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Toyota Tacoma - real life experience
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rcroane Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 5:51 pm    Post subject: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

Hi folks,

My F-150 was recently totaled and I need a new (not used) truck. I need to downsize for budget reasons. I was hoping some of you out there could give me your real life experience with a Tacoma, preferably a very recent model year. I don't go off road and it wouldn't see much heavy work. Also considering the Ford Ranger, but availability is extremely limited (I want a Super Cab and there are NONE to be found to even look at).

Consumer Reports rates the Ranger a good bit higher, but I'd like some real life opinions. I drove a Tacoma SR5 today and, while not even close to my F-150, it drove like I expected it would. Will drive a Ranger (SuperCrew) tomorrow. The Ranger will stretch my budget.

On the plus side, the insurance payout on the F-150 is within a thousand bucks of what I paid for it new in 2016.

Thanks.
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:26 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

I had a 2014 SR5, I traded it in for a Ridgeline. The Tacoma had a frame rust issue. Nice truck overall. If you buy new one, do what takes to keep the frame from rusting away.
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:29 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

APPLEGREENVW wrote:
I had a 2014 SR5, I traded it in for a Ridgeline. The Tacoma had a frame rust issue. Nice truck overall. If you buy new one, do what takes to keep the frame from rusting away.


Thanks....I have a Jeep TJ, so I have first hand experience with frame rust Sad
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

rcroane wrote:
Thanks....I have a Jeep TJ, so I have first hand experience with frame rust Sad

You could get a Gladiator... Twisted Evil

You've let your TJ get rusty have you?
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 6:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

mukluk wrote:
rcroane wrote:
Thanks....I have a Jeep TJ, so I have first hand experience with frame rust Sad

You could get a Gladiator... Twisted Evil

You've let your TJ get rusty have you?


As a Jeep guy, I really tried to love the Gladiator, but....


As for the rust, we can't all live in Texas. Wink
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 7:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

Are you looking for new or used?
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 7:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

TDCTDI wrote:
Are you looking for new or used?


New
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 7:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

Yeah… good luck with that, the dealer lots around here are stripped bare. They’re buying used cars to try & fill the front line.
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 3:33 am    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

TDCTDI wrote:
Yeah… good luck with that, the dealer lots around here are stripped bare. They’re buying used cars to try & fill the front line.


There are quite a few Tacoma's available, but no Rangers. That has me a bit worried.
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 7:44 am    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

I have a similar story to the OP. A while back my 2013 HEMI RAM 1500 single cab, short bed was totaled. I was crushed. I loved that truck. Realizing that the price of gas wasn't going to go down any time soon, I bought a slightly used 2018 Toyota Tacoma with the 4 cylinder engine. Not a stripper truck, but not a lot of options.

We took it on a road trip from NorCal where we live, to my brother's house in Havasu city. What a mistake. The 4 cylinder is down on power where the truck has to drop a gear (or 2) to get over the hills in the desert! Add to that, the fact that I bump my head getting in EVERY day!

I'm sure it's a very reliable truck, but it just missed the point for me.


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 7:48 am    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

slayer61 wrote:
I have a similar story to the OP. A while back my 2013 HEMI RAM 1500 single cab, short bed was totaled. I was crushed. I loved that truck. Realizing that the price of gas wasn't going to go down any time soon, I bought a slightly used 2018 Toyota Tacoma with the 4 cylinder engine. Not a stripper truck, but not a lot of options.

We took it on a road trip from NorCal where we live, to my brother's house in Havasu city. What a mistake. The 4 cylinder is down on power where the truck has to drop a gear (or 2) to get over the hills in the desert! Add to that, the fact that I bump my head getting in EVERY day!

I'm sure it's a very reliable truck, but it just missed the point for me.


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Thanks. Sorry about your truck....I can definitely relate. If I go with the Tacoma, it will be with the 3.5L V6.
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:56 am    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

After owning several toyota trucks for the last 40yrs ,
They are definitely overpriced for what you get.
Sure, they last a long time but,so do domestics.
Not sure tacomas get any better mpgs than a ford eco whatever. Imo..

My brother had ford rangers all those years and gave me grief
Every time I bought a toyota. He just bought a new tundra.. 🤣
Come to find out, a new tundra was cheaper than a 2yo f250 with 100k.
There's something about toyota trucks that, to me ,
sound tinny and light weight.. imo
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 3:01 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

I drive a 2016 Tacoma daily. I got the long bed. Interior comfy for me. I get 17mph around town and about 25 on the highway. Never an issue in 38K miles. Pulls my ski boat w/o issue. Its a good truck. Get asked if its for sale more often than my Ghia. GL.
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 5:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

2006 V-6 tacoma prerunner. That's the jacked up 2-wheel drive double cab baby box pick-up. 180,000 and all I've done to it was tires batteries an output shaft seal on the tranny and an antenna. Oh, and 3 hanger bearings. The last time I shimmed it down an inch. The thing is still worth more than any of the other trucks that old. Frame rust? name me any brand that doesn't rust up in the snow belt.
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 5:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

I just purchased a 22 Tacoma TRD Sport 4X4 back in April. I had to replace my 2017 Jetta GLi that was totaled in January. It took 3 months to get the truck. VW was going to take 4-5 months for a GTi. I know apples to oranges. But I digress.
So far I have not had one issue and enjoying the heck out of the truck. Tacoma has the highest resale value of all the mid-sized trucks. It's a Toyota, it will most likely run forever.
You may however have issues getting a Tacoma off the lot at this time because of the shortage. Toyota like all manufacturers is still reeling from the chip shortage. Expect to pay a mark-up of some type as well. Whether it be in MSRP or Dealer Add-Ons. My "Out the Door" price was around 44K. Not TOO bad on that front.
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2022 11:07 am    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

I drove two Tacoma trucks spanning 1999-2014
Lowered 4cyl regular cabs for both. Somebody mentioned it being under powered. Maybe. I just held it to the floor when needed. That's the nice thing about the 2RZ-FE...hold it to the floor for as long as you want. It doesn't care.
Other than oil, I replaced front brakes once and a belt. Can't say about the V6, but I know in the past they've had head gasket and valve issues.
Maybe not the most reliable in the V6 4WD, all options version, but there is a perceived reliability and therefore value there. I guarantee you can spend the same money on a Ford or Dodge and it won't be worth nearly as much in 10 years. You can google the value retention and get a historical resale multiplier.

For example, my coworker looked at an Acura and the new Chrysler 300 when they came out (the big square one) and bought the 300. They were similarly priced up front, but that Acura was worth $8k more when she sold the 300 a few years later.
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2022 3:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

chickengeorge wrote:
I drove two Tacoma trucks spanning 1999-2014
Lowered 4cyl regular cabs for both. Somebody mentioned it being under powered.

I drive a 1988 Mazda B2200 Cab Plus truck daily; has 4-cylinder engine, 82-85hp.

I also have 1998 and 2004 Nissan Frontiers, 2004 is King Cab; both are 4-cylinders as well but have 143hp, a huge difference over the Mazda truck. I find that the two Frontiers have enough hp/acceleration for me.
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 29, 2022 9:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

I’ve been using my stepdad’s 2015 Tacoma for a few weeks now. Even though it’s 7 years old, it only has 3700 miles because he got sick just after he bought it so it sat a while. It’s a four banger, 2wd, extra cab. It’s real nice and we’ll built but it’s gutless. Also, it’s really hard to judge the truck’s corners so whenever I pull into a parking spot, I feel like I’m going to hit something. I like the truck because it’s tough but I probably won’t be offering to buy it off him. I already have a Nissan Titan V8, 4wd, crew cab and it’s a beast.
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:44 am    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

cantdrv55 wrote:
Also, it’s really hard to judge the truck’s corners so whenever I pull into a parking spot, I feel like I’m going to hit something.

100%
I didn't like my 08 for this reason. I really loved my 97 for it's small size and hp to weight.
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:57 am    Post subject: Re: Toyota Tacoma - real life experience Reply with quote

I don’t get why Toyota bulked up the Tacoma. The old small Toyota trucks were great. I had an ‘82 and it was rock solid reliable and fun to drive. I gave it away when it had 255,000 miles but before that, many landscapers in the area offered to buy it from me.
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