Comments on: 2010 Tundra – Quieter, Less Fuel, Still Great Power

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:07:24 +0000

Danny – LOL – jokes with held by request! Lots of folks think the pedal is too sensitive, but some say you get used to it. I haven’t heard anyone talk about the keyhole lighting, but it definitely makes sense. The overhead lights are tough I think – quite a few after-market companies sell brighter LED replacement bulbs, so my guess is that your vision is better than most. As for the bumper width, I think that’s an interesting observation as well. I’ll have to look at that next time I’ve got a Tundra, Ram, F150, and Sierra/Silverado together.

By: danny

danny — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:19:47 +0000

Jason, again my appologies, i didn’t realize i posted that as “anonymous”. I guess i forgot to fill in the top of the form.
A few other things i don’t like are;
-my ignition switch is not illuminated and the front upper cab lights are tooooo bright. I end up switching them off and then i cant find the keyhole. My gmc had, like, wings around where the key goes in and you could easliy guide the key in while it was dark. (no dirty jokes please)
-the factory rear bumper’s top deck is too narrow. If you have to stand on it for any reason while the gate is up, you are prone to scuffing the tailgate with your boots.
-and most of all, the gas pedal is too sensitive.
all of these issues are minor and i’m sure every truck out there has some quirks. Furthermore, everybody has their preferences. As an example, everyone knows i loved my old gmc z-71 but my girlfriend hated everything about it except that she couldnt get her stuck in the mud. Btw, she’s a lifelong bmw owner and ironically, she loves driving my lil HHR. Go figure.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:58:30 +0000

Anonymous – Thanks for chiming in. As I said above, I don’t expect everyone to be in love. Also, I appreciate your attempts to describe your problems without exaggeration. I think that’s the way critiques should be.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:50:06 +0000

To Parker Davis,
I owned a 08 Tundra dc 2wd 5.7 for 3 months and traded it back to the dealer for a 2010 tundra dc 4×4 4.6L. I can understand some of your issues. I had driven a 1995 gmc z-71 extended cab for 15 years and find the Tundra a totally different beast. The tranny is hard to get use to since it has braking assist. Mine will down shift and creat drag at 15mph (when slowing for stop lights and stuff) and if you try to accelerate it will rev high because its in a lower gear than it needs to be in. this is natural for this type of transmission. it is doing what it’s designed to do. I dislike the bucket seats. They are huge and i find myself sitting on the left, the right and then in the middle. When i jump in, i end up sitting in a different location everytime. the 2010 tundra was ordered with the split bench seats which are more narrow and to me, more comfortable. As for the ride, well it too is a different design from which i am accostomed. My z-71 would take a big bump as a serious thump! but the tundra seems to “jiggle” to me. Again, kinda understandable since the frames are 2 totally different animals. One stays ridged while the other flexes. Again, doing what it was designed to do.
“play in the brake pedal”, i havent noticed that one.
“window visibility”, well i’m not as tall as you but the visibility is much better than my z-71 except those huge mirrors create huge blindspots for us short people. (toyota, pleeeeese lower them, the short people would greatly appreciate it)
“cant see gauges”, i havent had that issue yet either.
“cruise control location”, i think it’s ergonomically well place. The radio on the other hand is too far away.
“noisy or road noise”, quiet to me.
“seatbelt chime and weight sensor in seat” VERY ANNOYING.
“oversized shifter and not being able to find reverse”, well my 08 was a console shifter and my 2010 is a column shift, i cant say that i even look at the shifter when shifting gears. I’m sure once you get familiar with your tundra it will become second nature. Kinda like going from a 3speed manual to a 5speed manual. Small learning curve required.
“poor access through back doors”, no issue to me.
“poor braking”, no problem on that one either.
When i first bought the used 2008 tundra, i felt the same way as you. I was expecting it to be just like my old faithful gmc. then i realized it was a different beast all together. I’m still not a diehard tundra enthusiest but i seem to be getting their everyday. There are a lot of great trucks out there but each are a little different than the other. The tundra is a lot different than the others.
My dislikes would be, poor visibility due to the bis mirrors, the jiggle, the high rev on start-up, cant turn off the running lights and radio being too far away for my short arms.
i hope this helps.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:23:26 +0000

Parker – You’re definitely entitled to your opinion. I’m well aware of common Tundra problems – I talk to a lot more than 11 Tundra owners in a day, let alone in the 3 weeks that you’ve owned your truck. I can tell you that your complaints about the transmission downshifting aren’t unique (that’s a normal behavior that some people really don’t like, but it’s a transmission braking feature). However, I’ve never heard one person who claims the transmission “thumps,” …but maybe that’s just semantics. I’ll take that one back and offer my apologies.
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However, I’ve never heard anyone describe a Tundra as louder than a “Peterbilt,” nor have I ever seen any test results that support your experience in regards to interior noise (only your truck might have a Cold Air Intake kit for all I know). You seem to contradict yourself a little when you say that the Ram you drive at work is louder. That truck must be REALLY loud.
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I’ve also never met or spoken with one person who thinks the truck stops poorly when compared to other half-tons. I’ve never seen any data to support it either. What am I supposed to think, exactly, when someone says something that clearly doesn’t reflect reality?
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As for your comments that the dealer wouldn’t let you do a 2 week test drive, I don’t see how that’s relevant. No dealership would let you do that.
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You say “Seat is so uncomfortable driving about 10 miles is a chore and adjustments are a joke” – if you didn’t test drive the truck more than 10 miles, that’s on you. If you bought it anyways, that’s also on you.
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I don’t expect anyone to sing kum-ba-ya, but I don’t understand your concerns. You seem like a guy who is upset and exaggerating (at least a little bit), which is why I asked if the truck was forced upon you.

By: Parker Davis

Parker Davis — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:29:53 +0000

Well Jason Sir. Maybe you had the opportunity to drive the Tundra for several weeks before you bought it. I wanted to take a two week test drive, but no dealer felt that was appropriate. So when you take a test drive most things seem fine. Like I said, if you had read it, the seat discomfort and visibility are not apparent until you have driven it for a while. When you take a test drive you don’t use the cruise control a few times, nor do you listen for what the truck sounds like after driving it for a half hour. If you had read just a few comments on this site you would see that many are concerned about a transmission/braking issue. Caled it “back shifting”. Your comment are somewhat strange, e.g., “was the truck forced upon you?” Did you ever buy anything that when you start using it, it wasn’t what you thought it would be? Is this a forum for sharing comments or does everyone have to agree with your narrow opinions or be blasted for not meeting your shallow view? Despite the “wonderful” reviews, there are a substantial number of complaints on this site about the vvt problems, about poor repairs, and about lack of customer service, poor responses, etc. I am an old dude and have had many many vehicles, including 3 previous Toyotas. Recently owned an F150 (my 3rd). So comfortable and quiet and well handling I would rather drive it than my wife’s lexus. I drive a new Ram 1500 at work and while loud and cumbersome, it is a great truck. Like you I read all the “expert” reviews and bought the Tundra based on those comments. Like I said, I would have like to have test driven the truck for about two weeks, but no one would let me. Since buying the beast I have talked with 11 Tundra owners, all of whom have similar feelings – highly rated reviews, but may not so great performance, comfort, etc. Every review of Toyota up until last month talks about their quality, performance, customer service, etc. and what are we finding out now? So rather than sittin? there reading the “reviews”, why don’t you drive a few? And, once you stop being flabbergasted, scroll up a few comments and look at the concerns about the “atypical” shifting problems. Like I said, thought this was a forum to share experiences (good or bad). Not a forum to join hands and sing kumbaya around the Tundra.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:05:59 +0000

Parker – I’m flabbergasted. Who buys a truck if they hate the visibility, the controls, or the way the truck drives? Your comments about the poor stopping power and the thumping transmission are atypical – almost all reviews of the Tundra says that the truck’s transmission (and power train in general) is smoothest in it’s class. The brake stopping distances (measured) are also at or near best in class. What you’re saying, and the way you’re saying it, it just doesn’t make sense. What truck did you have before this one? Tell me the year make and model – I’d be happy to show you stats and reviews that show your new Tundra has matched or outperformed your old ride. Was this truck forced upon you or something?

By: Parker Davis

Parker Davis — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:51:40 +0000

Well, 3 weeks into a 2010 Dbl Cab 5.7 and just think it is biggest mistake of my life thus far. Six speed trans is a joke – thumps into 2nd from 1st after lots of hesitation. When braking trans downshift is also bumpy. Seat is so uncomfortable driving about 10 miles is a chore and adjustments are a joke. If you are over 5′10″ good luck in seeing out window or the gauges. No runaway acceleration, but just regular acceleration is quirky and hard to get accustomed to. Going to dealer for recall fix next week – we’ll see if that helps. Too much play in brake pedal and really poor stopping power considering the size of those rotors. Poor engineering all around. Thought regular opening back doors would be great after Ford suicide doors, but only children and small pets can get into the back seat without trouble. Putting a box or small dog on front seat is not possible – it shuts air bag off – but seat belt chime rings incessantly and no way to stop it. Anyone figure out why the giant oversized shift lever which makes finding reverse to drive shifting always a guessing game. Cruise control – let’s stick it in worst possible spot, especially in dark, and give you a dash light to tell you the button is on, not that you are actually in cruise. Those of you who say it is quieter, wow! What was it before? Acceleration noise I can understand, but traveling at 50 or 60 I have to turn up radio about 6 notches to cancel the engine roar. I’ve driven a Peterbilt with less noise. Thank god none of the engine light problems – Had an F-150 and drive a Ram at work – no comparison in any way, shape or form.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:49:07 +0000

danny – Thanks a ton – that’s great info.

By: danny

danny — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:51:43 +0000

well i traded in a 2008 tundra dc 5.7 2wd for a 2010 tundra dc 4.6 4×4. So far i am very happy with the switch but i’ve only put 120 miles on her in 10 days. Main differences and items of intrest follow.
-The 2010 is much quieter inside the cab. But my bed seems to have a strange sound at low sppeds over rough roads. Sounds like the bed floor is flexing.
-The 2008 5.7L had too much power and it’s throttle was toooooo sensitive.
-the 2010 4.6L has plenty of power for most of the masses.
-the 2010 4×4 is geared lower and feels just like my 95 Z-71 which was a great mudder and crawler for my needs. Weird down shift at 15mph that makes the vehicle feel like its dragging gears but i’ll get use to it.
-the 4.6L should be great for the average to above average driver for work or leasure.
-the 5.7L…. well it’s just bad to the bone but i don’t have the bones to fill the gas tank.
-both were comfortable and fun to drive but the 2008 felt like it was more work to drive it.
- i haven’t pulled a trailer with the 2010 yet, but the 2008 5.7L would make me forget that a trailer was attached. Couldn’t feel it. Out of sight out of mind?? I’m sure that the 4.6 is quite adaquate for my needs. I don’t even have a trailer that could possibly weight 10,000 pound when loaded.
I hope this info is useful to someone.