Who actually likes their 3rd gen?

I have been hooked on midsize/small trucks since 1988 when I bought my first S10. I had 4 S10's in a row and still have my 2000 ZR2 and drive it daily. I like that they can go places big trucks cannot and because of their weight I can go skapping over and through stuff big trucks would sink up to their frames in. The biggest job my trucks have is pulling ORV trailers and my aluminum boat which weighs around 2200 pounds. Because of their size and agility they are just fun to drive too.

When it was time to get a new truck I was between getting a ranger or a Tacoma. Looking at rangers and having zero choice in engine or transmission I started researching Tacoma's. Toyota have always been expensive, but now the planned obsolescence alternatives are expensive too so there is no reason not to buy one. I wasn't thrilled with the looks of the Tacoma but I didn't care about that, they have the best reputation for quality and longevity and I could get one with a manual and a basic V6! Sold!

With all the help I found on this forum I learned how to get the Tacoma I wanted, and after a 5 month wait for an allocation I got the exact Tacoma I was after. Tacoma spotting all summer while I was waiting for mine got me to appreciate their unique look and especially their aggressive stance. I can always spot a Tacoma now and I love how they look. I also noticed renault/nissan is trying hard to copy them.

So yeah, I really like this truck! I will be keeping it forever.

 

I have need for a truck bed pretty often and want to get back into camping/off roading. I figure I’ve earned. My oldest is graduating college and giving her my 21 Sentra as a graduation gift. Paid off and with a factory warranty to start out on her own.

 

Love my 2017 AC, 2.7 MT SR LB Tacoma. I came from a 1993 Toyota DLX Pickup truck that I still have (300K+ miles), and love the Tacoma. It does exactly what I need it to- no transmission issues due to MT, 4x4 gets me where I need to go, and rarely tow small loads. Was the perfect truck for me and at 24K was a good price point. I will keep this until the wheels fall off, currently at 45K miles and no issues, easy to mod and upgrade. I also like the look and ride, so good looks and best bang for the buck with reliability and costs. Just bought a Gen 2, 2014 AC, 4.0 6 MT for a project truck and will compare the two.

My needs are different, but for me was/is the perfect truck

 

Good stuff, we still have an 2004 Sentra. It's a beater but still going strong and cheap to own. Hoping our 16 year old daughter can learn to drive on it. If you have a need for a truck, then don't let this forum get you paranoid. So, stay off the internet if you really want to enjoy that new truck! Lol.....

 

Truck stuff, those old S10's have solved a lot of problems and provided a lot of fun over the years and the Tacoma will have a great service life too.

 

My first truck was a 1997 Chevy S10 Regular Cab with Step-side bed. I loved that truck. It was a turd with a 2.2L 4cyl 5 speed manual. It looked like this not my exact truck but was just like the picture. I would beat the hell out of it. What amazed my was the lack of grip that truck had in wet weather especially since it was so underpowered. I kept it until 2004 and my wife said I had to get a car that could fit the kids. That’s when I started with economic shitboxes. This will be my first truck since then. It can’t be any worse than that truck. The only problems I had with that truck was the theft of tailgate and damage to door for a theif to steal my aftermarket radio without the face plate. I had the faceplate with me but they broke door handle, dented door and ripped up dash to get a radio they couldn’t use.

 

Had a first gen Offroad, a second gen Sport w/ long bed, and now a third gen TRD Pro.

The only one I DIDN'T love was the 2nd gen, mostly because I do not like the bigger wheels on sport models and the long bed was wasted on me.

If I could have a factory new 1st gen I'd take it over the 3rd gen in a heartbeat...modern Tacos are larger than I'd like them to be.

 

I agree, I decided on a new truck and was presently driving a 09, 2x4, 4 banger. I went to the dealer for a test drive, nothing on the lot, picked out what I wanted and put down deposit . I am an old fart, 5 ft 9 and within 2 months of ownership drove almost 11hours straight. I never felt uncomfortable in the driver's seat. The transmission does change its shifting patterns after a few thousand clicks, it's not perfect but I can live with it. It will stay basically stock, I have upgraded the front skid plate, added Millercat but mainly cosmetic upgrades. and like everything in like some people will hate this truck

 

What, no heated seats? My 22 OR has them without the premium package

 

My 1st toyota was a 89 ? 2.4 ltr diesel, drove it every day as a commuter and weekend camping etc. Got rear ended in it and Damm insurance Co wrote it off. It had less than 175, 000 KM on it. Over the years had several small trucks as I need them for my company business, so when I retired I bought a new truck. 3wife still has a 07 Yaris, it's cost us virtually nothing in repairs all these years

 

Love my 22. While it rides rougher than my F150 did it's not terrible. I was worried about going smaller since my F150 was packed to the nuts when I went ice fishing. With the 6 ft box I actually get everything to fit even though it is narrower and a bit shallower. The only thing I miss from the F150 is the flat floor in the back and the interior storage space. But I also had a lot of crap in the F150 that I never used but had it there because I had the room. I just have to pack smarter. It does everything I need it to do. Now, if I was hauling my boat every weekend, I probably would have gone bigger. But my boat gets towed the the lake in May, and back home in September.

I've read a lot of threads about the Tacoma compared to the Ranger, Colorado, Frontier, etc. While it may lack in a few areas, to me, it's the best looking midsize truck out there. I get a smile on my face walking up to my truck and getting into it. I may be in the minority(maybe not), but specs don't mean crap if you don't like what you drive. When I was younger my brother told me, "If you are paying for it, you better enjoy driving it"

 

My 22 doesn’t have heated seats and I don’t have the premium package either.

 

I like mine, it ain’t perfect, but what is.

 

Those Chevy S10s were very popular back in the day.

Utilized to the best of their ability.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane for those who mentioned their experiences.

 

Update on my earlier post….I still love mine. It does everything I want it to and takes me everywhere I could possibly want to drive.

It’s not flashy, it doesn’t have an iPad in the center console, and I’m extremely confident that I could hop in it right now and drive across the country and back with zero issues.

Pic from last week for fun.

 

For those in the 4th category have you seen/been in the new frontier

 

I’m between a 2 and 3, but voted 2 due to it leaving me stranded on two separate occurrences of no start and a host of unscheduled replacements and service visits. My example, unfortunately, has not lived up to the expected Toyota QDR with only 34,000 miles. First truck and first Toyota product. If my 2019 got totaled today, I’d only miss the color, and I wouldn’t even look back.

 

Have been driving manuals since I learned to drive, always thought autos were awful. This is my first personal vehicle that is an auto. Seems mostly fine to me, but it is still an auto. Have driven some medium duty trucks with a CAT diesel and auto, when loaded pulling grades it couldn’t decide what gear to be in either. Don’t think it is a lone Tacoma issue, it is the nature of autos. If people hate it that bad buy a manual or an EV.

 

I came from a 1999 Ranger with 300k + miles. I did not want a turbo engine. Tacoma looks good and a solid design. I brought my 21 Sport back when there were none on the lot, no pick and choose. Good lord opened the door and I found this truck. MY dad would be so disappointed in me for paying sticker price. Guessing this will be the last truck I buy.

 

To my way of thinking, no automatic transmission is a good transmission; I bought a manual.