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Since I am a yuppie, blessed with steady income, a sound investment portfolio, and years and years of "fancy booklearnin'" I decided to retire my old truck (a little Nissan), and purchase a larger truck that will hold kids, dogs, camping gear, mountain bikes, golf clubs etc... and will climb the Sierra mountains with ease. When considering make, I chose Toyota because the two Ford vehicles I had previously owned constantly had minor mechanical issues, and they were the reason I switched to Nissan. The Nisssan was quite reliable, hence, I came to trust the Japanese manufacturers, and while I understand that American manufacturers build excellent trucks, the shine of the Tundra really caught my eye. Further, my golfing buddy Lance bought one, and I want to keep up with him - after all it is material competition that drives us yuppies.
I plan to use my Tundra strictly for leisure activities - skiing and camping trips to Tahoe, and wine-sipping retreats to the family ranch in the Napa Valley. I rarely plan on towing, maybe a u-haul or some firewood from the ranch or mountains, but in my opinion, towing is generally associated as a proletariat activity, and I don't really want to dirty my hands with manual labor. I leave that to the farmers and workers of the world, (most of whom I have great respect for) but I'll get to that later.
I considered a Chevy due to the superior cab-room, but basically it came down to aesthetics - I thought the Tundra looked better (the Steve Young Tundra commercial was also very funny). Plus, the leather seats and fake wood will contrast nicely with the paint I chose. My only real regret is that my Tundra will be parked outside, and will therefore be subjected to the elements. I'll have to get a cover.
I know little, if anything about automobiles or engines, nor do I care to learn. My boarding school didn't offer shop class; I always thought a "pumpkin" was a squash. If the truck breaks down, I just use my cell phone to call AAA. I suppose this means I'll be at the mercy of mechanics; so be it - mechanics are entitled to make a living off guys like me - I accept the risk - just like the migrants who accepted the risk of packing all their stuff into a truck and heading off to California in the 30's.
Speaking of migrants, I noticed that justtheone reads a lot like one of the Joads, the family central to Steinbeck's great novel, The Grapes of Wrath. Like Al Joad, justtheone seems to be a farmer, is certainly versed in the science of the combustible engine, is master of the homespun aphorism and seems to have a distrust/contempt for those with shiny things.
Well, justtheone, I suppose you'll soon be ridiculing me for my choice in trucks; after all the "Lexus" name on the engine I know nothing about was a real selling point. But before you comment, let me just say one thing. While you're carrying sticks or hay or whatever else you slog out to the bed of your, shineless, manure and mud spreckled domestic "full-sized" truck (like I really have time to quibble over the definition of full-sized - BFD, so my truck is "3/4" sized, it meets my needs)and trying to think of a way to make the payment on your farm so the bank doesn't take it, making that feces-caked piece of junk your freaking HOME, I am using my intellect and ingenuity (American ingenuity) to insure that in the unlikely event my Japanese truck does end up being a piece of garbage, I will have the financial security to replace the darn thing. Now go back to your Dukes of Hazzard re-runs on the Nashville Network; I'm sure you'll be posting of picture of good ol' Crazy Cooter's truck with the caption, "the next yuppie trend."
Oh, and one more thing. That Michael Schumacher certainly can drive. I wonder how he would fare on the NASCAR circuit.
What yr did u have the fords? Seems like a long time ago you know changes are made and things are improved right?
Ryan
We need to get everyones trucks together and put em to the test. AN ACTUAL test. Bet they wouldnt even show up
Ryan
They were impressed with the towing ability of the Tundra.
Ryan
what was that...four posts all right quick. take that twinkie out of your mouth, it's startin' to cut off that oxygen to your brain.
reference the "complexity" of gm repairs:
"...Designed to make working on your car harder. Chevy loves using lots of nonstandard fittings, making sure they don't lose money on repairs to the DIY crowd..."
that's funny, cuz i think the only tool i use when i perform routine maintenance on my 'rado is a 15mm socket. that removes the brush guard, drops oil pan drain plug, checks the front axle, the diff, and the empty ratchet pulls the rear diff check plug. only other stuff i use is a filter wrench and a grease gun. oops...forgot...a funnel cuz my hands aren't steady enough to pour oil into a 1.5 inch diameter hole. matter of fact, if i remember right, 15mm was the size of the lower bolts on top and bottom of my rear shocks, and the bottom of the fronts. oh, and the cab bolts (when i mounted my nerfs), those were 15mm if i recall. doh! you got me...the bug guard i got for my hood did not attach with 15mm self-tapping screws. damn gm! i see what you mean now.
as for your ludicrous comparison of a saturn to a chevy truck:
"I know you don't own a Toyota Kyle, so your opinions on them mean little (come to think of it...they mean nothing!)"
since i owned a nissan altima prior to buying my wife her jimmy, i s'pose i am fit to comment on the complexity of toyotas right? i mean saturn and chevy are owned by gm...nissan and toyota are japanese...same same? LOL! you're a joke. tell me how much fun it is having to suspend yourself in mid-air to reach your sideways mounted oil filter because toyota's top-notch engineers don't understand the concept of user-friendly. in the vertical plane, they mounted it about halfway between the top opening of the hood and your front axle right? perfectly hard to get to? i'd give a buck to your penny that you spend more on repairs than i do over the life of your truck.
that rust was "pitting"? please. get over it rob, you bought an inferior truck and nothing you do (outside of trading it) is going to make it any better for ya.
bco
I can vouch for the 15mm socket use. Only tool besides the filter wrench i have used.
Ryan
I can say one thing about toyota. Over the past 10-12 yrs their quality is really slipping.
My Grandpa has had 5 camrys from 80 something till current. The first 3 were perfectly fine. The last 2 a 96 and 00 have had problems (timing belt, alignment,Vibrations on the 2000, plastic pieces breaking off i broke the ash tray opening it).
Dont tell me toyotas quality is so much better than any of the big 3
Ryan
Small Pickup Ford Ranger
Large Pickup GMC Sierra
Crew Cab Pickup Dodge Dakota
Small SUV Mazda Tribute
Midsize SUV Nissan Pathfinder
Large SUV Chevrolet Suburban
Specialty SUV Jeep Wrangler
Luxury SUV - Over $40,000 Lexus LX 470
Small Van Honda Odyssey
Large Van Ford Econoline
2000 MOST WANTED PICKUP WAS THE f150
Wheres that tundra at?
Ryan
damn not one Toyota on the list... well there's that over priced brand that they put over the t-o-y-o-t-a letters
Ryan
We have a bunch of snow on the ground that is melting now. I am washing my truck tomorrow i dont care if its snowing or its sunny out. My truck is a grey looking color from the salt.
Ryan
DOHH
- Tim
Nascar=lap after lap of boredom. That's why everybody drinks to have a good time there.
I forgot....Tundra fans play batman with hang gliders and the likes..
LOL
- Tim
Davis Straub just flew 347 miles in Texas, beating the world record by 39 miles.
"Kyle says rust is normal and all trucks have a
little rust on the framework. Apparently, you have
a defect!"
that's a lie. i never said it was "normal". i never said "all trucks", and i never said "framework" - as it pertains to rust anyways. apparently...you are a defect.
the commish
Im done in here. I am so disgusted its not even funny.
Ryan
and I don't think Ryan liked being Batgirl!!?
LOL
- Tim
If your still lurking out there, please come back and play. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I was just teasin'. If you come back, I'll let you be Robin!!!
Yikes!
- Tim
Reports, compulsive micro-comparisons, crawling
under Chevys, seeking out scratches in the frame
wax coating, or any flaw that seeks to mitigate a
long term payment book, short penis complex."
How did you come up with the "short penis complex"? Have you been doing research?
Justtheone will make an excellent riddler!
Quad is a shoe-in for the Penquin.
Oh no! I just realized Batman uses Onstar. That's a GM program!!!!
I will be going by Charleston along the way. I will see if rubletoo is hitchiking nearby. He has to because he doesn't have a truck or a car for that matter.
I will try to notice who's hauling and towing along the way to basically see if any 1/2 ton truck is doing the job. Those 250's, 350's, 2500's, etc do NOT count.
Well at least i will be the 80's next week and out of winter temporarily.