Why are the Tundras so undervalued

I’ve come from a world of Tacoma and 4Runner (owned about 10 of each) anyway my current 2021 tundra trd off road 4x4 is pretty much like a giant Tacoma but imo so much better only thing that lacks is a rear locker or lsd. Anyway I noticed resell value on our beloved tundras is almost as if it’s a domestic vehicle and not a Toyota. What gives? I get the fan boy cult following of the taco but every tundra owner I spoke to said it’s the best truck they’ve owned

from a family point of view tundra is eons better than a taco the Tacoma is almost useless for families, camping wise the tundra beats it in almost every single way except if you have to go down a narrow trail, the v8 is vastly superior especially in the mountains where the v6 struggles plus much more room in the tundra obviously

 

Perhaps Tacoma is sufficient for an average homeowner.

 

Huh? This is the opposite take of pretty much everyone on here. Everyone is always surprised at how much they are able to sell or trade their Tundra in for. This is true of pretty much every Toyota truck and BOF SUV. And older generations retain value even when a newer, more powerful, more efficient generation comes out. These vehicles have so much life at the end of the warranty.

When I was shopping (pre-pandemic), a 3-5 year old Tundra with 40-60k miles in good shape was only a few grand cheaper than a new one.

 

I purchased my truck a little over 2 years ago. In my area, the prices are the same if not higher than I paid.

 

I live in SoCal the hotbed of all things Toyota trucks and used tundras are absolutely dirt cheap Tacomas are nowhere near that cheap as far as the loss in resell

 

I bought my '00 1st gen with 155K, drove it for 7 years and 50,000 miles, then sold it for more than I paid for it.

The CPO '19 w/20,000 miles that I bought to replace the '00 was $44K...

I'd say that's pretty valued.

*Edit* I'm also in So Cal

 

^ was going to say, I could probably get 2,000 more than I paid for my 2018 right now. I could probably sell my '01 for $9,000. Not too bad for a 22 year old truck.

It might just depend on where you are trying to sell it.

 

1st gens are the exception not the norm my fault for not stating that

 

It is not as common as it used to be, but I still occasionally see my truck's sisters from 2020 frequently being sold for about what I paid for mine brand new.

 

Don’t get me wrong I love my 2nd gen and don’t plan to sell it anytime soon I just wonder if it’s like the 3rd gen 4Runner, for the longest time you could get them dirt cheap now people want 10k for theirs that have 300k on it

 

Tundra best full size resale value in 2023: https://www.kbb.com/awards/best-resale-value-cars-trucks-suvs/#truck (note that it is higher than the Tacoma here.)

Tundra best full size resale value in 2021: https://www.kbb.com/awards/best-resale-value-full-size-pickup-truck/
—this is particularly noteworthy as it is the last model year of a 15 year run and is offering the same drivetrain as in 2007.

Seems like the only full size trucks that sometimes finish the year with higher resale value than the Tundra (rarer models like the Raptor notwithstanding) are diesel HD trucks.

 

The "lore" or cult following of the Taco far surpasses the Tundra. The 1/2 ton market is a completely different space. F150 is the best selling vehicle for how many decades now? Most in the 1/2 ton space are paying big bucks and want big bucks gadgets and big truck numbers (hp, payload, towing, mpg).

Tundra doesn't really adhere to that mindset (at least up to the 2.5 gen). 3rd gen they altered course quite a bit.

So no, most won't come up to your Tundra with the same reverence they would your Taco. But most don't look at a Taco as a "big boy truck" either.

Here is how I see it. When they are on their 3rd 1/2 ton in 20yrs and I'm still rocking my paid off 2019, my bank account will be where I get my gratification from. Who cares if they "get it" or not.

 

I think the size of the tacoma is more appealing in this region as it is better suited for dodging the homeless and their feces. Don’t mind me, I’m just being “fecetious”.

 

At the end of my lease my 2021 SR was valued roughly $8k above MSRP when it was new.

 

I think you're just used to Tacoma's which are just insanely overvalued.

 

I have always tried to find actual F-150, Chevy 1500 and Dodge 1500 sales figures, no luck. I have asked before on here on other threads and no one has yet posted it. I know that it is the best selling but by how much? Ford groups all F-Series sale up to the F-450 I believe, when they show the sales numbers. Same for Chevy and Dodge. I would like to see JUST 1/2 ton sales from all 4 Manuf.

 

Does it matter though? Just because Bunny Bread probably sell millions more loaves than Publix bakery farmhouse loaves doesn't make them an edible option.

 

Doesnt matter to me but I would like to see those figures.

 

Strange that Ford don't split their numbers, I would have thought that the suburban F150 market differs considerably from those buying the larger models.
This was the first link I clicked on, there are probably far more detailed analyses out there:

https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2023-us-pickup-truck-sales-figures-by-model/

 

In my region, I would say that Tundras are indeed undervalued, but only by comparison with the dramatically OVER valued Tacoma.

I've been casually shopping for a second used truck for over a year now. At first I was actually planning to get a Taco. But I gradually came to realize that here in Florida and the surrounding states, used Tacos and Tundras of the same age and miles basically cost the same amount! I had to ask myself, why buy a less capable truck for the same money? Even if I don't "need" a 1/2 ton V8, why not take it if the price is basically the same? The MPG isn't even much different.

The only reason I can think of is that the Taco must have a more fanatically devoted fan base, or at least a larger one. Supply and demand is ALWAYS at the root of value, whether high or low, and no matter what the item.

 

Tundras are 1/2 ton trucks. Typo?

 

Yes, thanks! Fixed.

 

My family has also owned multiple 4Runners, Tacos and Tundras. All three command a premium in the used market. But I do agree the 4Runner and Tacoma following seems to have grown a lot more in the last few years. I drove a 3rd gen 4runner for 15 years, a '93 before that, and no one cared or seemed to notice. I loved it so it didn't matter. There's always a mixed emotion when something you liked suddenly becomes the mainstream/popular item, right? On one hand, it validates your choice all along, you appreciate the item getting recognized and more people seeing what you saw, but now its maybe a little less special? It's now mainstream, common. Are you now perceived as following the trend? Because there's no way to differentiate the die-hards from the bandwagoners from afar.

That's just my over-thinking, neurotic brain talking though. Ultimately anyone should just drive what they love. The zeitgeist is going to continually shift. Toyota is having a moment right now. The only true drawback is the prices of accessories and inventory skyrocketing.

 

I've heard this a number of times and I always wonder about the details. Most private owners I know own Chevy/GM. Where I think Ford gets to make the claim is because of fleet sales. A large portion of fleet vehicles I see running around are Ford. From law enforcement to forestry to some of the biggest construction companies, most all have Ford contracts. Ford's fleet division must work overtime to secure those contracts so they can make the "most bought" claim.

 

While the Tacoma and 4Runner both have a higher resale value by percentage, pre-owned Tundra's demand a premium in my area/market place. I'm perfectly happy with the potential resale value of my Tundra when compared to other alternatives.

Mike

 

I’m having a heck of a time finding an SR5 TRD off road or limited in my area(bucks county PA).

Under 50k miles and $35-40k is the goal.

Do you guys think the CPO tundras are worth the couple thousand extra? Should I be concerned with 50k plus miles on a 2019-2021 tundra(assuming the carfax shows consistent maintenance)?

 

I think I have seen those numbers but I can't recall where. If I remember correctly, the F150 was still on top but only if you count GMC and Chevy separately.

 

Not splitting the numbers allows them to keep saying they have the top sales numbers every year.

 

Not at all.

This thread title needs to change lol