Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome...
 

The Toyota Tundra syndrome is worse, at least down here in Houston, where you have a better chance of pulling up next to a truck at a light.

The other day I got on the freeway entrance ramp behind a brand new Toyota Tundra with the 381hp 5.7 V8. I was minding my own business, when the guy in the Tundra slowed down to about 10mph, for no apparent reason (No, I had not been riding his bumper). I didn't know what he was doing until I saw him smiling in the rearview mirror. I wasn't too happy about it and of course, I knew what was coming. I also knew that those Tundras were not slow. I have to admit it was one of those morbid curiosity occasions.

Right before the freeway, he stomped it and so did I. I have a 6-speed coupe. Until about 40mph he paced me, between 40 and 70 he gained a length and we were going damned near 100 before I could pass him. (The freeway was empty by the way, Sunday morning in the Bible Belt)

Then today I saw the Car and Driver road test of the same truck. 0-60 in 6 flat and 1/4 mile time of 14.7. I don't really like trucks, but that's pretty impressive from a stock/gas/non-modified truck. Granted, that's only straight line acceleration, but still impressive.

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome.......
 

But it's still a truck. ;)

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome.......
 

I guess my reaction would be to start the game until 30mph and then ABRUPTLY end it, not even trying any further. Smiling as he just burned a gallon of gas.

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome...
 

i work for an oil companyon the west side of houston and no joke, probably 75% of the engineers that work here own the 5.7L tundra. while they all get them to go on site. its just unreal how many of the same car can be in one parking lot... tundras are overrated. i've ridden/driven... i think i'll keep my 6spd base coupe.

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome...
 

Yeah, but he'd be really embarrassed if I pulled up next to him in my low 14 second PT Cruiser and kicked his Toyota butt. See, he thinks it's hysterical that his big ol' truck is as fast in a straight line as a Crossfire, but as InfernoRedXfire points out, it's still a truck. He needs to keep in mind that, just as he can surprise something as cool as a Crossfire, there are things out there (like a bunch of PT Cruisers) the he would otherwise laugh at but that can take him down when he least expects it. You just never know what's under the hood of anything these days. He'll get his payback sometime soon.

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome...
 

The big wig next door just got a Mazda 3 Wagon, he said his 06 Lincoln truck was eating him alive on gas. He kept the truck cause even though he got a great deal on it (only paid $38K), they would only give him $17K as a trade-in......he said he still owes more than that on it. Somehow it doesn't make sense to me to put out another 20 or so....& not unload the other one....just to save a few bucks on gas??? Maybe I'll offer him 10 for the Lincoln??

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome...
 

The fastest recorded time I ever came across in a magazine road test of a NA Crossfire was 14.7 sec.
If a pick-em-up truck has close to 400 hp, and can run the same 1/4 mile et's as a Crossfire, all that proves is the power to weight ratio of the two vehicles must be pretty darn close.
I don't blame ya for racing him dkniess, after seeing all the TV ad's for the Toyota truck, I'd be curious too.
It's too bad Toyota doesn't make even one vehicle (that I would want to call my own) to put that brutish V8 in.
It's a shame, Toyota use to make some cool cars not that long ago.

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome...
 

Back in 2001 we bought a new Gold RAV4, 4x4, side steps, mask, wing, roof rack ...really cool to look at.....2001 was a whole new model change.......over $6K of warranty work......I think I'll pass on the Toyotas.....it even had more problems than the '78 Vette I bought brand new!!!

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome.......
 

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Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome...
 

LOL. I love guys like this. I drive a beat 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT. Yeah, when I bought it, all the 16 year old girls loved it too. LOL. Anyway, it puts down only about 5 less hp than the NA Crossfire. I can eat those Tundras all day every day. They just don't get it.

I'm waiting to run into one when I'm driving the SRT-6. I need to install a rear-mounted camera so I can capture the look on their faces. :cool:

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome.......
 

As my dad used to say about his '69 Roadrunner, it will pass everything except the gas station.

Re: Forget the Neon and Civic syndrome.......