Toyota Tundra named Motor Trend 2008 Truck of the Year

[dascrow]

Motor Trend awarded its 2008 Truck of the Year award, the last of its three yearly awards, to the Toyota Tundra today. New for the 2007 model year, the Tundra beat out the Chevy Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD and Ford's line of F-250, -350 and -450 Super Duty trucks. What's interesting about MT's TOTY competition is that because these trucks have such a wide range of capabilities and purposes, they are not pitted against each other, bur rather against specific criteria determined by the magazine's editors. Each is scored in the areas of "superiority", "value", and "significance". They use this strategy in both the Car OTY and SUV OTY award competitions, as well.

While we think the Tundra is the most significant truck that hit the market this season, at least in terms of how it has increased competition in this segment to new levels, we're not so sure that it stacks up as well in the other two categories. For one, it's difficult to call the Tundra "superior" when it's been saddled with a number of quality issues, including most recently its first official recall of 15,600 trucks for a driveshaft issue. And how exactly is the Tundra a better value than its competitors in the class when all can be had with a bed full of rebates and incentives?

Our money was on the F-450 for this award, as the truly super truck from Ford is rather peerless in the market. But we're not the editors of Motor Trend, and it's their award to give to whomever they choose. We're sure they're ready for the onslaught of armchair automotive journalism that's coming their way. Toyota, no doubt, is thrilled with the honor. Expect to see new commercials for the Tundra with those golden calipers on the hood any day now as the automaker attempts a last ditch effort to reach its goal of selling 200,000 units in 2007.

[Source: Motor Trend], by John Neff
Toyota Tundra named Motor Trend 2008 Truck of the Year - Autoblog

[blackdemon]

I think Toyota has deserved the award since they've tried pretty hard to compete against the big 3, and has achieved it in the most part, never mind their first recall on the 07 model, not the 08. Then again everyone is entitled to their own opinion on their preference, and likes and dislikes.

[Impelled]

Hey- Looks like they used my truck for the photo shoot Couldn't picked a better truck.....but I'm not biased

[mwg0415]

Mine too! Minus the Limited badging. I'm not biased either.... but what a good looking truck!

[MattJr]

Funny how they compare the 2007 model to the 2008 model. Logic would dictate that the issues (as many brand new models have the 1st year) have been addressed and corected. Seems to me it is sour grapes by comparing apples and oranges.

P.S. I just picked up my 2008 Pyrite Mica Crew Max this past Tuesday. What an awsome vehicle!!!!!

[wildbill23c]

Sweet, glad to here that Motor Trend was wise enough to see that Toyota has a better product than the big 3.

I still can't wait to get my new truck in January.

[porter4dmfd]

Why rip Toyota for recalling their Tundras. At least Toyota recalled and fixed them instead of leaving them on the road with problems, like the big three have been known to do.

[Mickey]

That's a nice truck. I'm biased also and I say mies is a tiny bit better looking... My 06 LT3 had 3 recalls on it and I only had it for 15 months... People will judge what they want and the ones not receiving will say something against. Yes the award is great. Toyota needs to keep pushing to stay ahead and don't forget the #1 thing "CUSTOMERS".

[Deznutjob]

One morning in 2003 at 4am I was driving to work in my 2000 Tundra 4X4 listening to the news on AM radio when I heard a stock report talking about the new manufacturing facility that was to be built in Texas for the current and new upcomming "full size" Tundras. Right away I started researching on line any information I could find about the "full size" Tundras. Nothing! All I could find was the concept truck and I couldn't imagine that was going into production so my search continued. I asked a friend of mine who is in Toyota fleet sales at a local dealer and he knew nothing. Did I hear wrong on the news that morning? Anyway I believed what I heard and began a little nest egg for a possible exciting new truck. I kept the already high mileage as low as I could on my current Tundra, detailed the interior and exterior attempting to preserve the truck for a decent resale. I began cultivating what I was going to do to the new full size. I called my local custom fabricator shop and asked them if they could put a lift on any truck and they said "Yup, how high do you want to go?". OK now that's was taken care of where's the new truck? The 2007 full size Tundra was finally unveiled at the Detroit Auto show so I called my fleet sales friend and he said "You were right!" My 2000 Tundra sold for a respectable price to a local girl and my new truck was two weeks away! I picked it up and took it straight to the fabricator. Low and behold there was already an 07 Crew Max in for custom fabrication. Mine was next in line. The truck was in fabrication for what seemed to be an eternity but the end result diluted that feeling. Here's how it turned out.

[1sicktundra]

i am a proud owner of this truck and it has the best runnin and durable truck i have ever owned, congrats toyota

[YB929RR]

Would it be a bad thing to say that your truck is one Wicked Nastry machine?

Originally Posted by Deznutjob

One morning in 2003 at 4am I was driving to work in my 2000 Tundra 4X4 listening to the news on AM radio when I heard a stock report talking about the new manufacturing facility that was to be built in Texas for the current and new upcomming "full size" Tundras. Right away I started researching on line any information I could find about the "full size" Tundras. Nothing! All I could find was the concept truck and I couldn't imagine that was going into production so my search continued. I asked a friend of mine who is in Toyota fleet sales at a local dealer and he knew nothing. Did I hear wrong on the news that morning? Anyway I believed what I heard and began a little nest egg for a possible exciting new truck. I kept the already high mileage as low as I could on my current Tundra, detailed the interior and exterior attempting to preserve the truck for a decent resale. I began cultivating what I was going to do to the new full size. I called my local custom fabricator shop and asked them if they could put a lift on any truck and they said "Yup, how high do you want to go?". OK now that's was taken care of where's the new truck? The 2007 full size Tundra was finally unveiled at the Detroit Auto show so I called my fleet sales friend and he said "You were right!" My 2000 Tundra sold for a respectable price to a local girl and my new truck was two weeks away! I picked it up and took it straight to the fabricator. Low and behold there was already an 07 Crew Max in for custom fabrication. Mine was next in line. The truck was in fabrication for what seemed to be an eternity but the end result diluted that feeling. Here's how it turned out.

[Deznutjob]

Originally Posted by YB929RR

Would it be a bad thing to say that your truck is one Wicked Nastry machine?

Hey thanks bro! It's fun to drive too, on and off road.

[newdude]

hello. New here. I am not against the Tundra here, it is not a bad lookin truck. The only thing keeping me away from it is all those recalls and the frame design ( boxed front, reinforced open C and a non-reinforced c). I do however hate motor trend. I mean, congrats to the Tundra and all but wtf? They compared it against the big three's 3/4 , 1 and 1.5(ford f450) ton trucks and not against their 1/2 ton variants. A more fair test would have been sivlerado 1500, f-150, ram 1500, and the titan. Oh, and that lifted tundra looks very cool.

[Deznutjob]

Originally Posted by newdude

hello. New here. I am not against the Tundra here, it is not a bad lookin truck. The only thing keeping me away from it is all those recalls and the frame design ( boxed front, reinforced open C and a non-reinforced c). I do however hate motor trend. I mean, congrats to the Tundra and all but wtf? They compared it against the big three's 3/4 , 1 and 1.5(ford f450) ton trucks and not against their 1/2 ton variants. A more fair test would have been sivlerado 1500, f-150, ram 1500, and the titan. Oh, and that lifted tundra looks very cool.

Thanks, but let me warn ya brother this site is full of proud and stubborn Tundra owners that will argue with you till they die! They will dig up any facts they have to in order to win the fight of words. If you wanna take a shot at em, take a shot at em but don't say I didn't warn you bro. Thanks for the props and good luck!

[Mickey]

Dez I bet the thought was if Tundra could hold it's own against 3/4 and 1 ton trucks this would be a boost for Tundra against 1/2 ton trucks. Not to mention if the Tundra comes out in HD this could surpass the competition.

[Deznutjob]

Originally Posted by Mickey

Dez I bet the thought was if Tundra could hold it's own against 3/4 and 1 ton trucks this would be a boost for Tundra against 1/2 ton trucks. Not to mention if the Tundra comes out in HD this could surpass the competition.

Ya know Mic, here we are with our second generation Tundras all proud and lovin it in our Big bad beautiful trucks and we have no idea what's just over the horizon with Toyota. Look what we have now and just imagine the near future bro. There will be no comparison between the 1/2, 3/4 and 1 tons from the big three. The only thing we'll be reading about soon are arguments regarding a few minor defects.

[Mickey]

Originally Posted by Deznutjob

Ya know Mic, here we are with our second generation Tundras all proud and lovin it in our Big bad beautiful trucks and we have no idea what's just over the horizon with Toyota. Look what we have now and just imagine the near future bro. There will be no comparison between the 1/2, 3/4 and 1 tons from the big three. The only thing we'll be reading about soon are arguments regarding a few minor defects.

DEZ I will be wearing sunglasses at night so I can have vision. I'll be able to see the horizon. hahahha

[newdude]

Originally Posted by blackdemon

I think Toyota has deserved the award since they've tried pretty hard to compete against the big 3, and has achieved it in the most part, never mind their first recall on the 07 model, not the 08. Then again everyone is entitled to their own opinion on their preference, and likes and dislikes.

ok. yes they deserved it for the recent test. BUT, what I am getting at is if it was tested against the big three's 1/2 tons and also the nissan titan, I feel it would be an even MORE deserving win because it can topple the competition. If you stick a 1/2 ton against bigger trucks, its obvious the 1/2 ton is going to win. To go against trucks of its own class, and it wins, says A LOT more about that truck.

[Mickey]

Originally Posted by newdude

ok. yes they deserved it for the recent test. BUT, what I am getting at is if it was tested against the big three's 1/2 tons and also the nissan titan, I feel it would be an even MORE deserving win because it can topple the competition. If you stick a 1/2 ton against bigger trucks, its obvious the 1/2 ton is going to win. To go against trucks of its own class, and it wins, says A LOT more about that truck.

You might want to rethink about the Chrysler Titan. Yes Nissan dropped it.

[newdude]

Originally Posted by Mickey

You might want to rethink about the Chrysler Titan. Yes Nissan dropped it.

huh?? oh... because of the deal with them and dodge. right, i think it was stated that dodge would supply the frame and a couple engines for the titan replacement... anyway, I probably said this already but congrats to the Tundra!