Hey everyone,
First post on the site; seems like a solid enthusiast site.
Right now I'm driving a 2008 Subaru STI. It's been a solid car, but I'm thinking a truck may be a smart purchase for me. I found out a bunch of information before purchasing by joining the respective enthusiast site for that car (IWSTI), so I figured that was the first logical step before jumping into a Tundra.
FWIW, I plan on keeping the STI around as well.
First, the reasons I'm eyeing a Tundra Limited:
So, like I mentioned in the title, I have a quick survey for all of you Tundra owners, gurus and enthusiasts. I wanted to state the above so that you understood my ambitions in regard to the questions:
First post on the site; seems like a solid enthusiast site.
Right now I'm driving a 2008 Subaru STI. It's been a solid car, but I'm thinking a truck may be a smart purchase for me. I found out a bunch of information before purchasing by joining the respective enthusiast site for that car (IWSTI), so I figured that was the first logical step before jumping into a Tundra.
FWIW, I plan on keeping the STI around as well.
First, the reasons I'm eyeing a Tundra Limited:
- First and foremost, I HATE not being able to move stuff when I have to or finding creative ways to cram things into my car. I don't have to do it often, but when I do I want to have the means to transport anything I need to.
- Automatic transmission. I love driving a manual, but somedays I really just want an automatic.
- Ride comfort. The STI isn't an exceptionally harsh ride, but it's not comfortable either. Having a nice quiet car that handles bumps well is something I want, and I feel like buying a luxury car like an Acura TL or Lexus GS just furthers the issue of not being able to move things.
- Standard equipment. I'll probably never own a BMW because I just hate the idea of getting nickeled and dimed for every damn thing on the car. I love the options that the Limited has, most notably the SatNav, iPhone integration, leather seats, and overall swanky interior.
- Reliability; but in all honesty the QRD standard Toyota talks about. I'm not a big fan of domestic vehicles for a variety of reasons (though I have a soft spot for Ford), and to be honest I think the Japanese make cars better than anyone else. Sure, I drive a Subaru which is known for reliability, but the STI certainly has a rap sheet when it comes to reliability (Google "STI cracked ringlands" if you're curious). Sounds like the the Tundra will do half a million miles and ten years without breaking a sweat.
So, like I mentioned in the title, I have a quick survey for all of you Tundra owners, gurus and enthusiasts. I wanted to state the above so that you understood my ambitions in regard to the questions:
- Are there any smoking gun problems with the Tundra like the STI's ring landing failure? I know any car can have problems, but I was curious if there was a consistent and catastrophic failure potential with these.
- How do you find it as a daily driver? I know it's not a luxury sedan or anything, but it seems like it has excellent ride quality when I test drove it.
- It looks like the Tundra doesn't have HID headlights, which makes me a sad panda. After having them on the STI I'm reluctant to buy a vehicle without them. Is it practical to add them aftermarket?
- Do you find the vehicle tough to park? I understand there's a big difference between someone who's used to driving a truck and someone who isn't (aka me). The fact that it has a backup camera and front/rear sonar makes me think I could handle it, but I'd be curious to hear feedback, especially around parallel parking.
- What do you wish was different about your Tundra?
- Are you happy with your Tundra? Is there something about it that stands out to you that makes you happy with it?
- After reading my reasons for getting one above, do you think the Tundra is a good option or do you think it's a poor choice?