What truck did you come from and how does the Tacoma compare - Not bashing

Where to begin...

Got my licence at 16 (I'm 31 now).
Took my test in my parents 2001 Jeep (parrallel parking was a breeze). They let me drive that until I got my own set of wheels (in 2004 at the end of my sophomore year in high school) a '91 Chrysler LeBaron (kinda miss that car sometimes, since it had a v6 and power everything and you sank 6in+ into cloud 9 seats, except it was an automatic). Then I sold it and my 4 wheeler (just before my senior year) and bought a 2wd '91 2 door extended cab 3.0L v6 ranger xlt with a 5 speed manual transmission. That thing drove like a tractor but got great gas mileage, just wasn't very good in snow. Had that until 2011, when I sold it and got a 4x4 2003 2 door extended cab 4.0L v6 ranger xlt also with a 5 speed manual transmission. That one was pretty basic but had bucket seats, great in the snow, and wasn't too bad on gas mileage. Both rangers had about 125k when I bought them. I had to rebuild the transmissions in both at around 150k and sold them around 185k.

My wife has had a 2010 dodge avenger and a 2018 ford explorer since we've been married.

Then I leased a 2016 DCSB tacoma sport with a 6 speed manual and sold the '03. I only had 2 issues with the '16 other than a cracked windshield. The first was the rubber roof track (driver side) came up a couple times and had to be glued back down, and the other was the detent ball got stuck after driving for a couple hours non stop on the highway (I had to really force it into neutral that one time, but it was fine afterwards). Then my lease was up and I'm now leasing pretty much the same exact truck except it's a 2018 with tube steps, mud flaps, and power rear window. Hopefully I can buy out the lease on this one, so I can mod it.

 

1995 Jeep Cherokee, not really a truck, but it got used for everything. Obviously no comparison for comfort or ride with the Tacoma.

 

came from a 2014 jeep srt8 and god... is this thing slow.

 

'88 Toy PU. I would still have it, but the windshield bezel rusted out and it wasn't worth fixing in this wet climate. I liked the truck, but to be honest, after only 125k it was on its way out, what with the rust, tired engine, and second gear beginning to go. The biggest plus it had was that it had a full 7' bed. My Tacoma has the "long" bed, which is still too short. The Taco is much more comfortable, and much safer. That old '88 was a tuna can. I'm glad I never hit anything with it, because I'd be dead.

 

I too, came from a Cherokee. 1991. 5spd. Probably not a useful comparison, but...

Jeep Pros: Super, super low cost of ownership. Owned it from 140k to 220k over about 6 years. Probably spent less than $1000 in maintenance and repairs (not counting upgrades, damage done when it was stolen, or damage done off-road). It was quicker than the Tacoma, sounded waaaay better, and could fit on tight trails. Pretty decent mileage - about 22 hwy, 17 around town. Mileage the same in winter. I spent a lot of time fiddling with the suspension to where it actually rode great for what it was. The transmission was excellent.

Jeep Cons: Small. 3 people + gear was the practical limit for multi-day camping trips. No place to put a dirt bike. More specific to mine, at 220k it was still reliable - but I was becoming less confident in taking it to the middle of nowhere.

https://goo.gl/photos/hsjjyVh1HhCrucbt6

Tacoma TRD Pro... Pros: It's a truck. So, the bikes can come on trips. Also room for 4 people + dog. Interior is nicer (by less than you might think since I had swapped out a lot of stuff on the Jeep, but still). More creature comforts. Where are the turney things to move the windows up and down?? Similar fuel economy in the summer (see cons for winter). Internal bypass shocks + IFS makes for a great ride down rough forest roads at speed. Rear locker + ATC = traction for days (Cherokee was limited slip rear, open front). Living in the city, BSM backup cam and cross traffic alert are really nice to have. North Carolina dealer I bought it from gives a "lifetime powertrain warranty". We'll see how that plays out.

Tacoma TRD Con... Cons: It's a truck. With 4 people inside, gear needs to go in the bed. There are solutions for this, but obviously not baked in like an SUV. Winter mileage is worse than my Cherokee (showing about 16 right now combined city/hwy). Engine... I should OV tune, but man do I miss the (by comparison) instant throttle response on the Cherokee. I probably could if I did a lot of reading, but I won't know every bolt on this thing like I did the Jeep. Transmission is ok. A little big to throw around a gravel road like I would the Jeep.

TLDR: The truck is not a Jeep. The Jeep was not a truck.

 

2002 Pathfinder. Bought in '09 and loved it until I sold it, despite some of it's quirks. Skin cancer started taking it over, so I sold while I still could. Went Taco for 2 reasons: 1. Toyota 2. Truck

They way these things hold their value is stupid honestly, but hey I guess I shouldn't be afraid to take advantage of that! Then for what I was paying for fuel in my pathfinder I might as well have a more versatile vehicle. Even just moving simple things like fuel jerrys, wood or a BBQ were dirty, challenging, or impossible with an SUV.

 

Hoping that tree was not cut as close to that building as it looks. If it was --the guy that cut it down has more guts than I do!

 

Came from a 2005 TRD Sport to a 2017 TRD Sport;


Driving Experience: Very much the same, after three days I couldn't tell a difference between them. Sure the 3.5 revs higher and has to be wrung out more - but around town daily driving they are the same.

Gas Mileage: 3rd Gen wins; 17mpg vs 14.7 mpg according to fuelly..

Interior: 3rd gen feels more comfortable, looks better. 2nd gen is easier to keep clean.

Offroad: Haven't noticed a difference.. In the snow the 3rd gen VSC and TRAC keep it boring and safe.

 

I'm doing almost the same upgrade, if I can get a decent deal. Can you give me an idea how you think the seating compares? Amount of room, cushioniness, etc.

Thanks!

 

Im on the other side of the fence. my 2003 dakota had more than my tacoma, both fully loaded. I would have bought the dakota again if they were selling them. buyers remorse ? maybe. Even with todays technology, i would have bought the dakota, and put in a gps and with bluetooth radio and been done. My tacoma STANDALONE gps is worthless without a cell phone, and the transmission makes me grumpy.

 

Ford F150-->2014 Tacoma

 

I've had several trucks in my lifetime:
'81 Ford F-150-No A/C (I live in FL), no radio, automatic, no power windows, straight 6 Loved it!! Easy and fun to work on the engine.
'92 Ford Ranger XLT- Nice little truck, had some transmission problems
'96 Ford Ranger Supercab-great little truck with dual gas tanks. I could make it up to Tallahassee and back without refueling. Traded it to my brother-in-law for his stripped down Jeep Wrangler because he had a bad financial situation... no good deed goes unpunished.
2001 Ford Expedition-0% financing. Died on I-4 with 160,000 miles
2007 Ford Explorer Sportrac-leased it. Ford tried to screw me on the end of term lease, although not a bad little truck. Could pull my 20' boat like a breeze!
2018 Toyota Tacoma SR5- current truck. Love the little things. Back up screen-especially when backing up to my trailer. being able to see how much air I have in each tire so I know which one is low (little things), navigation even though it's not the most accurate. Being able to use a USB for my 5,000 song library. Sitting up higher than my old Rangers, especially in summer deluges that can cause some flooding. Believe it or not, my favorites have been this one and my '81 Ford F-150 - two totally different trucks.

 

I had A 2011 TRD DC OFF ROAD AUTO. Went to the same 2016. Miss the 4.0 and 5speed auto !!

 

Came from the same year, but OR. I love the color and interior, but miss the “off-road” look. Before that truck, I had an ‘05 single cab MT taco. Loved that little thing too. Just needed more room. Sold it for a Camry.

 

I had a 2014 Tundra Crew Max for about 2.5 years and then I had a 2017 Honda Ridgeline for 4 months.

Driving Experience: Honda was much nicer driving than either Toyota truck. Very refined drive. Honda is also faster than Tacoma.

Gas Mileage: 14mpg with Tundra, 21 mpg with Ridgeline, 19.7 mpg so far with Tacoma

Interior: Ridgeline had the nicest interior of the 3.

Offroad: Took Tundra and Taco out on the same trail and actually Tundra did really well. Only thing I noticed was the approach angle seemed worse in it vs Tacoma OR

Reason I got rid of Honda so quick was it had some annoying build quality issues that I couldn't stand. Also missed the rugged feel and look of the Toyota trucks. I have no problem admitting that Honda is a much nicer vehicle than Taco, but I personally like the Tacoma much better.

 

1995 Tacoma SR5 (highest trim level and brochure cover truck at the time) w/maual transmission and a factory sunroof. I wanted to go to the grave with it, but the Wisconsin winters and salt took too much of a toll on it. The frame was fine, but every nut and bolt was corroded like crazy. Every time I attempted to do any work underneath it, bolts would break off. I got too tired of it...thus the '16 TRD Sport Access cab. I REALLY miss the size of the '95. It was much narrower overall and the bottom of the bed actually had a little bit larger footprint than the '16. The '95 bed mat could not lie flat in the '16! lol

 

Hey there - I figured this was as good a place as any for a first post. It wasn't really a truck, but I just sold my '05 Jeep Wrangler - now I drive a '19 Tacoma TRD OR DCSB. Pretty much everything about the Tacoma is better, including being able to have conversations/listen to music on the highway! The Jeep was a little more nimble offroad due to its short wheelbase, but I'm sure I'll get used to the Taco.

 

Most recently I had a 2016 Nissan Frontier Desert Runner.
Funny thing is I got the Frontier because I couldn’t find an Access cab Tacoma, and I didn’t want a double cab, but now I’m in a double cab Tacoma.
The Frontier felt like it had more power than the Tacoma does, but the acceleration pick up is quicker in the Tacoma. MPG differences are negligible.
Fit and finish in the Tacoma is way better than the Frontier, and the ride is much more comfortable. I did like the shorter nose in the Frontier, but it didn’t take much to get used to the longer front end on the Tacoma.

 

No truck. 2003 Pontiac vibe 5sp.
My wife couldn't drive it and it was starting to look like it needed work that I couldn't get done cheap. Was an awesome car. The truck is much bigger, faster and more capable. But I still miss my old girl.

 

I bought a 1998 T-100 4WD extended cab in 2001, I was the second owner, and sold it last September after I got my 2018 OR DCLB. I loved that T-100, it was bulletproof, but it was getting some severe body rust that no body shop would touch.

Driving Experience: The T-100 was a 4-speed and was slightly underpowered with its 3.4L engine. Any load in the bed and the engine began to work pretty hard. The truck handled really well, and I liked the slightly sloped hood that provided good visibility.

The Tacoma transmission bothered me at first, but after 5,300 miles it has settled in and is less shifty. The engine feels stronger, the weight difference between the two trucks isn’t too much. The Tacoma drives like a big car. Too much tech on the Tacoma, though, I like things simple.

So this one is a tie, more power in the Tacoma but less visibility.

Gas Mileage: I’d get about 16 mpg in town with the T100, and 19 mpg on the highway pulling a trailer with 2 kayaks at 70 mph--streamlining works. I get 15-16 mpg in town with the Tacoma. I’ve yet to hit 19 mpg going 70 mph with the Tacoma, so the T100 wins on mileage. The T100 has a larger gas tank, too, that's a plus.

Interior: T100 is a clear winner. Dense, quality fabric. Softer plastic that doesn’t look or feel cheap. More comfortable driver’s seat.

Offroad: Haven’t had the Tacoma out for a good test yet.

Miscellaneous: Plenty of grab handles in the T100. The Tacoma is longer than the T100 but the bed is narrower, so I’ve lost some carrying capacity. Easier oil changes on the T100. The downside of the T100 was a weak AC system, even charged up it worked hard on a hot day. The Tacoma wins on climate control.

Overall, it’s pretty even, but the T100 had a more "solid" feel to it. If the T100 had a 4L engine and a stronger AC system, it would have been perfect. There are some minor things I don’t like about the Tacoma, but it is growing on me.