Greetings from Houston!

Just wanted to drop a line and intro myself. My name is Chris and I live near Houston Tx and I am about to be a Tundra owner again. Sold my 2014 Crewmax when the oilfield went belly up and now I want another one. I'm a Navy, Desert Storm era vet and love all things with motors.

Question I have is, are there any definite things to avoid when considering used Tundras? What years to avoid, options, etc. Are there any years models more coveted than others? I want to stay newer than 2007. Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome from OK

 

Welcome Chris

 

Welcome from CO.

All years are good. Just make sure PO didn't beat the shit out of it.

Thanks for your service.

 

Welcome from CA

 

Welcome from San Antonio

 

Welcome from the Lake Houston area!

All of the year models are great. The most coveted are black ones. I’d avoid white, silver, or magnetic gray Tundras. They’re still good trucks, but they come with approximately 17% less horsepower.

Also, I see you are in Cypress. If you buy from Joe Meyer you get banned from the forum.

 

I have heard grumblings but why is that? I bought a 2014 CrewMax from them 4 years ago and never had any problems. Got a great deal too.

 

Welcome Neighbor from Pearland / Friendswood!

All year models seem good.

Most say go with 5.7 over 4.6, more power negligible gas mileage difference. Inspect used for Cam tower leaks. Do not insist on Premium JBL system; really sucks.

 

Please explain, thanks

 

An oil leak that is not uncommon to Tundras, maybe more recent years. Not an expert but have heard about it. This thread discusses in much length and detail. Page 2 has some pics, sure there are more in thread.

Probably other threads as well, or do online search.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/cam-shaft-tower-seal-leaking-please-read.20102/page-2

 

Welcome from Ohio!

 

Welcome from Spring Branch, Thank you for your service

 

WELCOME

 

I bought my 2011 there. Long story, but it’s the most furious I’ve ever been with a company. Sorry if I ramble here.
I had been shopping around for a while. I was preapproved through my bank, so all I had to do was find a truck. Found the one I wanted, negotiated online for a few days with the guy at Joe Meyer.
I’m in Dallas for a meeting over the weekend. The guy emails me Monday with a really good price. I respond that I’m out of town, coming home Monday night. Tell him to give me the out the door total so I can get a check from the bank.
He calls me as I’m driving home from Dallas to Houston and asks why I’m financing through my bank. I tell him because in my experience, the finance office at a dealership is where you get screwed at. He asks “So you won’t finance with us, even if I get you a better rate?” I tell him no. He asks what my rate is, I tell him. He acts surprised, and asks what my credit score is. I tell him. He says “that’s pretty good.” I tell him that I’m well aware of that.
I tell him again that I will pick up a check the next day, and head over there. He says to just come by that night and pick the truck up, and I can bring the check back later. That set my BS meter off.

“Steve, I’m absolutely immovable on this. I will not fill out a credit application with you. There’s nothing you can do to get me to finance at your dealership. If you were counting on financing to make your money on the truck, and your price was dependent on that, tell me now. I’ll go elsewhere. No harm, no foul. I’ve been driving for four hours, and I’m almost home. If I drive another hour over there and you guys start with the financing bs I’m going to be pissed.”

It’s been years, and I don’t remember the exact words, but as you can see I made it crystal clear with him. He said no problem at all. Just come sign a form guaranteeing I’d return with payment, and I could pick it up that night.

I headed over there. About forty miles from my house, after driving home from Dallas. Monday night, had to go to work early the next morning. I was in no mood for any crap.

I bet you can guess what they did.
“Ok, we’ll get you into the finance office and get you out of here.”
“Why the f**k do I need to go into the finance office, Steve?”
“Oh, that’s where all the final paperwork is done. Don’t worry, they know you aren’t financing through us.”

I go in there, guy hands me paperwork. Credit app on top. I hand it back to him. Go back and forth, blah blah blah.
I asked him straight up. “Did you guys quote low to get me in here? We’re you planning to make it up on financing points and extended warranty? ( I suspected this was the case. My price was very low, much lower than I’d gotten elsewhere, along with them not wanting to give up on the financing.)

He actually admits that they did. That surprised me a little.

I tell him too bad. It’s not gonna happen. No extended warranty either. He asks what bank I use. I tell him. He says “Oh cool. That’s one of our preferred banks. If you’ll just give me a copy of your approval, I can log in and transfer the money over right here.”

I tell him to let me call the bank and make sure that’s ok. I’m pretty pissed at this point. He tried to talk me out of calling my bank, which made me even more pissed.
I walk outside and call them. The lady at my bank asks for all of the details, and tells me that no, they definitely can’t do that. They need an invoice for the vehicle, then I have to come get a check in person, which I take to the dealership. They in no way shape or form give the money directly to the dealership.
She tells me the dealership likely wanted to see my approval documents because they were hoping there’d be enough info on there to run my credit. She gave me a fax number they could send the invoice to to get it done sooner.

I went back in, and said they had two choices. Fax an invoice to that number, or I’m out of there. He made a feeble attempt at getting me to buy an extended warranty, but I didn’t even respond.
He faxed it over. I told him I’d be back in a couple of days with a check and to pick the truck up. They insisted I take the truck that night. I dropped the check off later that week.

The only reasons I didn’t walk immediately were because they were the only ones who had exactly what I wanted, the price was great, and I knew I could screw them over when the survey from Toyota came in. Speaking of which, when I dropped the check off, the salesman offered to give me 100 dollars worth of gift cards if I’d send the survey link to him. I declined, and mentioned his offer in the survey.

I seriously apologize for the novel, and for hijacking your thread. It was just a joke telling you not to buy there, but you asked me why.

 

Howdy from NM!

 

Welcome to the party!!

 

Wow! Good to know. Yeah my experience was a bit different. I went through the fleet sales department and yes I did finance through them. The only pressure from the sales guy was when he pretended to look out the window to tell me there was someone else interested in that truck and that we had to move fast. I told him then good for yall and let him have it because I was in no hurry and started to get up and walk out. That's when the price came waaaayyy down. He also added a few things to sweeten the pot. It was Nov 2014 and this was the last '14 on the lot so they needed to get rid of it so I got it for $8k under MSRP. For the first 3 months I would drive myself through their carwash on my way home from work on Fridays until they got wise and told me to quit that unless I was getting service.

 

you black and white tundra owners are looloo

 

Welcome from DFW!

 

Welcome!