If Buying Today, Would You Still Choose the Tacoma?

I probably would buy a Tundra if I was purchasing now. My original plan was to drive the Taco for a few years, and then move to the new Tundra after the generational kinks are worked out. But the new Tundra is ugly as sin, I'd rather have the current gen.

 

*If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?
Yes I would choose it again.
Aftermarket support, reliability, resale and looks.
I bought the truck with the intentions on making it a trail rig.


* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma?
Zero problems. I do wish the seat was more comfortable I had to buy a butt pad. I have a 2018 and I wish the tech was better. Like the newer ones with Apple play. Bumpers are cheesy but I had full intentions on replacing them.

* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma?
Tundra, Ranger, Colorado, and Gladiator



* What did you like & dislike about them?
Tundra: to big for some of the trails. I do really like them though.

Ranger: didn’t like the storage, aftermarket support, looks, and my previous truck was an F150 and fell apart.

Colorado ZR2 Bison: was a serious contender but I’ve never been a fan of Chevy/GM products. I had a Silverado before the F150 and they were on par with each other.

Gladiator: I think they’re Ugly unless you put a ton of money into them. Personally I think without 35” or bigger and a smart cap or rack over the bed they look goofy. They’re wide compared to a Taco. I like how the taco can navigate the trail vs a Gladi.


I wanted a truck that was going to last for a very long time. My F150 and Silverado weren’t 300k plus mile trucks they began to fall apart around 100k. So that didn’t give me a ton of confidence in Ford/GM products.

 

Some Ford dealers have one Bronco thats only used as a demo for people to test drive.

 

Yup, we've got them around here too. Not for sale, no matter how much you beg.

 

Would like to have a new Taco but just too expensive and very limited models up here in Canada. May look at the new Ford Maverick. Not a Ford fan though.

 

I love my tacoma, but i would buy the silverado with the 3.0 diesel.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a28148602/2020-chevrolet-silverado-3-0l-diesel-drive/

https://racer.com/2021/07/30/tow-test-2021-chevrolet-silverado-1500-3-0l-duramax-diesel/

 

I'd buy mine again in a heartbeat.

The only package I wish was available in Canada that I couldn't get was a DCLB OR instead of Sport.

At the time of purchase I figured I could add a rear locker if ever needed, but wouldn't be able to add a longer box so the Sport won out.

 

Yes in a heartbeat I would buy my Tacoma again. It's an indestructible trail weapon. Is it the right truck for all situations? No, but it's the right truck for all of MY situations.

 

Last sentence. Needs are met.

 

Can confirm my Tacoma drives like absolute shit on washboards in Death Valley (or anywhere) with the Bilsteins. It’s my main complaint off road. I seem to get up and over a lot of obstacles, but those washboards are the absolute worst.

 

I've had my Tacoma for less than a week, but here are my answers to a couple of the questions. For reference, my previous vehicle was a 2011 Nissan Xterra which I bought brand new 10 years and 135,000 miles ago.

* If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?*
I just bought it, so obviously yes.

* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma?*
Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Frontier (the new one, although I've driven the previous generation too)

* What did you like & dislike about them?*
-Ridgeline: Honestly, I think most of us would be driving Ridgelines if we could separate our *needs* from our *feelings*. It's a fantastic vehicle, but I was used to a "truck" experience and the Ridgeline felt like a crossover that happened to have a bed in the back.
-Frontier: I really liked the Frontier. I test drove it back-to-back with the Tacoma and honestly felt that a Car and Driver or Consumer Reports reviewer would give it higher marks than the Tacoma for its road manners and interior, but when I had them parked side-by-side all I could think was, "this one is an excellent midsize truck, but that one is a Toyota Tacoma." The Tacoma won with its better looks (entirely subjective) and the fact that it's the truck I've wanted for literally decades.

* What didn't you test drive, and why not?*
-Gladiator: I've been drooling over Jeeps just as long as Tacomas, but growing up a little and watching the disastrous build quality of Jeeps for the last decade has tarnished my affection. A couple hours on a Jeep forum is all it takes to talk me out of one; I couldn't spend $40,000+ on a Jeep and sleep well at night.
-Ranger: Ford Motor Company could offer me a truck for free and I would tell them to go fall on something sharp. My wife had a Focus with the DPS6 transmission; we had the clutch replaced 3 times under warranty before trading it in for a Subaru out of fear for our safety and the repair costs we would start to incur once the warranty expired. (Background on the DPS6: Ford knew Focus, Fiesta had flawed transmission, sold them anyway (freep.com))
-Colorado/Canyon: Personal preference; just not really interested in GM products.
-Full-size: I've driven enough full-size trucks to know that they're not what I want. A midsize truck fits my needs better.

Here's a picture of my new Tacoma. I couldn't be happier with it!

 

OK, I'll bite. A lot of good comments here.
Love my TRD Pro, would buy again in a second. At time, Ranger and Gladiator weren't available yet, but I did try a Wrangler and decided I didn't like the cramped feeling while driving (I'm 6'2"). I also tried out Colorado and Canyon, but overall reliability of Tacoma versus either of those sealed the deal for me.
Oh, and the icing on the cake? The sunroof. Wasn't an option on the others.
As for mid-size versus full-size, mid-size meets all of my needs and unlike a full-size, the mid-size fits in my garage, which living north of the snow line in New England is something worth considering.

 

'22 Frontier Pro-4x would be my first choice of the current crop of midsize trucks.

What I really want is a modern day version of the 1st gen 4runner. The Bronco and Wrangler are close but both are very expensive.

 

I would (will) not buy another Taco!! I'll keep the one I have til I'm dead! Like it much! nuff said.

 

I would definitely buy another. I went from a full size F150 to this so the size difference was a little bit of a shock, but I'd buy another in a heartbeat - great truck, great aftermarket support, and honestly just love the look of it vs most other trucks

 

Towing capacity is the same one MT and AT 3rd gen tacos.

 

School bus?
Haha! Really?

Most of the time I shift my gears by simply flicking my wrist. Gearbox is nice and smooth, no issues at all here.

I have no clue what some of you guys are talking about it.

 

Been buying-/driving Toyota trucks since the '68 FJ-40 I bought in 1970, and still driving today. My everyday ride is a '16 TRD OR Tacoma. Toyota is the ONLY truck I'll buy.
(Oh, I did have an F-250 for a short time; needed it for heavy hauling. Worse POS I've ever owned.)

 

If I were buying now I would say that i'd have to give more serious consideration to the new version of the Nissan Frontier. I basically wrote off the previous and not something I didn't want after seeing it at the 2019 Auto show, then realizing the design was as old or older than the 2006 Liberty I was driving. Who wants a new truck that looks as old as a vehicle you drove for a decade already? The new one though looks nice, it would make the decision tough,

I did also test drive a Ranger and GM midsize truck. GM didn't feel like the build quality was there and not a fan of the interior. Ranger, not as sharp looking as tacoma and while the eco boost engine and transmission feel good I was concerned about long term reliability and repair cost on it.

 

I'd take a hard look at the Bronco. The truck bed would likely bring me back to the Tacoma though.