to buy one now, I would look at the Tundra, but I'd probably get another Sierra.
By the way, in my personal case, I would also be less likely to buy a Toyota because of the local dealer. Their ethics have fallen off since I bought a truck there 10 years ago. In my area, the GMC is the most ethical dealer, followed by Ram, Chevy, Toyota and Ford.
Ford has gone down the cylinder deactivation path with their V8's.
We all know what that will do for reliability. The oil pump is driven by a rubber belt, which baffles me.
Toyota has been having SERIOUS issues with their Tundras.
So ... pick your poison I guess. Most people don't need trucks anyway. They just drive them for appearances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RusmPXDbDi8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER09MMs-0VQ
And as far as the GM 1500s I remember Scotty saying they’re pretty crappy overall too, but the 2500s are better. But how’s the v8 itself on the GM 1500s?
1/2 ton are no good. The 5.3L had cylinder deactivation since about 2007, and they still haven't gotten it right. Even the 6.2L engines are having problems. I haven't heard of issues with the 6.6L (L8T) or diesel, but you still have to contend with general lack build quality on the rest of the vehicle.
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"Rather than allow a "high-strung" small-block to fail the heavy-duty truck market, the iron block, lack of both stop-start and cylinder deactivation, longer stroke and rod ratio, lower compression, lesser 87 Octane requirement, greater displacement, and forged connecting rods and crankshaft with central counterweights all suggest that the L8T was designed specifically to assuage the heavy-duty truck market's concerns"
A belt-driven oil pump has less noise-vibration-harshness than a chain. And modern Kevlar-reinforced belts are pretty durable. So I understand the engineering choice. But I’d personally option for a chain if it was offered.
I didn't know pump vibration was an issue. From what I understand this engine still has a timing chain so the chain noise is still there, but they added an ADDITIONAL belt to drive the pump. What's wrong with pumps directly driven by the crankshaft?
I would suggest another option, a low mileage, well taken care of V8 Tundra.
I'm not looking to buy, just curious what y'all think because the question popped in my head as I was answering another question. 🙂
As long as a V8 is available (Ford only), that is what I would buy.
I see a lot of tears coming down the road with all these tiny forced induction engines. Very expensive, unreliable and difficult to repair.
If you asked me a year ago, I’d say Tundra easy. But with Toyota’s latest troubles with their V6 turbos, the V8 from Ford seems like the better option between the two.
Once Toyota figures it out, I’d probably go back to Toyota. But not until they figure it out.
