Tacoma Stalking, er...uh, Spotting, with Charlie™ (3rd Gen Edition)!

the ladies love a squeaky clean frame...

but for real that’s a clean little ford

 

I did take a lot of care of her. Honestly man, it was a great machine. I wish i could have kept her

 

I’m in the same boat, I wish you would have kept her so I didn’t have to hear you talk about the “superior” MT tacoma on here anymore....

Jokes aside, I wish I still had my ‘03 tundra. Not as pretty as the ranger, but the access cab had plenty of room

 

This is literally the #1 reason for my purchase. If we don't make any changes to vehicles in the next 10 years, my boys will have the option of a minivan with all of the modern safety equipment or the MT Tacoma. If they want the truck, they have to earn the privilege. Otherwise, minivan or get a job and buy your own damn car.

Only problem with the plan is I like my truck a lot, maybe too much. Hoping I'm just sitting on a big pile of money so I can buy myself something special by the time they start driving. I doubt MT will be an option in 2030 but chances are decent we'll have a few solid EV pickup options by then.

 

Did you pick up the Sport MT you had all lined up a few weeks ago?

 

Quit asking me that ya turd, I’m trying to mess with all the MT owners... no one is supposed to know what I drive

 

I still can’t understand the texting and driving argument. I can text in an auto, a manual, and on a motorcycle if you really want me to get crazy.

I don’t do any of the above, but as a reference point.

 

Another thing worth mentioning, I think the MT stuff is a bit more variable by region. Oddly, from what I saw during my 3 year search, MT 3rd gen in SoCal appears to be a difficult find, commanding a bit of a premium. Getting a vehicle from out of state registered in CA is a PIA really. I read about (and see) prices in NC, GA, etc and they seem like much better pricing, particularly for MT. So, shrug? I definitely would rather have paid less for MT vs more. I remember when that used to be the case. At the same time, I'm just stoked to have an MT option in a vehicle I like at a price which I can reasonably afford.

I do wonder what may happen to the value of 3rd gen MT's if 4th gen is AT only. Maybe it won't increase but a small bump seems possible, perhaps similar to the COVID bump felt across all Tacomas.

Shoot, 1985 trucks can go upwards of 30k if restored well.

 

Haha! Good color choice. Sucks it got totaled, probably would have served you few more years no problem.

Those crown vics though man, tough cars. Those modular V8s were pretty good.

 

Yeah it was a great car and was just about ready to roll 200k. Crown Vic's are pretty much tanks, taxi services buy retired police cruisers and continue abusing them for years.

 

Taco is superior in some ways but not all. That baby had steel bumpers stock, stock 2 large towhooks in the front, more capable offroad, thick steel/paint and that instant cable throttle response. The MT in the ranger felt like it was from an old farm tractor though.

If i had space and extra cash, i would have definitely kept her.

Those gen tundras are pretty nice, perfect size.

 

Exactly yes, they were just very thirsty like most domestics of that era

 

You finally got a proper truck for fuck sakes.

 

Looks like you’ll just have to head over to Tower records and pick up some CDs and pop them in the 6 disc CD changer since your iPod isn’t working.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if MT disappears completely in the 4th gen three years from now, like the regular cab disappeared in 2015 and the 5-lug mini-trucks disappeared with 3rd gen in 2016.

 

Maybe so. But Toyota is interested in initial sale value, which is roughly equal between manual and auto Tacomas. Even if manuals have a slightly higher profit margin per unit, Toyota sells WAY more autos than manuals because automatic trucks have a wider appeal (at least in the USA). If memory serves, the demand for manual Tacomas is roughly 1/20 that of automatic Tacomas (feel free to fact-check me).

 

I haven't read this whole thread.

But manuals are not worth more. They may be worth something to the very small group of people who like them. But these days a manual transmission is a detriment not a plus from a value standpoint.

People just don't want them anymore. Doesn't matter what the tiny fraction of Tacoma owners here on TW think.

Toyota has slowly reduced the availability of the manual down over the years to basically one powertrain...V6/4x4. They only really offer that just for an image.

Low volume options take up space on the production floor and add complexity. That's not an efficient way to produce vehicles.

At some point the Tacoma will probably lose the manual all together.

And Charlie...no way your rig is worth $10k. That's a $7500 truck on a good day....and that's retail money. Probably $5-6k trade in tops

 

This AT vs MT convo is getting old..

 

As Ice Cube once said, today was a good day

 

It's funny, my other Toyota pick-up is a T100 which I've had since I was 17. As a HS Graduation present I had a six-disc CD Changer installed in '95. It has probably had the same five CD's (and one cleaning disc) in it since 2005. Maybe earlier than that. I haven't used it in years and long ago got in the habit of tossing the controller under my seat so out of sight, out of mind plus that truck now has a BT capable stereo. A couple of weeks ago I was making an hour drive to see my GF and decided to see if the old changer still worked, it did and for the next couple of hours (hour there, 45 mins back home later) I rocked-out to some of the most forgotten 90's music anyone's ever heard! It was a trip, although I have no plans on installing one in my Taco LOL!