I want a tacoma!

I currently have an '01 4runner. I got it a little over a year ago and have been extremely happy with it. Second toyota vehicle.

Well, I want to move back into a truck for work. The 4 runner is too small to carry tools and material in....so I am thinking a truck with a cap on the back. Originally I was looking into 3/4 ton diesels because of the power they make. Well, they are near impossible to find for decent prices so I'm kinda giving up that idea...plus aren't the best cold weather start and go type of trucks.

I stopped into toyota yesterday and checked out the new tacomas- SWEET. I would be getting a double cab, long bed 4x4. I like the ride and size of it, but not the price MSRP is 32K. After playing their games they said the truck was 28K with my trade (I owe what they say it's worth). Do they come off sticker any? They kept saying it was a great deal and that I shouldn't walk away...but I did not do any research on the trucks yet. The used ones are almost as much as the new ones...almost makes more sense to get a new one then.

So I have a couple questions before I start crunching numbers-
1- how much do they usually come off msrp on a 32K dollar truck?
2- how are these longer wheel based tacomas off road? Are they too long to do well? 221 inches overall is a lot of truck.
3- how is gas mileage stock? my 4 runner is getting 18-19 in 2wd mode mixed driving and around 16 in snow 4wd.
4- how fast are these tacomas? My 4 runner with the 3.4 is a dog.
5- anyone have the supercharger option? that looks sweet.
6- what are some general maintenance that has to be done? I am coming up on 105K on the 4 runner and would like to do timing belt and water pump if I decide to keep it. Pretty much the same on the tacoma?
7- will I have to get a locking tailgate if I get a cap over the bed?

I had a ranger before and really liked it. I know I would like the taco too. I like that the back seats fold flat so my dog has a place to stand while driving around. I don't like the fact that I will be giving up my luxuries like leather, heated seats/mirrors, small footprint, and the lower monthly payment auto up/down on driver/pas windows, etc.


Thanks for the help guys and I am pretty excited that I think I found a truck that I like finally.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World!
If you liked your Ranger, you will love the Tacoma. I had 3 Rangers... no comparison. The 4.0 will smoke your 4-runner. Speed will not be a problem. True, the used ones are almost as much as new ones. It's been the best selling midsized truck since it's redesign in '05. It's amazing how these things hold their value! Some caps come over the tailgate, so no lock will be reqired. I have a bed cover and bought a $50 pop-n-lock... works great.
Where have you been looking for your truck? Depending on your location, there are a lot of members on here who probably have some dealerships to avoid or to visit.
Good luck!!

 

I have been looking in the chicagoland suburbs. I just stopped by one near my parents house. There are a couple others in the area that I will be looking at- arlington toyota and libertyville are 2 near by.

Any idea how the gray fairs with dirt/dust? I was going to get silver because it will be a work truck and not washed often- but i just love the gray color.

 

You will have no regrets on getting the Tacoma. I bought a 2008 trd off road access cab 4x4 and the sticker was just short of 30k. I ended up getting the sticker down to 25.5K and out the door at about 28k. The long bed double cab will do just fine off road, there are several people on here that wheel their's quite often. Mpg wise i would guess anywhwere from 16-18 city maybe better depending on how you drive. The 4.0 v6 will suprise you at how fast it is, you will have no complaints. If you can get the tacoma you will be more than pleased. The silver or the gray would be a great choice in color, the silver will show less dirt, but i dont think gray will be much worse. Also, you can get a 2009 tacoma with heated leather seats and a backup camera.

 

why does the long bed appear to get shafted on all the options?

no locking rear dif- i love the awd lock on my 4 runner in the snow.

looks like no trd offroad package available per their website, no manual....

I dont see leather being an option ajviper.

 

i had an 02 4Runner with the 3.4l...my tacoma feels like a sports car compared to it. and as far as dust with the gray, i havent even noticed it, however that may be because my 4Runner was black and always looked dirty. i dont see how anyone could be unsatisfied with a tacoma. for the gas mileage, its pretty much the same if not slightly better than my 4Runner. hope this helps.

 

Roy, the long bed does not have the rear locker because it isn't available in the trd off road package. However it is available in the trd sport package which has a limited slip rear end. The 2009 is available with the heated leather seats. here's a link. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/15354-photos-new-taco.html

 

thanks pat. i saw the grey in person just now. i think it may be too dark for construction use. i had a black car that would get destroyed when going to the sites. my 4 runner barely ever gets washed, its silver

 

wow, it's not available when i try to option with my zip code. guess I need to try putting georgia in there. is the factory locker worth it? ive had trucks with "4" wd which would turn into 2wd in winter time because of the lack of locker.

the 4runner has an option to lock all 4 wheels in 4hi. i had to tow some guys out of a parking lot when the snow was high one time. i would have a hard time going back to the crap lsd setup found in most trucks.

whats the main difference between the offroad and sport models?

 

Wrong. The locker is not available in the TRD Sport option. It only comes with the TRD Off Road option and since the long beds don't have the Off Road option they don't get the locker. The TRD Sport only gets the LSD as an option.

They probably don't offer the Off Road option to long beds due to the fact they would high center easier than the short bed due to the longer wheel base you were worried about in your OP.

And really, do you want a longer truck off roading on narrow trails? Wide open deserts or fields would be ok, but you'd want shorter wheelbase and turn radius on any kind of hilly or wooded terrain.

As for why the LB doesn't have a 6spd manual option, I have no idea. Unless they just assumed it would make the larger truck easier to handle.

If you want the manual tranny, I would just get the SB. I haul tools in mine, and have a topper for it too. If I want to haul lumber, plywood, drywall, etc it all comes in 8ft or longer sections unless I have it custom cut so it'll hang off the back of either bed size. So don't let the extra 12" of bed space be your only deciding factor. If we were talking 5' vs 8' bed I could understand, but the only thing I've seen that extra foot help haul was ATVs or bikes. And even then it's only so the back wheel(s) didn't ride on the tailgate.

 

I know that, I was referring to the long bed not the locker when I said it was available in the TRD sport package.

 

well that stinks. I would probably get a cap. the bigger bed isnt for hauling around lumber, as its more for holding my work stuff- material and tools. and 8 foot lumber will hang over 2' instead of 3', a lot better balance. Although i am not a carpenter, I am an electrician and my pipe comes in 10' lengths. I like the 4 runner because i can roll down the back window and throw the lumber inside still.

as a comparison, with the seats down i have 6' of flat space to throw stuff, and it does get filled up at times. Although I have my 2 bins pretty well setup and can fit everything behind the seats which is like 4' i think. A foot difference doesnt seem like much, until you need it. i would prefer the shorter wheelbase though for parking. ugh.


can you get the offroad package with the faux hoodscoop?

 

wow... I must have really misread that....

 

Well, they make a bed extender that fits in the hitch mount and supports lumber, pipes, etc. It comes out passed the open tailgate so it probably adds a good 2-3' to balance the load.

I let things hang over the tailgate either open or closed, and just strap them down more. I added 4 more D-rings to the bed for 6 total tie down points for my ratchet straps. Works well for me, and I still have the manual and shorter wheelbase.

Oh and with the cap I can stack things up more and still be covered! I had a folding tonneau cover before and things had to fit inside, or hang over the tailgate if I wanted the cover closed.

Keep in mind, the longbed also has something like 50lbs less cargo capacity due to everything else being the same (engine, tranny, suspension, etc) except for the longer bed. So just because it's longer doesn't mean you can cram more tools in there, weight-wise anyway. You can fit more, lighter weight items. Just not more heavier items. (Basically, because it's bigger you'd think it could carry more since it's a bigger bed to fill, but you can't.)

 

i have the gray and i work in construction and it hides durt until someone touches it and then you can see it haha

 

thats no good

 

OK guys, I think I have it figured out- I want a short bed with a shell and some sort of roof rack so I can throw conduit on top. 6' bed would be the most practical, but I work in the city sometimes and parking can be tight. That extra foot could make or break me for a parking spot. If I can't fit what I need in a 5' bed with a shell, then I doubt a 6' will help me any. I can carry a 4' ladder inside or throw a 6 footer on the rack or out back.

What do you think?

I am also pretty sure I want a sport because I like the lame fake hood scoop and I live in IL where we get snow, but no where to go wheeling like crazy.

color will have to be silver. The grey is awesome, but I dont wash my daily drivers often and construction=scratches. Me tailgating= chips, both of which silver will hid 100% better than any other color.

 

Must be nice to be doing so well in this economy !

 

why do the 6 speed manual have a lower epa est. on them - 14 & 19 VS 16 & 20 ???

 

The 6 speed is geared lower. Kinda strange I know. I have the 6 speed and I can get about 20 if I keep my foot out of it. The good thing is you really never have to down shift due to low power and torque.