Newer amenites you'd like in your 1st Gen?

Just got back from a 14 day road trip around the west with the fam. We've got a suburban sized rig, but rented a 15 passenger van to make the trip. We got lucky and ended up with a 2021 Ford Transit with 137 miles on it. After 73 hours and 3800 miles in the drivers seat one thing really struck me. Our 1st Gens are really aging. Honestly, I really love everything about my Tundra, but there are two things that would make a world of different. New seats would be nice, which ins't hard to come by. The other thing would be an 8sp trans. That would be amazing. The 8sp trans in that van was incredible. Loaded down with luggage and food for a family of seven for two weeks, that 6 cylinder van pulled every hill and pass without hesitation. I'm still amazed by it. Wish I could put something similar in the Tundra for a reasonable price.

 

Our seats have always lacked a bit on comfort. I don't notice on shorter drives but anything over 3 hours I start shifting around in my seat.

As far as the transmission goes, I'm not familiar with how your truck is set up but I have pulled up steep grades without downshifting in regular form. I've done so with decent weight in the truck and OD off as well. My truck is using 4.56 gears and that helps a lot with this.

I'm not into all the fancy stuff of modern cars. The blinky lights when cars are near are kind of annoying to me. Tire pressure monitors aren't on my wish list either.

I would really like navigation, thats about the only "modern" upgrade I would like. Being that my truck has the bench seat there isn't a great spot to set my phone when navigating and I've never seen a phone mount I liked. At some point I'll spend some cash on a new head unit, I just am torn on not playing CDs anymore.

 

1. steering wheel audio controls
2. side airbags. Laugh if you want but I like things that could potentially save my life.
3. I'm also jealous the DC's have that roll down rear window.

That's about it.

 

My fleet tends to be older (1977 motorcycle, 1988 motorcycle, 1990 van, 2003 Tundra, 2014 "modern" sedan) so I'm happy with basics like A/C, CC, power windows, locks, keyless entry, etc. I'm lucky because I do fine in stock seats for 6, 12 and even 18 hours days (not many 18 hour days but I've done them in 30 year old seats).

What do I want that my older cars don't have?
- heated seats - they're one of my favorite
- a heated steering wheel is a nice comfort but well down the list
- Bluetooth to the radio

The one thing I really want for long trips is adaptive cruise control. Few things annoy me more than following yahoos who alter their speed 3 - 10 mph and make me change my speed. I try to pass them but sometimes I'm stuck behind a knucklehead.

 

I would really like navigation, thats about the only "modern" upgrade I would like. Being that my truck has the bench seat there isn't a great spot to set my phone when navigating and I've never seen a phone mount I liked. At some point I'll spend some cash on a new head unit, I just am torn on not playing CDs anymore.[/QUOTE]

My navi and back up camera bearing Pioneer head unit has a CD/DVD slot. No need to compromise.

 

For those that said navigation, that's easy to add. I've enjoyed using my Alpine on road trips. The only downside is that my phone has to stay plugged in the entire time which I normally try avoid doing to my battery.

 

I didn't really care about he whole backup camera thing, but since my daughter backed into a car that will be added

My last head unit (kenwood) had navigation and I didn't really like how it worked, I prefer to use my phone so I didn't get nav on the new head unit. I would like to get a stand alone garmin at some point for when I'm in the backwoods.

Not so much a modern thing, but I like the HVAC controls on the sequoia more than the tundra. The dials are nicer and it's easy to set the temperature.

I would like more transmission gears for fuel economy. Once I go above 70, my MPG drops like a rock.

And my biggest beef, the stupid cup holders that launch drinks into orbit. I read somebody on an old T100 forum called them drink trampolines and it's so true!

 

I've added the back-up cam, which is nice. Heated seats would be nice, and cooled too, like my LS430.

Honestly,the simplicity of the truck is what I find so appealing.

 

Agreed. Being able to set a dial to a temp and the system taking care of the details is nice. I've got an '02 Accord that does it. Why not my '05 Tundra?

 

By plugged in, you mean just to charge right? Does it use your phones navigation through Bluetooth? I'm an Alpine guy and an Android guy so I'm curious how that works.

 

You just need to get a DC with side airbags...the come with 1. and 2. by default.

 

One common amenity I wish I had is air conditioned seats. Maybe I'll retrofit another seat in eventually, my leather will need to be redone anyways.

 

I'm an Android guy also. So to run Google Maps on my Alpine it has to be plugged in and yes, charging. If I just wanted to use my phone's screen to navigate I could do that through Bluetooth. Oddly, my phone has trouble running Waze when it's charging. Android Auto isn't the greatest.

Do you mean 1 and 3 by default? I thought only some of the DC's had side airbags.

 

I know it’s not a modern amenity, but a 2-lo button for backing up hills with a trailer would be amazing. Our driveway feels vertical sometimes when turning trailers around. And a 2-lo button would be nice for less transmission wear and tear as well as easier backing.

 

Yea, meant 1/3...side airbags on DCs in my search is maybe 25%...?

 

Less is more.

My '02 doesn't even have ABS, and I love it's simplicity compared to newer vehicles that are loaded up with whistles & bells. My '07 has extra safety features, but it is still pretty simple compared to what new cars are loaded up with... I like it like that.

 

My ‘02 is too fancy. Id prefer a manual bench and crank windows, but i have learned how to work the doors on the keyfob. The 6 or 8 speed slushbox would be good, a granny gear 6 speed stick would be better. And i think id like a high idle lever.(throttle cruise)..or setting. Luckily my throttle still has a cable. Id like some magnetic shock control. Wouldnt hate a new stereo. Lights. I want some obnoxious projectors that dim slow. And strobing taillights...

 

Here you go.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/fs-miscellaneous-truck-parts.86119/#post-2169777

 

I have driven the Transit all over the country a few times and there is really nothing about it I would rather have than my Tundra?
I find the seating position almost unbearable for short and long trips alike and the way the thing shifts and is blown all over the place on a windy day on the highway is literally a near death experience.
I was really surprised and though I would be trying to find a way to buy one at first but in the end I rent them to keep the long distance miles off of my Tundras and nothing more.

 

I'll tell you what feature I want which is less tech and more old school-a manual transfer case. The more time I spend in 4x4 the more I realize the push buttons are annoying.

 

Power driver seat and a back up camera. I have plans to install the camera later this year. Not much I can do about the seat based on my research.

 

I really want more custom interior stuff. At the dealership I see all these new 4 runners and tacomas and tundras with fancy racks over the windows to hang stuff. They don't make that stuff for first gens but it would be super awesome for organization

 

I personally hate most amenities above early 2000s in all vehicles. The clusters and all the knobs and additions just look cheap and cheesy to me. Too many lights in the cab at night, too
I really liked the speedos with the white arch and orange marker vs the needle
I don't need seat warmers or power seats.
GPS is nice but I have that with my head unit
I would enjoy a sun / moon roof and rolling rear window

 

Another thing I just thought of, I absolutely hate first gen door panels. They are easily the ugliest door panels ever and they get super dirty

 

I honestly can't think of any newer amenity I would add to this Limited. The guy I bought added everything but a bidet. I changed to all LED, Kenwood HU, rear camera and I couldn't be happier. Of course amenities would have to wait anyway since cosmetics....new window trim, paint ARE topper, tailgate, bumper etc have priority....unless Uncle Sam decides to give us some more Stimulus money !

 

I'll agree there. They get filthy no matter what. I wish there was a little more bulge where the speaker is too, my driver side speaker surround looks like a damn panini sandwich from hitting the plastic speaker grille.

 

I got the old grey carpet ones which are trashed after 16 years and I really wanna re do them with something cool like a black or multicam American flag or something, but I know it's just gonna get filthy again in a year or two

 

I'm not an absolute less tech would be better, but it would be nice to have a manual transfer case and hubs.

 

I bought Sequoia ones for my truck, but I think they only work on a DC.

 

I say we all get FJ cases and block @empty_lord's driveway until he installs them all.