I was at the Toyota dealership today because I wanted to check out the Tacoma Prerunner and the Tundra and see for myself what the hooplah was all about. I wasn't impressed much with the Tundra, although it seems a credible performer to a test driven 5.4l F-150, but compared to my "anemic" V-6 it was "WOW", and ergonomics are not too shabby. I am 5'11" and I find the rear seat acceptable, although not as good or functional than the F-150's. I think the biggest drawback of the Tundra, and the Tacoma is the extremely shallow bed. If Toyota would move the hangers to the side instead of under the rails, they would have reclaimed a good amount of volume like in the Big 3. I also opened the tailgates of two Tundras and they clunk too much. Like I said, I wasn't impressed with the Tundra, if I was to get a 1/2 ton, I would pass it up due to the shallow bed (but that is because I need a big cavernous hold for my duty). If Toyota modifies the bed to give it more depth and height, as well as add some more hip room on the middle bench area and extend the rear area by 3 inches and recline the back a bit, and have a 3/4 ton payload package, it would have me as a probable customer. As for the Tacoma Prerunner, it was dead sweet. If I was to get a compact more or less for personal use, this would definitely be it. It brought back fond memories of my old totalled 96 Tacoma, plus because of the Prerunner variant, it has a 1/2 ton class payload. The rear is cramped but that should be expected on a compact. Not too shabby though, but they should have extended it the whole width so it could have a potential to seat 3 in a row. That would offset the problem with the floor shifter. Now to save them pennies so I can have an:

F-150 7700 for WORK and play

and a

Tacoma Prerunner for work and PLAY.

Leo dC

PS As I was headed out the door, a Chinese woman was screaming to the financing manager,
"NO MORE! WHY DO YOU LIE TO ME! I WANT NO MORE, YOU LIE!" Would have stayed to watch the drama unfold, but I have an hour old Chinese food inside my Ford. Now it smells like fried chicken.

 

I also noticed the shallow bed when I went to see the new Tundra. They advertise this point that it is "easier to place and remove cargo". I like the looks of the Tundra and it seems like a very good truck..I am not crazy about the front end or grill/light combo.

The Tundra would be my second choice for a truck though.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

I went to a Toyota dealer, to look at the Tundra when I got my truck. I wan't impressed, and they wanted close to sticker price.
I got allmost $8000.00 off the sticker on my leftover 1999 F150 and the Ford dealers were a lot nicer to me.

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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bassani Cat Back, Superchip,Modified intake with modified K&N filter.

 

Toyota's Compact pickup is as much $$$ as Fords FULL size pickup.
Explain that one.
Toyota make great cars and trucks but they are SOOOO overpriced.
No V8 manual.
No V8 regcab avalible either.

 

I forgot to mention..that was my first *shock*...the price. Again, I am sure it is a good truck...but the F-150 is my first choice for many reasons.


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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

2000 4.7l Tundra seems to be easily beat by 2000 5.4l F-150 in every which way except payload and parkability and cupholders. The 7700 F-150 seems to just jump up and down on the Tundra and gets a higher highway mpg's (19 vs 18) since it can tow more, haul more, drink less, seat bigger people, load bulkier items. I wouldn't put enough emphasis on drag racing since both are trucks and have enough power to merge anyways (hell even the V-6 has enough power to merge). If the Tundra is to dance with the F-150, it should target the 4.6l at the most as its partner. Watch out if 2001 or future Tundras get a more powerful/efficient V-8, 3/4 ton class with a stretch in hieght, width, length of both cabin and box. If it wasn't for the need to have a deeper bed, I may have opted for the Toyota.

Leo dC

 

Would the Ranger be able to kick the Prerunner other than the price and the rear doors? I think Ford has a 2wd offroad Ranger but does it have the added payload capacity of the Prerunner? I know the Desert Frontier still has the regular payload.

Leo dC

 

Don't forget they need to knock about $3K off the price to compete with Ford.

 

Strange enough that when MotorTrend tested the Tundra, the V6 time was not ANY slower than the V8's time.

Hey 54, maybe like Chevy they use *better* parts. Yeah right!

 

Before I bought my Ranger I looked at the PreRunner. Interior room is way smaller than the Ranger, and the price was steeper. It's too bad Ford's Trailhead option isn't available on the supercabs, that up high look is pretty nice. The Toyota Tacoma is a nicely put together truck but because of the price and pitifull crash tests I had to settle for old #1 selling Ranger.

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99 F150 XLT Supercab Towing Package 5.4L Auto Two Tone Med Toreador Red/ Silver Power windows, locks, mirrors, driver's seat. Cruise, tilt wheel Alloys, Michelins, ARE topper Superchip / 2000 Chevy Silverado Ext cab 5.3, auto, Tow package, tilt, cruise, power windows,locks,side mirrors, alloy wheels.