If Buying Today, Would You Still Choose the Tacoma?

OK, Your Taco just got totaled by a semi. What are you going to replace it with?

 

* If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?
Yes, I bought the taco a year ago and am more than happy with the performance, on and off road. I probably would've been happier if I had spent less money and waited patiently for the exact truck I wanted (MT with the lowest trim and tech possible), but I am happy with the comforts and features I ended up with. I hope I can drive this truck for the next decade and more!

The LED headlights are amazing and now I want to put LED headlights in my other vehicle - the difference is like driving with a candle versus a flashlight. Happy with the stock OR tires on the highway in the rain (important to me in an area where it rains >60 inches a year). MT is a little different than others I've driven but it is honestly a blast when you learn it. Happy that I am able to get 21mpg on highway trips loaded up with gear and a topper. The truck has been amazing in the off-roading I've done (only high center on the diff once - so far!). The truck is incredibly capable in stock form on washboard and gravel roads. I start dreaming when I watch videos or see pics of you all rock crawling! Now my truck needs a little suspension help because I have constant weight..good thing I have all yous to help me

* If not, why? What would you buy instead? Why?
An older MT, possibly one with a single cab and bench seat

* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma?
Base head unit in the 2020 OR doesn't have wireless Carplay (plugged only)
Cabin noise
Small cargo space in 5' bed
Stock leaf springs

* Were these issues significant enough to cause you to doubt the reliability of the truck?
No

* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma?
Ridgeline, Ford, Chevy, 4x4 vans

* What did you like & dislike about them?
I like some of the 4x4 vans for ability to carry work equipment, but price and size are correspondingly large. Honda does a great job with cabin comfort but not exactly something I can take where I like to drive (clearance). I did look at the baby Duramax Colorado but no MT option. A friend has a '17 and it has generally been a great truck for him aside from a few covered recalls and the DEF system. I have driven AT Tacos with large tires and lifts and I knew that was not in my future

 

That's an awesome history! I, too, consider myself a member of the "Keep It Forever Club," but I'll have to take it up a notch to get on your level

 

When family and friends ask how I like my new Tacoma, this is the first thing I start talking about. It's like broad daylight, right up to the bottom of other cars' windows! It's absolutely incredible how far headlight technology has come in the last decade.

 

For me to consider the Ridgeline I'd have to totally fall in love with everything else about it.

The "else" is that I don't need 4-5 passenger capacity even once a year, if so we take my wife's Rav4.

By comparison, I had a Nissan Frontier double cab as a rental this summer. Nice ride but same thing, wouldn't buy in that config because it's more than I have any need for.

 

Probably not. I’m happy with it but I sure do miss the interior room of a full sized F150 more than I thought I would (and the ecoboost)

the Tacoma gets the same mileage and because I have the long bed, the turning radius is the same if not worse.

I like the bed dimensions actually more than the F150 though and I haul dirtbikes, an ATV or lots of furniture often.

I do have the performance OV Tune so that’s really smoothed it out and helped with power.

Been on some fun hunting adventures with it so far though. Looking forward to more.

 

I put 20k miles on a 21 Frontier over the past 5 months for work, and while mechanically it hasn't broken down or needed anything more than maintenance, I have not really enjoyed driving it.

The transmission has issues with finding the right gear at low speeds, especially going from a rolling start to literally any type of acceleration. It simply does not want to move, until the pedal is nearly to the floor. And then it will find a gear, what feels like any gear, and leave it there until the pedal comes off the floor or the needle redlines. Sometimes it will bark tires and haul ass. Sometimes it will try to accelerate from 1-2mph in what feels like third or fourth gear, painfully slowly (with the gas to the floor). It will occasionally jolt into another gear while cornering and trigger the traction control. A very unsettling feeling, and not confidence inspiring.

It gets dogshit mileage (V6). I've been getting 14-15mpg, across both long distance driving and stop and go.

It rattles. At 1,000 miles it developed a rattle that sounded like there were 5-10 bolts rolling around the bed. At 10k miles it sounded like I was dragging beer cans on a string (I was not). At 20k miles it's gotten a little better, but still noisy.

It squeaks. It's got that rear leaf spring squeak. Has had it since the day I drove it home from the depot, with 51 miles on the odometer.

The seats suck, and are uncomfortable for long distance driving.

By comparison, I drove my 21 Sport ACLB MT to Yellowstone and back (1300 miles each way) and it got 22 mpg while I was driving cross country at normal interstate speeds (75), and 19 mpg the rest of the time (including while I was lead footing down I-80 in Wyoming at 95mph). It handled the mountains and the snowstorm that hit right after we got there, like a champ even with stock tires.

 

I went from a 2nd gen to a 1st gen Tacoma. My 2nd gen 2005 trd sport had the infamous head gasket issue but honestly loved that thing more than my 1st and 3rd gen. I was fortunate that it got totaled or I would have got another engine for it.

After getting the 1st gen 04 dc 4x4, it felt like I regressed back in time. It’s super reliable but just didn’t have the power like my 2ndgen. And I basically lost all the improvements that the 2nd gen had. I finally sold it thinking I might get into another 2nd gen, but the prices were so inflated I ending up upgrading to an 2019 pro. I’m so happy I did. And honestly I love the tech and new features, but it somewhat feels like it has the same power and gets the same mpg as my 1st gen.

I still think getting a 2wd sport is probably the best option if you care about mpg. But I wouldn’t go back to anything older. Ive had every generation of Tacoma, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Maybe I’m getting old but I don’t get excited for sports cars and super bikes like I used to. If my truck got totaled today i would probably look for a 2021 lunar rock pro or a 2021 voodoo blue long bed dc off-road.

 

A man of culture

 

I got into the Frontier with 30K miles. I did see what people mean about it looking cheap inside..while it was a rental I didn't expect it fully loaded, but very plasticky. Reminded me of my 2006 Chevy Colorado, not in a good way. I put about 2K on it in 2 months of almost all back road driving, though I did take a road trip 2 hours each way and don't recall it being eventful.

I knew the mileage would suck compared to mine but yeah about 15-16 is what I remember.

Rattles as well here. I figure on one hand it is a rental and people generally don't care about them. That said, I'm not sure that particular thing would be affected per se. Didn't mind the seating position but again only did that one trip so IDK.

I mean, I'm not saying it would be the next thing I'd buy. I'd consider it perhaps but only if I really couldn't find or afford the Tacoma I want.

 

I am currently driving a fully loaded 2021 4WD GMC Yukon rental while out of town. It is a nice vehicle but my 21 Tacoma is tighter in every way. The GM vehicle just feels loose compared to my Tacoma. No way you could get me to switch to anything else.

 

100% for sure. This is my forth one. My trucks aren’t for show, trophy trucks or mall crawlers. All my previous ones played hard and worked hard. They are maintained well, but certainly not babied. They were all extremely high mileage vehicles when I got rid of them and extremely dependable. The fact that doesn’t have a walnut trimmed Dash interior or seat massagers or shiny bling dripping off it - I don’t care.
So yeah, I would dip into the pool again.

 

Bottom line, What are the options for a pickup with a standard shift?

Yes, I would.

 

Unfortunately its down to the Gladiator and Tacoma, hopefully the Tacoma doesn't lose it when the 4th Gen comes out.

 

What a thread. Complaints and more. Go to other brand pickup threads, see more complaints. Before laying down your hard earned cash, research and more research.
We have had many Tacomas and 4Runners thru the years.

Went to Toyotas in 2008, since then, 4Runners and Tacomas. This '04, just turned 191K on the odo, runs like new, all maintenance up to date. The '21, caught an allotment at a dealer when ordering a '22. 11 weeks later, delivered to dealer. Traded my '18 4X4 4R, dealer gave us $36584 for it, paid $36444 for it, April 2018.

B 1

 

Taco! Maybe SR5 "Trail Edition" package. lol

 

* If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?
I probably would, its the perfect sized truck, and I put a lot of stock into the Toyota Name and its reputation for reliability.
* If not, why? What would you buy instead? Why?
Thought about buying a Ranger
* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma?
Auto trans SUCKS! I know its been said 89798798 million times. But compared to my wife's 8 speed auto in her 2020 RAV4 it is just a better trans overall. Shifts better, knows which gear it should be in, is not clumsy. Also the fuel economy is abysmal. And when my Dad's GMC Denaili with a 6.2 liter V8 is getting 20mpg around town and my truck (taco ac, with sx) which is probably half its weight and size is just annoying.
* Were these issues significant enough to cause you to doubt the reliability of the truck?
No, I did try to load Brick pavers into the truck and went 40 feet and the trucks trans did over heat, but that's on me.
* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma?
Ranger, and Colorado.
* What did you like & dislike about them?
I didn't like the rangers interior at all. And although its drive train was Turbo and felt faster, I knew in the long run it would have issues because of ford. Seriously look at that 2.3 turbo engine some time its an ugly mess of wires and future issues. The fact that the tacoma is just a plain jane N/a V6 just means things will hopefully last. Also the Colorado just feels extremely outdated at this point and super clunky while driving it.

 

I was an early reservation bronco order. Ford could not build whatvthey advertised. Changed the res rules. Dealership was a dick. The quality was terrible. Engines grenadine, poor hardtops.,endless constraints.After 350 days of fords bs, I ordered my tacoma and 6 weeks afterwards I was lucky to get it. I woulconstraints. Buy another. Theres a reason you see soo many on the roads

 

Have you seen the Everglades edition? I think it's the Badlands edition plus a winch, and snorkel maybe unique paint and graphics.

Looks like Florida Man will have an official vehicle.