It beat out Ford's new Superduy offerings and GM's 2500 and 3500 trucks

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...02_toty_winner

What's that supposed to mean?

 

That takes away any respect for MT that I might've had left.

 

And MT continues chipping away at any shred of credibility they had left.....

 

It means yota paid them more than Chevy,Ford and Dodge of course.

 

 

This was a foregone conclusion when Toyota delayed the intro of the 2007 Tundra by a couple of months. That way, instead of competing against the 2007 GM trucks, they became eligible for the 2008 competition (due to MT's date cutoffs). I'm sure MT reminded Toyota that if they did that (and bought the appropriate amount of adspace), they'd be more likely to win in 2008. In '09, it will be the new Ram or F150.

No way the (better) HD GM trucks would beat the Tundra for this award. Remember, it isn't exactly a head to head competition for this award, but comes down to market significance, "superiority" (in the given market) and such. Otherwise, how would the COTY competition be calculated when a new Corvette is up against a new bread and butter family sedan or compact car?

I'm pretty sure the GM half-tons would have won over the Tundra had the Tundra been entered in the more appropriate 2007 field. Obviously, Toyota and MT felt the same way. That would have left the 2008 field pretty thin (like the 2006 field was, IIRC, with no major intros, allowing the Ridgeline to win). So, it was better for MT and better for Toyota to let the Tundra squeak into the 2008 field and lock an easy win.

I think the rules are that the vehicle has to have been introduced in the 12 month period prior to the award (or, rather, prior to the year in question). So a 2008-eligible entry must have been introduced between Jan and Dec of 2007. Even though we knew all about the Tundra prior to Jan 2007, I think it was "officially" released after that (while the Silverado came out earlier in 2006)...



To repeat myself for the 475th time, MT is a JOKE of an auto mag, aimed at the middle school boys in study hall. Car and Driver, Road & Track, and Automobile are much more respectable (though they all have their biases, especially CandD, and some of the newer CandD writers seem to be lacking vs. their predecessors and the veterens...)

 

What a joke. First off it isn't new for 2008 and second the 2008 Super Duty Ford is a pretty amazing truck. The Tundra is a joke next to that new Ford.

 

Well, the HD GM trucks aren't new for the 2008 MY, either. But they didn't come out until after the start of 2007, so they missed the cutoff for the 2007 field.

But yes, MT is a joke.

 

Personally, I don't really care. Good for Toyota. BUT I do find it odd that they (Motor Trend) picked the silverado OVER the tundra in a comparison test, YET the "1/2 ton" tundra beat out GM's 3/4 and 1 ton offerings?

So when Toyota releases the 3/4 ton diesel in '09 it will most likely beat out the new Ram and F-150?

What does this award really mean? TOYOTA IS GOING TO ANNOY THE ****ING HELL OUT OF EVERYONE WITH A NEW ONSLAUGHT OF COMMERCIALS, that's what

GM barely took advantage of the win, they kinda flashed the award at the end of a couple commercials. I guarantee we will be seeing full length Tundra commercials based on the awards "merits."

 

Again, they don't really compete "head to head."

The Tundra, while perhaps "inferior" to the HD trucks in many ways, is not a direct competitor to those entries. And, at least in the eyes of many in the media, this new Tundra is a very significant entry into the market (whereas the HD pickups from GM and Ford are established players).

But, as has been noted, this award is 99% about marketing...

 

I completely understand that, but what about all the hoops GM and Ford had to jump through to meet the new emissions requirements while making the Duramax and Powerstroke more powerful with greater than ever towing capacities, all with a refined ride and better handling? That's more impressive than Toyota shoving a 380 horse motor in a half *** truck. GM has engines in their lineup that would blow the Tundra away, yet decided to refine the ride/towing/handling/fuel mileage of what was already working well for them.

This is truck of the year, right? Shouldn't the most badass truck have won? I think the Superduty deserved the win...

 

Eh... using MT's methods of judgement, which more or less amounts to the significance of the vehicle on the market... I can understand why the Tundra won. It's the first time the imports have really taken a direct shot at the big burly American work truck market.

Granted it seems they may have partially failed at this attempt.

But it's still of great significance which is really the #1 determinant.

 

Threxx I think you forgot about the Nissan Titan, like most people have. When it introed it had a top of the line powertrain, outclassing pretty much everyone in HP and certainly had a good 4wd setup. Add in the 5 speed auto and it was certainly a contender on paper.

 

Yup!

 

Eh, you guys all loved it when GM bribed them off for COTY a couple weeks ago.

It seems pretty reasonable that a general interest mag like "Motor Trend" wouldn't pick a HD truck.