Guys who bought 2nd gen Tacoma’s after the 3rd gen was released...

I bought my 2014 in April with 33k miles. At the time, I wanted a 3rd gen but didn’t want to pay the new price tag. I got mine for ~10k less than the 3rd gen I wanted and have not regretted it yet.

After joining TW and seeing all the complaints here about 3rd gens, I am even more happy with my purchase.

 

A 2nd gen with 28k is basically a brand new rig! You're getting a brand new rig for 24,900!

 

Id choose a 2015 over a 3rd gen any day, just look better IMO and have less issues

 

No regrets here. Wanted a 4.0 6spd 4x4 and got exactly what i had my mind set on.

Also not a huge fan of the new styling on the gen 3’s, but to each is own

 

I drive the 3rd gens a lot. It doesn't do it for me. It just doesn't feel like a truck. It almost reminds me of driving a Honda Pilot.

 

Bought my 2013 X-Runner a couple months ago. Couldn't have bought a third gen if I tried since they killed the X in the lower 48 after 13.

 

I bought my 15 in 16

 

Picked up my pre-owned 13' SR5 4X4 MT with 55K on the clock for $28K in July 16'. It checked all the boxes. Sure at the time there were lots of new 16' gen 3's on the lots evertwhere. But after a bit of research, I knew the gen 2 was the right choice. Yes, the aesthetics of the gen 3's are a bit more refined and the tech and other creature comforts are nice and all but not worth the additional $$ IMO.

 

I bought my 2015 acess cab TRD Off Road in 2016 with only 8000 miles on it. I drove from FL to Massachusetts to buy it and drive it home. I searched for about three months with the cash ready and bid on two different trucks but lost out and had another one lined up if the one I bought didn’t look or seem right in person. The new 3rd gens were hitting the showrooms at the time and plenty of issues were being reported. I had already decided to buy the proven performance and reliability of the second gen and was not interested at all in the third gen trucks. I’ve got just under 50K miles now after a year and I love my truck. Lots of off road driving and no regrets. I paid 27K so saving the appropriately 10K vs 3rd gen was not a deciding factor but sure made it a lot easier to justify the purchase. At that time, October 16, the very low mileage second gen v6 access cab TRD Off Road models were in high demand with some selling within days of being put up for sale. I’ve added some useful parts and I think it’s worth about 30K? Not the typical depreciation ....and better than a gen 3 I think. I like the look of the 3rd gen and when I have 120K miles on my 2nd gen they will probably have the problems with the new ones resolved.

 

Bought my 15 new a couple months before the 16s hit the lots. No regrets.

 

Ha. Third gen have no love.

I too comtemplated on a 15 sport but ended up with a 16 coz I couldn’t find anything depreciated enough to justify the saving. They had a few new 16, 15 and some used 13 12 in the lot and I test drove all. 16 with their refined structures design and suspension felt planted and solid but the 2nd gen has such smooth engine tranny combo. I couldn’t convince my wife to go with a used car especially right after we spent thousands fixing the 12 Forrester. I lucked out with my 16. Not a single problem. The engine/tranny becomes less erratic over time. The 3.5l is surprisingly fast if you deactivate the Atkinson thingy.

The third gen hates continue at work. My taco coworkers constantly talking about how great their older car is. Tried and true, 4.0l is Toyota’s single greatest achievement on and on. I just let them have their moments. Sure I wish I have the 2nd gen facia or a supercharged option. But it is what it is, I’m keeping this sucker until shit falls apart.

 

That's one of Toyota's design goals, to broaden the Taco's mass appeal to include people that really just want to be seen in a "truck"--but don't actually want a truck. The Ridgeline was designed exclusively for such people. A neighbor has a new one, it's an SUV with a pickup bed instead of a hatchback...

 

This^^^^^^^

 

2nd gen is the way to go!

 

I always buy my vehicles brand new but a year or so after the new models come out. Dealers always trying to get rid of old stock so I always seem to get a really good price on a “new “ vehicle. I’ve always been able to get the vehicle make, model, and trim level since dealers can ship around vehicles from other dealers.

 

Nope. And the '13 is arguably the best 2nd gen.

If you are a cash buyer, figure out what that 10k will earn in a low cost investment over the time it takes you to put another 200k on the '13.

If you are a finance buyer, run an amortization chart and see how much more than 10k you save over the life of the loan.

In 20 years, with both trucks at 200k or so, there won't be $1k difference in the 'value'. They'll just be two old trucks.

 

I bought my 2015 used with 11k miles on it back in May of 2016. I wanted a 3rd gen just because it had a few extra creature comforts, but the $7k extra it would have been to equally match the options in the 2015 wasn't really worth it to me. That and I also had all of the spare parts already for a 2nd gen (second Tacoma) so I didn't want to deal with that hassle.

End of the day the 4.0 paired with the 6 speed had more "seat power", pulled better off the line, and the 4.0 is proven power plant. Probably in 5 more years people will be saying that about the 3rd gen once people get some serious mileage on them. End of the day pick something that works for you, if its costs, options, or whatever, its going to be your truck might as well get what you want versus buying something all the internet warriors tell you to buy. This will probably be my last Tacoma since I know the next truck will need to be a full size and I am enjoying every mile I put on it.

 

4.0 motor? if yes, good deal on the '15

 

Exactly!

 

I bought my 2015(s) after the '16s were released (first one was totaled in the first month, diesel on the road). I'm admittedly slow to accept change and preferred the 2nd gen styling, power, and reliability. I've also had trouble in the past with other brands 1st year re-designs...like every little thing hasn't been worked out in a new version. The 3rd gen has grown on me, as I expected. Maybe I'll be ready for 3rd by the time a 4th gen is released.