mx_tifosi wrote:Even though I will most likely not purchase a Japanese truck in a later time, I seriously hope that trucks such as the Toyota Tundra will lead to improvements in 'our' domestic trucks. For example, the majority of the top-of-the-line Chevrolet Silverados come equipped with drum brakes on the rear axle (I would personally never accept drum brakes on a vehicle that costs around $40,000 dollars). While all current generation Tundras come standardly equipped with enormous disc brakes all around, even the entry level trims.
Yes, domestic vehicles are designed to provide nearly the same amount of performance with less technology, but imagine the possibilities with an increase in technological applications, such as VVT and improved exhaust design.
So for the most part, foreign competition can only improve the domestic manufacturers products.
I don't know where you are looking, but I've
never seen a $40k light duty Silverado with drum brakes. If you are talking about the heavy duty Silverados, most people prefer drums to discs because they work better with heavy loads that most truck like that tow. Just because it's a disc brake doesn't mean it's better in every situation. Neither is VVT for that matter. Why do you think tractor trailers use drums? And Chevrolet trucks
do come with VVT as an option. Maybe not standard, but not unavailable.You should read up on the product line better. An old coworker of mine had a Tacoma that he paid 5k more than me and it was a peice of junk. It ran like crap, it was way smaller than mine, got worse milage, couldn't tow as much, couldn't carry as amny people or as much in the bed. And it cost more! Is that a full representation of the brand? No. It's only one example. Just because it's from Europe or Asia doesn't mean ---.
And the Tundra is not the be all end all truck. The commercials are lies. They claim to tow 10k pounds, but they fail to tell you it's combined vehicle and trialer weight. Not to mention the bullshit stunt with the cargo container over the side of the cliff. If you dropped that much weight tied to any truck that size over a cliff, it would drag it right over the side with it. And anyone that says it won't is lying to themselves.
If some of you didn't know, the new "Nissan Titan" will be a Dodge Ram rebadged. Great job on import competition huh? I hate how much bullshit floats around about 'foreign' being better than domestic. Tundras can be cheap, and so can any domestic truck. SO can any truck in the world.
And Toyota hasn't dominated anything in NASCAR. Every top series they have is a spec series. They nor Chevrolet, Ford, nor Dodge are winning anything. It's a spec car with different color scheme and different drivers. To say any car make is dominating NASCAR is absolutely ludicrous and hilarious.
Whew.
Now onto JPM.
He's a great driver and I'm so glad he did well at Talladega. He has almost no chance of winning the championship though. Which really sucks cause then I could rub it in everybodys face at work.