Are you a manufacturer fanatic?

[Mullen]

I used to considered myself a GM guy, but my list is dominated by Toyotas. When it came time for a new truck, I chose a Tundra even after considering and driving all the full size trucks at the time.

84 Toyota Pickup - single cab, long bed, manual tans, windows, and steering. This truck made me a man.
86 Toyota Pickup - paid $300 for it and it ran like a top. Chopped it up to build a race truck, never finished it.
89 Toyota Pickup - beater prerunner. Paid $4k for a hack job as a dumb high school kid. Even worse, I sold my Camaro to buy this piece of shit. The only shining light is had I not done that, I never would have been a fabricator and likely wouldn’t know any of you fine gentlemen.
67 Camaro - first car I bought with my own money and the only car I regret selling.
08 Charger RT - first car I bought new. Couldn’t afford it and faked pay stubs to get it. Real Charger level shit.
08 Charger SRT8 - first car I bought after graduation.
95 Ram 2500 Cummins - it was cherry and I would have kept it if it was 4wd.
95 C1500 - possibly my favorite truck I’ve own. Started out slammed with a crazy paint job, ended up as a super clean fakerunner.
94 C1500 - solid prerunner, no cage though.
91 Explorer - my aunt gave me this. Only Ford I’ve ever owned, though I currently have a 21 F150 work truck.
11 Tundra - sold to buy a ring for the now-wife.
05 350Z - got the car for free from my bro in law. Built it into a decent track car and would have kept it if I had the space when I bought the V.

Currently own:
01 Tundra - built prerunner. I’ve had the truck since 2016 and it works well.
14 Tundra - bought new and probably will never sell it. If I sell my 01, this truck will get a blower and possibly LT.
10 CTS-V - blown, manual, sedan. By far my favorite vehicle I’ve owned.

 

[Cleandezert]

I used to considered myself a GM guy, but my list is dominated by Toyotas. When it came time for a new truck, I chose a Tundra even after considering and driving all the full size trucks at the time.

84 Toyota Pickup - single cab, long bed, manual tans, windows, and steering. This truck made me a man.
86 Toyota Pickup - paid $300 for it and it ran like a top. Chopped it up to build a race truck, never finished it.
89 Toyota Pickup - beater prerunner. Paid $4k for a hack job as a dumb high school kid. Even worse, I sold my Camaro to buy this piece of shit. The only shining light is had I not done that, I never would have been a fabricator and likely wouldn’t know any of you fine gentlemen.
67 Camaro - first car I bought with my own money and the only car I regret selling.
08 Charger RT - first car I bought new. Couldn’t afford it and faked pay stubs to get it. Real Charger level shit.
08 Charger SRT8 - first car I bought after graduation.
95 Ram 2500 Cummins - it was cherry and I would have kept it if it was 4wd.
95 C1500 - possibly my favorite truck I’ve own. Started out slammed with a crazy paint job, ended up as a super clean fakerunner.
94 C1500 - solid prerunner, no cage though.
91 Explorer - my aunt gave me this. Only Ford I’ve ever owned, though I currently have a 21 F150 work truck.
11 Tundra - sold to buy a ring for the now-wife.
05 350Z - got the car for free from my bro in law. Built it into a decent track car and would have kept it if I had the space when I bought the V.

Currently own:
01 Tundra - built prerunner. I’ve had the truck since 2016 and it works well.
14 Tundra - bought new and probably will never sell it. If I sell my 01, this truck will get a blower and possibly LT.
10 CTS-V - blown, manual, sedan. By far my favorite vehicle I’ve owned.

i love the comment about the 08 charger RT. lol

 

[Fenix Motorsports]

I'm a GM guy through and through even my jeep has a GM engine, although I seem to work on mostly tacomas for some reason, most of my R&D has been put into one of my two personal trucks, although I recently got a 2nd Gen tacoma to work with from a close friend of mine, I also should be getting an OBS F150 to do some R&D on as a partial trade for building the tacoma.

'94 Corvette - Clapped out, 6 speed manual needed a rebuild but no parts availability/expensive, sold to purchase the sierra

'07C GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Z71 - Current daily/work truck, basically just hauls steel and drops off packages, parts runs.

'74 C10 Cheyenne Super - Resto still on progress, haven't had time to work on it with client cars and trying to keep up with production and R&D

'70 Jeep CJ5 - Still in a million pieces, have full drivetrain, need shocks, need fixture table to build chassis and some other small parts/pieces

'72 Triumph Spitfire - Huge POS, hate the wiring in these cars, the whole thing has 3 fuses and no relays, 1200cc tractor engine with 60ish hp in a sports car, oh and they like to blow up if you rev them too much, I have a complete 3SGE/trans setup for it but need time to put everything in the car

'16 Polaris XP Turbo - Got this thing as a cheap desert beater, has 6300 miles and is pretty clapped aesthetically, I pretty much just prepped the stock suspension and rebuilt the clutches, and built a cage for it and called it a day, although I am now redoing part of the cage that I wasn't huge on when I built it initially.

'01 Kawasaki KX250 - Back when the KX250 was cool, now its a four stroke. I love this bike, but the reality is I am a desert/singletrack enduro rider and this thing sucks for that. Its geared too short for the fast doubletrack sections and its geared too tall for the slow singletrack sections, also the powerband hits like my old Banshee.

 

[Heer_O]

I've owned numerous Ford , and GMs, a few Mopars, a few VWs, one Kia and one Toyota. Guess which one I will never own again. TOYOTA! I've never in my life had a vehicle with so many problems. And I genuinely don't know if it was because I thought would be "reliable" and it turned out to be the biggest POS or if somehow I managed to get the one that failed every QC inspection at the factory. But I'm more familiar with GMs so that's where I think I'm gonna stay for a lil while.

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

In order:
1981 Toyota Pickup
1984 4runner
1997 Tacoma
2008 Tacoma
1998 Tacoma
1997 4runner

oh and a 93 pos fast and the furious aborted honda civic and a 2008 Honda Fit

 

[Prerunsilverado]

In order:
1965 VW Bug
1999 Silverado
1996 Ranger
1996 Ranger
2019 KTM 500
1999 Explorer

I have all but the bug. All still run and get driven. I wont sell them (the trucks arn't worth anything anyways).

Ill never get an electric vehicle.

 

[Prerunsilverado]

I've owned numerous Ford , and GMs, a few Mopars, a few VWs, one Kia and one Toyota. Guess which one I will never own again. TOYOTA! I've never in my life had a vehicle with so many problems. And I genuinely don't know if it was because I thought would be "reliable" and it turned out to be the biggest POS or if somehow I managed to get the one that failed every QC inspection at the factory. But I'm more familiar with GMs so that's where I think I'm gonna stay for a lil while.

Have you had any recalls on your GM stuff? It seams like every month there is a recall letter for them on our new work trucks here at Frontier Fence. Quality Chevrolet charges for the scanning of the computer to find what codes are being thrown even with the letter clearly stating what the problem and solution is! This includes the 1500 gassers up to the 6500 diesels.

Seams like Chevy trucks have gone down in quality since Covid. Anyone else seen this?

 

[Heer_O]

Have you had any recalls on your GM stuff? It seams like every month there is a recall letter for them on our new work trucks here at Frontier Fence. Quality Chevrolet charges for the scanning of the computer to find what codes are being thrown even with the letter clearly stating what the problem and solution is! This includes the 1500 gassers up to the 6500 diesels.

Seams like Chevy trucks have gone down in quality since Covid. Anyone else seen this?

Nothing on mine, other than the airbag recall crap. In full disclosure, the news one I own is a 2013 Denali. But I genuinely had more issues with my one Toyota than I've had with ALL my GMs and Ford's combined. And only had I issue with one VW bug I had. And that was 100% the fault of the dude who "rebuilt" the motor.

And yeah it's seems like ALL manufacturers have gone to shit the past few years.

 

[Heer_O]

I guess I can list everything I've had over the years:
1977 El Camino
1973 El Camino
1962 Bel Air
1967 Camaro
1977 Corvette
1991 Astro
1999 Yukon
2001 Silverado
2005 Tahoe
2007 Denali
2009 Suburban
2013 Denali
1969 Dart
1976 Dart Swinger
2002 Dodge Ram
1987 Mustang N/B
1989 Escort 4 dr hatchback 1.8 Dohc swapped
1989 Taurus SHO
1993 Bronco
1954 Baja Bug
1967 Baja Bug
2011 Kia Optima

And last but not least
1997 4Runner

I think that's it lol

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

I've owned numerous Ford , and GMs, a few Mopars, a few VWs, one Kia and one Toyota. Guess which one I will never own again. TOYOTA! I've never in my life had a vehicle with so many problems. And I genuinely don't know if it was because I thought would be "reliable" and it turned out to be the biggest POS or if somehow I managed to get the one that failed every QC inspection at the factory. But I'm more familiar with GMs so that's where I think I'm gonna stay for a lil while.

I use to follow your build on DR, I know 90's Toyota's can have some difficult to repair and diagnose stuff like evap codes, no-starts, etc. along with weak points like weak spindles, but curious what you exactly had happen, did you have a 3rz or a 5vz? On the flip side I helped a neighbor with a second hand 06 2wd Suburban he neglected and drove into the ground and a V6 Charger that we had to syphon all the gas out of and replace fuel pumps that he had parked on bad paperwork. There were things I liked about both of them like a shrader valve on the fuel line on the Chevy and a plastic fuel tank that makes it so just replacing a fuel pump or two is all you ever need to do on the Charger.

Each oem has plusses and minuses out there for sure.

 

[Heer_O]

I use to follow your build on DR, I know 90's Toyota's can have some difficult to repair and diagnose stuff like evap codes, no-starts, etc. along with weak points like weak spindles, but curious what you exactly had happen, did you have a 3rz or a 5vz? On the flip side I helped a neighbor with a second hand 06 2wd Suburban he neglected and drove into the ground and a V6 Charger that we had to syphon all the gas out of and replace fuel pumps that he had parked on bad paperwork. There were things I liked about both of them like a shrader valve on the fuel line on the Chevy and a plastic fuel tank that makes it so just replacing a fuel pump or two is all you ever need to do on the Charger.

Each oem has plusses and minuses out there for sure.

The 4Runner was a 3RZ 2wd A340e trans.... In the few years I owned it I went through a total of 5 transmissions, 2 motors, 3 p/s pumps, 4 steering racks, 2 radiators, and a few water pumps. They are the most over engineered, under powered, completely over rated vehicles I've even owned. And it was an "early" 1997 ( mfg code of late 96) it had all kinds of vacuum and electronic sensors.. like most vehicles that didn't have a model year change between OBD I and OBD II.

The front suspension was pretty beefy and would cycle pretty decent numbers. And after Jubera made me the custom heimed / adjustable rear panhard bar, the rear started to work much better. The truck was fun when it was running. But it was down more than not, unfortunately

 

[desert_steve]

The 4Runner was a 3RZ 2wd A340e trans.... In the few years I owned it I went through a total of 5 transmissions, 2 motors, 3 p/s pumps, 4 steering racks, 2 radiators, and a few water pumps.

I think the problem was the owner/driver lol. How in the hell can you lunch 2 engines, 5 transmissions, and a slew of other parts, and still think its the vehicle? Were you buying the cheapest replacement parts known to man? Used PS racks from TJ? Rebuilding the engines in the dunes with blowing sand and only a hammer? HOW?

 

[Heer_O]

I think the problem was the owner/driver lol. How in the hell can you lunch 2 engines, 5 transmissions, and a slew of other parts, and still think its the vehicle? Were you buying the cheapest replacement parts known to man? Used PS racks from TJ? Rebuilding the engines in the dunes with blowing sand and only a hammer? HOW?

The biggest issue, kind sir, was locating and unfortunately buying, actual NOS Toyota shit ( when I could find it) and the engine was a rebuilt from a reputable shop. And the fan boy's ( like yourself ) always say some to the effect of, "Oh it must be user error", or "stop buying eBay/ Amazon/ AutoZone/ temu parts" , or "you installing them wrong". Even the kid I sold the truck to had transmission problems. So, it's not me.

And don't talk shit on your sandal people cousins and their rebuilding methods. If it's good enough for Shiva, who are you to judge?!? Lol

 

[4xFoorOffroad]

The biggest issue, kind sir, was locating and unfortunately buying, actual NOS Toyota shit ( when I could find it) and the engine was a rebuilt from a reputable shop. And the fan boy's ( like yourself ) always say some to the effect of, "Oh it must be user error", or "stop buying eBay/ Amazon/ AutoZone/ temu parts" , or "you installing them wrong". Even the kid I sold the truck to had transmission problems. So, it's not me.

And don't talk shit on your sandal people cousins and their rebuilding methods. If it's good enough for Shiva, who are you to judge?!? Lol

With a 3rz you’re not wrong. It’s one of the hardest engines to find a low miles used one and Toyota stopped supporting it for parts long long ago. It would have possibly been worth swapping in a 2rz and a manual if staying 2wd since they are much much easier to find and just turbo’d it if not wanting to keep it street legal.

A340’s generally a pretty reliable trans, but you definitely experienced otherwise. My wife’s 4runner has 325k on the trans and it shifts well but has some harsh engagement going into reverse and makes a whine while in reverse.

My 2nd Gen Tacoma daily driver has a 2tr-fe which has almost the same block as the 3rz and same displacement but has hydraulic lifters (no more burned up exhaust valves like on the 2/3rz’s) and VVT on the intake cam as well as a true drive by wire throttle body unlike the late 1st Gen Tacos / 3rd Gen 4Runners combo drive by wire and throttle cable throttle. I was able to purchase a Toyota short block for $2500 OTD this summer when I had a hg leak and one of the cylinders had some wear on the cylinder walls at 225k miles. It’s something I’d recommend to people with 3rz trucks in the future as the 2tr was even found in 3rd Gen Tacomas. Just will have to deal with the electronic nannies which I’m sure people will figure out at some point before long.

 

[Endless Trails]

damn after owning that many, maybe we should listen to you.... why do you like dodge?

I know nothing about newer Fords. But going from a 03 6.0 Excursion to the 08 6.7 Megacab was incredible towing. The stock Cummins walked all over the tuned 6.0 on grades. And the brakes on the Dodge are light years better than the early Ford stuff. Going down 9 mile canyon with the toy hauler was scary in the Ford with cooked brakes a few times. The Dodge does it easy. I just wish it didn't have a Dodge trans behind that amazing motor.
I did tow my Cummins parts truck down from Napa over the Grapevine with a newer Ford deleted 6.7 and it drove / towed real nice. I could see myself in one if I had the money or need for a new truck.

 

[Heer_O]

Well I for one am never gonna have that issue again, because I'm never owning another one. No one will ever be able to convince me it's worth it.

 

[2UZ 120]

Respect your conviction. Do all manufacturers make bullet proof platforms every time out? Not hardly. No one is perfect.
The key words are multiple examples. Not a fluke with this engine, and yet some of them blow up too.

 

[cbrewer22]

Well I for one am never gonna have that issue again, because I'm never owning another one. No one will ever be able to convince me it's worth it.

 

[Endless Trails]

Vehicles I have owned for myself. Not the wife's cars.
64 Falcon convertible
77 Datsun 280z
78 Jeep CJ
Manx Clone (yes, I daily drove it)
84 VW rabbit 4dr
92 Ford Bronco
88 CRX
Pontiac Grand Prix GT
2003 Ford Excursion
2008 Dodge Ram Mega cab
2012 Honda CRV (daily)

If I had to put myself in a category I would be a Ford / Jeep fan boy. If I won the lottery I would probably have a few 60s era Fords, a Early and late model Bronco, and a real nice Jeep LJ. I only went to Dodge because the 6.0 screwed me over so often and non of the "fixes" fixed it. I should have gotten a manual Dodge...

 

[Austen2019]

Massive Toyota guy I have owned all brands pretty much or close friends and had to fix there truck. All new chevys and gmc are absolute trash. Including the gm as a company is trash. Toyota as a company is far superior on how they treat there owners. My uncle has the newer tundra with the bad engine. Bought it used with 28k, was told his truck was one of the trucks reciving a new engine. At 50k miles they called him and told him it was his turn. They fully replaced the engine gave him a 2025 Tacoma to drive for the week and his truck now has a brand new engine. My best friend is all ford and he has problems all the time.
My vehicles over the years
1986 Toyota pickup 4x4
1996 jeep grand Cherokee
1990 Toyota pickup 2wd
2006 Tacoma trd
2006 Chevy Silverado
2006 Toyota tundra 2wd
2020 dodge durango
2003 Chevy Silverado
1996 Toyota Tacoma
2001 Toyota tundra
2015 gmc Yukon
2003 Toyota tundra 4wd
2000 dodge neon
1986 ford bronco
2025 Hyundai palisade