Another small truck design please

I understand large truck design for farms, construction, etc...but do you ever think we could see another smaller design like the 1995 - 2000 Tacoma or even the 2001 - 2004 Tacoma??? I will never need a big truck, gas is crazy expensive and will continue to go up. I need a truck for fishing, light off roading, and daily driver that looks good with the ability to fill up twice a month. Big trucks don't have a place in my heart or pocket book. So, anyone from Toyota listening...please design a small cool looking truck that works for the average joe out there. Or bring back the old model Tacos.

 

My 1991 was a perfect size for what I need a truck for 99.999% of the time. I'd still be driving it if it had had AC. The now 17 year old 22RE engine is getting 27-28 MPG. I bet a modern version could do better.

 

I am content with my 02, no need for anything bigger. Unfortunately, the only alternative is the A-BAT

 

I agree totally I liked the looks of the new tacoma in the magazines..then saw one in real life and was like....thats the same size as the tundras (1st gen tundra) nope not buying one of those lol ... I have had 79,81,82,89,95.5,97,99,96 toyotas lol I really liked the 89's size but not the torsion bar suspension had to adjust it like every year to keep alignment correct

 

if they made a modern "mini" I would be all over that

 

heres what I would have liked.... tacoma stayed same size just re-designed maybe....tundra stayed same size (midsized) and the new truck (07-up tundra) be called something new ... I really really love toyota trucks...but the 05-up tacomas havent grown on me in the 3+ years they have been around And i dont think they ever will

 

Kind of what Suzuki (my bad sorry) unveiled at the auto show? Except make it a Toyota w/ solid front axle, fuel efficient (25 miles on a thimble of fuel), no power windows, and make it affordable under 15 grand.

 

Have a chance to buy my '89 Truck (pre Tacoma) back that I sold in '99. It now has 169,000 miles on it but still pretty clean with a new rear bumper, class III hitch, tires, and clutch. He says it needs a battery. The seats have had covers on them and are in great shape. Everything still works as far as stereo, cruise, ect. Toyota rebuilt the top end on the motor for free right before I sold it at 92,000 miles because of a recall issue. I'm tossing it over as a nice ATV runs $7,000 these days. This would still be a great river rat for $3,200.

 

The Suzuki Equator will be built in the Nissan plant on Frontier frames. They will be just as big as the current Tacoma. What I like is the Suzuki x-head concept. It's really ugly, but the whole bed design is impressive.

 

Thats the thing I was talking about. Not just ugly, but fugly.

 

for those who want to see what we mean by ugly. It reminds me of my old tonka trucks.

 

http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/02/small-trucks-ef.html?cid=100663144#comment-100663144



Here is a good article as well.

 

I liked the article, and I agree. Around my neck o the woods you see many people driving a huge vehicle,Dodge,Chevy, Ford 1 Tons and I know only a small percentage use them to haul anything that heavy, and then some just rarely at that.How often do you see a Ford Excursion chock full of people ? I rarely ever do. To each is own though, I`m ok with it, just don`t understand it.Maybe it has something to do with a macho image? I seen this huge Chevy the other day 6" lift 35" tires (beautifull truck) and he had sum a them trucknutz too.He hopped down outta there and I think the guy was 4`6" tall at best, I mean like Chuck Norris size. WTF

 

sign me up for one of those suzuki's lol ... I have always had samurais that thing is cool..like a mini semi

 

If they made it look better, and put on a normal tailgate, I'd consider it for my next truck. But by then Toyota will have an improved tacoma that might have a better bed design (I love my composite bed, it's part of why I bought it) more storage is always a better thing, unless it's the trunk in a honda ridgeline. Only useable when you don't have a full load.

 

With the cost of new vehicle ALWAYS going up, maybe it would be prudent to find a nice 1st generation and pour some money into it and really get what you want, and I bet you would be 10,000 less than any new truck. I saw a company out in California that built FJ series trucks, looked stout, maybe someone does that for Tacomas.

 

If I ever do build my perfect offroad vehicle it will be an awd VW Thing. I don't do crazy stuff offroad and the approach angles on those are great, they're small, lightweight, and in sand the lighter front end is a great bonus.
As far as trucks. I drive around 30k miles a year, so by the time my taco is 7 years old I'll be getting a new vehicle truck. And in 2015 I bet there will be some awesome truck designs, maybe a diesel-hybrid tacoma, or even an electric one. Or maybe all the global warming freaks will have given up and they'll just have normal trucks that run on gasoline or diesel, or both like a unimog.

 

Unimogs are so cool, there are a couple driving around here, the school district owns them.

 

A VW Thing!!?? That X Head is like a beauty pageant winner compared to those.I vaguely remember those Things, were they awd?