My GF is planning to by a 2016 Taco. We'd appreciate some advice.

This thread went to shit so fast.

 

Most questions/concerns are normally faithfully and accurately answered in the first page of a thread, then it degrades into what you see here. There should be a "unsubscribe after one page" button.

 

Lot of decent info, actually. I think it went to shit quick after the champagne taste was beer budgeted.

 

It went from solid questions and recommendations to "buy an FJ80... tires don't matter... you shouldn't offroad a new truck"

The peanut gallery was out in full force on this one

 

What lift and tires?

Did you have to swap UCA? Why didn't you use 5100s?

 

Missed all that..



Because TW.

 

While I was at the dealership the other day waiting to get screwed by the service dept., I walked the lot to kill time. The only truck they had close to that price at 24k something was a 2wd, SR, Acess cab. Good luck

 

That looks like the truck she needs. Pretty sure it aint 25k.

 

With a $25K budget, an AC 2.7 4x4 with a 5 speed manual is still within reach. $26,205 MSRP. If I had to get a third gen, this will be my exact choice.

 

The MSRP on an SR 4x4 MT utility package is 24,200 or so. A discount off MSRP and adding taxes etc you are right at $25k out the door, maybe a few hundred more depending on your state's taxes. I love mine even though I have vehicles worth 4x as much. Not to make this a 4 banger v V6 thread, but I would feel a lot better with the four away from civilization and, unless you are crossing the Eisenhower pass on the way to work, it is plenty fast on the highway.

 

If it's a warranty you're after for that kind of budget buy a used 2nd gen from Carmax. You could get something like this with a warranty.

https://www.carmax.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2008/13157836

 

I agree ... in the Access Cab the 4 cyl with 5spd is more than capable.

EDIT: and very likely the most reliable and bullet proof little 4x4 package available on the planet. IMHO FWIW

Good Luck OP, if you're still around.

 

Don't even consider the V6 brother, the 2.7 is all you need.... I paid just over $24K for mine. It got everything i need (4x4, 5 speed, AC, nice CD stereo, power windows / locks) & no fancy BS..... I put over 320K miles on my last 2.7 before selling it for my new SR. The 2.7 is the ONLY way to go IMO!

 

In snow yes, on dirt and rocks no lol

 

Have you ever used chains in mud? A good set of chains will turn an AT tire into a mud slinging beast!

 

I use them on pavement to drag race Civic's all the time.

 

What most people are failing to tell you is that there is no package where you can combine the locking differential of the TRD OR with a 4cyl engine. Those are mutually exclusive based on the packages Toyota has compiled.

 

I tried that but I had to pay $60k to repair the fresh asphalt my heavy truck tore apart...

 

Yeah but you can get air lockers and a winch bumper and winch and new tires and rims and a few years of gas for the price difference between an SR5 4cyl and the TRD OR