Thinking about a tacoma

Hey guys im new to the forum and the tacoma world, i recently just graduated bmt for the airforce and im about to start tech school after i finish that im going to get a truck my max spending would be about 28k i just have a few questions im looking towards a lifted one, do they get good mpg for being lifted are they pretty roomy? i really do like the look of them, just dont know if i should get a f150 or tacoma. thanks guys

 

I've owned both and it depends what you're looking for. If you're looking at used and new then you can get a very low mile F150 with all the bells and whistles for that 28 k.

Mpg always takes a hit when you lift. How much will depend on the size of the lift, but count on losing 5-10 percent hi way milage and very little milage loss in town. You'll lose even more mpg if you get bigger tires under that lift only in the opposite fashion (mostly lose mpg in town from the higher tire weight). I get good milage with a 2.5" lift but I'm not running a stock powertrain.

Anyways, for roominess the f150 wins by a mile if that's your deciding factor. The f150 also has better towing capacity and power. The tacoma is easier to maneuver and has far better off-road potential. The tacoma will hold its value and will likely be a member of your family for a lot longer than the ford.

At the end of the day, I'd buy a ford if I needed to tow large trailers or if I needed a heavier work vehicle. Otherwise the tacoma is a better value because it's simply cheaper to run and keeps its value far better.

 

Thanks for your input if I decide on one it's going to have 6 in lift with 35 and 20s I saw a few on here that look really good I don't really plan on towing anything really. I'm really deciding on these trucks I've heard they hold their value pretty good

 

Yeah, your going to lose at least 10-20 percent of your milage overall with that setup. You'll get somewhere around 16 or 17 mpg best case scenario unless those rims are light.

The retained value in the tacoma is amazing. It's hard to understand why other than there's great second hand demand.

 

Test drive both and then make your mind up. We are going to sway you more towards the Tacoma but thats only because we are a Tacoma forum.

 

I only lost about 10% MPG after lifting mine 3.75". I'm thinking of selling it if you're interested. It's an 08 with 74k miles. Just bought an extended warranty for 3 more years and it's transferrable. Haven't had any problems. Great stereo system too. Maybe I should start a for sale thread. Need money for debt.

 

I have 18s with 33s. Also have a set of 18s with 34s. Better Mileage with the 33s.

 

^Agreed. That being said the Tacoma is a great truck and I also liked the F150 I used to drive. I don't think you'll go wrong with either choice, and the milage will suck equally bad on either the bigger/higher your tires and lift you install.

 

Lol. You sounded like dealer from Toyota.
But yeah, my friends recommended me to buy Tacoma instead, that's why I'm here.

 

had both now an f150. f150 is better for me, and rusty frames from toyota is a big issue in the salt belt areas. for where your at and describe tacoma will suit your needs just fine.

 

I've owned both as well. This info is spot on.

 

A few things I will say that I've thought of, fords in general have rust issues with the steering and shocks. At my work we've had every set of Ranchos on the FX4's and the OEM on the XLT rust out after the first winter, both the steering stabilizer on our F250's and the shocks on both the F150 and F250. We don't use salt here so it's a bit strange to see that...

Fords also tick like a clock after about 50k. Half of our 5.4 L had to have new engines after 100k, but we haven't lost a single Ecoboost.

The door moldings also tend to come apart rather quickly.

The Ford is still the best domestic truck you can buy. I hate to say it on this forum but I'd take an FX4 Ecoboost over a Tundra any day for any job.

 

The tacoma is not roomy and gets shitty mpg. But most lifted trucks wont get good mpgs.

Cant go wrong with either truck but if you need more room id stick with an F150. If you dont need that much room a Tacoma is a good truck

 

Somewhat off topic but very patroller because of your budget. Sign up banking with USAA and then use their car buying program. You may still have to get a little pushy with the dealer but I've saved thousands of dollars on cars because usaa sets the prices through ore negotiation with the manufacturers not the dealers. Your budget will allow you much nicer version of whatever you choose. Congrats on graduation buddy. I was AF for 8 years.

 

Don't limit yourself to Tacoma vs F150, take a look at the Ram too. They get better mpg and ride nice, plus they won't die in the side of the road like fords are known to lol. I can't wait to ditch my Tacoma for a nice Ram. Tacomas are just too underpowered and cramped for my liking since I've gotten older and family situation has changed.

 

Great advice from SFSMedic: USAA will get you a low price without the need to haggle. Dealers won't mess with them. New or used.

 

Buy a ford.

 

To this guy ^, do some serious looking before you buy a ram. They have by far the most major failures of any full sized truck in my experence. We've had everything from emissions blowers fall off ($1000) to trannies go at 50K (0-$3000 depending on if they choose to honor the warrenty, our dealer did once and never again). The Ram = POS, nice looker but absolutely shit construction. I have one right now because it was the only truck my site could afford in a 3/4 ton, but if I had my choice for heavy trucks I would of went Ford or GM. My front end diff is already toast at 20,000 Km's

 

If you need to routinely put 1000lbs in the back, to tow 4000+, or need a ton of interior room, get the Ferd.

If you want reliability, off roading performance, and really snappy manual trannies with good gas mileage, get a 2.7 stick Taco. Don't get an auto.

If you can't get the smaller 4 and 'need' the big v6, just get the Ecoboost Ferd. Otherwise you'll be in here whining about MPG and slow shifting and such, and how your automatic isn't responsive enough, and we have entirely too many of those already.

 

Appreciate the word of warning for sure! It'll be a couple years before I make the jump back to a full size, I will definitely be watching how the trucks all do before making my decision. I'm not really brand loyal. All I know is I definitely plan on going to diesel and it'll be crew cab or greater...wife's already talking about another kid.