Toyota Truck Lovers

MotoIQ’s towing Tundra

Erika — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:48:35 +0000

If you haven’t checked out MotoIQ yet, I strongly recommend you do. That is, if you have a serious interest in performance, motorsports and tuning tech. If you’re reading this because you’re into Toyota trucks and only Toyota trucks (open your mind, the automotive world is too big to limit yourself), you might be wondering why I’m telling you about a website that covers more turbocharged 2-doors than big-wheeled 4×4s. Don’t worry, there’s something in it for you too!

While the MotoIQ team are the first to admit that they are not truck folk, as race car people and formidable tuners they have a real need for a reliable towing machine. Based on the recommendation of a trusted associate, the crew decided that the Toyota Tundra was the right truck to get the job done after experiencing the limitations of several other tow-vehicles. With deep technical expertise on hand at MotoIQ, you can bet that they’ll be putting in a lot of work on the Tundra in order to make sure that the truck can put in heavy work on the road.

Check out MotoIQ’s Project Toyota Tundra article for an in depth look. Part one is already complete!

NPR offers great coverage of Toyota safety issues

Erika — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:29:13 +0000

NPR has aired some steller coverage of the toyota hearings and the recalls and incidents leading up to these. There reports cover the drama from a lot of different angles, and I’d like to say that they’re among the best available (it probably is but I can’t say that for a fact). Here are some examples of some of the quality reporting I have in mind.

NPR analyzes impact of Toyota trouble on Japanese foreign policy

Politicians come to the defense of Toyota

Unanswered questions remain after Toyota hearing

Toyota Hearings: Commerce Committee Toyota Connections

Erika — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:40:33 +0000

As we approached the Tuesday opening of Toyota hearings regarding instances of sudden acceleration and related recalls, I wondered what kind of history or relationships the congresspeople who formed the committees had with the brand. As it turns out, the Associated Press was wondering the very same thing.

Apparently Colorado Congresswoman Dianna DeGette owns three Toyotas and the automaker also has an office in the district she represents. This makes me tempted to take a good look at the questions she posed to US Sales chief, Jim Lentz. Please, don’t take this as an accusation of a pro-Toyota bias. I’m not sure what specific models she owns, but there’s a good chance that at least one has been affected by one of the three (possibly more, who can keep up anymore?) Toyota recalls. If anything, as a Toyota owner she could identify with people directly impacted by the defects and would probably want to see a thorough and effective investigation take place as much as anyone else (besides the poor folks who actually experienced unintended acceleration or tragically lost loved ones as a result of it).

Even if DeGette wasn’t the most zealous panelist among members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (can someone shorten this title please) I doubt she was as kind to Toyota as the 4 governors who understandably wrote to committee leaders asking that Toyota, who owns factories in their states, be treated fairly. This letter also stated that the federal government has an “obvious conflict of interest” in this matter being that it is a substantial shareholder in both GM and Chrysler.

Read the Associated Press’ articles in full:

Lawmakers’ Toyota connections

Congress-Connections with Toyota

Toyota Recall and “Sudden Acceleration” Hearing Proceeds As Expected.

Erika — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:37:33 +0000

The following passage was meant to be posted yesterday, but due to a combination of human error and connectivity problems, it was not. So, I was obviously not happy to have to dump the post on account of it being a day late. But, then I thought being that it was intended to forecast how yesterday’s Toyota Recall hearing would unfold, it might still be relevant. Sure enough, news coverage of the proceedings were pretty much saying what I (and probably most of you) had expected. Read for yourself and tell me if I was on point, and also let me know if you were surprised by anything said yesterday or later today too.

The congressional hearing addressing the ongoing Toyota recalls, and specifically addressing the problem of sudden acceleration experienced by a number of Toyota drivers, begins today in Washington, DC. The Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will both get an opportunity to question Toyota representatives as well as federal regulators this week.

While most people can probably predict how the hearings will unfold – Congressional representatives will make grand statements about Toyota’s irresponsibility, NHTSA experts will claim they’ve been on top of the issue from the beginning or blame the Bush administration for a slow response, and Toyota will pretty much reiterate what’s written in testimony prepared for USA sales chief, James Lentz – there is still expected to be tension. The suspense mounted as Toyota President Akio Toyoda refused to attend himself before eventually backtracking, and was further exacerbated by the disclosure that Toyota has been served two federal subpoenas related to recalls, leaving open the possibility of criminal charges. It’s not that surprising for an air of animosity to surround a hearing where representatives of a foreign manufacturer are being questioned by members of a government which threatens prosecution and owns large stakes in two of the company’s main US competitors. But, these issues may not be the main cause of contention at the hearing.

The Energy and Commerce Committee seems intent on pursuing the possibility that the problem causing the acceleration has not actually been resolved, proposing that electronic throttle control systems are at fault, and not the infamous “sticky pedals”. This is something that Toyota owners who’ve already had dealers make repairs don’t want to hear and something that Toyota continues to deny. The NHTSA, which has it’s own reputation at stake, has not ruled out this possibility and has also promised to look at other causes, including electromagnetic interference and software anomalies. Toyota has invested boatloads of money on vehicle repairs as well as to its reputation, and will find it pretty difficult to cash in if people believe that their cars are no safer now than before the recall. Can someone say DRAMA!

Besides the announcement that Toyota will be installing Brake overides in millions of new vehicles and in compatitible models already on the road, nothing that wasn’t already in the open came out of the session. Was anyone surprised that electronic throttle controls were of main concern or that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the man held accountable for the NHSTA, seems to have Toyota’s back? I doubt many of you were, but there’s still time for new revelations, as Akio Toyoda is set to be questioned today. Being that he basically tried to duck this interrogation, committee members may try to make things particularly difficult for Toyoda.

Toyota “Sticky” Pedal Recall Doesn’t Affect Toyota Hybrids

Erika — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:21:30 +0000

Toyota Motors is dealing with what may one day be considered the most tumultuous period in the company’s history, resulting mostly from widely publicized safety issues related to slippery floor mats and more recently (and significantly) “sticky” gas pedals. While both defects have led to unexpected acceleration, the latter, though considered rare and affecting fewer vehicles, is the the hardest to remedy and most disruptive to car owners and Toyota’s operations. With that said, if Toyota is looking for a bright side in this, it can be proud that as a leading hybrid car manufacturer, the Toyota Prius as well as hybrid versions of the Highlander and the Camry have all received clean bills of health. While there are also conventional models to evade the Toyota recall and the suspension of production and sales, it’s interesting that none of the Toyota hybrids are subject to the stigma. Should we be surprised to hear green car advocates claim this as another victory in the battle for energy-efficiency and better gas mileage? It’s probably more luck than a technological superiority of Toyota hybrids that explains why they can still be driven confidently on highways and out of dealerships. But, some may find it ironic that very recently Koei Saga, managing officer of Toyota, downplayed the future significance of hybrids, predicting that the gas engines will never be replaced entirely. Although, Toyota has generally been considered a maker of reliable and safe automobiles, in recent history it has arguably been the Prius and other hybrid models that have grown Toyota’s reputation, especially in terms of being an innovator. As evidenced by the Wikipedia entry I found listing the Toyota Prius among models impacted by the defective pedal issue, Toyota should be worried that it’s diminishing reputation will be passed along to its most reputable vehicles. In fact, they might want to edit that article to reflect the facts, especially now that competition is increasing in the hybrid sector.

Scion xBs for SEMA

Erika — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:31:54 +0000

Recall that when Scion launched in 2002, it was aimed at young people who wanted to pimp their rides, preferably with accessories straight from Toyota dealerships. That mission statement hasn’t changed and is why the company continues to have a strong showing at tuner-heavy aftermarket events like SEMA in Las Vegas, where these heavily modified versions of the Scion xB are debuting this year.

Please click here: Scion xBs for SEMA for more pictures and specs on these cool Toyotas.

www.caranddriver.com

2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Erika — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:05:19 +0000

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Driving the Toyota FJ is a lot like piloting a boat. The 4.0-liter V-6 with 239 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque does a good job of moving the 4338-pound ute, but executing dynamic maneuvers is a different story entirely. The FJ’s tall, boxy shape combined with the soft, off-road-compliant suspension and big tires leads to significant body roll, which is reflected in a poor 0.70 g of skidpad grip. Get on the gas, and the five-speed automatic’s well-spaced ratios allow a hustle to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. When the throttle is pegged, the FJ’s front lifts like it’s trying to plane on water; stomping on the brakes makes it dive like a submarine, with stops from 70 mph taking 190 ft of real estate. Considering its size and wind-catching shape, our test average of 17 mpg wasn’t too bad, sitting between the EPA’s 16 mpg city/20 mpg highway ratings.

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

The fate of a next-generation FJ is unknown, but we do know that 2010 models get an updated 4.0-liter V-6 with 19 more horsepower for a total of 258. A new Special Edition model will be available and should offer greater off-road prowess with Bilstein shocks, skid plates, TRD wheels, and a Garmin navigation system tailored to the trails.

The FJ is still somewhat of a misfit in the Toyota range and its segment. It sacrifices on-road competence, visibility, and interior comfort for off-road ability and style. It’s not the practical transportation appliance we’ve come to expect from Toyota, and although we admire its quirkiness—it has three windshield wipers—we can’t quite wrap our heads around this brick on wheels.

WyoTech

Erika — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:25:30 +0000

If you have a passion for all things mechanical, you might be interested in getting trained as an automotive technician or diesel mechanic at a technical school such as WyoTech. WyoTech offers degree and diploma programs in the fields of Automotive, Diesel, and Collision Refinishing and have six campus locations nation-wide. (Programs vary by campus location.)

2010 Toyota 4Runner

Erika — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:36:52 +0000

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Toyota is introducing a redesigned 4Runner which does not exactly fit into the new trend of going “green” by removing the option of having a V-8 engine. However to compensate for this loss, the 4.0-liter V-6’s output swells beyond that of the old V-8—270 hp, compared to 260.

The platform is not new, however just about everything else about the 2010 4Runner is. The new sheetmetal is a welcome change—the outgoing 4Runner’s look dated to 2003—and continues Toyota’s recent streak of daring designs. The big, inward-slanted headlights lend a furrowed look to the 4Runner’s mug, while the slab sides and beefy, squared fender flares give it a tough, masculine look. An upright greenhouse and a broad, flat hood promise to satisfy those who want their trucks to feel big from behind the wheel, and the slimmer, forward-canted C-pillar pays homage to the Land Cruiser.

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

The furnishings inside have been completely overhauled as well, with richer materials and a modernized design finally abolishing the dated cockpit of the previous model. A third row of seats remains an option, and the second row gains the ability to recline.

With the smaller engine, pricing will begin below the 2009 model. The two-wheel-drive, four-cylinder model will begin at $28,300 including destination, and the Limited will sticker at $40,600.

2010 Toyota Tundra 4.6 V-8

Erika — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:04:39 +0000

Photo Credit: CarandDriver.com

Successfully striking a balance between power and efficiency, Toyota is offering a new mid-grade V-8 for the 2010 Tundra. This 4.6-liter V-8 produces a healthy 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque. With increased efficiency under the hood, coupled with the installation of a six-speed automatic transmission, the mid-grade Tundra boasts impressive fuel economy – an estimated 15 city mpg and 20 highway mpg. Starting with a base price of $25,158, this smooth-driving dual-purpose truck with surprising Lexus-like quietness is a value that is hard to beat.

Click here for the latest Lexus news.