Buying my next truck

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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I am looking forward to buying my next truck, except for the fact that I don't know whether I want a Toyota Tundra, or a Chevrolet Silverado. I think that I will go with the Silverado, but this is a long term purchase, I plan on driving the truck for at least the next ten years. I drive about a hundred miles a day, back and forth to work, and obviously want something with better gas mileage. I will not stray from these two choices, no matter what. I have been reading something describing a hybrid Silverado, but Chevrolet's website does not have any information on this, and I don't see anything of the same on Toyotas website. Any help is appreciated.
 
Go with the Toyota.

In 1990 I bought my first Toyota truck out of total disgust with the lack of quality from my American pickups. In 1988 I bought my last Chevy, And spent alot of time back at the dealer with problems. Sometimes it had to be towed in. Then in 1990 I caved and got my first Jap truck and never looked back. In 140,000 miles it never failed to get me there and back again. In 2001 after a shoulder operation to my right rotator cuff I wanted an auto tranny so sold it and got a 2002 Tacoma. The guy who bought it lives about a mile from me and he still has it. Up to 178, thousand something and still going strong. I never thought of looking at anything else than Toyota.
 
Are you looking to buy new or used?

Used will save ya some dollars that will go a long way to pay for gas. Or maybe a diesel used, which would give you back some MPG.
 
The hybrid Silverados are only available as fleet vehicles.

Their fuel economy is only a bit better than the more traditional trucks.

They are being sold primarily to contractors, with the primary advantage of the hybrid powertrain being the onboard 120V generator.
 
Of the GM trucks, the nice ones with 4-wheel steering would be very tempting. GM/Chevy is finally getting some decent interior design too, after a long era of being decades behind Dodge and Ford.

Otherwise, I'm a fan of the Ford F150. I doubt there's a quality difference between Ford and Chevy, but it's like knives - everyone has a preference.

Toyotas are perfectly fine I'm sure, but I don't think you get your money's worth - HP, torque, cargo space, interior cab space...

And no matter what brand you pick, there's ~always~ a chance you'll get a lemon. That's why you need...

Good Luck,
Bob
 
Go drive the Tundra, and I'll wager that you won't even go to the Chevy dealer. The reliability factor is more than enough reason to get the Toyota. But then you add in the smmoooooth and quiet V8 engine, extra smooth ride and super quiet interior, and it becomes a real no-brainer.

As far as gas mileage, none of them are going to get real good gas mileage. That's one of the breaks of having a V8 engine.

I'm 6' 6" and 250 lbs, and I had plenty of room. Power is more than enough.
 
DaveH said:
Are you looking to buy new or used?

Used will save ya some dollars that will go a long way to pay for gas. Or maybe a diesel used, which would give you back some MPG.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to go used, I don't think I'll ever buy a brand new truck. Diesel is an option. I have been doing research on the hybrid Silverados, and the MPG for a 4wd extendend cab standard bed, highway driving, is 21, for the same reg Silverado 4wd extended cab standard bed, highway driving is 19. I personally think that the reported MPG is higher than the actual MPG, and that there is no difference between the two trucks, other than the fact that contractors will have 4 electric outlets in their trucks.
 
I think either truck would last you for 10 years at NORMAL mileage. However, at the annual mileage you're talking, I'd buy the Toyota. Good luck! :)
 
I have also thought about the Chevy Colorado, although I am probably too big for it, 6'3" and 300 pounds, although I am on a diet :D . I just went onto a review of the Tundra, they look just as roomy as the Silverados. I think I will stick to deciding upon the Silverado or Tundra, thanks for the pros and cons.
 
Neither is going to give you good mileage. The chevy's probably got a 5.7liter in it? I bet you average 14 miles a gallon. Maybe a little better since your making long trips (assuming your on the freeway)
The toyota might do better, but if you do some searching you'll find at least one recent thread complaining about their gas mileage.

Ford's are my first choice, Dodge is my second. I like deisel engines, especially for driving a lot of miles. Dodge seems to get the best fuel economy out of their deisels (cummins) (their gas engines are about like ford and chevy from what I've heard). Your best bet on fuel economy in a full sized pick up regardless of brand is going to be to try and get a diesel with a high gear ratio (probably be a 3.55) and a manual transmission. I've got a few friends with dodges in that category and they get around 20 miles to the gallon when they're not towing anything.

Toyota seems to make a really dependable long running truck. I haven't read all the specs on the tundra, but from looks its more mid-sized than full sized. If your wanting a big payload or towing capabilites you better look harder at a full size.

Good luck with whatever you pick.
 
Do the Tundra. If you drive that much, you might as well enjoy the safety of the Tundra. You can wrap your tooshie around a herd of Elk, and still walk away with a smile on your face.
 
My brother drives a 2000 Tundra extended cab 4x4. It has about 130k miles on it and he has had no trouble with it. Tires and brakes are the only parts he has put into it. He works at the factory in Princeton, IN where they are made.

I recently borrowed his truck to haul some furniture to my sister-in-law's house (about 6 hrs. round-trip). I was amazed at how nice this truck drove, even with 100k+ miles. We currently own a 2004 Toyota Sienna van and a 1999 Toyota Camry. In a year or two I will be replacing my Camry with a Crew Cab 4x4 Tundra.
 
I won't try to tell you one is better than the other, but what I can tell you is that my 2003 standard cab short bed Chevy, with the 5.3 liter V8 gets 18+ MPG in the city, and 20+ on the road.

I would never argue that Toyota makes one fine pickup though.
 
Matt Shade said:
The chevy's probably got a 5.7liter in it? I bet you average 14 miles a gallon.
Click to expand...

Actually my Chevy Tahoe with a 5.7 liter usually gets 17 to 18 around town and has even gotten a little over 20 miles per gallon on long flat interstate drives with the cruise controll on at 60 mph.
 
My last two Chevy Silverados averaged 16mpg for the time I had the vehicle. Both got 18.5 to 21mpg at highway speeds. 5.3L V-8 gas 4WD. Problems have been minor and cheerfully attended to by the dealer. I find the Silverado comfortable and capable. Probably it has the best mileage of the domestics in it's class. That said, I really would prefer a Tundra for overall quality and long term reliability but the seats are too close to the floor to be comfortable and lack the adjustment options available domestically. My wife and I both have some neuroskeletal issues. As for towing and heavy work, all three of the domestic trucks are better suited, in my humble opinion.
 
The official government specs...

2005 Toyota Tundra 2wd
Fuel Type Regular
MPG (city) 16
MPG (highway) 20
MPG (combined) 17
Annual Fuel Cost 1817

2005 Tundra 4wd
Fuel Type Regular
MPG (city) 15
MPG (highway) 18
MPG (combined) 16
Annual Fuel Cost 1931


Chevy Silverado C1500 2wd
Fuel Type Regular
MPG (city) 16
MPG (highway) 21
MPG (combined) 18
Annual Fuel Cost 1718

Chevy Silverado C1500 4wd
 
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