2nd Gen DCLB Sport vs 3rd DCLB Offroad

Opening a can of worms here for sure... posted this on 2nd gen and now seeing 3rd gen forum

Trying to decide between a Used 2014/2015 DCLB Sport or a Pre-owned / Certified 2017 DCLB OR. (Long bed is a must)

I will be taking it out to the mountains on weekends for camping (some beginner to intermediate terrain on the trails, sometimes snow and ice up there), but also as a daily driver (with a commute of 2 days a week, 130 miles a day).

Love the new tech on the 3rd gens, I've read that they ride smoother...

Leaning towards the 2nd gen because of reliability though... Seen many posts about 3rd gens and leaking diff / sending it back.

I am just nervous spending 28k on a 2014 DCLB with no real warranty other than powertrain. Vs spending some more on a 3rd gen dclb OR (with locking diff and all the OR options) with some factory warranty assurances

Is the 3rd gen really worth the extra? As far as looks, yes the grill is ugly but can be swapped. I just dont want to regret getting a 2nd gen with it being "outdated"... but the reliability is there

I am leaning towards 2nd gen that is why I posted in the 2nd gen forum... maybe you guys could help me to your side of the fence

Thanks in advance! Think this decision is one of the harder ones I'll ever make

Edit: I should mention lockers are not a must have. It is something I might add on to the Sport later with ARB or E-lockers

 

Test Drive, Test Drive, Test Drive

 

I have a 17 3rd gen double cab short bed offroad and love it. I don't do any crazy offroading just some trails and camping mainly. I have a buddy with a second gen and he loves it as well. To each his own. Definitely test drive its your call at the end of the day

 

Geezus can’t wait for this thread to take off


Own a 3rd gen DCLB OR and love it...and driven a 2nd gen DCSB OR to Baja and back and couple times... love both, both great trucks. I love the interior on the 3rd gens OR and Sports

 

It's all subjective. I looked at 2nd gen's and to be honest, I would've been happy getting a used '15. For me, it was financial reasons. I just couldn't justify spending 95% of cost of new, on a vehicle with 40k miles on it. I'd rather spend that extra $, where only my butt's sat in the seat, no dried boogers on the steering wheel, or unknown maintenance history. This is my truck, I know how it was taken care of from new, and that to me is worth more than the extra $2-3k.

 

I've owned three 2nd gen Tacomas, an SR5 DCLB, a DCLB Sport and an Access cab Off road, all for varying lengths of time. I absolutely, would not hesitate to buy a 2nd gen again. The lowest mileage I traded was at 40k, and the highest at 142k. Each one was rock solid. That said, I chose a 3rd gen because I like the upgraded tech and interior. Also, I believe that nothing on the 3rd gen is "new" to Toyota as a company, but a new configuration of components that have been around awhile in other iterations (i.e. push button start, 3.5 engine). By that rationale, I don't have any concerns with reliability. I could be wrong, but I'm hopeful this truck will be as strong as the last 3. There were some issues with the early '16's and with any redesign, there are growing pains.

Long story short, I understand your dilemma. The 2nd Gens are known to be reliable without a doubt.

Test drive as long as you have time to and decide which fits you the best.

 

When talking reliability, I'm not sure why the second gen gets a pass on frame issues, but the third gen gets picked apart for needing the diff nuts tightened.

I paid 32k for a brand new thrd gen, so paying 28 with virtually no warranty is bonkers imo.

 

I was on the market for those exact same Tacomas, I test drove both but the certified pre-owned 2015 DCLB OR 4x4 with 35,000 miles was only $3000 cheaper out the door than the 2017 DCLB OR 4x4 I bought.

 

Also, at least in Southern California, dealerships are not willing to budge on the price of used Tacomas, especially if CPO.

 

Because, it’s the new kid. Part of the initiation, it seems. People ragged on the 80 LC after its debut. Calling it too soft, too big. No manual! How it’s heralded as the best LC platform made.

Every new gen gets picked on. Most of the time, unjustly so. Don’t pay any attention to the critics.

 

Great points

The 2nd gen I was going to test drive tomorrow was sold right before they closed business today... not sure if thats a sign or what