Help choosing my Tacoma? Totally lost

Owned tundras and just sold my beast after driving a Tacoma, but now wanting a Tacoma. Looking at 3rd gens..was gonna get older but after driving the newer it’s the perfect truck!!! so what year do you consider best, and must have features.. been eyeing the 2016-2017 double cab 4wd off road package.. or is that to worth it get a newer one.. like did the early one have problems.. have a budget so can’t get the 2020. Wanting stay under 30,000 if possible

 

Just get a 2nd gen 2014/15

 

What transmission are you considering? The 3rd gens have lots of complaints about the auto transmission, not necessarily a "problem" per say. I had a 19 double cab off-road auto trans (4x4) and enjoyed it, but did find the transmission annoying at times. Make sure to do a long test drive if you're getting an auto and drive it how you normally would. Under normal accel ("normal" here varies from person to person, so let's say light accel) the shift points can be frustrating. Especially if you're speeding back up from a slow down, sometimes it won't downshift like you'd expect and you'll lug at a high gear but low speed.

 

Take a look at this: https://bit.ly/2yHrxOD

Ed

 

We need to know more about you, Mr. Produce. What do you want to do with it? Haul stuff to the dump? Pull a camper or trailer? Do a lot of off-roading?

Big question is do you want a manual or not. That will limit you to the higher trims.

I love my ‘19 OR with MT. I think it’s probably better for towing, but it is more work especially if there are hills. I would limit towing to 3500 lbs dry weight or less. A manual OR is a lot of fun—I haven’t actually taken it really off-road yet—but the auto has terrain select and crawl control which some people might prefer.

I personally love the electronic options—tech package, premium package—auto cruise control is great, also must have seat warmers. Moonroof is OK but I don’t use it much.

Anyway good luck finding used. It’s hard to find a used one with the features you like at a reasonable price, so for me buying, uh, leasing, new was a better option.

 

The 2016 transmission is fine with the newest tune. Since I had my reprogrammed a year ago, both performance and mileage have improved. Dealerships have been updating the computers when the trucks go in for work, so most 2016s should be on the latest by now. If not, it takes a dealership about 10 minutes to do it and it should be free (at least mine dealership offered it free). The rear diff recalls were an inconvenience (cheap Chinese-made gasket problem) but Toyota also went out of their way to solve that little nugget. Got a free rental T4R for a month while they waited on parts. No issues in the 2 years since it was done.

Best advice I can honestly give is to see what you can find used in your price range and be open to visiting neighboring states. The sport and OR ride differently - the OR is softer, and the sport has a tight (read: rougher) ride, but is great as a street truck. SR5 is closer in ride to the OR than the sport. You can test drive 2019s at the dealerships to get a sense of it - the 2016s/2017s will ride the same (unless someone threw an OME lift on or some such).

Welcome to TW, and good luck in your hunt. What part of the country are you in?

 

Really? I am fine with doing that too, what things do I need to look for?

 

NC,, and seems trucks are over priced here. And hate sound like a cheapskate but just so crazy how high all trucks are now. I honestly like keep it under 20,000 and invest the other

 

Look at 2013s then. Here in Texas, Tacomas hold their value like rappers hang on to their dicks. Some dealerships will sell USED for the same price as new.

And they sell.

 

Test drive, test drive, and test drive. Then test drive. It’s ultimately your ride. Regardless, your going to end up with a good truck.

 

I could not be happier with my 2017 Limited. If it were totaled today I would buy a 2020 Limited as soon as available.

 

Between a 16 and 17, the 17 will have the power sliding rear window.

 

New 2019 SR5 V6/Auto DCSB 4x4. Should be able to get one for about 31K with all the rebates right now.
MSRP 36,100. If you can negotiate ~ 10% off and then apply the rebates, you are looking at 31,000 + TTL.
Just find one without accessories.
Go to Toyota.com and build your own. Then go to cars.com and search for matches in your area.

 

The 2019 should be giving good deals on them. I was looking at used but seen what they sold for I bought a new one.
I am happy with mine, just keep emailing dealers in your 100 mile radius.
Then start comparing, I spent 3 months doing this and then my local dealership gave me a price the others could not touch and now I am a proud Tacoma owner, looks alone sold me. There is not a better looking truck out there

 

Photos of the new ride?

 

I have mine posted some where on here but here you go, I need to take one updated.

 

Nice!

 

This. Most people will just recommend what they own themselves. But only you know what criteria are important to you. Test drive and decide for yourself.

 

I just recently bought a 2017 off road and love it. I was also on a budget but deciding whether or not to just buy new was pretty tricky. The resale value on these are so good that it’s almost worth it just to buy new for a few grand more. However, for me I found a perfect used one with low kms and for the right price. It did take quite a while to find one for the right price and kms but it was definitely worth the wait.

 

If you don’t need gadgets just buy the SR and add the stuff you need. Should get you closer to the $30000 mark. I thought you were $20000 earlier which is tough unless you go old school! Won’t have the comforts of the SR5 but still capable esp if you are planning mods!

You could get lucky like I did and have some $$ knocked down with the new year coming out. I purchased my 2017 OR in the spring of ‘18 with ‘18’s all over the lot!