All the problems the 04s had? Maybe *some*, but my Dad bought an 04 and hasn't had a single trip to the dealer to date. 65k+ miles on it...and he beats the **** outta his truck.

As for Toyota and this being their supposed learning curve? Um, they started back with the T100, tanked it. then they gave it another go with the last Tundra....HORRIBLE sales figures.

that's two models already, and now this.

What did they do right? They went all out in the "performance" department, and copied Ford as best as they could wherever they could. NOTHING revolutionary about the truck at all...aside from the 6 speed tranny, NOTHING.

Rewind the clock back to 2004, Ford has a laundry list of "firsts" with the current F150. Much more impressive than the Tundra. Back in 2004 Ford had the whole country buzzing about their new trucks....it revolutionized the entire segment.

Toyota now releases a new Tundra, modeled as best as they could from the winning F150...and then they played the simple "I am going to copy you, and then make a few things better." Nothing new, nothing special.

The members on this board (mostly the Toyota lovers) are making a WAY bigger deal out of this truck than need be. Time will show that even Toyota can't out-build Ford in the truck market. The sales figures will not even be in the same league as the F150. Just watch

 

The first two attempts weren't even competition for the full size market, this new truck is. It's the first real truck Toyota has brought to the North American market. I didn't say that they would outsell Ford, they will take away buyers. Seeing as the F150 is really the only model keeping Ford afloat, losing buyers is something they can't afford. I just hope Ford is taking this seriously.

 

But their first two attempts with a compact/midsize got stomped by the Ranger, S10 and Dakota in the market. This time instead of designing their own they are copying everything they can and marketing it as an all new and revolutionary truck.

 

Well, the T100 and the first Tundra WERE attempts at taking a share of the f150 buyers, but I see what you mean.

As for the f150 being the only thing keep ford afloat? I guess you don't follow the Mustang, Fusion, or Escape sales very closely. Heck, the current mustang body style has been out for 2.5 years and they STILL don't give crap for discounts on the GTs. The Fusion is beating EVERY expectation set for it...internal AND external.

The EDGE and its sister models are getting RAVE reviews.

the Escape is the number one selling SUV in its segment, and has been since its release (I believe). And it recently got a fairly thorough face lift as well.

Ford has several players, they just have some serious short term costs that make their situation look even worse than it really is (ie buying out the union members, restructuring costs etc).

 

 

It's deja-vu all over again.

 

I just don't understand why people have to continue to bash Toyota. If you don't like it, fine. If you do, great!

It gets really annoying seeing the same people over and over again debating the same topic over and over again. It really has been run into the ground.

 

Because a capable, full size truck from someone other than Ford scares them.

I agree; so many people here are like, "Toyota what?" but there's more frickin' Toyota threads on F150online than on any other forum on the web.

I for one am glad to see other manufacturers stepping up to the plate and producing good trucks. If anything, competition improves the breed. Toyota builds a better Tundra, Ford won't have any other choice but to build a better F150. We - the consumers - benefit all around. Win/win.

 

x 76332557890

 

omg I just threw-up in my mouth alittle. That is as ugly as a bag of smashed a-holes. The only thing that truck is good for is target practice...

 

Very true, and very good points but, those models don't sell in anywhere near the numbers that the F150 does. Were talking about selling close to a million units a year, other manufacturers are lucky to do that in two or three years. That's not including the Super Duty numbers. This is why Ford was so nervous about the redesign in '04, if it failed it would have cost them millions in lost sales. The last Tundra was more competition for the Ford Ranger and Dodge Dakota then it was for the F150.


That's the one thing I like about the Tundra, it will force Ford to make an even better F150. The '04 and up models are awesome trucks but there's always room for improvement.

 

i wonder if the few people that bash the tundras 6 speed are gonna rave about how great the new f150s 6 speed is when it comes out (hopefully) theres no way toyota put out a tranny that rides so horrible.....

there are basically 3 opinions here on this board in regards to the tundra from what i have noticed

1. its ugly (and thats all they have to say, no real input)

2. it has some nice features that will no doubt take the 09 f150 to the next level and make ford step it up a notch (an unbiased point of view)

3. those blind to the ford brand and hate it just because it isnt a ford. (brand loyalty to the extreme)

i might go test drive one when i get back to the states just to see how the competition is doing. i know my buddies titan hauls butt. nice truck just not my style. the new tundra needs to work on the front grill area when they do the redesign in 4 years. i have owned nothing but ford trucks since i was 20 and have noticed that the competition is geting closer each year. you cant argue with that. lets just hope ford blows them all away again in 09!

 

If you've ever heard a guy with a fat ugly wife talking crap about thin attractive women, you know what F-150 vs Tundra threads sound (read) like.

 

RP, they'll never learn.

 

Well, I am sorry for posting this. I didn't realize it would turn into this. My whole point was to go drive one. You will see. I am sure some will like it. I drove it and it made me appreciate my F-150. That is not blind loyalty, that is the truth!

-Chris