Buy now or wait?

Hey all,

New member here. Thanks for letting me join.

I'm going to need to buy a new vehicle in the short-term and for the past month or so I've been researching. After a lot of thought I settled on a 2023 Tacoma, SR5, AC, 4cyl, 4x4 as the best choice for me based on my needs, lifestyle, and what I plan to do with it. The fact that the 2.7L powertrain provides slightly better gas mileage and is proven and should give no problems for at least 200k miles with just oil changes was icing on the cake, as I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time.

Interest rates on financing and insane dealer market adjustments are keeping me from buying right away, I decided I'd rather wait until things calm down.

Now, I'm reading that Gen 4 coming online later this year will likely feature a brand new powertrain. Likely a 2.4L turbo as the base engine. On one hand, the power and torque gains look impressive and I'm intrigued. On the other hand, I'm apprehensive about buying an unproven powertrain, especially a first production year, and I don't like the look of what I've seen in renderings. The Gen 4 looks boxy to me and I prefer the look of the Gen 3.

Questions...

Would the fuel mileage for the 2.4L T be noticeably better than the 2.7L NA? Or about the same? I realize this might just be a guess right now.

Are my concerns valid regarding an unproven powertrain (especially the turboed engine)? Part of the appeal of the 2.7L to me was that it has decades of data to back up the reliability claim.

If you were me, would you try to wait until production year 2 or 3 to buy a Gen 4? Or would you buy a 2023 2.7L this year and see how things shake out in the long-term?

I guess on one hand I'm afraid of waiting to buy a Gen 4 and getting a problem vehicle, and on the other buying a Gen 3 that will be like a dinosaur in 2-3 years.

 

Every new model they come out is usually the problem child till they work the bugs out.

Id get the 2.7 and not look back.

But Id also buy used. Screw those dealers. The trucks known traditionally for its reliability, why fear used, unless you live on Warranty work. Some people just lease their whole lives to float that warranty for forever.

 

Fyi the new 2.4 turbo has been in the Lexus for years. So, it been proven. It's your choice what to do.

 

Personally I would get the V6. I think if you look at how many are out there you will find it reliable and with 4x4 you will like the added power and resale is better. Unless you have a long commute in which case a truck is not the best vehicle for you.

 

So has the 3.5 TTV6 for the new Tundra but has been having issues.

Idk though. Just have to wait and see

 

It looks like the T24A-FTS was introduced in 2021. "Years" yes but not the track record I'm comfortable with. Were you referring to a different 2.4L T? If yes could you post the engine?

 

I have the 2021 Tacoma, SR5, AC, V6, 4x4 and would not go with the 2.7.
I love it.

The resell will be better even 10+ years down the line.

Interest rates are not a reason not to snag a deal if you find one. You're talking $20 a month difference, and it's a short period of time.
Put a big chunk down and pay it off in 2-3 years.

You can find dealers that will sell at MSRP you just gotta look and be prepared to fly out to make the deal.

I also concur that I would NOT get involved in the 4th Gen for several years down the line, and if they truly go Turbo then I'd write them off for
a decade or more until proven. A Lexus may have a Turbo but a Lexus doesn't haul dirt, or lumber, or go off-road.

 

$10k down

pay $1k a month for 3 years.

Thats cray cray.

 

It's the way of the out-of-control-new-car-prices ( and some used prices as well ).

I swore as a youngster that I would NEVER pay more than $250 a month for a car payment.

My first car-payment was $189 a month for a 1985 Middle Class Mercedes ( Honda Accord, new ).
My second car-payment was $168 a month for a 1992 Toyota Pickup Truck... new, 6 miles on it. Shoulda kept that one.

30 years later I'm eating my words at $349 a month but that just motivates me to pay it off next year.

 

If you are sure you can live with the 2.7 auto performance, I'd go that way. Especially if you plan on keeping it for a long time. IMO, it seems like these smaller displacement forced induction engines are made to produce better EPA ratings on their unrealistic test loop. I don't doubt they actually make more power as well, but they are not making that power while maintaining their advertised MPG, at the cost of more complexity and heat. Seems to be the way of the future, though, I just prefer NA.

 

Everyone is producing trucks with turbocharged lawnmower engines nowadays to eek out another 5mpg

 

All the turbo vehicles I had were turds. Fast enough, but the turbo lag was stupid. I want power off the line, forget reving to 6-8k to get the pull.

I think they have better versions than I had, but it left a lasting hate for turbos.

 

I just think about how these engines will hold up 20 years from now. My badly abused high mileage 02 CRV just keeps going. I can't see this new generation of high hp, high tech, high mpg small engines surviving a life like that, or anyone willing to pay to keep them running that long. Of course, I don't think many modern cars are built to survive that long anyway, since people seem to replace their cars so often. IMO the R&D is going into bigger screens and 2 more mpg instead of making a core support that won't tear itself apart in a few years.

 

Clearly, you’ve done your homework. Get the 2.7

 

Take some long test drives in both the 4cyl and V6.

 

I'd love a small V8 in the Tacoma. Geared properly it might even get better mpg than the current 3.5 V6. Just leave the badging off and don't tell anybody. Here in NY the climate wackos go around slashing tires on trucks with a V8 or even a big pickup with a V6 for that matter.

 

If you are planning to pay markup on a 2.7 … I’d wait.

 

I don't like first year new gens, but I don't like current pricing and interest rates either. It's just not a good time, but if you need a vehicle, there is nothing you can do about it. I would defiantly test drive the 4 vs 6 cylinders, the MPG are hardly different when comparing like trim levels.

 

Thanks for everyone's response. I'm just going to be using this truck for fishing trips and as a daily driver initially. I don't ever see myself towing more than 3,500lbs, probably not even close. I know life changes, but based on known and the here and now, I can't justify an additional $4,000 for the V6 (I'll be buying new). I'm not expecting this truck to win races or ride four adults comfortably. It'll work for what I need it for.

These are my thoughts too. A proven powertrain in one vehicle does not equal proven in a completely different platform.

 

I bought now (last fall) mainly for 4 reasons:

1) Late in a model generation run all the bugs have been worked out of the vehicle.

2) Manual transmission is probably not going to be available for much longer

3) Naturally aspirated V6. I wanted a fairly basic, proven engine that will last a long long time.

4) I really like the way 3rd gen Tacoma's look!




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