Buy now or wait?

^^ This. I just bought a 2020 AC V6 MT and the price and financing were nothing special but not over the top. It's slightly used, but still in the bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Did I get a screaming deal? NO. Did I get fucked by a dealer? NO. I searched for months and was prepared to travel to get what I want. Do I have a pedigreed drivetrain, made in the USA, with pre-covid supply parts? YES. Do I regret it one bit? NOPE! Smiles per gallon!

I could have gotten a brand new 2023 for just 2 grand more, but would have trims i don't need and would have worried about parts being sub-par quality. The price is just one aspect of the vehicle. Only YOU know what is a concession and what is extra. I personally would avoid a turbo anything when thinking long term daily, but that's just me. As always...YMMV!

 

EXACTLY. Except for the last part...These trucks are hideous if you ask me, but I don't drive a truck for how it looks, I drive it for function and comfort.

 

If your getting a 4cylinder 4x4 and your asking my opinion, go look at the Ford Ranger. Test drive both trucks and report back to us.

 

You probably won't see any gen 4s for at least a year and I'm sure every one that the dealers get will be decked out with all sorts of expensive, useless options. And what is the MSRP on these '24s? It sort of looks like they are going to look like Rav4s, yuck! Buy a '23 gen 3 V-6 and don't look back (OR forward)! The interiors and drivetrains ARE dinosaurs but the exterior design will always look great!

 

I was going to buy a Tacoma for their quality and longevity, I didn't care how they looked. Over the summer I was waiting for my allocation to come in I started appreciating how they looked too. I like how I can always spot a Tacoma coming by their stance and profile and that they really don't look like any other mid size truck out there, although nissan is trying hard to copy them. By the time mine came in I was a fan and I love how they look.

My Tacoma is beautiful and I always see people checking it out!

 

Sounds like you have done you research. 2.7 has proven to be a very solid & reliable engine. I like having the V6 w/ MT, but wish I had a longer bed.

 

definitely easy to pick out of a crowd.
Every morning on my way to work down a country highway I can see this guy who drives a Tacoma from 1/2 mile away based on his headlights. Then going home I see him again, and I wave. If you’re out there Tacoma brother, see you this afternoon.

 

Someone should inform them that sending slashed tires to the landfills is also bad for the climate.

To add to the topic, my 4cyl has given me 99,000 trouble free miles and always had enough power.

 

Never buy a new vehicle the first year or two after a major revision.

 

I get like $2600 more for V6?

 

Here are some things I will share with my view on new cars.

1. Get the bugs out. That is a saying that has been around for years, but many people don't know why. It originated at the Jacksonville Fl Model T factory. They used spanish moss for seat fill. There were bugs in that moss and it would take a while to get them out. Hence the term.
2. Buy now or wait. That is an age old question. If you have the money and the need now, by all means, get it now. Waiting will only delay your next purchase.
3. New model is coming out. That is always the case. Every year a new version will come out and have something the previous didn't. That is life. If you wait on that theory, you will never get a new car.
4. They don't make em like they used to. No matter what Toyota does, every new model isn't as good as the previous. I have no idea why we are not still driving a hilux with tie down pegs on the bed with manual windows and no stereo. People always claim that their late model will be worth more because the previous generation was better. That has never been the case. I have never seen previous generations garner more cash than the current model.
5. Don't buy the first year out. That used to be true years ago, but not so much anymore. Let's be realistic here. The current generation has an automatic transmission that is junk. It has never been figured out. We can only hope the next will be better. Quality control is much better in manufacturing these days. No need to be afraid of the first year.

 

I still can't believe that there isn't some sort of software update to smooth out these trannies at least a little bit.

 

If you want power off the line, skip the Taco entirely

 

Why does it need to be new?

Shopping for a '13-'15 with your specs in a private sale could yield a nice low mileage, well maintained and reasonably priced example.

New can be a better value than dealer used right now, but there are other possibilities.

 

For the SR5, the jump from the I4 to a V6 is around $2,600 for 2WD. For 4WD, it's around $4,000. At least, that's based on the online builder tool in a few zip codes that I've tried. I'd rather have the I4 in 4WD than the V6 in 2WD.

I wish the I4 was available in manual, even a 5 speed, and that's what I'd go with. The only thing that gives me a little bit of pause in the configuration I'm looking at is the AT feedback from owners.

I suppose it doesn't need to be new, that's just what I prefer. I'm planning on keep this truck for a while, and don't want the risk that I'm buying someone's lemon or that I'm the first one to do maintenance on a 7-10 year old truck. I've had my existing vehicle almost 20 years and do nearly all of the maintenance myself.

 

The main reason I got my 3rd gen was because of the 6MT and sources predicting it would go away in the 4th gen. If I was certain the upcoming truck would be available with 3 pedals I could've waited a couple more years for them to iron out any issues.

 

After more reading, I've come to the conclusion that the 2.4L turbo likely won't have better gas mileage than the 2.7L. More likely than not it'll have worse gas mileage than the 2.7L. It seems the sole reason for these smaller displacement, turboed engines is to increase the output/emissions ratio (i.e. more or the same power/torque with lower emissions). And the sole reason for that is ever increasing regulation that forces these companies to figure out ways to make that happen for the US market.

There's some debate regarding reliability, and I agree with that to an extent, for example the low boost turbo diesels in Europe. However I don't see how forced induction gas engine can be as reliable as NA over the long-haul in a truck built for the US market.

 

If you are ok with 0-60 in 7 minutes the 4 cyl will be great. Reliable, proven engine that will last you many great years.

finding a good deal now is tough. Finding a good deal on a brand new model will be very tough.

 

If I were a smart person and I had the ability to wait until the 4th Gens hit the lot, I'd wait until the day that the first 4th Gens hit the lot.

... And then I'd go in and make a deal on an unsold 3rd gen.

 

Is yours that slow, thats pretty bad. I had a previous gen with the 4 cyl and it was plenty peppy and quick. Just not a powerhouse for towing.