Things I learned while truck shopping

I've compiled a list. No formulas or actual data was used. This is just a list of things I learned while truck shopping (and things I continue to see as others shop for a truck).

1. Comfort is king. Americans will pick the comfiest ride.

1. (tied) MPG is the most important metric. It's understandable that this is a concern, as fuel is necessary to operating a vehicle, and fuel prices are outside our control. But the various tricks that manufacturers use to meet increasingly ridiculous EPA standards preclude their drivetrains from being as dependable over the long term as the 3UR-FE. Also, most buyers don't care. At all.

3. Americans buy trucks because of their look and stance. We value the image of toughness and capability as we drive to work and CostCo. It's the same psychology that explains why Carhartt clothing, Red Wing boots, and beards are so popular. The look > actual capability.

4. Many buyers crap on 2nd gen Tundra fuel economy, purchase a different truck, which they lift/level and put on 35s, dropping it right into 2nd gen Tundra fuel economy territory.

5. The half-ton segment is highly competitive. Any feature that Ford, Ram, or GM adds to their trucks, no matter how much of a solution in search of a problem it is, instantly becomes standard across the segment, and people will start crapping on a truck right away that doesn't have it.

6. Modernity/tech trumps dependability. Americans want better fuel economy numbers on paper. Get into the 20s, and it doesn't matter how unreliable or glitchy a truck is or how frustrating it is to own. It will sell. People value a modern interior ("modern" interior means a huge iPad screen, auto everything, and most importantly: it looks different than what was offered 2 years ago).

7. Speaking of the screen, what in the world is going on with the screen wars? How big can it get? Do people not understand how utterly useless it is?

8. If you want a simple, honest, reliable truck to last you a very long time doing truck things, your best choice is a low-mileage 2nd gen Tundra. But if you're going to tow near the top of its rating, you should probably just get an HD truck. Due to the tied #1s on this list, no one offers an HD midsize truck like the Hilux in the North American market.

 

You had me until red wings. I’ve had the same pair of red wings for four years as a diesel mechanic.

 

No kidding, Ive been wearing the same redwings and Irish Setters since before 2010. Most comfortable steel toes ever.

 

Beards are absolutely functional. When I'm cruising to work on my electric bike at 35 mph at 5 am, it's just as good as covering your face with a bandana to cut the icy chill. And it's a time and money saver. Haven't bought a razorblade in 15 years and it takes 1 minute to trim my beard with my haircut trimmer once a month.

 

I have never been truck shopping, or anything shopping. Besides food. Things just appear and I want it, or I don't. Ever been to a garage sale or flea market? They have what you want' or they don't. It amazes me when folks think the market needs to provide for them.

 

I've gotta agree with this one, when I first saw them I thought they were detachable and you could use them as a seperate pad. I like the look of being built in sleekness.

 

You know what’s especially interesting about #1 (mpg’s) @Terndrerrr…

I hear people complain constantly and the people that complain the most are typically the most wasteful when it comes to fuel efficiency.

I.E examples…

Driving at 75+ plus=kills gas mileage

Idling for absolutely no reason=kills gas mileage (lets the truck idle for 10 to have a conversation with a buddy on a 65 degree day).

Warming up or cooling down a truck on a 65 degree day (why)=kills gas mileage

And these are just a few reasons. Point being if THEY truly cared about maximizing their money it would make sense for one to change their behavior. The mpg argument is almost nonsensical to me with the above behaviors. I am not knocking those that do these things however I don’t feel those owners have the right to complain either. Additionally most of my friends who have new 1/ tons from other manufacturers are within 1 mpg of my absolutely horrendous most ungas efficient 1/2 ever made world wide Tundra…

 

Roll down rear window is king

 

100%

 

There’s an entire generation who wear Red Wings and other kinds of work attire simply as a fashion statement. Around 10 years ago, lots of guys my age dressed as lumberjacks with skinny jeans and giant beards, and they’ve never had a job doing any kind of manual labor let alone swung an axe in their entire lives.

I remember reading an article written by a woman bemoaning the popularity of beards. A beard used to mean a guy was rough around the edges and capable; but then it turned into false advertising. It was a pretty funny article, but I thought she was making a solid point.

 

Can’t say I disagree with anything you wrote.

Yeah, idling is just factoring in an MPG of 0. It’ll quickly drag you down. I see people idling in their vehicles all the time here in the South. If I arrive at my destination and have time to kill, I always turn my truck off and either roll down the windows or get out and find some shade.

This whole idling thing brings me back to the other #1: comfort is king. People are gonna sit there and burn fuel for no reason because it allows cold air to blow on their skin. I wonder if the price of fuel is going to change this habit for some.

 

Exactly^^

 

beards are too itchy for me. It’s 5 o clock shadow and a shave all day. Don’t forget our tundras run on 87 octane. The % increase for 93 with direct injection or turbos affects $/gal spent. Tow mileage in our trucks suck though.

 

Good point. I fully realize that as a ruggedly handsome....IT guy (lol) I don't *need* my Red Wing boots. With that said, I broke my ankle in 2010 (was pretty gruesome) and ever since then, unless exercising, I wear something with high sides to protect my ankles. I was long a fan of Doc Martens - and yes, I've held multiple manual labor jobs in my life - so once their QA/QC shit the bed, I replaced with a set of Red Wing Iron Rangers and didn't look back. (y)

 

Went truck shopping with my wife last night, I do it a little different tho
"I have $X down and $X to spend total and we want....
Make it happen or I find someone who can"

 

Also.... Red wings kinda suck, get some Altama boots. Real ones, not from walmart!!



Just as good if not better and your not paying for the name

 

You can thank Hollywood (everybody wants to look like Joe Operator/Cool Guy) and hipsters for the current beard thing in urban areas...never did understand the whole skinny jeans thing anyways. As far as Carhartt and Red Wings go, those of us that have used either for its intended purpose (re-soled a pair of Red Wings twice) understand function over form. Same can be said for all the folks wearing Drake duck hunting camo that wouldn't know a duck if it landed on 'em. Drove a Hilux overseas as a civilian contractor...damn shame that truck isn't available here.

 

Preach!!

 

It's not just trucks, we're looking at getting the wife an Outback and almost all functions are on the ginormous touch screen. Give me the tundra giant knobs that I reach out and operate in the dark without taking my eyes off the road.

If ya'll thing the redwings are good, wait until you get a par of custom made work boots. It took me many years but a while back I broke down and forked out a substantial sum (around 6oo) for custom make boots from JK Boots. Now that I have them, I would buy another pair at twice the price if I had to. JK, Nicks, Franks, are all custom boot makers that got their start making boots for wildland firefighters.

 

That in 2022 New Truck Sales Managers think they are stock brokers, advising you to trade in now, as prices are going to drop, when no one knows what is going to happen 6 months from now. All the while selling their trucks at MSRP.
Also learned from these same people, and their staff, today's truck buyers are just as interested in Minivan and SUV features in their truck , as Truck Utility Capability.

I will give you the knobs and feel comment and agree. Really Good.
But the Subaru Console implementation integration overall trumps the Tundra. JMO.
My wife has a 2020.

 

My dog must be a hipster because he has a Carhartt collar, and to be honest, its probably the best one we have ever bought. The ladies seem to like it as well.

 

Heck, I'm they only one around here who will shut my truck off if I have to sit at a railway crossing waiting for a train that's stopped or changing direction.

 

#4 is why I didn't get a new Tacoma when I upgraded from my 04 Tacoma. Sure it gets better MPG stock but add fat tires and a lift then you're basically at what a Tundra gets, all while having that somewhat gutless v6.

 

He couldnt make it happen, but it definitely wasnt for a lack of trying. I got a guy, his name is North, he is a straight up and down, no bullshit kinda guy. (A former marine from when that meant something) Hell, I shouldnt even own a tundra with my shitty numbers (income and credit) but he made it happen and Im sure he can pull it off again. If nobody else will work with ya in phoenix, go to bell road toyota and ask for North

 

Safe to assume this lol...

SPP

 

I did not catch that

 

There’s 2 basic buyer ‘types’
Browsers and Hunt ‘n Kill
I also do that; groceries, auto parts, hardware, or trucks - I know what I want, go straight to it, make a deal or pay and get the f**k out of there.

 

Honestly don’t know where to start but I actually agree with many of the things you said.

I have no issues with my Tundra getting an average of 17 mpg’s but I drive it accordingly knowing it’s almost a 6k brick. When comparing other 1/2 tons (of friends and family) they are definitely not getting anywhere near 3 to 4 mpg’s better. So again you are spot on especially when trading reliability vs mpg’s.

I never had a Toyota engine leak either and I never remember ever having to add a drop of oil in between oil changes. The only time I allowed any of them to warm up is when my children were very small.

But I do agree warming a vehicle is necessary in -40 degree weather. In my climate and how I drive I have had zero adverse effects from not warming a vehicle.

But the need to warm a vehicle, using four wheel drive, or any other event that causes a truck to use more gas isn’t the trucks fault. I understand there are times when this is required HOWEVER that’s not what I was referring to when I stated “wasteful”. My ATV gets horrible gas mileage because I use low gear and 4x4 a lot during riding. My terrain requires it…therefore not unnecessary.

 

Been wearing Altama's for work for years they are fantastic

 

I feel like I have more power at 100k than I did when I got the truck at 48k. It definitely runs smoother.