100% getting a Tacoma. 100% not sure what kind.

Study the table close to the end with all of the packages and options available with each trim. It helps drive your decision.

 

How tall are the kids? No way I could sit behind my drivers seat for more than 3 minutes without complaining so much that the driver would boot me from the car. And I’m not that tall.

 

Good thinking. I’m only 5’10” so should be fine. I’m definitely okay NOT having the sunroof, though, if it comes to it.

 

Honestly, after seeing how many of these trucks are having major issues with their 3.5 engines, I wouldn’t buy one over again. I’d get a 4runner.

 

Back in the day my wife and I raised two boys in a 2001 tacoma, sometimes a little tight, but never a problem, some great memories in that truck!
If you plan to do any kind of camping, off roading, go with the DCLB OR. I say long bed because the extra (') comes in handy!! I have the 2016 DCLB sport, was the only one on the lot at the time and I love it,
the OR is what I would of wanted, but you can add it all to the sport!! Good luck!!

 

What are you basing this opinion off of? As vehicles age, failures occur. Same can be said of any make and model.

Now that doesn’t mean any individual truck won’t have issues, but the miscellaneous “my engine went bye bye at ‘low’ mileage” thread does not indicate a noteworthy issue.

 

Really?

 

Thanks man. Some more people need to realize this.

 

You’re free to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. My opinion does you no harm.

 

I started my response with: ‘What are you basing this opinion off of?’

I didn’t respond to call out your opinion. If you have thoughts beyond the miscellaneous thread, let’s hear it.

 

As i stated before, not trying to steer your decision. Your quote " we are starting a GROWING family". Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

This....

I seriously doubt that... afaic, no 3rd gen is a forever truck.

see above posts from me. Advice, is just advice. People are people and going to do what they want.

Not telling you no, just think twice

I hope your wife is like 5' 2" or less

Yes, Really
Find a nice second gen with the 4.0 engine

 

In 10 years or less the Tacoma won't be getting the job done. You'll need something bigger, especially if you have more than 1 kid. At that point you may decide to keep the Tacoma as a 3rd vehicle instead of trading it. But you will need something bigger. Kids grow, and they want to bring friends. You will need more room.

The best move I ever made was buying a full-size crew cab truck and a full-size SUV for my wife to drive. I'd have been better off doing that years earlier when my kids were small and just kept them until they were out of the house. I wasted money trying to be cheap and make something else work.

I didn't do that until my kid were 11 and 15. I had always liked Tacoma but waited until my youngest was out of the house to buy one. I have 6 grandkids now and we are back to a full-size crew cab truck and SUV. But I did keep the Tacoma.

I have a BIL who bought a 1999 F250 crew cab new when his 2nd child came. At the time you couldn't get a 1/2-ton crew cab. That was when trucks were cheaper, and diesel was 1/2 the cost of gas. He is still driving that truck.

 

It’s obvious that the OP wants a Tacoma, that’s understandable. I’m not a leather guy, to much mud, grease, oil, and other crap I drag into a vehicle from work, or work around the yard, or taking it in the mud. That said, the suggestion of replacing the seat covers opens up some other options, as stated above. I’d say go drive as many as you can for as long as you can on a test drive, there’s more inventory out there now, maybe you could score a couple of extended test drives to test out your comfort level in each one you drive…… I dunno.

 

The Tacoma is still bigger than most vehicles from previous decades that were hauling families around with no problem before the Tacoma was even a thought.

Again, it’s going to be primarily mine. We’re going to have more vehicles. I’m baffled that so many people in a Tacoma forum are trying to convince me to NOT buy a Tacoma. And as if everyone is acting like every Tacoma driver is a single person.

I’m sorry, I don’t know how to say this in a nicer tone, but I’m not interested in the comments and suggestions trying to tell me otherwise. I can appreciate the sentiment of trying to help, but it’s not going to be an issue for us.

 

Get the Tacoma of your choice. Recognize that hauling a baby or older child with associated gear will fill up the rear seat quickly. The best way to extend the usefulness of a Tacoma with a family is to get a bed cover to protect all the stuff you'll want to carry and protect.

 

Funny you bring that up. 10 years ago I was in car sales, the amount of people who think they need a 3 row SUV for 1 damn kid is ridiculous. Great idea though, have a kid that will cost you $1m to raise; compound that by adding a $55,000 suv that gets 14mpg. Brilliant financial reasoning.

 

Growing up in the 70s, my parents had the first VW Rabbit Diesel in NH, and that was the family car for all 5 of us for many years. I had many MKI Rabbits, Rabbit Trucks, Dashers, Quantums, and Audi quattros, and the size of the Tacoma is familiar.
I traded in my 1994 Chevy Silverado Suburban K2500 6.5 turbo diesel for my '17 TRD DCLB which is 5" longer though shorter and narrower.
I do miss the 'burb at times.

 

There are tons of folks that love these trucks. It seems to be the Swiss Army Knife of trucks because it does many things well but like ALL trucks, there are trade offs. It's not a perfect truck.... show me a truck that is.... Anyone? Bueller? I too find it fascinating that some folks on Tacomaworld are trying to talk you out of it.

 

To the OP… thank you for listening to all this stuff not related to your original post. Sorry.. You will love the Tacoma. Are they small? Yes, but you knew that already. As said before many have made it with multiple kids in smaller vehicles years before we were around. I would suggest getting a TRD Off road or Sport. Those are the two models that sell the easiest if things don’t work out. I think you said it before, cost is a factor. I can’t afford a new Tundra. I don’t like the GM offerings for the small truck either. If you are patient and look around you can get a new TRD Sport or Off Road for somewhere between 42-45k OTD. Where else can you get a new truck that will probably never give you ANY trouble and will give you incredible resale value. And will give you smiles for miles!!!

 

Get a manual.