3rd Gen vs 4th Gen

I probably got a crazy good deal on a lease because of Covid, and 1 year in I couldn't be happier with the taco. The lease runs out next May, and I was thinking that I would pick up a new pick up and keep it forever as I tend to do.

The rumor is that Gen4 will be coming out then, so would you dive in on a 2023 Gen4 Taco or would you stick it out with the tried and trusted Gen3?

 

Don't know about that.

As to the Gen 4...these things get more complex as they go along. Look for it to have start/stop technology (gross). If they do change in 2023 then that will have been a 7 year run for this gen. The 2nd gen went 10 years, right? I suppose it's possible. But given the age of the Tundra/4runner that seems aggressive.

 

There's absolutely zero information about a gen 4 Tacoma, so how would anyone offer you a constructive answer?

 

4th gen? I haven't seen the 2022 TRD Pro exclusive color yet, and you are talking about a 4th gen?

 

You could apply the same thoughts to the 2nd gen vs the brand new 3rd gen.

How is Toyota at getting the bugs out of trucks before they start selling them?

BMW is terrible at it, I know that much.

 

I had a 2007 335i... I can confirm this statement... BMW made a lot of revisions that fixed a lot of my complaints.

Look at the 2016, to 2017, to 2018 Tacoma years. There were definitely some bugs sorted out, but nothing like that GD BMW.

 

BMW just makes it a feature on the next generation

 

There's a whoooooole lot of speculation built into that question. Only thing I could say is to just cross that bridge when you get there.

The only thing we know for sure about the 4th gen is that 70% of the people here will say it sucks and the other 70% will buy it immediately, love everything about it, then modify everything about it because everything sucks. Or something like that. I'm learning the ways of TW...

 

I will speculate and say it will be a north american version of the Hilux, the next generation Hilux. I would like to wrong and say there won't be an access cab in the US either, no manual, and turbo or hybrid 4cyl engine options. SR, SR5, TRD OR, and TRD Pro, there won't be a Sport model.

I think there will also be a RX350 based SAV with a bed like the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

 

The 2016 wasn’t really a new generation in what is typically meant by the phrase. Really it bought them additional time without having to develop a new generation. In many ways the Tacoma is really the oldest of the bunch, though in others it is the newest since the interior updates were so heavy in 2016, but the truck in general is going on 17 years.

Jeff

 

Not exactly sure what you are asking, but when a 4th gen comes out, if I like it I’ll buy it, then likely piss and moan it’s not as good as my 2nd gen was

 

New interior, new exterior, new engine and tranny. It was 100% a new gen.

Some of the posts on this place. Good lord... lol

 

Yeah but he’s right, you know?

Will def have a turbo. No way can the gas mileage continue to suck as much as it does.

 

The probability of Toyota getting rid of the current gen 3 years early is very low in my opinion. They may add a hybrid model in the next few years, but an entire redesign, I think not. I would say buy exactly what you want. If the truck as it sits currently is what you want, buy it. If not wait. The only reason Id wait for a 4th gen is if they had either a solid axle front or turbo diesel as an option. And for me, solid axle has more allure than the diesel (and it wont happen)

 

The 4th gen will have self parking mode, plug in hybrid, both your FM radio and air conditioning will require a subscription to activate it, and the last remaining bed cubby will be missing.

 

most likely remove the rear seat storage for some stupid battery pack

 

The first two generations ran about 10 years each. The first official Tacoma year was 1995, and it ran through 2005 with some facelifts. 2006-2015 was 2nd gen. Seems early for them to roll out 4th gen, so I'd take the info you heard/read with a grain of salt.

 

Never buy the first edition of newer technology or newer software. Let someone else find the bugs to be fixed.

 

This.

However they have announced Hybrids and Full Electrics coming down the pipeline.

Also the next gen is supposed to be 2026 so you have a while to wait. There's also another rumor (probably not credible) that the next gen Tacoma will be built on the same frame as the Tundra and they will be more or less trim differences at that point. I wouldn't put a ton of stock into that though..

 

I'm at a life stage that I'll never spend $40k+ on a truck of any kind.

For me a truck is a light duty tool for mostly local use with a couple of 500 or 600 mi round trips a year. No need for 4wd. My '13 5 lug is pretty hard to beat for that use.

OP, with the 4th gen not even in sight, if you really like what you have, evaluate buying out your lease next year.