Convince Me why I should get a Tacoma.

I would think responsible and alert driving habits >>>>>>> gvwr

And I don't kayak, but what's an average kayak length, 10 feet?? Even if you got a longbed it'll stick stick out the rear 4'. I've only ever seen kayaks/canoes go on roofs.

 

I love the ruckus! I have ridden one a few times.

 

You have a Fit? Yikes.... get rid of that thing fast. Like yesterday.

 

I can't afford the 3rd gen ;( .

 

Why?

 

If it’s a good price grab it. The truck is bigger than your little fit, so parking is going to be alittle harder, handling drives like a truck? Be prepared to get cut off more often. There are other options also like element? Frontiers are cheaper but not sure about reliability. If you plan on bring it to snow or offroading get 4wd and be prepared to spend money on mods/parts.

 

if you don’t feel safe in the Fit I understand and am sorry to hear why. That said I’m not sold on the ‘truck being safer’ idea, there are so many factors at play in any given accident, but what do I know. People die in Tacomas too.

Like others have said though unless you’ve got a really short kayak, a roof rack is the way to go. If you truly want a larger vehicle there are plenty of SUVs that you would also be able to move a kayak with, fitted with a roof rack. I’d argue that unless you really need the utility of the bed, a large SUV with a roof rack would serve you well. A lot of people buy trucks and the bed is wasted space for them. With an SUV all that space you’re paying for is versatile and valuable covered cargo/ passenger space.

I bet you’d be better served by a 4Runner.

 

Sorry to hear about your dad.

The Tacoma is definitely safer from a statistical perspective. (IIHS driver fatality statistics)

Regarding MPG - you mentioned it's a 2wd. Is it a 5 or 6 lug? 6 lug has the same ride height as the 4wd, 5 lug is lower by a few inches. The 5 lug will get 23-25 mpg or possibly even higher on the highway if driven conservatively. The 6 lug will get 20-22 mpg (if it's a 4 cylinder) or 17-18 mpg (if it's a V6). Of course your mileage may (and probably will) vary.

 

I used to cartop my kayaks, then I bought a Tacoma...

 

Cause chicks dig Tacoma’s and a man needs a truck

 

You’re mileage will NOT be as good as people say. Or as good as you hope.

Do you want one or need one? Ok buy one then.


You’re making the right choice looking at 2nd gens. 1st gens are decent too, but 2nd gens offer a lot more.

 

My condolences!!!


Have you driven the Tacoma and Frontier?
I'd suggest driving both to make sure that you find the seats and seating position comfortable first. I've heard some people hate the seating position in the Tacoma. l personally like it.

 

no. do your own homework.

 

Looks like it hangs out quite a bit, do you have some type of light kit for driving at night with the Kayak? I think I would feel a lot more comfortable using a roof rack.

 

i have reflectors at the back of the kayaks plus red flags. but a night light would be more ideal. I used to car top my kayaks on 5-6 hours drives and I hate the drag it cause. this won't have any drag or effect your gas mileage. plus it's easier to load by yourself.

 

You already made a "tacoma world" account now you gotta buy one. No need to "convince you "

 

Sorry to hear about your father.
I recently sold my 2015 Fit and bought a clean 1st gen a month ago for my teenage son. No regrets. The taco (even a 1st gen) just feels way safer in every way. The Fit is obviously better on MPG's but man was it squirly especially at higher speeds. As much as the Fit could accommodate cargo inside, there's no comparison with the payload advantages you get with a truck. A gen 2 will be the worst with MPG's so you might consider a gen 1.

 

Hi. I'm sorry about your dad. That's hard I'm sure.

2nd gen Tacoma's are pretty truck like...as in they are still a truck. Nothing like a Honda Fit, and a gas hog by comparison. As in 20 mpg for a four cylinder. Not acceptable by small car mpg standards. You kinda have to leave the fuel economy out of the equation if it's what you want.

Edit: your title says convince you why you should get a Tacoma...more likely convince you why you shouldn't.

 

Tacoma is a bad choice.
Kayak: you need a Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 cummins with 4 doors and an 8ft bed..
collisions: you need an f650
common sense: you need a honda fit

 

Sorry for your loss. A fit is such a tiny car. As others have mentioned, there’s a big difference between a small economy car and a truck. You’ll have a hard time finding many cars more unsafe in an accident than your fit.

A few years ago I had 2 trucks, a 97 Nissan pickup and a 87 el camino. Both were since totaled. The Nissan, a old man ran a red light causing a horrific crash, I was badly battered, his wife got 5 broken ribs. The elco, raining, light turned red, everyone with abs stopped, I slid into a brand new Mercedes. Lesson learned there, I’ll never own a car without abs again.

A lot of what makes a car safe is of course the ability to stop. So abs, and no tiny or worn tires. Maneuverability is also helpful. Being able to quickly turn or accelerate away from a hazard. No face in the phone is also helpful.

A Tacoma is a good choice. I’m happy with mine. Many people report getting over 250k miles. If lack of power doesn’t bother you, you’ll probably be ok with a 4 cylinder. I searched for months to find one with a v6 manual transmission.

Kayak, I don’t know if you want to fit it in the bed or on a roof rack. I’m guessing, it won’t fit in the bed of even a long bed older single cab. 2014 I think was when they stopped making Tacoma single cabs. You may need to go to a full size truck like a ram or f150.