Here’s a quick update on our growth plan for our loyal readers. If you like the site, I would be grateful for any feedback or comments you have on these items, our plans, and what we can be doing better.

New Stuff

First, as you may or may not know, I’ve been posting on Twitter on behalf of TundraHeadquarters.com for a few months now.

TundraHeadquarters.com Admin Jason is posting on Twitter - click the image to see his profile.

Second, I setup a Facebook fan page for TundraHeadquarters just now. It’s sort of ugly right now (at least I think so), but I’m going to get some help with making it prettier.

The first attempt at a Facebook fan page for TundraHeadquarters.com

It’s also very empty right now…so anyone who wants to post a “Hey what’s up” or start a discussion or put a picture or whatever would be greatly appreciated.

I’m also on Facebook myself and I’d like to be Facebook friends with anyone who wants to be friends with me. http://www.facebook.com/tundrahq.

Third, we added a section for user reviews of Tundra accessories a month or two ago. It’s sort of empty right now, and we still need to add a bunch of parts, but I’m getting a helper to work with me on adding more stuff. If you have one of the accessories listed (like one of these air intakes), please take a moment to add your review. It will help other people out when they’re ready to buy.

Our new Tundra Accessory user review system

Future Plans

• We’re going to re-do the Tundra Buyer’s Guide to be more useful.

• We’re going to integrate a used Tundra classifieds system into the website.

• We’re going to try and re-design the site to reduce clutter.

• We’re going to try and publish an eBook about Tundra accessories, how they work, options, etc. for new Tundra owners or for anyone who wants to learn more about their truck.

Big Picture

As many of you know, TundraHeadquarters is about 90% me. I want that to change because I think the site could be better. I’d also like that to change because I want to create other sites like this one (one for Tacomas to start with, maybe some others…).

I’ve got some help from Mark (a behind the scenes guy who I’d like to get more involved), I’ve got a couple of writers that help me with reviews, etc., but I’m always interested in the idea of having another author or two.

If you’re interested in writing blog posts or articles (and if you have some experience), I’d like to hear from you. This is a paid writing opportunity, so if you know a writer who knows cars and you like their outlook on things, I’d love to hear from them.

Final Thought

Please, please, pretty-please, contact me with ideas, suggestions, things that don’t work, things that you’d like to see changed, etc. I’m very open to criticism and always looking to make this site better. You can email me directly jason[at]tundraheadquarters.com. Just replace the [at] with an @.

Thanks to everyone who visits!

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

If there is one characteristic that all of the best-selling portable GPS devices share, it is uniformity. In terms of shape and size, most GPS units look very, very similar, and as discussed in the first part of this two-part portable GPS buying guide, all of these portable GPS units offer very similar functionality.

The portable GPS industry is dominated by two companies: Garmin and TomTom. In fact, of the devices we examined, all but one were produced by Garmin. As such, we’ll analyze Garmin’s offerings first, arranged in descending order by price.

Garmin's top-of-the-line Nuvi 885

The top of the line Garmin GPS unit is the nüvi 885/885T. With a list price approaching $600.00, the 885 can more often be found selling for around $350.00 online.

One of the benefits of paying so much for a GPS device is the fact that the nüvi 885 can recognize speech commands – you can use your voice to move through its menus. It also includes 6 million pre-loaded destinations such as restaurants, movie theatres, national parks and other points of interest. It’s a solid unit, but it’s not our favorite…mostly because of the price.

Garmin's nuvi 755-765-775-785 family are all the same unit, with only minor differences between them.

The next Garmin we looked at is the nüvi 765/765T. Its street price is just under $300.00, and for that amount of money it offers similar features to the 885, minus the speech recognition. The device’s lane guidance feature helps you to more easily find highway exits, and like many Garmin devices it can be transformed into a hands-free speaker for a cell phone thanks to Bluetooth.

The 755-785 family also features multi-point routing, which means you can use your GPS to find the best route to visit more than one destination. Using a built-in FM transmitter, all the units in the 755-785 family can transmit directions through your vehicle’s speaker system. This feature is nice because, sometimes, the volume on the GPS is just a little too low.

If you like the 765 but don’t need Bluetooth connectivity, the nüvi 755 is a nice option that’s less than $250. Moving up from the 765, the nüvi 775 and nüvi 785 include more maps and a slightly upgraded traffic data system. Cool extras, but we think the 765 or 755 are the units to pick from this family.

Our top pick is the Garmin nuvi 260

Our favorite unit on this list is the nüvi 260W (about $140). It’s very basic, but it features a nice big screen, text-to-speech directions, an easy-to-use interface, and good battery life. The nüvi 260 doesn’t have the traffic finder feature (the 260 isn’t even compatible with the feature, but the 255 is compatible with an external adapter), so if you want traffic info then one of the higher-priced units on this list is a better option.

However, as far as “bang for the buck” is concerned, the nüvi 260W is a solid little device that does exactly what you need.

TomTom's GO 720 is a nice mid-range portable GPS with some nice custom mapping options.

The sole TomTom offering to crack this list is the GO 720. Priced at around $220.00, it compares favorably with the mid-range Garmin options in terms of features. It includes an MP3 player, traffic and weather updates through a Bluetooth cellular connection and of course spoken directions. The GO 720 can also connect to an online service called MapShare, which allows for special maps and directions created by other TomTom users to be uploaded into the device.

Bottom Line: If you’re into futuristic options like voice recognition and up-to-date traffic data, a high end unit might be the way to go. Are you a road warriors doing business on the road? The mid-range devices are probably the best option – they’re catered to a business type user with a little bit of tech savvy. Are you looking for a lot of the features of a good GPS without spending a lot? If so, the Garmin 260 is our recommendation.

Whichever GPS device you choose, it’s hard to go wrong choosing one of the units on this list. We found them all to be fun and easy to use, and in our limited “test drive” they all performed nicely.

FTC Disclosure – This was NOT a paid post. However, if you buy a product using one of our links, we get a small percentage of the sale. So if you want to help us out…cool. If not, that’s cool too. See our about page to learn more about how we make money.

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

Back in the old days – a.k.a. the days before GPS – when you needed to go somewhere you’d never been before there was a process you had to follow. First, you’d ask whoever it was that you were meeting for directions. Next, you’d consult a road atlas or a map. Finally, just in case you got lost, you’d be sure to write down a phone number.

How *did* we survive?

Garmin's nuvi 885 is a great example of the top-of-the line in portable GPS units.

OK OK, you don’t need GPS…but it sure is nice. GPS navigation systems save time and trouble, and more and more they can be found in cars, computers, and cell phones. While GPS enabled cell-phones are growing dramatically, the most popular GPS navigation option is a portable, dedicated unit. Ranging from $100 to $400, dedicated portable GPS units are a nice accessory for vehicles and a popular holiday gift.

Thus, our buyer’s guide. In part one of this two-part guide, we’ll break down the key features offered on most GPS portable units. In part two, we’ll evaluate some specific models that are popular right now and offer some recommendations. Here we go…

The Screen

Screen size is usually the determining factor in the overall size of a portable GPS device. If the screen is too big, the GPS device could be hard to hold in your hand. If the screen is too small, it’s hard to read when mounted on the dash of your vehicle.

The most common (and most popular) screen size for a portable GPS navigation device is 4.3 inches. This size is ideal for use in a car – it’s wide enough to make reading on-screen maps at a glance comfortable, but not so big as to take up too much dash or windshield real estate once installed.

If you’re looking for a GPS device with a smaller screen size, there are only a handful of options on the portable GPS market. More and more, people are relying upon cell phones for “pocket” GPS use, but there are some smaller, dedicated units available.

Idea: If you’re interested in a GPS device that fits in your pocket, consider GPS devices designed for outdoor sports like running, cycling, golf, etc..

Mounting

Once you’ve settled on a screen size, it’s time to dive into mounting options and where the power comes from. The primary mounting option for most portable GPS devices is a suction-cup windshield mount, and most of the time this works reasonably well. However, some people like using a “bean-bag” or “friction” mount option instead. Usually this is an add-on feature.

Friction or "bean-bag" GPS mounts are a popular alternative to the standard windshield mount. They're usually an extra that costs $10-$25 dollars.

Automated Traffic Updates

Many portable GPS devices feature a traffic update system that promises to steer you clear of traffic problems, saving you time and headaches…but don’t get too excited. Some of these systems require you to pay a monthly fee, and there are many places in the U.S. and Canada where this feature won’t work. This feature is only worth paying for if you live in a large city notorious for traffic problems.

Text To Speech

Almost every major manufacturer also offers voice prompts to go along with the arrows and maps displayed on the screen. This theoretically allows drivers to keep their eyes on the road instead of gawking at a map while moving through heavy traffic. In order to either provide an extra entertainment factor or increase the clarity of communication, many devices allow for “voice packs” to be uploaded into them, changing the tone used by the GPS to one that ranges from celebrity impersonations to amusing English accents. This is a great feature to have and one we highly recommend.

Lane Guidance

This is a great feature that is starting to become available on lower-priced models. In addition to telling you when and where to turn, lane guidance will also help you get in the right lane…which is really nice advice to have sometimes.

Maps

All portable GPS units include map data for the continental United States and Hawaii, but map data for Alaska and Canada isn’t always standard…so be sure to check for it if you need it.

Depending on the unit you buy, you may be entitled to free map updates. Otherwise, you can purchase updates as needed. Most GPS owners update their maps every 3 to 5 years, and the cost runs $50-$100 per update. If you’d like to use your GPS on vacation (say in Europe or South America), of if you’d like to use your GPS while hiking or camping, you can buy maps for these purposes…but keep in mind that top quality maps are only available for the US, Canada, and Europe.

Here's an example of a "reality view." While it's not quite reality, it's easy to understand and a nice feature.

Reality View

Instead of a map schematic, reality view attempts to give you a more accurate depiction of the road ahead. While it’s sort of cartoonish, reality view makes it easier to understand some directions (especially highway interchange directions).

Bluetooth and Hands Free Phone Features

Many portable GPS devices have the ability to serve as more than just a GPS. Some of them use Bluetooth to interface with your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone and allow you to initiate calls, look-up addresses, and showing the ID of an incoming caller without having to look at your phone. If you conduct lots of business on the road – and if your cell phone has Bluetooth – this could be a nice add-on.

Voice Recognition

Some top-end portable GPS models feature voice recognition. Obviously, it’s a great feature…but it’s not essential. If you opt for this feature, expect to pay quite a bit of a premium.

“GW” Features

In addition to the practical features listed above, GPS devices are often crammed with a number of other capabilities in order to differentiate them somewhat from the competition. Fun but not all that useful gadgets such as images viewers, video and MP3 players, travel clocks, and calculators are some of the more whizz-bang options available. These features can be cool, and in some situations they’re probably really useful. However, don’t let the “gee-whiz” features distract you from the important options listed above.

In part two of this buyer’s guide, we’ll review specific and popular portable GPS models you can find online. Be sure to check back on Friday.

FTC Disclosure – This was NOT a paid post. However, if you buy a product using one of our links, we get a small percentage of the sale. So if you want to help us out…cool. If not, that’s cool too. See our about page to learn more about how we make money.

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

UAW Denies Ford The Same Concessions They Granted to GM and Chrysler

In a move that should be considered shocking (but sadly seems like business-as-usual), UAW members at multiple Ford plants have voted against concessions that they granted to GM and Chrysler earlier this year.

According to news reports, many UAW members believe that “Ford is stronger financially than General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group and thus not entitled to concessions to close Ford’s labor cost gap with its domestic rivals.” Yet unlike GM and Chrysler, Ford didn’t wipe away billions of dollars in debts earlier this year.

By voting down concessions that would have made Ford more competitive with GM and Chrysler, the union shows it can't overcome its suicidal tendencies.

During the last week, many Ford UAW workers voted against a concession package proposed by Ford and UAW leadership. As of today, it looks as if Ford UAW workers will officially vote down concessions that would bring Ford’s labor costs in line with competitors GM and Chrysler.

Here’s why this move by certain UAW members smacks of stupidity:

• UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and UAW VP Bob King helped design the concession package. If UAW workers don’t like the package their leaders have helped to create, there’s a fundamental problem at the UAW.

• Unions workers are supposed to unite. Ford UAW workers shouldn’t expect to be treated any differently than UAW workers at GM or Chrysler…yet that’s exactly what’s happening. In years past, when the UAW workers negotiated raises with General Motors, workers at Ford and Chrysler expected their companies to follow suit. This is called “pattern negotiation,” and it’s been a staple of UAW wage increase negotiations for decades.

• …yet the Canadian Auto Workers union voted to accept the concessions. Evidently, the UAW’s brothers to the North recognized the importance of this agreement. That’s one more strike against the UAW.

• America is in a recession. Unemployment is above 10% in many places in the country. What honest American isn’t grateful to have a job? Clearly, many of Ford’s UAW workers feel entitled to their employment AND a more generous wage and benefits package than their counterparts at GM and Chrysler.

• Most importantly, Ford is at a cost disadvantage compared to GM and Chrysler. Uncorrected, this cost disadvantage could result in a bankruptcy at Ford. Granted, that scenario is highly unlikely…but that’s what UAW workers at GM used to say too.

In defense of the UAW workers at Ford, not ALL of the workers voted against the concessions. It’s possible that some workers simply don’t understand the concessions and are voting against them based on a lack of understanding.

It’s true that some aspects of this concession package are hard to swallow – but tough times call for drastic measures. The auto industry is off by nearly 30% – things are, in a word, bad. The concessions Ford is asking the UAW to accept include a wage freeze for new hires, some important changes to work rules,  and a “no strike” provision through 2016. Ford is offering some concessions as well, including moving some temporary workers to permanent status and commitments to increase production at various North American plants.

The no strike provision, incidentally, requires that UAW members who want to strike would instead be forced to work out their differences through arbitration.

Regardless of the sacrifices, the concessions aren’t the issue here. The issue is that Ford pays their workers more than GM or Chrysler… which means Ford’s costs are higher…which means Ford is at a disadvantage. If the UAW workers at Ford value their jobs – and their company – they should reverse their decision. Unfortunately, this seems all but impossible.

Since Obama's administration negotiated UAW concessions for GM and Chrysler, should they do the same for Ford?

Faced with the facts, I wonder if our government should step in. President Obama found it necessary to bail out GM and Chrysler in order to save the economy, and in the process his administration helped these companies negotiate a new deal with the UAW. Shouldn’t the government do the same thing for Ford? I’m not a big fan of government involvement in business, but it seems unfair for the President to help only two of the three American automakers.

What do you think - Is the UAW out of line? Should Obama intervene and force Ford UAW workers to concede?

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Truck bed toppers (also known as camper shells or “truck caps”) are popular because they allow truck owners to haul tools, gear, and even dogs in the truck bed while keeping them dry. At first glance, toppers seem like a really smart accessory. Why wouldn’t you want to turn your pickup bed into a really big cargo area? The answer is that toppers need to be removed sometimes in order to haul tall or bulky “stuff,” and that removal can be a real pain…so a lot of truck owners don’t like them.

ARE (among others) makes dozens of varieties of truck toppers for personal and commercial use.

The primary style of topper is a full-on cab extension that meets or exceeds the height of the truck’s roof and is made of fiberglass , composite material, or aluminum. Depending on the material and features, toppers can be range from cheap ($300-$500 buys a cheap and ugly work-truck topper) to expensive ($2500 can buy a painted-t0-match topper with a door that replaces the tailgate). Most toppers come with a rudimentary lock and are installed using good old C-clamps, only some are high-tech affairs with comprehensive security features and bolt-on attachment.

The typical topper is too heavy for one person to remove safely, and unless you’ve got some sort of nifty topper storage system in your garage, toppers are a pain to store when not in use. Obviously, someone has come up with a solution that is easy to remove and easy to store…

SofTopper's folding truck bed topper.

SofTopper provides many of the benefits of a hard shell topper, but it is also easy to remove. SofTopper truck caps are very similar to a convertible top. They employ a plastic and aluminum frame latticework that serves as the frame, and then this frame is covered in a waterproof canvas material. Rising up as tall as a full-size cap when fully deployed, SofToppers fold up into an easy-to-carry shape that weighs between 25 and 45 lbs and can sit in the corner of your garage without any trouble.

In addition to being light-weight, SofTopper claims the entire cap can be retracted down to its “resting” position in just 60 seconds…meaning you can add or remove your topper quickly and easily. This is the primary advantage to this accessory. The potential offered by this type of cap is significant for anyone who finds themselves either a) constantly installing and removing a topper or b) skipping the topper option altogether because it’s just too much of a pain.

The SofTopper is a truck bed topper that folds up and stores easily.

Pros:

• Flexible use – put the topper up when you need a big dry cargo area, put the topper down when you need room to haul taller items or to make loading and unloading easier.
• Lightweight – one person can easily remove the topper all together, and unlike fiberglass toppers that can weigh 200 lbs +, the SofTopper is 25 to 45 lbs max so it doesn’t impact day-to-day fuel economy near as much.
• Easy storage – When not in use it’s small enough to put out of the way

Cons:

• Security sucks – there’s no way you’re going to be able to secure your truck bed with this accessory. While it’s true that NO topper is completely secure, this topper is easy to defeat with nothing more than a knife.
• Cold weather stiffens this thing up, making it difficult to use in ice and snow.
• Price – $600 (buy it at Lakeland gear) seems like a lot of money considering a cheap aluminum topper can be had for a little less.
• Did we mention security sucks? One of the main reasons to have a topper is to put your gear in your truck bed without fear of being ripped off. This thing keeps your stuff dry, but it’s not going to keep your stuff secure.

Bottom Line: The SofTopper is a compromise. If you need the features of a topper but don’t feel like un-clamping, lifting, and then storing a solid topper every time you want to haul something big, the SofTopper is an option. Considering what the SofTopper does and doesn’t do, a truck tarp seems like an option as well.

We give this thing a ‘D’ – It’s probably great for some purposes, but it’s a bit expensive compared to the old-fashioned truck tarp and bungee cord system (about $25 at your local Wally World). We’d either like to see a folding hard shell topper (something like a larger version of Extang’s Solid Fold tonneau cover we reviewed last year) or a much lower price for this add-on.

Related posts:

• Tundra bedliner options
• Tundra tonneau cover reviews
• Tonneau cover fuel economy MYTH

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

While it’s true that Consumer Reports uses an awkward and fundamentally flawed metric (vehicle owner surveys + historical data) to determine their reliability scores, it’s always nice to see some good press for the Tundra…especially when all the recent talk has been about Tundra frame rust concerns.

Consumer Reports has said that the Tundra and the Sequoia are the most reliable vehicles in their respective classes. Of course, Consumer Reports’ acknowledgment of the Tundra comes with a caveat – they’re only recommending the V6 Tundra as most reliable…the 4×4 V8 Tundra is actually cited as the “least reliable Toyota model.”

Doesn’t it seem a little impossible for one version of the Tundra to be the most reliable pickup in it’s class when another version of the Tundra is Toyota’s least reliable model?

Ya – we think so too. Here’s what Consumer Reports has to say under the heading “Asian Brands Still Dominate”:

“Toyota…had just one vehicle that was below average in reliability, the Lexus GS AWD”

Contrast this info against the Tundra’s status as “least reliable” vehicle and it sounds like Consumer Reports needs to put an asterisk on that designation. The Tundra V8 4wd models have average reliability… just not quite as far above average as the rest of the Toyota lineup.

This seems like an important distinction, doesn’t it?

We’ve been critical of Consumer Reports in the past – specifically for announcing that they weren’t going to automatically recommend the Tundra in 2007. Evidently, Consumer Reports automatically recommends new models sometimes without gathering any data…and they decided not to do that with the Tundra back in 2007. Then they made an announcement saying they “couldn’t recommend the Tundra.”

Seems like they shouldn’t ever automatically recommend a vehicle.

Frankly, Consumer Reports seems to be ran by a bunch of people who don’t understand pickups. For example, their recommended full-size pickup is anything but a “full-size,” yet Consumer Reports has the audacity to say this particular truck “rewrites the book on pickups” and compliments this vehicles’ sedan like ride.

Excuse me? Sedan like ride? Sedan like ride doesn’t usually haul the boat to the lake. By the way, we can’t name this vehicle to you because you have to subscribe to CR to find out what it is, but we’ll give you a hint: you’re not going to be hauling much with this “truck.” Try thousands of pounds less than all of it’s competitors.

In any case, thanks Consumer Reports for illustrating so clearly how screwed up your rankings can be. According to C.R.:

• The Tundra is both the most reliable pickup of 2009 and the least reliable Toyota model
• The top recommended “full-size truck” doesn’t offer a V8
• 2 years ago CR announced they couldn’t automatically recommend the Tundra

Put another way, recognition from Consumer Reports is dubious.

Related Posts:

• Tundra Tops 2008 J.D. Power Long-term Dependability Study
• New Tundra Rated Below Average by Consumer Reports
• Tundra vs. Ridgeline – Pickup Truck Comparison

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

While Honda makes everything from power tools to robots to mini-jets, an argument could be made that Honda is an engine company. Every major product line features some sort of fossil-fuel powered motor, and their worldwide success would seem to suggest that Honda knows a thing or two about building a great engine.

Honda President Takanobu Ito doesn't understand American car culture.

However, when the President of Honda Motors, Takanobu Ito, says that the era of big powerful engines is dead, his understanding of the US auto market should be called into question. Here’s the exact quote:

“Sure, there are folks who like that ‘vroom’ of the engine out of nostalgia…But those people are stuck in the past.”

Is Mr. Ito seriously suggesting that future American car buyers won’t want big powerful engines? Big and powerful engines are what American car culture is all about!

First of all, American car culture can be summed up with the following references:

• The movies Transformers, The Fast and The Furious, Back to the Future, American Graffiti, Smokey and The Bandit, Road Warrior, and Bullit sum up our culture’s modern automotive preferences. When you think of the cars in each of these movies, the one you remember will be fast.

If you haven't seen the car chase in the movie Bullit, rent it. Feel free to skip the rest of the movie, however.

• Any vehicle driven by Batman or James Bond.

• The car magazine shelf at your local bookstore.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize the main theme in American car culture is “speed.”

Pictures of fast cars and bikini girls are in almost every car magazine (not that I'm complaining)

Second, the tendency of American drivers to be territorial is CRITICAL to understanding our car market. Territorial acts like tailgating, cutting other drivers off, blocking other drivers, street racing, etc. are more likely to occur when one vehicle is bigger and/or faster than another. Many Americans buy bigger and/or faster cars because, sub-consciously, they want to either win or prevent these confrontations.

Third, safety fears are profound in America. Americans, as a general rule, tend drive a lot. When you drive a lot, you’re bound to have a car accident. In fact, the typical American will have multiple car accidents in their lifetime. While most accidents will be minor, the fear of injury or death in a car accident is very real. Americans tend to “hedge their bets” by buying a bigger vehicle.

To sum up:

1. Our culture values fast cars.
2. Our sub-conscious behaviors emphasize big and/or fast cars.
3. Our safety fears emphasize big cars.

This all adds up to one point: big engines are here to stay. While some will argue that small engines can power big cars, I disagree. The saying “there’s no replacement for displacement” is as true today as it was 100 years ago. If you want a big and/or powerful car, you need a big engine. All the turbos and variable valve timing in the world can’t compete with an extra 2 or 3 liters of displacement (because it’s all about torque…but that’s another story).

What about gas prices, you say? What about them? Gas prices exploded in the early 70’s and little cars took off. Honda, Toyota, and Nissan cleaned up. Yet once the initial price shock wore off, Americans cozied right back up to their big vehicles. Unless there is a fundamental shift in our desires for big, safe, and powerful cars, any emphasis on small cars and small engines is temporary.

Does this mean that every driver wants a big powerful car with a big engine? Of course not. I’d say that it’s only 30-50% of the market…which is a LOT.

Bottom Line: Until someone invents a cost-effective alternative to the internal combustion engine, Honda’s President is completely wrong. Big engines are far from dead.

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

Remember when Toyota had a sports car? When I say “Toyota,” by the way, I don’t mean the entire company that encompasses Scion and Lexus. I mean Toyota – the company that used to offer the unbelievable Supra. Somehow in the last 4 years Toyota completely stopped making sports coupes. Now, they’re talking about bringing back the Celica.

Is this the next generation of the Toyota Celica?

However, with a long list of recent sports coupe failures, does Toyota still know how to make a sports car?

Let’s look at the past couple of decades:

The Supra – The Supra was, and is, a legend. The Twin Turbo was an incredible example of all-around performance. Unfortunately, it’s status as a Supercar wasn’t enough to keep Toyota USA from dropping the Supra in 1998.

The Supra Twin Turbo is a legendary performance automobile.

The MR2 – Perhaps the most famous version of the MR2 was the 1991-1999 Turbo, a lightweight car with all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged 200 hp motor that hit 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds. Definitely not bad for the entry-level price point. However, when Toyota re-designeed the MR2 in 2000, they stopped offering the turbo. Five years later it was discontinued.

The 90's MR2 was a small, lightweight car with an available turbo. In a word, "fun."

The Celica – Way back in 1971 Toyota offered the very first Celica in the USA. At the time it was a cheap, sporty car that got great gas mileage. Throughout the Celica’s 30+ years of sales it was never known as a fast car…but it was respectably quick, relatively inexpensive, and reliable. It was also discontinued in 2005.

Mark's cherry 1990 Toyota Celica All-Trac GT is a nice example of Toyota's fastest ever Celica - 200 hp from the factory. Not incredible, but not bad.

The Solara might be called a sports car by some, but it’s no more a sports car than the Camry is. It’s nice – but it’s not performance. The coupe was canceled in 2007 and the convertible was dropped a year later.

Toyota's Solara was nice, but calling it a sports car is a stretch.

If it isn’t obvious by now, Toyota lost their mojo in the late 90’s. After they killed the Supra in 98′ the rest of their sports coupes failed.

Today, there are rumors that Toyota is bringing back the Celica. The car will be a joint venture with Subaru with a rumored price between $20-$25k. It’s said that it will be offered in rear wheel drive with a 200-220 hp Subaru-sourced 4-cylinder.

Side view of the FT-86, possibly the next generation Toyota Celica

Based on the past, the pictures, and your opinion of Toyota, the question before you is: Can Toyota get this right?

Once you’ve completed the survey, click ‘Vote’ to see the results.

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

Earlier this week we talked about winter gas mileage and why the cold weather hurts your MPGs. Today, we’re talking about a series of electronics called the Kiwi PLX Gas Savers.

Kiwi's little MPG gas saver

Fact: In-dash fuel meters with instant gas mileage readings have been shown to improve gas mileage.

Oddly enough, most hybrid vehicles (with their super-efficient powertrains) have in-dash fuel economy displays. Most pickup trucks (with their super-inefficient powertrains) don’t have this feature. Seems sort of backwards, doesn’t it?

Recognizing that:

1. There are a growing number of drivers out there interested in getting a more accurate measure of their gas mileage, and
2. Instant fuel economy readings help people drive more efficiently, and
3. People love cool little toys.

PLX Devices created the “Kiwi Gas Saver”, a funny little series of devices that are designed to help people save gas. They plug into your vehicle’s OBD-II port (very easy to access on most models), turn on and off automatically, and they give you lots of useful info…

The cheapest Kiwi PLX, the $89 Kiwi MPG, is a small digital gauge that displays your instant and average miles per gallon as you are driving. In addition to instant gas mileage, the Kiwi MPG can also display various temperature readouts, the amount of fuel used since your last fill-up (and how much is left), trip travel mileage, miles to empty, etc. What’s more exciting is that it can also read engine codes and clear check engine lights . Make no mistake – the Kiwi is not a diagnosis tool – but it can help you figure out which codes require immediate attention and which codes might be a minor issue (like a loose gas cap).

Kiwi's WiFi transmits vehicle data to your smart phone

The next level up is the $149 Kiwi Wifi, which works very similarly to the less expensive MPG…but instead of using a small LED display to give you info, it transmits information wirelessly to an iPhone, BlackBerry, or other handheld device. By sending this data to a powerful handheld (and by installing one of Kiwi’s iPhone or BlackBerry applications on your phone), the Kiwi Wifi can reveal almost everything about how your truck is running, with full diagnostics, data logging, and even power and torque graphs.

The Kiwi PLX Green is the fanciest way to improve gas mileage 3-5%

The top of the line Kiwi PLX is the “Green” model. It’s a more in-depth digital device that incorporates almost all of the functionality found in the other two Kiwi models, but it also includes a program that “teaches” you how to reduce your fuel consumption and carbon footprint while driving. Four metrics – Smooth, Drag, Accel and Decel – are actively monitored and displayed to you while you drive, and they’re used to calculate something called a Kiwi Score.

The higher the Kiwi Score, the better. The system also provides a number of lessons or “challenges” which attempt to instruct you on how to improve your fuel efficiency. The company claims that properly used, the device can lower your gasoline costs by at least 20% and as much as 33% out on the highway – all for the “bargain” price of $299.

Note: It’s important to remember when using these kinds of gadgets that there is more to driving that just fuel economy. It’s easy to get sucked into concentrating on the device and stop paying attention to what’s going on around your vehicle (safety first kids!).

Pros: The Kiwis are really easy to understand and they will pay for themselves at some point. The limited diagnosis features are a nice bonus.

Cons: It doesn’t work on all vehicles (most, but not all) and the little guy (the Kiwi MPG) isn’t easy to read in sunshine.

Bottom Line: Kiwi claims you’ll cut your fuel use by as much as 20%, but that’s optimistic. Nissan tested a similar system in their vehicles (called the EcoPedal) and found that it cut fuel use by 5-10%…and that was when it was paired with an accelerator pedal that pushed back against your foot! More likely, you’ll see a 3-5% savings in fuel.

Still, at only 3% gas savings…

15000 miles per year / 17 mpg = 882 gallons used

882 gallons x 3% = 26.5 gallons saved

At $3 a gallon, that’s about $80 a year. Not bad.

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Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.

It’s that time of year again – colder temperatures are coming. During the winter time, most truck owners notice a 5-10% drop in fuel economy. Since truck fuel economy is already pretty low, going from 16 MPG to a little better than 14 MPG means an extra $25 to $50 in extra gas every month…and most truck owners notice that right away.

Why your truck gets bad mileage in the winter and what you can do about it.

It’s frustrating, but it’s something most truck owners have learned to live with. However – there are some things you can do about lower gas mileage in cold weather. First, though, we have to know why it happens.

The most common explanation you’ll hear for the drop in gas mileage is that it’s caused by a “winter blend” of gasoline. While there is a slightly different formula of gasoline sold during the colder months, that’s not the problem. The answer is the cold itself.

Within 30 seconds of starting your truck, the engine computer begins checking the temperature of the air entering the engine. This measurement is important because it determines if extra fuel is needed to prevent a lean condition. [For those that don't know, "lean" refers to a situation when there isn't enough fuel being used in the combustion process. Without getting too technical, a "lean" condition is bad because it can cause engine damage.]

The intake air temperature has a direct impact on whether or not an engine will run lean. If the air is very cold, it doesn’t mix properly with gasoline (gasoline atomizes poorly in cold air). Therefore, if your truck’s computer detects cold air, it injects too much fuel (called a “rich” condition) to prevent any possibility of your engine running lean.

Once the engine has reached full operating temperature, the air in the intake is significantly warmed by the heat radiating from the engine compartment. At this point, the engine computer returns to normal and stops using extra fuel. So, the sooner you can warm-up your engine, the better your fuel economy will be in the winter time.

Shelly says cold engines burn extra fuel.

Here’s what you can do to get your cold weather fuel economy back to normal:

1. The easiest solution is to park your vehicle in a heated garage. If you can prevent your engine from getting really cold, you will decrease the amount of time it takes the engine to get nice and hot.

2. Use a block heater, especially in colder climates. Block heaters aren’t technically necessary in most climates in the continental United States, but anyone who has used one will tell you they cut engine warm-up time substantially.

3. Don’t sit and warm-up – start driving right away. When it’s really cold outside, a lot of vehicle owners let their engines run for a few minutes before taking off. However, this “warm-up” really hurts your gas mileage. It’s also bad for the environment, and contrary to popular belief it’s not “good” for your vehicle either.

Bottom Line: Even if you can’t park inside or use a block heater, eliminating extended “warm-up” idling will make a BIG difference in your gasoline bill.

Read user reviews of Tundra Accessories.