Let’s try another Review.
That’s right a review, long time followers will know I don’t do these often. Why? Well, for Four main reasons. One. I’m not really partial to new cars honestly. Two. The Lowered is about community, positivity. Embracing our fellow automotive brothers and sisters despite our differences. But thats not a review than is it? I mean a review is about opinion, love, hate, ambivalence, raw, unpolished. Three. I only review stock new or newish vehicles. Art is subjective and to me, that’s what Custom vehicles are, Art. US, Euro or Asian once it’s Customized I will look for and post only about the positive. Stock new vehicles do not get that protection. Fourth and lastly, I’m an above average sized, corn meat and potatoes white boy of an American. So I’m a pretty big dude. That means I don’t fit in any of the cool sporty shit you, and to be quite honestly , I am interested in reading about. Especially when it comes to new stuff. What I do fit in however is trucks.
My last review was of the Chevy Silverado, a series of truck I’ve grown to love. Unfortunately for me it happened to be in it’s most bullshit and ugliest configuration. The faux crew cab, I fucking hate that truck. They should have left it alone as the extended cab which was a wonderful truck. While I’m sure GM went to that config for crash ratings or something equally lame. The post required for a front hinged rear door takes up so much room it takes what should be an awesome welcome extra bit of space, into an ugly pain in the ass. If you have one and disagree... My apologies. I’m sorry you have shit taste. That’s gotta suck for all who love and have to live near you. Driving past your ugly, shitty abomination. I’m looking at you Brian.
I digress. What did I test drive this time? A Toyota Tundra TRD crew cab. I have to admit, I was curious. Toyota’s take on the full size truck. What’s that like? Well unlike most reviewers. I won’t write a review unless I’ve had a vehicle for two or three days preferably on a road trip. I like to get to know a vehicle look for its quirks and idiosyncrasies. I spent two days in the Tundra driving from Sacramento to Fort Brag a mostly boring drive north until you turn west toward the coast where you get some twisties and elevation changes. My white Tundra crew wasn’t mind blowingly roomy and while I couldn’t find specifications to prove it, I’d say the Toyota wasn’t that much roomier in back that horrible short crew Chevy. Ahh but How does the Tundra Drive? Well I could say pretty good but a better description would be uneventful or maybe, Meh, would be more accurate.
For something with a big damned TRD, Toyota Racing Development sticker on its ass I kind of expected... well something. I’m not sure what TRD means to Toyota but it’s damned sure not what Shelby means to Ford, what SS used to mean to Chevy or, well you get the idea. It just didn’t feel special. At all. In fact it felt a lot like a really big Camry. It had plenty of cup holders. The radio was alright. It was also acceptably comfortable. But getting off the free way and into the twisty bits the steering felt numb and not in that good Cadillac way either. It’s just, fine, it’s good, it’s like non flavored yogurt. Not fantastic not horrible just, you know, ok. That about covers the description of power delivery from Toyota’s 5.7 liter V8 as well. It’s adequate.
Now before you Tundra owners get your, I’m sure very sensible tighty whities in a bunch. I get it. Its a Toyota, it’ll be a dead reliable A to B no worries ride that will probably last a good long time. Ok. But that said it’s got all of the passion of a refrigerator. One without an ice maker/crusher/water dispenser deally. A plain old reliable two door fridge on one side freezer on the other. While I’m sure it’s a great truck, it’s not for me. No I didn’t hate it like I did Chevys Faux Crew, which if you say quickly FauxCrew) sounds like what I’d like to say to who ever greenlit that garbage. The Toyota Tundra TRD crew cab didn’t elicit enough of an emotional response to make me hate it. Sadly, it was easy to return. Like dropping an empty plastic bottle in the recycling bin if you where to remove any feelings of refreshment you might have received from the liquid inside. Like closing the door on said fridge. It’s a perfectly acceptable responsible vehicle.
One that I just can’t see dropping 30/50k on and not being excited to drive it. But that’s just me.
James
The Lowered HMFIC
