2007 Toyota Tundra Hits the Million-Mile Mark
What is a 2007 Toyota Tundra with one-million miles on the odometer worth?
Apparently for Toyota, a Tundra pickup with over one-million miles is worth a brand new 2016 Toyota Tundra. That’s right, the Japanese automaker gave Victor Sheppard a new truck to replace his old one so that Toyota’s production engineers and team members can comb over the one-million-mile Tundra. According to Toyota, the truck’s longevity offers invaluable insight for future products and after eight safe years on the road, the company hopes to learn from it.
The million-mile Tundra was one of the first of its kind assembled exclusively at Toyota’s plant in San Antonio, Texas and since purchasing it, Sheppard averaged 125,000 miles a year driving long-haul trips for work.
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To ensure the Tundra lasted all those years and miles, Sheppard had it serviced 117 times at the dealership over the years, ranging from timing belt replacements to oil changes as well as the manufacturer’s regularly scheduled checkups.
Toyota engineers are particularly interested to see how the engine and transmission have held up. They will even take a close look at other components and parts, such as the seats. The disassembly process is expected to take months and with the knowledge gained, engineers hope to apply their findings to future trucks.
“My truck looks great, and, except for a few little dents, it’s almost like new,” said Sheppard. “Even the seats look just as they were when I bought it. They’re not as clean, of course, but they’re not busted or worn out.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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One-million miles ... that's A LOT of driving. I don't know if I could stomach a buck twenty five each year, or rather, if my ass could tolerate that much sitting, LOL. Still, I'd love to see what that engine looks like inside. I wonder how close it is to factory tolerance for things like piston-to-cylinder-wall clearance, valve lash and main-bearing clearance.