Author Archive for Jason Lancaster
Jason Lancaster is the editor and founder of TundraHeadquarters.com. He has nearly a decade of experience on the retail side of the auto industry, and another decade of experience of the part and accessory side of the industry.
Would $4.50 A Gallon Gas Keep You From Buying A Truck? Probably Not
According to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report website, the average gallon of regular gas costs about $3.59 today. According to a recent study by Experian Automotive, a $1 increase in the cost of a gallon of gas would have minimal impact on consumer buying behavior.
if gas prices increased by $1, in an average month with 1 million unit sales, the Small-Car Economy segment volume would increase by 7,000 units. Conversely, the same price increase would cause the Full-Size Pickup Truck segment to lose [5000 sales]
That’s right – according to Experian, $4.60 per gallon gas would barely effect new truck sales. Does that sound right to you?
2014 Tundra – Underwhelming, But Probably The Truck We Need
Toyota is a smart, profitable company. They look at the big picture, assess their opportunity, and act accordingly…which explains why the next-gen 2014 Tundra is:
- Better-looking (inside and out) than it’s predecessor,
- Offered in a wider variety of luxurious trim packages, and
- More focused than ever on the top-end of the market
2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition
All of these changes speak to Toyota’s best opportunity for growth: The older and relatively well-off family-truck buyer. He or she probably has a Toyota or Lexus-brand car in the garage right now, and they’re thinking about buying a truck to haul the boat, pull the ATVs, and/or to bang around in from time to time.
How To Choose The Best Brake Pads
Choosing the right brake pads for your vehicle can be a challenge. There are numerous types of pads available – organic, semi-metallic, and ceramic – and lots of companies that sell them. Everyone – from your local dealership to your local oil change shop – sells some sort of brake pad that promises to do the job of stopping your car, but which is right for your vehicle?
What brake pads should you buy? Are OEM pads always best, or are after-market pads basically the same?
Before you buy a set of replacement pads, here are some important things to consider and a look at the most popular brake pad options.
How To Make Your Tundra’s Automatic Transmission Last
Automatic transmissions are generally quite reliable, but when they break, it’s not cheap. While noted transmission expert John Lombardo has said that Toyota transmissions are top-notch, nothing lasts forever.
Therefore, if there’s anything you can do to prolong the life of your transmission, you should do it. Right?
Here’s what you can do to make your Tundra transmission last as long as possible.
The Manual Transmission Is Dead
If you’re like me, you love yourself a good old fashioned stick shift. There’s something about banging from one gear to the next that makes driving just a little more enjoyable.
However, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve noticed that manuals are getting harder and harder to find on new car lots. There are three key reasons for this:
- Emissions and fuel economy regulations have forced automakers to implement complicated electronic controls that are incompatible with manual transmissions.
- Automatic transmission efficiency has dramatically improved in the last decade or so.
- The operating costs of a modern automatic are lower than ever.
Am I glad to pronounce the death of the manual transmission? Not at all. Yet the fact is, the manual transmission is dead.
Here’s how it happened.
