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The second negative: the bounciest cab ride I have ever had. I thought my 1990 Ford Explorer 4-door was bouncy. In the 2007 Tundra as we rolled down I-10 at 70 mph, whenever I or the salesman (riding in the front passenger seat) spoke, our voices came out with tremors in them from our bouncing: ah - ah - ah, like when you speak directly into the spinning blades of a box fan.
What's up with that bounce? I felt like my breath was being bounced out of me with each syllable. The salesman's explanation? This is a "truck" ride. Well, that's not a ride I've had in any trucks I've ridden in, and I've ridden in and driven a lot of trucks.
I really, really, really wanted to like the 2007 Tundra. I have a 2000 Toyota Avalon with 138,000 absolutely trouble-free miles on it (unlike prior Detroit brands I have owned), so I wanted my old man to get a Toyota pickup.
Maybe Toyota hasn't been making full-size trucks long enough to get it perfected yet.
Is there anyway to get even stronger acceleration(0-60MPH)times, such as duel exhausts or supercharge, which would not void the warranty from manufacturer or adversely affect gas mileage?
http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/news/toyota/tundra/transmissions/page1.html
To give some background,I have been driving pick-ups for over 25 yrs. and have had several 1/2 and 3/4 ton models in many cab and bed configurations. Mostly Fords, but have used some late model Chevys and a Dodge too. I traded my 02 F250 mod'd (380hp) Powerstroke, 4X4 CC SB Lariat for the Tundra. I am certainly not an expert but do have quite a bit of experience and see things through the eyes of an engineer. I'd like to share what I have experienced and observed for what it's worth to anyone interested.
First of all, the Tundra is (by far) the nicest,most refined and best performing truck I have ever driven. It is quiet, smooth ,tight and extremely comfortable. I am 6'2" and 240. To say I love my truck is an understatement.
Now for the nuts and bolts about the "issues".
"Bed bounce (frame)".. I have yet to experience it at all. I have driven (empty) over many surfaces including concrete hwy and have even tried to find a surface to get the problem to surface. It has not. I do not doubt that it exists for some and may "find" the right road someday out of my area. Therefore, will accept any fix Toyota may come up with. I do not however, believe the reported problem to be solely related to the frame. It seems more than adaquate for a 1/2 ton truck even though not fully boxed. Take a look at any heavy duty truck, 3/4 ton through big rigs, and see how many have boxed sections in the rear you see. I expect nearly none. I think it's more likely related to a combination of things combined to create just the wrong set of circumstances.
"Transmission shudder (rumble strip syndrome)".... I have not seen a hint of anything wrong done by my 6-speed. It has been flawless so far.
"Gauges hard to read"... Not mine. Perhaps because the Limited gauges "dayglow". I have no problems whatsoever, with or without polarized sunglasses. Because they're recessed, my wife can not see them from the passenger seat but that's just fine with me.
"Ugly plastic Dash"... This is one area I do think is a significant shortfall. To remedy that, I dealer optioned the wood grain dash kit which is a MAJOR improvement. It now looks fantastic. Everyone who gets in the truck comments on how nice the interior looks.
"My minor gripes"... It's hard to find fault in this truck but there are a few things. Yes, there is a bad blind spot at the rear cab quarters enhanced buy the rear headrests. The mirrors (mine are non-towing) are excellent though, which helps, and in my case, the sonars help at least while parking.
I also wish the door lock controls lit at night. Especially with a new vehicle, fumbling for controls at night shouldn't be part of the deal.
Although the truck is very comfortable once in it, getting in requires a little more contortion than I'm used to. Not bad, but more than my past Fords.
All in all I am very pleased with my Tundra. I will report again after I've worked it out some. I expect it to do well.
This digital information appears on a small rectangular box on the speedometer or RPM dial. I believe the SR5 does not have this feature.
It is nice to have, but not having it is no drawback.
By the way, I love my Limited, and would love it just as much if it were an SR5...except I do like the Limited's sound system. SR5 is a fine truck, too. It is the engine, the 5.7 liter with the 6 speed transmission, that makes this such a fine truck.
I couldn't remember the "optitron" term so just genericly referred to them as "dayglow". I'm not trying to rub it in but they are great. You don't even have to drive a limited to see. In daylight, just get in and turn the key on. It would not surprise me, considering your experience, that if you raise a big enough stink with Toyota (Corporate, not dealer) that they figure out a way to fit your SR5 with optitron instruments
converter problems or the bed bounce or any of those problems-----yet. The only problem I've encountered is what I called a "drive line play" when I started off from a stop. I seemed like the RPM's would go alot higher than the acceleration did at first and then everything would catch up. That has either gone away or I have learned how to drive to avoid it. I hope these people with the problems get some satisfaction from Toyota because if they don't that would make me hesitant to buy another one.
You might as well be complaining because the paint job isn't the exact shade you thought it was when you bought the truck. Makes no sense.
Now if there are improvements to be made in different areas and enough people make their preferences known then it is up to the manufacturer to make changes or risk losing sales.
It's just business.
Then there's DexCool, the standard coolant on many new GM vehicles. The owner's manual states that this stuff lasts up to 100,000 miles. In fact, in all too many cases, the coolant turns to gunk long before then, causing serious problems that include overheating and subsequent engine failure. GM knows about the problem but so far has refused to take responsibility.
source consumeraffairs
kcram - Pickups Host
A buddy of mine had his Int. Steering shaft replaced on multiple occasions with his Sierra's, a common problem apparently... His wife's Suburban just had one as well. Probably could've driven it a little longer, but that thing is on it's way out due to it's aweful mileage which is not something you want in the days of $3+ gas. So rather than get knocked on tradein, he got it fixed.
Saw him over the weekend, he's got 13k on his 5.7l SR5 DC without any issues. I looked at the tailgate and it didn't have any cracks or kinks, but I don't really know how much weight it sees. We were stepping up and out loading brush and crap from fall cleanup and it seemed solid :confuse: Anyways, it is a very nice driving rig. Heck, I'd buy one for myself if I could justify it over a much more practical Tacoma or nissan Frontier.
kcram - Pickups Host
Un-freaking-believable! :mad:
SR5 DC 5.7L 2WD 2007 Tundra (no TRD).
I've noticed at least three times that when I have the VSC "off" and the truck is cold
(in the morning) that the transmission doesn't shift. It seems to stay in third gear for quite awhile. If I put the VSC on it shifts right away and continues to shift normally--or one time I put it into manual shift and it started to shift normally. No big deal---but I was just wondering if any body else had this happen. Also, in the morning or when it's (the transmission) after driving about two blocks I have to slow to go around a corner I have always noticed that the transmission kind of lets the engine over rev a little bit before shifting into gear.
Also the "over rev" you mention could be the simple "downshift" ,as the downshift occurs the tach will jump up because of the ratio change "normal"
I purchaseda 2007 Tundra 4.7 Dbl Cab 4x4 in May and have about 6,000 miles on it.
I get 11/12 locally and 15.7 mpg hi-way (the best) hi-way. I really can't believe those reports of 18-20 mpg often claimed. Must be all downhill.
However, this is the best vehicle I've ever owned and there has been a lot of them.