Choosing between Tundra and Silverado/Sierra

batman900 · January 4, 2016

My wife and I agree that she is only allowed to have Toyota due to the fact that she is hard on cars and doesn't properly take care of them. IMO they are still by far #1 in reliability.

That aside, when I was shopping, the Tundra had less options and cost more, not to mention that terrible millage and how super dated it is. My family has always had bullet proof Silverados so I went with it as my 2nd choice. 3 months later and I gotta say this is a wonderful vehicle. Zero issues and has every option I wanted for the price I wanted to pay.

To me it was like this:

Toyota = reliability 10/10 then quality 6/10.

Chevy = reliability 8/10 then quality 9/10.

Add in the fact that it was much cheaper and the Chevy won. I honestly like the looks of both of them.

PS: The trans gets much more responsive as it learns and breaks in, I can't even compare it now to when I first purchased the truck, I almost didn't think I'd be able to deal with the hesitation and how bad it would get confused. At 2k miles that is all gone. My only regret is not getting the 6.2, but I will always want more power even though the 5.3 is plenty and 6.2 is overkill, can't have enough power......... ever.......

dave07 · January 4, 2016

I was looking at the Tundra and GM twins as well when I was in the market for a truck.

I realized I was just looking at the Tundra because of the reliability. It's behind the big 3 in every category (tech,power,capability,mpgs, and price).

Good luck getting the Toyota dealerships to deal on their cars. It's almost non existent. My mom used to work at a Toyota dealership and said the best deal you will get is invoice minus any rebates/incentives.

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wayles · January 4, 2016

You should buy which ever one you like better, but I say buy American. There are three manufactures and you can put an American flag sticker on the back window without getting funny looks.

If it helps, I'm 6 months into my 2015 Silverado 5.3L and have no regrets.

Actually, the Tundra is built right here in good ol Texas with mostly American parts. So technically you could put an American flag decal in that window also.

SMiller · January 4, 2016

Actually, the Tundra is built right here in good ol Texas with mostly American parts. So technically you could put an American flag decal in that window also.

Tundra comes with a Texas flag sticker on the back window unlike the Mexican built GM trucks...

Vic15 · January 4, 2016

Toyota is Japanese no matter where it's built.

GMCguy78 · January 4, 2016

Do your research and buy what you feel most comfortable with. I don't think you can go wrong either way. I used to not be a fan of Toyota until I drove my uncles 4 runner and made me change my opinion of Toyota, that thing rode nice almost as nice as my Denali with magnaride. Best of luck

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Sooperdave · January 4, 2016

Tundra comes with a Texas flag sticker on the back window unlike the Mexican built GM trucks...

Mine has Indiana..

Sooperdave · January 4, 2016

I would comment but I work at a Toyota dealership... LOL

HyperX · January 4, 2016

When I was looking at Tundras (few years back) they didnt even have an option to have rear locking diffs. That was a problem for me. I used to own a 4Runner and it used break articulation to stop the wheel that was spinning. Problem with that is that is caused my breaks to overheat. I run both Toyotas and GMs for my business. Both are solid. However check out what happened to our dealer equipped ' Company Mascot Toyota FJ'

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/suspension-steering-tech/408530-any-ideas-what-happened-my-fj.html

crushNchowda · January 4, 2016

Edit - FWIW If you are into the TRD pro, don't care about gas mileage or old tech so long as its reliable, then drive to your nearest RAM dealer and check out a 2500 Powerwagon, comparable to the Tundra in price, factory lifted w/ bilsteins, has a winch, electronically disconnecting front bar, things a beast. Has the SRT 6.4 rated @ 410 probably could make more out of it I'm sure.

You get the size and height of an HD (a factory lifted HD) and better/more legit offroad chops, plus the same bad mileage. I looked hard at them myself.

Badass69 · January 4, 2016

Sooperdave, on 04 Jan 2016 - 09:27 AM, said:Sooperdave, on 04 Jan 2016 - 09:27 AM, said:
I would comment but I work at a Toyota dealership... LOL

You don't have too.... you aren't driving a Tundra are you lol.

I only bought my Tundra mostly because people I know told me how great they are, how long they last and I had never owned one so why not. Now my one contract guys Tundra has over 300000 kms on it of work use and he has basically done nothing to his 2007 so I thought I would try it and let one of my employees run it. I think they are a decent truck but there is things like I already said plus more... No locking diff although in truth if I could have gotten my GM without a Gov Lock I would have... I hate that junk. The only thing I can think of the Tundra offers that's neat is the roll down back window.... which I don't have nor would I actually want as it has zero functional use to me. Price is a huge thing with Toyota though and no they do not deal.

Proof? My cloth seat TRD package double cab isn't a cheapie... has heated seats, the touchscreen and what not... but it's not a leather truck. All said and done I paid almost exactly what I did for that Tundra for my loaded LTZ 6.2 Chev double cab.... the only option my Chev doesn't have is the lane departure warning... that's it. Huge difference in "bang for buck" there. Toyota won't deal... and just don't care. Mind you if it gives a person over 200000 miles of basically trouble free service it might be worth it. I doubt I will keep it past 100000 miles like any other trucks I run but you never know.

The "outdated" thing holds water too. Toyota has no locking diff option which on mine or the TRD Pro you would think they would....... But there is other stuff..... like still no factory integrated trailer brake controller...... no command start that can be deemed as useful....... I mean it shuts the truck off if you open the door. Once you start to add up all the things the Toyota doesn't have compared to any of the American ones its then a ploy of you banking on supposed quality which like any other brand is hit or miss.

.

Jernik · January 4, 2016

I considered the Tundra before buying my Sierra (I too have a 4Runner in the garage). Couple of things I've seen on the Tundra that are really cool is the power full rear window - really wish they had that on the Sierra... Also, not sure if this is standard or optional, but my neighbor's Tundra has a dial to adjust the headlights up/down - for when you're towing a load and need to bring the lights down out of the trees. That is slick.

Otherwise, everyone else has stated why the Tundra did not win out: They simply wanted too much money for an outdated (although solid) truck. It would have been a much more difficult decision if the Tundra had been priced $10K less than they are.

SouthpawHD · January 4, 2016

Are you planning on towing or hauling a lot? If so, the GMs generally have a higher payload.

Edit - FWIW If you are into the TRD pro, don't care about gas mileage or old tech so long as its reliable, then drive to your nearest RAM dealer and check out a 2500 Powerwagon, comparable to the Tundra in price, factory lifted w/ bilsteins, has a winch, electronically disconnecting front bar, things a beast. Has the SRT 6.4 rated @ 410 probably could make more out of it I'm sure.

You get the size and height of an HD (a factory lifted HD) and better/more legit offroad chops, plus the same bad mileage. I looked hard at them myself.

Yep. Hate to admit this, I've looked at a LOT of Ram specs lately. The PW is comparable to the TRD. But is not a towing or hauling workhorse, despite being a 3/4 ton n

xelli · January 4, 2016

Toyota is Japanese no matter where it's built.

And Dodge (Chrysler) was bought by Fiat.

Are you planning on towing or hauling a lot? If so, the GMs generally have a higher payload.

This was the primary reason I went with GM over Toyota in replacing my 2001 Tundra. My current trailer is at the upper limit of the Toyota tow capacity and I wanted just a bit more capacity.

codman232 · January 4, 2016

Edit - FWIW If you are into the TRD pro, don't care about gas mileage or old tech so long as its reliable, then drive to your nearest RAM dealer and check out a 2500 Powerwagon, comparable to the Tundra in price, factory lifted w/ bilsteins, has a winch, electronically disconnecting front bar, things a beast. Has the SRT 6.4 rated @ 410 probably could make more out of it I'm sure.

You get the size and height of an HD (a factory lifted HD) and better/more legit offroad chops, plus the same bad mileage. I looked hard at them myself.

I do have a limit and it ends with Dodge, I will never ever own a Chrysler product....Pure Garbage