Would you consider a smaller pickup? Tacoma? Im just HAPPY I didnt get something fully loaded...those add-ons break the bank fast!

Talk with the dealer you got it from if you want to trade in on other Toyota...assuming you had a good experience with them. They may not hurt you as much as other dealerships would if you follow thru on this "second thought"

 

I can understand what you are getting at. Personally, I have never had any issues with parking or anything like that and I certainly knew that the gas mileage was going to suck but I also looked at other factors as well. I had a Tacoma and it just struggled to pull my Travel Trailer at highway speeds so a larger truck really was needed. Like you though, when I am not pulling my trailer my Tundra is seldom used for hauling.

Some things to consider though:
- The Tundra holds it's resale value better than anything else out there, the only thing that comes close (from what I have seen anyway) is the Tacoma.
- People may debate me on this but a large truck like the Tundra, weighing in at almost 6000 pounds is going to be safer than the smaller trucks. Simple physics tells me that I would rather be in a truck that weighs 3 tons if my family were to have an accident vs. a truck weighing 2 tons.

If you really want to sell it I would try Craigslist and Autotrader first and see what kind of offers you get. The biggest issue is that you will likely lose most of the 15K you put down because all new vehicles depreciate so much when you drive them off the lot, that is why I always buy used, I like to let someone else pay the initial depreciation. If you don't get any good offers selling it yourself then see what you can get on trade, but you will lose all of your 15k if you go that route.

Personally, I would say to hold on to her a little longer and see how you feel in a year.

 

Just curious so that I can get a benchmark.. how much do you guys spend on fuel a month? I spend about 380 dollars a month total between the tundra and my wife's Nissan Versa.. and the tundra alone is about 280 per month approx.

I used to be spending about 250 per month total driving a Nissan Versa and Saturn Vue. Gas prices were pretty much the same then.

 

Spend $75 a week so it's $300 a month. Job is 22 miles away. Yes I do 75 on the interstate. I get 18mpg in this winter mode of gas and 20+ in summer blend. I bought an 07 CM Limited. Parking spots can be only a minimum so you shouldn't have an issue. If you did get nannies use your auto close mirrors function then that will avoid hitting other vehicles and other peoiple hitting your mirrors. I close mine every time I stop. It only took once at Woody's BBQ for someone to hit my mirror and broke the drive to close it. Since then I auto close everytime.

 

I haul less often than you do. I haven't towed anything yet. I love this truck though. I had an accident a few months ago and my truck had cosmetic front-end damage (it felt like little bump), whereas the other car had side curtain air bag deployed, etc. It was most likely totaled. I think it's worth paying extra for that sort of safety.

With respect to parking, I just don't think about parking anywhere near. the entrance to the facility. Wherever I go, i park away from everyone else. Walking is good for your health, I say.

 

My commute is 1.2 miles each way, that was the reason I considered getting a full size. Every paycheck(2 weeks) I usually top it off with about 12 gallons...

 

My commute is 20 miles each way to work. Not awfully long.. but still.

 

You never mentioned you were Jewish

 

I've always had a truck for as long as I can remember, even when I didn't need a truck. I bought my first in 89 if I remember correctly, 1985 single cab 4X4 Hilux. Didn't need it but wanted it.
I don't care much about fuel costs because the main purpose for it is work, however I couldn't justify a 5.7 pig like mine unless it had a purpose. It sounds to me like you are answering your own question with several facts.
If you can afford the truck who cares what other think? Is is big? Well of course it's a frigging full size truck
If you are happy with it keep it, if you are not then sell it but let it be your own (and your wife's) decision not your friends or co-worker's

 

Depending on the capitalistic fuel prices in CA, I pay anywhere around $400 per month on gas. Almost as much as the payment! LOL.

Gas prices are something that will always hurt. My buddies taco only gets 18-19 avg and I run about 16.5 average. That difference isn't worth it to me - but that's only a decision you can make based on the other vehicle you're looking into.

 

Yea, I'm in California too.. I wouldn't consider replacing a tundra with a taco if fuel was the only concern. It's hardly a difference and you get much more with a tundra. California truck registration fees are also higher.. Highest sales tax.. highest gas tax, highest vehicle tax.. GAWD!.. no wonder people are fleeing outta california.

 

If you really want to get something else just take it by the dealership and see what they'll give you. All you have to say is no if you don't like the numbers. I don't know if its like this in every state but here if you sold your truck privately then went to the dealership and bought one you have to pay taxes on the full price of the vehicle but if you trade it in you only have to pay taxes on the difference of what they give you for your trade in and the price of the new vehicle. That will probably offset any extra money you would make selling it by yourself.


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I had some of the same thoughts as you, about the same time frame too. I say keep it a little bit longer at least.

Now that I'm over all that, I just enjoy it every day. Try switching vehicles for a week. I had to drive our S-10 Blazer while my wife's car was down and she took the truck. Absolutely hated it. It felt small and slow among other things.

 

Did you not think about the fuel cost and size before you purchased the truck? Maybe you can trade that truck in for a lower end model?

If you put 15k down on a 30k truck your 5 year payment plus fuel would be less than your current payment. Plus, if you get a lower end model, door dings wont piss you off as much so you can feel free to squeeze into those tight spots.

 

Honda ridgeline is a great truck, holds resale value very well, very reliable. Gas mileage is not that good and you probably will only gain a couple mpgs. It's full time 4wheel dr with a relatively small v-6 (for the weight). Much smaller size. Works pretty well as a truck but the smaller bed of most anything else will be a challenge at some point. I changed from a ridgeline after one too many craig's list trips that had me wishing for a larger truck. Slightly worse mileage but I love the ride and capabilities.

 

***************

 

It's not your fault the parking spots are smaller. Take up 1.5 spaces a little farther out.

 

This. If it's on private property, double-parking isn't illegal.

 

Those tiny parking places are a pain! I've come across a couple and I never really worry too much about getting in and out of them as I do about door dings since my truck fills up from line to line.

As far as the fuel economy goes, I don't know that you are going to get that much better in anything truck-ish in nature. You could do the Taco, and I love those trucks, but I'm thinking you'll only pick up another 2-3mpg on your daily commute. You could even do a 4runner or something like that but again the fuel economy isn't that much better. The only thing I know that will get significantly better fuel economy is a car or some of the suv's that are car-like.

I'm kinda like you in that I only use the bed of my truck, maybe a dozen times (not counting when I throw my mountain bike back there). The thing is I really enjoy being able to use it when I need to and not having to just figure out how to make something work. Perfectly good example of this is a few weeks back me and 3 other guys packed up and went snowboarding for a long weekend. I was able to throw everything in the bed very comfortably and we all sat in the cab very comfortably without anything seeming crowded. If we would of tried that in a 4 runner, tacoma, or the like, it wouldn't of been very near as comfortable. I also don't know that a 4runner or tacoma would of gotten all that great of fuel mileage going into the mountains loaded down like that. Who knows?

I'm with you on being annoyed by tiny parking places and the not so impressive fuel consumption. For me the Tundra is still the perfect fit. I don't know that there is a vehicle out there that you don't have to compromise somewhat on.

 

Hmmmmm lemme see here lol, my truck gets 10-12mpg's towing my boat, my boat gets about 4-5mpg's (250 Mercury Pro XS) so I don't even wanna know how much I'm paying for gas lol.

My daily work commute is about 25 miles each way as well.

Back to your topic though, if your having second thoughts about it, it sounds like you aren't totally happy with your situation so do what your gut tells you. I really like the Tacomas.

 

I sold what I loved and got something that made sense....

Worst choice I have ever made.

My wife saw how bad I was, so she told me to go to the Toyota dealer and get another Tundra. I had the other car for a month.

Do what you love, you only live once.

 

So, this is probably my first post, but I am also re-considering my truck purchase. I've thrown some mods in it and I LOVE the truck, but I don't haul anything, EVER, and my wife continues to nag me about the gas. I commute 20 miles to work 4 days a week and work from home on Fridays. With that said, I typically go about 8-9 days on a tank. I have NEVER seen 300 miles on the odo in a tank. I think alot of that has to do with the stop and go on the highway. I do feel very safe in the truck though and prefer driving it over my wifes Murano, which doesn't get the best gas mileage either, so I give it back to her everytime I can.

I always think to myself, if I could only get a little better gas mileage, this wouldn't be so bad, but the daily commute is just killing me. I either need a new profession, or a different vehicle.

 

How bad is the stop and go? With part of my wintertime commute on Chicago highways I'm still getting 16 mpg in my Tundra. I've got a 4.6l 2013 double cab. Up high in a pick-up, you should be able to see over traffic and anticipate the stops. Tune your driving to the car in front of the car in front of you and you'll do less braking, less pointless acceleration.

I think there are two sides to the "don't do what others want you to do." If you really don't want to pay for the gas, don't keep a truck just because somebody thinks it's cool. A vehicle is a tool. If you don't need that tool, the cool thing to do is to get the tool you do need. Anything more isn't 'big'. It's just fat. Definitely don't get an SUV. 90% of SUV drivers are just fat. There are those who think having big things is manly. More power to them. But I tend to think self-indulgence is unmanly. It's a different way of looking at things. Singing YMCA with a hard hat on doesn't make you a construction worker, and driving a truck doesn't make you a tough guy. If you don't need it, you're just posing.

My wife has a Subaru Forester, fitted with a trailer hitch so she can pull a kayak trailer for my business in a pinch. I drive her Forester pretty regularly. I like driving in the Forester. If it weren't for the fact that she doesn't like trying to get the baby into the truck on her own, I'd drive the Forester to my offseason job all winter to save on gas.

 

I'm having second thoughts too..... Shoulda gotten the 5.7 crewmax 4x4 rock warrior!!!!!!!


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I also hate my 12mpg city and 15mpg hwy... it's terrible...
but, i work SOOO hard for a living and DAMN IT i'm going to spoil myself with the biggest baddest truck, and i'm going to drive it like there's no tomorrow.. so FK the gas money.. its not like i now have to eat top ramen noodles because i have my truck.. i'm still eating steaks
for me, it's my reward to myself...

 

So I made a few other posts and thought about it more. I say you know what, its not the truck its the damn government and their gas prices. I say they fix the gas prices.

 

I am also having 2nd thoughts. Went to the Tundra Crewmax Limited from the Tacoma double cab in August of last year. I needed more interior room and a bit more luxury. Having a couple weeks to think when driving a pathfinder as my Truck was being repaired and combined with the need/desire for more inside space and not using the truck bed (with topper), I have been considering the Platinum or Limited Sequoia for a bit more functionality and increasingly growing family. It does not hurt it adds more features and has a better ride.

 

We can have a poser club and vote in a King for "King Poser".

 

Not that you need to update your signature. I was just trying to account for the possibility you had some different tank. But if you want to, I think you use the USER CP link in the Site Navigation menu on the right near the top.

And I asked because I was truly wondering if there was something about a low tank that was bad for the engine - why does Toyota make the fuel light come on with 6 gallons left, if there's no particular reason? 6 gallons is a lot of advance notice. I did some reading after posting, and it looks like any engine built in the last decade should handle a low tank pretty well.

I understand why you'd fill up earlier. Makes sense. But I'm more of a 'hell, I won't run out' person. Not sure why, since I did run out of gas a couple times when I was younger and more easily distracted. Hasn't happened in 10 years though.

 

I think we can make a deal here. I am in the exact opposite of your situation.
I have a 2011 Honda Insight that gets mid 40's MPG, but I want to get another Tundra.

I had a 2008 Tundra, then went to this. Yes, it makes sense for my commute, and for my wallet, but it is not what I truly want.

So what do you say? 1 for 1 swap??

 

1 for 1 swap yes.. only if you give me like like 30 K on top.