To trade or not to trade

Vehicles are like personal relationships

The dating aka test drive feels right.

The marriage and long enough time line can feel wrong.

At least with the Tacoma you don't lose half your shit in the process if it doesn't workout.

Life is too short to keep a vehicle that you hate

 

The Grass ain’t always greener!! You can only hope

 

As a former 2013 Ridgeline owner
as far as a daily driver, they're hard to beat.

 

It depends on what the OP is looking to replace it with. I think that sometimes Tacoma fans are like scorned middled aged ex-wife. They lose their shit when they find out the ex-husband is dating vibrant younger women, or in this case exploring other options.

 

Considering your complaints above, I'm not so sure you would be satisfied with any other truck.

And my C7 GS isn't worth a Sh_t off road, damn it.

 

Outside a warped dash and seatbelt that sucks my 2019 F150 has none of those NVH issues

 

My 2019 Tacoma has none of those and a perfect dashboard and nice seatbelt.

 

Same for my 2018 TRD Sport.

 

Not sure how the Tacoma compares to a relationship. They don’t talk back , tell you what to do , Order you around etc.

 

And mine loves everything I buy for her.

 

A warped dash really sucks, No complaints at all with my 2018 TRD Sport.

 

Mine too I keep her very happy

 

Nope the owners typically financially simp out and start adorning their Tacomas with gifts to get the likes up, because it's just not good enough. It's basically like buying the wife a pair of tits or the husband some pec implants

 

GTFO.





j/k

 

Get rid of the Tacoma,If you have seen the newer Ridgeline's they are really nice looking,and drive smooth.

 

OP, I feel for you. Financial situations and proper financial planning aside, life is too short to drive a vehicle that you just are not happy with. If the age of COVID has taught us anything it is to enjoy the little, everyday pleasures in life. That and that pizza always being available is the most important thing anytime and anywhere.

So, you have a vehicle that you have found enough faults with that you have decided you don't like it. That's okay. That's life. It happens. The good news is that you have a Tacoma and can probably get out of it without losing any money. Heck, you might even come out ahead.

If I were you, I would focus on two things (since you know the Tacoma will be an easy sell / trade):

1) Make a list of the key features that your next vehicle has to have. It sounds like you have expectations from the truck that are fine but that the truck wasn't intended for. Again, that is okay but really zero in on what you really want in a next vehicle. Speed? Comfort. Sound system. Then make a list of the vehicles that you think line up with your budget and those key needs. My guess is that you won't find more than five or six vehicles that are a match.

2) Test drive and road drive all of them so you have a really good feel for how they line up with what you want and what you expect.

It is perfectly fine that you are in the situation you are in -- it happens. The key is avoiding it from happening on the next car.

Best of luck and please let us know what you decide. I, for one, love these kinds of discussions.

Side note. It is easy to hate on the Ridgeline. Plumbing contractor that I used had one and I got to see it first hand. I get that it is not an overland vehicle and you can't mod it and all of that stuff. I get that some people have their masculinity tied up in the looks of their truck (nothing wrong with that by the way, to each his or her own), but the Ridgeline is a really nice vehicle for what it is supposed to do. It did not meet my needs but I would have no hesitation buying it if it did. Great vehicle for its intended purpose.

 

Makes me laugh when I hear people complain about issues with the TRDOR/Sport/Limited/Pro like the ones OP mentioned. I think these people should drive my truck or your truck for a day and I think they'd have a better understand of what slow, clunky gear box, road noise (my tuck at least) is like. Even though my truck drives like a tractor I love it and it suits me.

Realistically sounds like OP should trade the truck and get what they are happy with and like other mentioned I think the Ridgeline is a good option. As much shit as the Ridgeline gets I think its a really nice truck type vehicle and from what I understand they are starting to upgrade the off-road capabilities.

 

Honda's also hold their value very well.

 

100%. Look at this recent article:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a35699584/2021-honda-ridgeline-drive/

The Ridgeline is not a Tacoma competitor. This quote sums up its value perfectly:

"The Ridgeline is at its best when it's tasked with the boring chores most of us do most of the time. Yes, it can haul more than 1500 pounds in its bed and tow 5000 pounds. Great. But usually, our trucks are tasked with far less than full loads and maxed-out trailers. And that's where the Ridgeline shines. It's a great daily companion and weekend lifestyle warrior."