Tundra? Calling all financially savvy people

Hi folks, new Tundra is on radar. New kid on the way. I'd like to get a bigger vehicle, I will tow 6500 boat, safer for children, etc. Ok so I'm looking at a CPO Ram Laramie with all the nice things for around $44k. But I like longevity/resale value of new Tundra (assuming Toyota will last even with these recent Tundra issues). Is it worth it at all to purchase a 61k tundra and it still be a good financial purchase over a CPO Ram? I do foresee perhaps a slight Toyota bias but nonetheless!

 

Toyota bias yes. Personally I would not even consider a Dodge over a Tundra. Maybe depends how long your planning on keeping it.

Your comparing prices on a used dodge to a new Toyota? Yes the new Toyota will depreciate the moment you drive it off the lot but I still think the Tundra will hold it's value better long term. But I will admit I am a Toyota believer driving them for 20 years.

One point though I try to buy vehicles with long production history not newer model changes like the Tundra. I want to be at the end of them tweaking it not the new model still fixing it for years after major changes.

 

Probably depends a bit on if you can buy with cash or if you're financing it. Rates on new vehicles are usually lower than used which will make up a little bit of the difference between the RAM and the Tundra. Also, Tundras do historically seem to hold their value/rust free metal surfaces longer than RAMs.

I will also say, coming from a Tacoma prior to my 4Runner, not having a sealed trunk sucks for kid accessories - strollers, pack n play, etc...

 

I would wait another year or two while Toyota figures out all of the issues in the new Tundra.
You could also look at a previous gen Tundra or maybe even a used Lexus LX.
If towing and a truck are a must-have, I'd look at a used F150.

 

It would be cash. Just thinking that even with residual values, will a difference of 20k still be worth it to go up to a Tundra?

 

My dad had the old Tundra. sold it with 275k miles on it still running great...but that was the V8. considering new safety standards and tech so I'd only consider the current gen Tundra since it was highly rated for the kiddos and wife

 

Don’t use the Tundra to tow but nice to know I could if needed. Lots of us new owners have zero issues, we just don’t post that we don’t have any issues.

 

Mopar did me wrong 15 years or so ago and I've havent forgotten. Biases aside, I'd compare pricing of brand new, years around the age/miles of the Ram you're looking at, and 5 years older than that, for both Ram and Tundra. My *gut tells me new for both will be close, the mid-range Ram will be about 10% cheaper than the similar used Tundra, and then the Ram value will fall off a cliff compared to the Tundra 5 years after that.

If I was going up to a fullsize right now, I'd find the best 2019-21 Tundra I could in my price range. They'd had that truck figured out for a decade before that point, and if you need to unload it I bet you have a good market of folks trying to get back into a 2nd Gen

 

Must it be a new Tundra? If not, I vote for a gently used one. The V8 has a solid reputation even if the MPGs are low. Otherwise, a $20k price difference is hard to overcome if you're considering a poorly-built alternative.

 

At this time, only considering 3rd gen Tundra due to safety scores. I and my friends have seen too many road incidents to ignore the ratings entirely

 

For me personally Tundra, Sequoia, LX600 out of my list. If EPA r@pes 4runner powertrain as well if anything happens to my 4runners I'll be going GX460 way even though I don't like some of the things on GX460.

Worst case I will build a trail fun rig (something like a Wrangler) and lease vehicles for family daily use.

 

Asking us if it make financial sense without using knowing your finances will not get you a correct answer.

Worrying about resale value on a regular truck is pointless. I would pay 20k more for a Toyota over a Dodge but thats just me. No I have not owned a Dodge but I've owned tons of Toyota/Lexus and they have never screwed me over. Why fix something thats not broke.

 

Speaking from a financially savvy point of view, buying a new car is never the best option. There are lots of other reasons to buy new, but financially it’s not so great.

 

Speaking from experience seen of coworkers, I would avoid the RAM. They are not super reliable. The engines are generally good, but lots of little things go wrong with them including random computer bugs that come and go on their own, and other malfunctioning odds and ends that may or may not affect you depending on your trim. One coworker has already had to replace the headers and get his transfer case fixed. I'm not sure the exact year he has, but it is since the latest redesign. Part of the transfer case issue had to do with his lift and tires, but nevertheless, it happened.

As for the 3rd gen Tundra: I rented one for a few days and liked it a lot. However, I'd probably hold out on buying one just a little longer. It's still pretty new and they have a few bugs to sort out, but they will. The 2nd gen was extremely reliable, but it was still functioning on a mid-2000's platform, which also means they've had lots of time to perfect it. However, poor MPG and the styling were enough to drive me away from purchasing one. The 3rd gen has grown on me a bit.

 

Thanks for the insight. Agree on the 2nd gen. Very reliable. My dad had one with 275k and nothing wrong with it. As for the Ram, I have heard the same about electric gremlins. Leaning towards Tundra

 

Get a 2014-2021 tundra 5.7 and save $20k+ over the new ones. I did that and really happy with it.

 

I bought new because there was only a few thousand $ btw T4R CPO.
Actually there was used 2022 TRD Sports priced same as a new one in transit at the dealership. [No haggling policy]

No brainer... just picked the one in-transit.

 

This is a real difficult question to answer as "worth" is defined by the individual. To me, $20k is a giant price difference and I'd frankly never even consider buying a $60k+ truck so really in my mind, you'd need to do some soul searching yourself. Boats and trucks are both rapidly depreciating assets and I generally buy well loved things to skip over that initial money loss.

 

i am actually looking to do same and transition to a Tundra in the next year or so... (new by the way)... ive owned ram trucks and really do miss my old 2500 HD with a dana 60 front and dana 70 rear and a 360Z motor in it... would go anywhere and tow anything ... but gas mileage was single digits... not joking... and after a few years the "quality" of dodge started showing.. things breaking or failing etc... got tired of it and sold her... now that i dont need 3rd row anymore (my 4runner is an sr5 premium with 3rd row) and really looking at the tundra with long bed and large quad cab to haul around most any toy hauler / camper and maybe a bigger boat in the future (i have a large Deep V walleye boat now) ... plus having a truck bed is advantageous for hauling.. (i personally have a small trailer to haul pavers, lumber, mulch etc... with my 4runner)..

For me its a no brainer that the Tundra with a TRD package i want is in my future... resale value and overall Toyota quality is what is making my choice a no brainer vs a Dodge Truck. and yeah im waiting til probably this fall when the 24 model comes out.. that way its been a couple of years or so since its been released .

 

I’m not a fan of American made vehicles, But if I was going to be doing a lot of heavy towing, I would get one of those “real man” trucks with the big Diesel engine.

 

Based on all the issues the new Tundra has been having I am not convinced it's any better than the domestics as far as reliability is concerned, and I don't think it does truck stuff any better either. If I was in the market for a truck I would look for one of the last gen Tundras.

 

I do like the 2nd gens a lot but my wife wants the higher rated 3rd gen

good insight from a previous Dodge owner. I'm kind of partial to a Chevy with the 6.2 but given past experience from friends and me personally, the safest truck (3rd gen Tundra) is the one I'd buy. Then factor in high residuals, etc.

 

Higher rated in what why? Haha

 

Safety ratings

 

Not trying to argue about this but I'll add. If it was anyone other than Toyota I'd be a lot more in agreement with you. I bought an 07 Tundra (first year of new model) with 18K on it in 09 and drove it until last year when I sold it with 172K on it. And this truck did a lot of work in that time. I pulled numerous cars on a trailer and pulled a camper many times including one trip all the way to the keys and back and several trips through the mountains of NC. In all that time/miles the only repair I ever did was a water pump at around 100K miles. And it probably didn't really even need it. I drove the crap out of it one night and a little bit of coolant came out of the weep hole. Since I was going to be pulling my camper the next week I didn't want to take any chances so I went ahead and replaced it. I do agree it's better to buy later in the production cycle but it's fairly safe to buy a Toyota product in it's first year out the gate.

 

Money comes and goes! Life is short. If you can swing it, get what you want. Don't settle for something you don't want.

 

Seems everybody agrees that the 2nd gen is superior to the 3rd gen in every way. Never heard about the safety rating issue. But, obviously your wife has fixated on it, so really the best, smartest, and most fiscally responsible option is off the table.

Or... Buy a clean 2nd gen, throw some of that disposable cash towards a big beefy front bumper and some side rails to make her feel safer, get it in her favorite color and you are set.

What woman wouldn't feel safe and invincible in this?



Other than that, it really is a total crap shoot with full-size pickups these days.

I bought a brand new 2014 Ram 1500 crew cab 4x4 with the hemi for $29k. Best truck I've ever had. Drove it for 52k miles until my old great dane mix could no longer get into it. Traded it in for a used Yukon in mint condition. That thing had multiple issues in the year I had it, so I traded it in on the 4Runner.

I think with Ram, the higher trim level you go, the more problems you will have. My Tradesman just had the basics and was rock solid.

But now, in 2023, go to any pickup forum and you will find horror stories of failures and lemon law cases. The new Tundra is having issues and no way would I buy one new. My dealer has a few used ones on the lot that people have turned in, which is sketchy, and they want new prices for them.

 

If you want a Tundra, just order one. And hope they have the kinks worked out.