Why pick 2016 Tacoma DCLB over F150 DC (supercrew)

Your father's SR5 has TRAC, just like every other Tacoma of that year. ATRAC is only on the Off Road

 

Which Tundra? There's Double Cab Tundras and CrewMax Tundras, big difference.

 

Ther should be no doubt when choosing a Tacoma or a full size. Everything about the truck is very large. One of my neighbors has a RAM and a friend has had a RAM for years . Neither report reliability issues. The Ford to me is huge. I needed a Ford.

If I need larger, I would buy a 4Runner. But I am not a huge bed user for much more than yard waste and home improvement stuff. Tacoma handles that well enough. But I would not hesitate to buy a RAM, but prefer the Ford.. for the resale , the F150/250 is likely the best bet. They have a lot of nice models as well.

My problem with Ford here is the same as GM.. Service department is too small for the services needed. Long waits for vehicles Honda and Toyota don't have.

 

I can completely understand. I wanted a DC Tacoma when the 1st gens were out. Until I test drove one. I realized the rear seats were almost useless, it leaned far more than I comfortable with during turns, the "pistol grip" shifter made me say WTF, and no manual option. I ended up with a Corolla instead. So when 2006 came around and I was in the market for a second vehicle I practically started drooling over the 2nd gen Tacoma with a 6 spd manual. I thought "FINALLY! They brought the manual back!" and I went for it.

Unfortunately after several years and 4 different Toyotas all burning oil, throwing check engine lights, and requiring costly repairs to remain legal in NY I've seen a pattern. They all burn oil, Toyota doesn't really care about it unless it's damn near flowing out of the engine, and their "off road" rated truck rusted more than a sedan 8 years it's senior.

The F150 has an all aluminum body that won't rust, and with the 2 coat undercoating from the dealer the steel frame shouldn't rust either. (Maybe I should have gotten that with the Tacoma, maybe I didn't need to get it on the F150, who knows. I'm not taking chances this time.)

I planned on riding trails, coming out to Arizona for expedition trips, and things like that. Then I found out most of the local trails were blockaded post 9/11 so trail running was almost impossible. (We're limited to seasonal use and dirt roads. Seasonal use can be challenging, depending on season and the last time a grader was sent over them.) So one of my primary reasons for getting it evaporated before I even got it. Now I want to be comfortable crossing all the torn up roads, be able to put more materials in the bed, and tow easier. What little offroading I'm able to do around here can be easily accomplished in the F150 anyway, aside from a little more planning to accommodate the extra width and length. If anything, not juggling the clutch, brake and gas along with the massive low-end torque the F150 is easier to handle offroad.

 

True of the Tacoma. But those are Tundras.

 

Jeep did the same thing with the Rubicons. Had to be in 4lo... There's a fairly easy wire-mod that you can do though to make it work in 4hi or even 2hi.

 

We use F150s at work. Most seem comfortable. I sat in the back seat of a crew cab and I was very comfortable. Tons of room. Its just to wide for me to buy for my use. We have 4-5 f150s and one has some drive shaft issues. It clunks every once in a while. No major transmission/engine issues and most have 100k plus. (2012-2014s)

 

My neighbor just bought am F250XLT 4x4 diesel today to pull a fifth wheel he also bought today. Yesterday he had a 10 year old Dakota.....Have to say its a beautiful truck. 6.7L But its a big as a house!! $48K

 

Agreed but 3-5K? There are first gens selling for more than 10 grand right now.

Oooh snap. T4R and Tacoma combo = happy driveway.

In reality get what you need but do not base the 2016 Tacoma on the 2015 Tacoma. I have seen reports of people who were not comfortable in the 2015 loving the 2016. You really need to test drive both, maybe even take some adults with you or have your wife sit in the back seat. I think now is a sucky time to be looking for a new truck because the demand for 2016 Tacoma's is so high. F150's are selling for the same price as 16 Tacomas, especially if a Ford dealer knows you want the Tacoma, they will discount it, at least right now. I'm not gonna say Ford makes a pile of junk but Toyota reliability is pretty solid, even though Ford's may be rising and Toyota's may be declining, I don't know. I wish you were in this situation one or two years from now when possibly dealers would come down to reasonable prices on the Tacoma's, although I have seen people here on TW paying right at invoice for them.
Edit... So try to follow in the footsteps of those people if you choose Tacoma.

 

I owned an F150 one time. That was the first time and last time I will ever own an F150...or a ford for that matter.

 

Screw the 2016 Tacoma, why not just get a Nissan Leaf?

 

Would you like to elaborate?

 

OP I was going to read the whole thread until I realized how awfully popular this thing is for just a few days. Do you ever offroad? If you do, would you do it in a brand new truck?

 

I've never done off-roading but i love the idea. Would i take new truck off roading? Yes, i'm not the type to babysit (garage queen) my car but do take care of it.

I think i will just have to stop by at the Toyota dealership this week and check out the interior space.

 

Just my own personal experience. I was a little hesitant to go with the F150 but I thought what the heck...I will ignore my better judgement and go ahead with the ford. Shoulda listened to my instincts...the damm thing was in the shop all the time. Always for different stuff. It was a nightmare, I vowed never again.
Ive owned my 05 Tacoma for 10 years now and it has never seen a repair bay

 

That has more to do with luck than it does with reality.

 

If this were some sort of anomaly I would agree with you DCSB but not in this case. That is by far, not the first time for someone to have that experience. Yes, some of it is luck of the draw but I wouldn't turn a blind eye to the numbers. Toyota is not lemon proof and any Ford is liable to run 1,000,000 miles, but history does show a trend.

Disclaimer: My 2007 Tacoma has not had a single problem yet, even with a wacky previous owner, nor has our 2011 Eco Boost, knock on wood. Also notice I commented on Ford's possibly rising QDR and Toyota's possibly declining QDR. Possibly.

 

There are tens of thousands of both. I'd start drawing lines when there are tens of thousands of supporting comparisons.

 

Good point, but I wouldn't draw a line straight down the middle either. If there were some way to quantify it, I would put money on the fact that more F150s have failures than Tacomas do in the past.

*Past performance is not an indicator of future performance

 

Sure. But there are also (probably, I'm guessing) more F150s on the road. So, more issues would then be expected.

Also, what kind of issues? We are a niche market, the average owner in my neck of the woods doesn't use their Tacoma like a truck. I wouldn't say the same thing for the average full size truck user in my area, which is technically rural and very much an agricultural area.

So, you could venture to say that full size trucks break more, but unless they're all used to similar ends then it isn't the whole story. Someone who uses their truck like a car would have less issues than someone who uses their truck to work, towing and hauling regularly.

Both brands have their plague of problems. At this point I wouldn't say one has anything over the other, except Toyota being a brand with arguably more fame for dependability.