Tacoma Size vs Full Size

Well yeah it looks cool. I'm sure looks rad at the gas station. lol

 

Not sure if this is ok to do here but here is the truck. Has 4x4, not sure about nav or sonar.

https://www.mohawkhonda.com/inventory/used-2017-toyota-tacoma-4wd-4d-double-cab-3tmcz5an5hm071679

 

I get nostalgic about my 08 2wd Titan every once and awhile and get on autotrader to look at some used ones. I really enjoyed that truck, well everything except the mpg (Had it when gas was at high $3/low $4)

 

Same here I had 2 since I liked them so much. Had a 07 LE and a 11 pro4x I got when gas was around 2.00 had thru the fuel craze. Finally had to let it go at 265k.

 

I personally have never owned a full-size, but of course have driven many many and my father is on his 2nd Tundra. That said, I really enjoy my 2017 Sport Dbl Cab Short Bed (DCSB) MT. For daily use, family, family trips, hauling stuff, some towing, overall I HIGHLY recommended this truck. I have one kiddo 6yo so one car seat, but have had her friedns with us (two cars seats) without any issues. Right now; with larger tires, no air damn, and no tonno cover, I am getting high 21's to 22's on summer gas. Overall, drive it and see if it fits you.

 

It's in carbed V8 territory, that's for sure

 

Doesn't have Nav or Sonar. But looks like a solid truck. You will want to test drive it extensively. Make sure you are ok with how that particular auto transmission behaves (or misbehaves).

 

I've had two Tacomas so far, an '08 and now a '19. I have never had any issues with either of them. The ride is comfortable (at least for a 5' 10" guy like me), and the gas milage, for being a truck, isn't bad compared to others I've spent time with. As others have already stated, there are some drawbacks to owning a Tacoma compared to, say, a Tundra, but you get over them. I have 2 kids, a 9 and 2 year old, with the 2 year old in a forward car seat, and they both have plenty of space in the back, with my wife having good leg room in the front passenger's seat. The truck has an amazing turning radius, too, if that matters to you. It handles almost just like my '11 Mazdaspeed 3 did, which is fantastic compared to a full size truck like a Silverado or a Ram, which feels like they need a parking lot to do a U-turn. I feel it's the perfect "daily driver" truck.
But, all in all, it really comes down to personal preference. If you like riding with a crap ton of room and a super cushy ride, then I would advise against the Tacoma. If you want a comfortable amount of room, with a nice sized center console and a bed that will get most jobs done, then check it out, for sure! As everyone has stated though, take one out on a good test drive before you buy, and try to look at it critically, not with the "Oh my gosh, check out this awesome new truck!" mentality, because once you buy it, you are essentially stuck with it!

 

The fact you negotiate $10K off sticker on a $50K truck while being lucky to get $3K off a $35K Tacoma is why resale is so "poor." Those charts take into account the MSRP and not what people actually pay for them. Since everyone gets them so cheap, at 5 years you may only retain 50% on an F-150 vs 62% on a Tacoma but your actual retained value (what you paid to what you sell for) is actually very, very similar.

An F-150 at a sticker price of $50K sold for $40K and worth $25K at 5 years means you retained 62% of the value from what you paid. A Tacoma at $35K sticker sold for $32K (lol) worth $22K at 5 years is 68% retained value from what you paid.

All that said, IMO, three kids means you need a full-size. Add in that you can get an F-150 easily in any config you'd like and get dealers competing with each other makes it a no-brainer to me.

 

I haul stuff to build fences and decks and do landscaping jobs on the side with my Tacoma.

I had it loaded up every weekend last month and I was dissapointed by how much it sagged and swayed with loads that I actually could not even feel or notice for the most part in my previous half ton.

I'm currently looking into Sumo Springs and C-Load tires to help and likely an OV tune as I felt the truck was pretty doggy getting through traffic, stop and go just loaded up with 800-1200 pounds in the bed.

IMO toyota shit the bed with this truck. I hear all the time its based on the old tundra to a certain extent. It a good size truck and I expect it to do better without me having to throw stuff at it like sumo springs/air bags etc.

Thats just my opinion though

 

I went from a ram 1500 to a Tacoma. The ram was dirt cheap after negotiating, the Tacoma... wasn't.

The benefit was that I like having a narrow vehicle. I like being able to reach most parts of the bed without crawling into it, I like talking to my passengers without feeling like they are on the opposite side of the living room, I like the ability to park in my own garage at night.
I hate the land-yacht floatation that the Tundra has. The Ram wasnt terrible handling wise, it still was a little more disconnected from the road than I wanted, but I tolerated it. The Tundra however drives exactly like my 1986 Fleetwood Brougham, and I despise it. No road feel, designed like it wants to tuck you in to your own tempurpedic for a nice quiet nap. The Tacoma at least drives like a small truck should. Rough, bumpy, and quick around the corners. All the things that car and driver hates.

As far as the hardware store goes, no complaints. I love my weekend home improvement projects, most weekends there's a few 2x4x8s (or plywood or gypsum or whatever else) that I resupply on. 8 feet easily rides in a 5 foot bed with the tailgate up and decent straps. 12 feet I might or might not admit to hauling. 16 feet, I'll get a trailer. For those occasional, twice a year projects, a uhaul trailer is 30 bucks a day.

For the weekday, a midsize truck just feels better in traffic, zippy enough when it needs to be, not so big that the compacts dart around you like flies, not so small that you get bullied by the big trucks. Just in the middle, the average, the right size where traffic feels easier to go with the flow, if that makes sense.

 

I test drove Tacoma thoroughly before buying. I was impressed with the the truck’s overall feeling of solidity and refinement. I had been warned about Toyota seats, but I thought I could live wth it.

However, after having owned it for two months, I’d says Tacoma’s two key weaknesses are:

1. An uncomfortable driving position. My right leg gets tired and sore after 45+ mins. Raising the back of the seat rails helped some, but it still isn’t the most comfortable truck I’ve owned, by a long shot.
2. A weak motor/automatic transmission combo. This isn’t much of an issue driving around town or even on the freeway. But it makes for some unpleasant driving whenever you have to pass on 2-lane roads. The automatic transmission simply refuses to do its job, and the engine is not strong enough to do it on its own. Opting for the manual transmission solves much of this issue, though.

Fuel economy is nothing to brag about either, but I knew that going in.

If you can live with all of these, then Tacoma is your truck.

 

^ I find the engine/tranny combo to be pretty good, especially if you have a stable foot. If you're the type who gooses the pedal frequently, then yeah the auto tends to do a bunch of unnecessary shifting, and that can be annoying. Power seems adequate, but then again, I remember thinking my '95 4runner with a 150 hp V6 was adequate, lol.

Only minor complaint with the 3rd gens is the terrible sounding stock exhaust. Sounds like a tuna boat... I prefer more mechanical engine noise.

 

Are people really surprised a midsize truck won't haul or tow better than a fullsize? Is this a shock to anyone? 1200lbs in the bed?

Toyota never said the Tacoma was a work truck. They told you exactly what it was--weekend camping, dirt bike hauling, kayak carrying, play truck.

You obviously need a fullsize truck or simply get a trailer.

 

Might as well look good there, since it's going to spend a lot of time there.

 

So now it is my foot...? LOL!

Yes, engines have come a long way since 1995, but vehicles have gained an average of 1,000 lbs, speed limits have gone up, transmissions are being calibrated for fuel economy above all else, and the competition now routinely exceeds Toyota in engine response and transmission calibration.

No doubt Toyota has its reasons for doing what it does, but the end result makes for pretty tepid driving all the same.

I shouldn’t have to pick between reliability and competence.

 

Three kids in car seats would be tight in a DC tacoma. I have two little ones in car seats - both forward facing, one in a booster - and they have plenty of room but three would be snug unless they are all in boosters.

 

Yep i'm a big idiot hey? As rated: 1275lb payload capacity and 6400lb trailer tow rating.

I expect to use this as a truck not to transport a 44lb Kayak. I can do that with a roof rack and a car.

Can you show me where they said its for weekend camping? Because I can actually show you where they list the payload capacity.

 

1275 lbs. Is that what it says in the door jamb sticker? Mine is pathetic--950lbs. And another important thing--payload INCLUDES passenger weight as well.

Where it says weekend camping? Have you never seen a Tacoma commercial or brochure? It's a play thing. It's got a GoPro mount from the factory for Pete's sake!

 

My Tacoma is larger than my 1988 Ford F250.