Test Drove a 2023 TRD Pro…

So, I drive my truck for work and get mileage reimbursement. I profit about $1,500 a month just alone on mileage. I bought the truck cash March of 2020 for $8500 with 207k on it.

Since then I have put 125k miles on it in 3 1/2 years. Everyone gave me $hit saying once this dies on the road, the company is going to be pi$$ed when they find out how many miles you have on your daily.

Well two weeks ago my aftermarket radiator (on the truck when I bought it) blew up on the freeway. I knew I should of replaced it when I did the timing belt at 270k

It blew at noon, AAA loaded it up literally 4min later, towed me 102 miles home. I called our local parts store that sells Denso. They had it in stock. I picked it up as they were locking the door. Got home and had it installed and was heading back to Sac at 8:20pm. As far as I can tell no damage to the engine and it didn’t over heat.

This is the first time it has left me stranded. Scary thing was 3 days earlier, I was lost miles and miles in the hills outside of Pollock Pines looking for a Hydro Electric facility miles from anyone or cell service.

So it had me thinking I was at Toyota picking up some parts, and they had a Manager Demo TRD Pro Tundra 4,000 miles for 77k. I inquired about it and took it for a test drive. First impression, too many Fawking buttons, like wtf, the front window is really small, and lastly, maybe I had it in the wrong drive mode, but off the line power, and slow to downshift was pretty surprising.

It was a very nice truck over all. What really had me thinking was how quiet it is, and how effortless the steering is. I pretty much live in my truck, and the quietness was nice. But the $77k was a little unfathomable for a 1/2 truck.

I think I’ll keep rocking my 06’ with 330k+ pending I don’t have any major issues.

 

For what the pros command I’m shocked they even let the manager have it for a demo. You bought the first gen right before everything went crazy price wide too, good timing!

 

$77k is INSANE for a 1/2 ton truck. Any truck really. These truck prices are just stupid nowadays. I'm just not a fan of all the shit they put in them. I don't need a fucking tablet in the dash. I like my knobs for the AC. I like my (mostly) analog guages. The only thing I long for is a manual transfer case.

 

If I was in my truck all the time for work, putting those kind of miles on it, I'd want something with decent fuel economy and a few creature comforts. Not sure I'd be looking at any overpriced trim packages with a ton of crap I didn't need.
Maybe look at lower trims starting at $20k+ less than that. Shit, even base model trucks are nicer and have more features than mid level trims of 20 yrs ago.
Your current truck doesn't owe you a nickel at this point. But it's getting up there. If I was that dependent on my truck, I wouldn't chance the inevitable repairs that are coming. I think it's time for a new truck.

 

Had a wholesaler that drove an old Buick 4 door, that was his grandmas. Thing had about 400k miles on it. Guy made at least $300k a year. Pretty badass if you ask me. I would keep stacking miles on yours and never look back. Keep us updated as the miles go up!

 

Why not just plunk down 25-30k on a mint, creampuff 05-06 DC? Start over again, if you will.

Edit: I have nothing against new trucks, they just fall off the price-to-value curve for me personally. Like food at fancy restaurants, I tend to value them at about half of what their price is!

 

I have to say I like the size of your older tundra quite a bit better than the newer ones. Mine is like driving the Exon Valdiz through puget sound every time I get near a major city. The latest model is even worse as the hood is bigger and more squared off. I taught my daughter to raise her hand in the air, so people can see her, when she walks in front of any newer trucks.

 

Hell yeah, as long as it's comfortable, if you're gonna trash it anyway, buy whatever is cheap, comfy, and works.

But if it's long-haul and you get mileage, get a damn hybrid or something that gets 30-40mpg. Hell, our Highlander Hybrid gets like 35-40mpg on the HWY and with all seats down will carry a shedload of stuff. If you were to pull the 2nd/3rd row seats, you could seal it up and haul a ton of stuff w/o doing a lot of damage to the interior, then turn around and flip for a nice profit in a few years.

I think these dudes going out and buying new 3rd gen trucks are a special breed. I cannot fathom spending the money I'm seeing even on the more-base price tags. I'm glad they can justify throwing away that money. Not me.

 

Agreed

 

So are you saying OP should have bought an iffy, high-mile, 20 year old vehicle to put 45k miles a year on? lol
Congrats to OP. She's a gorgeous truck and hopefully it treats you well!

 

It sounds like that's what OP has chosen to continue doing, yes.

But then again, us 1st gen'ers are fortunate to have that kind of reliability in our generation, which is something I understand the later-gen guys aren't accustomed to. We have multiple users over here in 1st gens with 500k+ miles. At least one that's rolling up close to 750k. You can have your 2015, I'd prefer the truck with the million-mile engine in it, and no car payment.

 

I agree that new prices are insane and new trucks aren't actually worth much more than half the sticker price.
If not a new vehicle, at least find a used creampuff as a back up and drive the current truck until the wheels fall off.
I just don't like the idea of having one vehicle with high mileage that I need for work and now every time it needs a repair, I'm looking for something to drive. I know it's a Toyota and everything, but it's still a high mileage vehicle that's seeing 40+k/yr.
Doesn't sound like a situation where employer or ins will cover a loaner whenever it's down for repairs.

 

Op didn’t buy it and said 125k in 3.5 years. Where did you get 45k a year from?

 

It was a rough estimate, my bad. it should read... 35.7142857 miles

 

Not at all. He bought the truck before that though. Also, he didn't buy the 3rd gen, he's gonna keep rocking the 1st gen. I was just expressing my opinion on later year trucks and how much the market has inflated them. Just doesn't make sense to me. Also 1st gen best gen.

 

My 2006 DC 2WD w/ 70K has been a godsend since I bought it 3 years ago.
Insurance / registration / etc. is all manageable here in CA . . . and while not great on gas, I got just a little over 15 MPG pulling my little boat on a road trip last month.
If the OP's work / life is such than he can drive his 1st gen into the ground, more power to him, . . . that's a lot of saved money till he 'needs' to purchase a replacement.

Not related, but my neighbor has the same year (2006) double cab tacoma 4wd w/ 240K . . . he's eyeing the 2024 Hybrid Tacoma . . . I told him to prepare for sticker shock.

Crazy times for sure.

 

Also no congrats on the new purchase haha, Still rocking the best gen.

 

Quiet? How is your current 06 truck not quiet? Are you running all-terrain tires? That would do it with those knobby treads.

I drove a 2023 Tundra and unless I’m driving my 02 in the winter with the dash squeaks or going down a rough road and hearing my tailgate bouncing around, it’s pretty quiet with the stock muffler and all-season tires.

Is the 2023 Tundra quieter? Yeah but not significantly to my 02 in my opinion.

 

Well boys. I think the Tundra was getting jealous of my test drive.

Drove her 50 miles this morning, just went to the parking lot to head to my hotel, and she’s got a a pretty decent Stumble. Got me to the hotel, but $hit.

Ran perfect this morning. If I can get her home first thing I’m going to check is the compression. Good thing is, as long as I can get to the office tomorrow, I’m golden for the week. 1.3miles baby!

I think I blew a head gasket when the radiator blew.

But my 06’ is kind of a cream puff lol. Here she is at 300k.



Side note, my boss just bought a new hybrid Rav4, and an absolutely loves it, 35-40mpg.

If compression is good, I’m going to replaced the burnt, cracked and puffed coil packs. That have been that way since before 245k, throw in some plugs. And pressure check the fuel system.

 

Yeah, I'm a huge proponent of the latest generation of RAV4 and Highlander, as an owner of the latter in 2020 release. We've generally loved it, and you can't beat the MPG. Good luck with the truck! If you're not seeing smoke and no froth in the oil or oil in the coolant, I doubt the problem is head gasket.

 

A coworker of mine recently traded in his TrailBoss for a Tundra. Gonna show him this.

 

Maybe Clean low miles , California used 1st gen could get you down the road for many years?
47k Miles 20k
129K, $15,700

 

This. I paid less than that 15 years ago for my **HOUSE**.

 

And a house you can fix up, flip it, and make a profit on. You loose money on a truck the second you drive it off the lot, and it just keeps going down.

 

Honestly a new sr would blow your socks off compared to what you have and be 30k cheaper than a pro.

 

Idk why people think 3rd gen t4rs are gold. I like them but would never pay more than 5k for one. Around here they don’t command the insane price like what you’ve said, Colorado and Cali seem to be the most insane. For 12.5k I’d be looking at a v8 4th gen t4r.

 

I hope your tundra comes back to life easily.
If not, it does seem like you could pay off a rav-4 or non-loaded tundra pretty quickly. A couple years of just your mileage buys you a rav-4 hybrid. Then you've got a paid for rav with 70k miles, a lot of life left, gets 35 mpg, and all other consumables are way less expensive.