Photo: Greg Leblanc Toyota
Instead of going for a Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado or a Ram, Victor Sheppard bought a Toyota Tundra as his daily driver. The 2007 model year workhorse acquired by Victor has recently passed the million-mile mark and, as incredible as this may sound, the Tundra still soldiers on.
Since he purchased the truck, Sheppard put some 125,000 miles or 201,168 kilometers per year by regularly driving long-haul journeys from his home in Louisiana to North Dakota, Wyoming, and Virginia. Believe it or not, the Tundra still has the original motor, transmission, and paint job. The secret to its longevity? Regular maintenance.
Over the course of nine years, Victor Sheppard logged no less than 117 service visits to replace various bits and bobs, including the oil, timing belt, and so forth. Regular check-ups were also pivotal to the longevity of this particular example of the 2007 Toyota Tundra.
“My truck looks great, and, except for a few little dents, it’s almost like new,” declared Victor. “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.”
The pristine condition of the Tundra attracted the attention of Toyota Motor North America, who made Victor an offer he couldn’t refuse: a brand new Toyota Tundra in exchange for his truck. Of course, Sheppard agreed. This marks the 16th Tundra the man has owned.
“I believed [that reaching a million miles] wouldn’t be a problem,” said Victor. “These trucks are safe and dependable. I think, if you see a Toyota on the side of the road, it might be a scam because they just don’t break down very often.”
OK, I agree that the last line is too PR talk for most people who know better, but then again, Toyota is widely known for making dependable and reliable machines. After all, models such as the 4Runner, Sequoia, Avalon, Tacoma, Camry, Sienna, and Prius have proven their reliability as per this study.
Over the course of nine years, Victor Sheppard logged no less than 117 service visits to replace various bits and bobs, including the oil, timing belt, and so forth. Regular check-ups were also pivotal to the longevity of this particular example of the 2007 Toyota Tundra.
“My truck looks great, and, except for a few little dents, it’s almost like new,” declared Victor. “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.”
The pristine condition of the Tundra attracted the attention of Toyota Motor North America, who made Victor an offer he couldn’t refuse: a brand new Toyota Tundra in exchange for his truck. Of course, Sheppard agreed. This marks the 16th Tundra the man has owned.
“I believed [that reaching a million miles] wouldn’t be a problem,” said Victor. “These trucks are safe and dependable. I think, if you see a Toyota on the side of the road, it might be a scam because they just don’t break down very often.”
OK, I agree that the last line is too PR talk for most people who know better, but then again, Toyota is widely known for making dependable and reliable machines. After all, models such as the 4Runner, Sequoia, Avalon, Tacoma, Camry, Sienna, and Prius have proven their reliability as per this study.
Google News