quick truck buying question

hi guys, im new to the truck scene and would love to hear your imput. i have a lightly modded (paid off) wrx and now i am looking to get a truck. the only criteria i have so far are 4dr (super/double cab) and 4x4. now before you read any farther, 90% of my truck useage would be to carry around bikes (mountian and road bicycles), kayaks, camping trips and carry around my two dogs (hence the 4 doors). very lite off-roading, haul some firewood and the occasional trips to home depot. i would really like to keep my monthly payment no higher than $500/mo with as little money down as possible. i plan to keep this for 10+ years unless upkeep gets out of hand (i.e.- gas, breaking down etc.)

my first option, an '09 tacoma (4 door, short bed, 4x4 TRD sport package, upgraded stereo, and tow package AND its a 6sp) right around $30,000. i have talked to the dealer briefly about payments and he doesnt really seem to budge. the kicker is, through the dealer there is an unlimited mileage, for the life of the car (to the original owner) powertrain warrenty! with $2000 dwn my payments will be around $499/mo with toyota's 1.9% and nothing off the sticker.

the second option, an '08 f150 (4 door, 5.? V8, tow package, running boards, and some other little tid'bits) for $27,000. Its orginally a $38,000 truck! the dealer is really trying to work within my budget to move a truck that meets my needs. this one is $477/mo with $2000/dwn financing through my credit union.

doing the research, it seems as though gas mileage will be with 2-3 mpg of each other (from what i have read). and each could be bomb proof or a lemon (take that with a grain of salt). once the 08's are gone i doubt there will be another deal like this. i would like to know if any of you came from full size truck or what you experiences are with dbl cab tacoma's. any input is greatly appreciated.

 

Hey I have the 07 4dr double cab trd sport v6 4X4 and it is an all-around great truck (surprisingly powerful), on daily commute I can get around 19-21 all city (when I watch my foot). With what you plan on hauling I think you would need the long bed. Don't have any experience with full size trucks so I can't really help ya there, but I'm sure somebody will. Good luck with the decision! (GO YOTA haha)

 

you will be VERY happy with the Tacoma... And NEVER have any regrets!

Its that simple, Buy the Tacoma



And welcome to the forum!! LETS START mod'n

 

Drive both. You'll see why the Ford is so much cheaper. Sounds like a Full-size is overkill for your uses anyway. If gas hits $5 again, you'll love the Taco even more.

 

his is all I have to say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-RN...s/6400-pulling-out-lifted-ford-excursion.html

 

dude get a taco FTW, pull the trigger you wont regret!

 

what is the resale value of the ford, and tacoma? - i would purchase a NEW ford for what used '08's are going for. we all know how toyota's hold their value. i plan on keeping it so long that resale isnt really a factor, for the most part.

insurance cost? not to concerned. either will be cheaper than my subie.

problems/reliability of each? it seems to be hit or miss with both. majority of reviews are EXCELLENT with the occasional list of complaints/"i will never own another because of..."

routine maintenance and cost? thats what im looking for.

and who is going to be around 5 years from now with the economy the way it is now ? i may need it to live out of!

and have you test drove both? i was actually sold on the tacoma until i drove the ford. it actually drove really nice. i would buy the tacoma in a second if he would come down a grand.

like the interior and truck capabilities of each? yup. little concerned the taco will be little to small and the ford is just BIG. probably to big MOST of my needs

you are on a tacoma forum so think you know what most will say ;-DD hahaha. i know.

 

It seems like you really could go either way with it. You could probably save even more on the Ford since they want to sell you the truck, whereas at the Toyota dealership they know someone will pay what the dealer wants for it. Since you don't plan on doing much offroading, the offroad capabilities of the Tacoma aren't really that big of a selling point over the F150.

I'm pretty sure that with the shortbed Tacoma you will need to have the tailgate down in order to fit bikes in the back, whereas the bikes will fit fine in the bed of the F150, and maybe even your kayak.

Try to get the F150 down a bit, and spend the rest on your WRX (turboback and tune if you haven't done it already, if so....intercooler, injectors, and turbo?) Plus if you plan on making your WRX a track only car, the V8 and tow package would be a better tow vehicle than the Tacoma (I'm guessing)

 

I recently bought an '09 Taco, mys first Toyota. I wasn't even looking for a vehicle until a friend bought an '08 Ford F-150 with some enourmous rebates. I test drove one and brought it home to see how it fit in my garage. It didn't fit well. I could barely get it in and could hardly open the doors. The F 150 is one big and tall truck. I got the truck itch and went to Toyota. The Tundra was also bigger than I wanted. I sat in a Taco Access cab and fell in love with the size. I am an industrial size person and the bucket seats fit me like a glove.

So, I think you are really comparing apples to oranges. It's all about what suits your needs. And, although the Toyota dealers aren't discounting as much as Ford I think at the present you can get about a good a deal for a Toyota now as you might get.

 

If I am reading your post right, your "must have" is the cab configuration? The TRD Sport / TRD off road is Toyota's top of line, you can get a decently-priced 4x4 DC SR5's w/ tow pkg for a lot less and do all the things you listed. Mod it to your liking for a lot less and meet your needs (payment).

Lots of good suggestions on driving both, ask to take one overnight, etc.
Have fun with the buying adventure and don't get talked into upscaling unless of course you want that package.

 

thanks for all responses guys. i am REALLY leaning towards the taco. the f-150 is a nice truck its just huge.

i talked to dealer again last night. this place will not budge!!! i need two grand to get my monthly payments at $500/mo. i have a grand right now that i am comfortable spending, i need a second. the dealer talked to his sales manager and they recomended applying for a toyota credit card that has 6 months 0% interest. WTF!!!! they wont even lower it a thousand dollars on a $30,000 truck.

if it wasnt for that unlimited mileage/unlimited time drivetrain warrenty.

does anyone have any experience with this? he claims that its through the dealership. i asked him if drivetrain broke while off-roading he assured me that if i brought it back to that dealership it would be covered. any other dealership would be $100 deductable.

man, now i just wonder do wait to see what jan-feb incentives bring or just bite the bullet and give in? ugh

 

Why pay for an extended warranty NOW? You don't have to buy it & you have up to the 3/36 to get one. Search extended warranty here and you'll get the scoop on how, when, who to buy from. Plus the truck comes with an extended drivetrain warranty (past the 3yr/36k) without spending a cent. The dealers WILL hose you on this warranty if you buy it up front, waaaaay too expensive. Drop that off your write up and if they won't, walk away, especially them trying to finaggle you to go with a cc for a down payment???? Priceless tactics that dealership!! Personally I'd walk, they will call back and if they don't go somewhere else.

 

I can be biased and tell you to go for the tacoma, but you have to consider several things on this purchase. How well will the value of the ford hold up5 years from now? which one will have less issues as far as reliablity is concerned? which one uses more gas? Also check the cost on insurance because insurance on a 4X4 is going to be more than on a 2 wheel drive model. With all that said I would also like to ad that your local toyota dealer is ripping you off. You can get a hefty discount off of MSRP here in california and im sure in other parts of the country as well. Dont settle for that dealer, go visit another dealer and lowball em, they will fall and give you what you want at the price you want it at.

 

The math on your payments does not add up, you said the dealer was firm on the 30000 grand, but 48 payments at 500 a month only comes out to 24000, plus your 1000 down leaves you 5 grand short of the sticker, and we are not even factoring in the 1.9% or the tax. I don't know if your dealer is being straight with you man....

 

What about an'08 DC 4x4?, I'm sure they will be ready to deal if you head in with your check book around the 30th.... Also, does it have to be 4x4, the TRD Offroad package sounds like it might be able to handle your needs.

 

You have to be prepared to walk away. Are there other Toyota dealers in your area?

Here's an 2009 4x4 dc on eBay (Montrose Toyota in Akron Ohio) that is selling it for $27,499. Check your Truck Trader for your area. You might be able to play them off against another local dealer.

You can save a lot by going with a non-TRD package.

 

hey man, I was NOT in the market to buy a truck last month. I basically walked into 3 different dealers and emailed 2 others and played them against each other. The first dealer I made all my mistakes at with what I said, but I got a price quote. I figured out inventory pricing, etc and went to dealer #2 and said here's the deal I got, I'm not willing to pay more than 1000 over invoice and got their quote. I went to dealer number 3 and said $500 bucks over invoice or no deal

Ultimately I walked out with an '09 4x4 short bed SR5 for 70 bucks over invoice

I'm not a great negotiator by any means but i just kept playing them all against each other and kept telling them i'm in no rush to buy a truck and i would be perfectly happy keeping my honda accord if i dont get the right deal.....and i did walk out of a couple dealerships.....show 'em you got some balls because you should definitely not be paying more than 500 over invoice in this market

 

Go to http://www.carsdirect.com and enter in the info for the truck you want and your location.

You can get price quotes from dealers. Find the best one, take it into your dealer and see if they'll negotiate. If not, they lose the sale.

 

I'm a longtime Ford owner, owned 6 or 7. I'll never buy another. Now you have my suggestion.

 

This is exactly what I did when I bought mine. The dealer was fixed at a price till I went out to the truck and brought him back some printouts of car quotes, one being from carsdirect.com. I then got him to come down to invoice price in about 10 minutes.

As far as Fords go, I drive a F-150 every day at work, it is a total piece of shit. FWIW.