Opinions/Experiences with F150/Tundras

I have a F350 diesel and a Lexus Gx470. No question that the Lexus is a MUCH better vehicle. I've poured $6K into fixing the Ford so far at 65,000 miles, and $0 (beyond normal oil changes, tires, etc) into the Lexus so far at 80,000 miles. The Lexus still runs like it is brand new, the Ford feels like it's 6 years old. I just needed the huge truck to tow my horse trailer, o/w I'd never buy any other truck (or truck based chassis) from anyone other than Toyota/Lexus again. I've had a couple of Chevrolets in the past that were nice trucks, but nothing can touch the 4runner or the GX470 that we've had/have.

FWIW, both of my parents drive toyota/lexus products, and 2 of the three have over 200K on them, the other is near 300K now and all three run great. Although the one with near 300k has electrical issues (it's a '94 Lexus LS400). What can I say, we are a Toyota family.

[kydsid]

Originally Posted by Pistol

I have an F350 diesel and a Lexus Gx470. No question that the Lexus is a MUCH better vehicle. I've poured $6K into fixing the Ford so far at 65,000 miles, and $0 (beyond normal oil changes, tires, etc) into the Lexus so far at 80,000 miles. The Lexus still runs like it is brand new, the Ford feels like it's 6 years old. I just needed the huge truck to tow my horse trailer, o/w I'd never buy any other truck (or truck based chassis) from anyone other than Toyota/Lexus again. I've had a couple of Chevrolets in the past that were nice trucks, but nothing can touch the 4runner or the GX470 that we've had/have.

That is about a fair comparison as saying a Cohiba Lancero is better than a Macanudo Robust. If we were talking Navigator's and GX470 then it might work.

It is unfortunate about the F350 but even Ford acknolweged the last gen diesel engine wasn't good. I assume that or the tranny has been the trouble for that much money. Heck the last gen diesel would have made me go Chevy for HD application. The new one has me back at Ford.

Besides Toyota won't even try to enter the 1 ton area. They can't even get their act together to offer a boxed frame in a 1/2 ton. I can only imagine how much wiggle their 1 ton would have.

[Lear31MX]

I've owned both a toyota 4 runner, and a lot of Fords, 150,250, 350, and my wife has and expedition . Can't say I like the new toyota. All my Ford have been outstanding rides. I would buy a new f-150.

[Lear31MX]

It is unfortunate about the F350 but even Ford acknolweged the last gen diesel engine wasn't good.

I own a 2006 f-350 i've put a 100,000 with not a probelm one, imo it's a great diesel. the truck can move a house and not even miss a step.

Originally Posted by Lear31MX

It is unfortunate about the F350 but even Ford acknolweged the last gen diesel engine wasn't good.

I own a 2006 f-350 i've put a 100,000 with not a probelm one, imo it's a great diesel. the truck can move a house and not even miss a step.

Ours is an '03 or an '04, don't remember. I think that's the previous gen that he's talking about. I'll trade you straight up for our '03/04, we've fixed it a bunch!!

[Lear31MX]

Originally Posted by Pistol

Ours is an '03 or an '04, don't remember. I think that's the previous gen that he's talking about. I'll trade you straight up for our '03/04, we've fixed it a bunch!!

Yeah, I have a friend with an "03 that damn thing can't make it 10,000 miles with out something going wrong.
So no, I do not want to trade.

Originally Posted by kydsid

That is about a fair comparison as saying a Cohiba Lancero is better than a Macanudo Robust. If we were talking Navigator's and GX470 then it might work.

It is unfortunate about the F350 but even Ford acknolweged the last gen diesel engine wasn't good. I assume that or the tranny has been the trouble for that much money. Heck the last gen diesel would have made me go Chevy for HD application. The new one has me back at Ford.

Besides Toyota won't even try to enter the 1 ton area. They can't even get their act together to offer a boxed frame in a 1/2 ton. I can only imagine how much wiggle their 1 ton would have.

It is a fair comparison, because I'm not comparing trim levels. I compared reliability and cost of ownership over time between my two vehicles with truck-sized engine and tranny combos. My GX470 has a 4.7 liter V8 in it which is very comparable to the F150. They are in the same class under the hood. The F350 is totally stripped down, which is what I wanted for my work truck; so of course there's no comfort comparison to the Lexus! For the record though, you're right, we've had several engine problems. I still prefer Ford over Chevy and Dodge though. Just as an FYI, for my model's year, the only difference between a 4runner and the GX470 is body style and trim level. They have the same engine (in the V8 for the 4runner) and same chassis.

[kydsid]

Originally Posted by Pistol

It is a fair comparison, because I'm not comparing trim levels. I compared reliability and cost of ownership over time between my two vehicles with truck-sized engine and tranny combos. My GX470 has a 4.7 liter V8 in it which is very comparable to the F150. They are in the same class under the hood. The F350 is totally stripped down, which is what I wanted for my work truck; so of course there's no comfort comparison to the Lexus! For the record though, you're right, we've had several engine problems. I still prefer Ford over Chevy and Dodge though. Just as an FYI, for my model's year, the only difference between a 4runner and the GX470 is body style and trim level. They have the same engine (in the V8 for the 4runner) and same chassis.

True but a Cohiba is made from the same tobacco as many other cigars but it is still better. I wasn't saying Lexus/Toyota aren't the same so and so more that a 1 ton truck compared to a less than 1/4 ton (class not weight) sport utility is unfair. More so when you compare amenities. The main reason to not compare is that neither vehicle is or should be doing the same things. If you are pulling the horse trailer with the GX then lets compare. But to compare your engine reliability to an engine not even available in an F150 is absurd, how does that work? Let's compare your engine reliability to Fords 4.6 2V, while grossly underpowered is a great engine.

The main reason is that personal comparisons are already invalid because of too small a sample size. Every automakers makes a lemon now and then. Ask anyone with a 2000 Tundra and rusty frame. When you start comparing different class vehicles you just make it worse.

I think this is more true in trucks than with cars too. They just don't and shouldn't do the same things.

When you buy a truck why you buy it should be based on what you are going to do with it. It's reliability against a vehicle that cannot do the same thing is just a weird comparison to me.

Originally Posted by kydsid

True but a Cohiba is made from the same tobacco as many other cigars but it is still better. I wasn't saying Lexus/Toyota aren't the same so and so more that a 1 ton truck compared to a less than 1/4 ton (class not weight) sport utility is unfair. More so when you compare amenities. The main reason to not compare is that neither vehicle is or should be doing the same things. If you are pulling the horse trailer with the GX then lets compare.

The main reason is that personal comparisons are already invalid because of too small a sample size. Every automakers makes a lemon now and then. Ask anyone with a 2000 Tundra and rusty frame. When you start comparing different class vehicles you just make it worse.

I think this is more true in trucks than with cars too. They just don't and shouldn't do the same things.

When you buy a truck why you buy it should be based on what you are going to do with it. It's reliability against a vehicle that cannot do the same thing is just a weird comparison to me.

Hey man, no worries, he asked for opinions and experiences, and I gave him mine! Other people have talked about their 4runners here, and you haven't said anything to them. My GX470 is essentially a dressed up 4Runner, it's pretty much the same vehicle with a nicer interior! I never tried to say that my GX470 does the same thing as my truck. In fact, if you reread my posts, I talk about pulling a horse trailer with my big ass diesel; well, no kidding my little SUV can't pull a 4 horse gooseneck, that's why I got the truck!! I use both vehicles for their intended purposes - the Lexus for light to moderate camping, trail driving, city driving, and light towing, and my F350 for heavy work and towing. My Lexus is better at what it's designed to do than the Ford is, does that work better for you? The OP wanted our experiences with the reliability of both Toyota and Ford. My experiences have been different than yours, so what?? Why are you coming after my experiences and noone elses?! Also, my father has a Tundra, so if we are only talking F150 and Tundra here, then he loves his and has over 200K on it with no major engine or tranny issues. Kydsid, I'm not trying to say Ford sucks or anything like that, I'm just showing my preference for Toyota - no more and no less man.

[kydsid]

Originally Posted by Pistol

Hey man, no worries, he asked for opinions and experiences, and I gave him mine! Lots of people have talked about their 4runners here, and you haven't said anything to them. My GX470 is essentially a dressed up 4Runner, it's pretty much the same vehicle with a nicer interior! I never tried to say that my GX470 does the same thing as my truck. In fact, if you reread my posts, I talk about pulling a horse trailer with my big ass diesel; well, no kidding my little SUV can't pull a 4 horse gooseneck, that's why I got the truck!! I use both vehicles for their intended purposes - the Lexus for light to moderate camping, trail driving, city driving, and light towing, and my F350 for heavy work and towing. My Lexus is better at what it's designed to do than the Ford is, does that work better for you? The OP wanted our experiences with the reliability of both Toyota and Ford. My experiences have been different than yours, so what?? Why are you coming after my experiences and noone elses?!

Sorry. I am not trying to make it personal. In fact I had a 94 4Runner that was great. Ran it into the ground. I'd buy another 4Runner/GX in a heart beat if that is the kind of vehicle I was looking for.

Originally Posted by kydsid

Sorry. I am not trying to make it personal. In fact I had a 94 4Runner that was great. Ran it into the ground. I'd buy another 4Runner/GX in a heart beat if that is the kind of vehicle I was looking for.

I know, and no need to apologize! I wasn't trying to compare the Gx to the F350 in function at all. I was just merely stating that the Ford had cost me more money with less mileage than the Lexus had. Granted, they are different vehicles that are designed to do different things, but they are both larger vehicles with larger engine/tranny combos so I thought that my experiences with the two of them would be applicable. Maybe they are, and maybe they aren't, but they are my most recent experiences with the two manufacturers. FWIW, I will probably keep buying Fords to tow my toys/horses around, and I will probably keep buying Toyota/Lexus for lighter duty stuff.

[1badhog07]

Originally Posted by kydsid

Sorry. I am not trying to make it personal. In fact I had a 94 4Runner that was great. Ran it into the ground. I'd buy another 4Runner/GX in a heart beat if that is the kind of vehicle I was looking for.

Making friends as usual jason