From luxury full size pickup to manual 2021 Tacoma!

I got this wild hair up my butt that I wanted a truck that was easier to mod to overland in and ended up trading a 2021 GMC Denali diesel for my 2021 Tacoma TRD Offroad, which is a manual transmission.

After 4 months of driving it and putting 12k into it (I paid 44k for it, so 56k in), I am seriously regretting this decision. I love looking at this Tacoma in my driveway, but I just don't like driving it. I'm sure it's a combination of the automatic to manual, space, and missing luxury features. And while I knew this going into it, the MPG is a depressing thing to look at (15mpg) as well, so I don't ever keep that on my dash.

Did anyone else find themselves in this situation after moving from a full-size pickup? If so, what did you do other than SUCK IT UP to get past it?

Help me love my Tacoma! Who better to ask this than a community full of Tacoma loving folks?!

 

I’ve regretted not going full size for years just because of MPGs, comfort, and capability. The thing that has kept me happy is my taco has never let me down mechanically or off road. Plus it’s paid off now and prices of new full size trucks make me sick. That being said, I’m nowhere near $56k into mine

 

Yea, no kidding, especially the used market. I really just want to suck it up... this post is a last ditch effort to help my ass grow up and just stick with it for at least a few years. Maybe it will grow on me... maybe if I at least put some leather seat covers on, I'll like getting inside of it, but at this point, I'm afraid to spend any more $ on it.

 

My full size "luxury" pick-up was a 2011 Nissan Titan. By current standards it's not luxurious but it was the fully optioned out SL. Either way, that old truck still had more luxury features than my PRO. It was roomier, quieter, more comfortable, etc.

I miss the V8, size and roominess but still have a blast with the Tacoma because I knew I was downsizing with the kids being out of car seats we can live with a smaller cab. There's a few quirks but for me they're worth it for what I was looking for. No regrets so far.

 

I live someplace full size trucks don’t work. And I don’t care that much about luxury features.

 

The simplicity and size is what keeps me in a Tacoma. I have a company 2022 F150 Lariat and while I love that truck, I don’t ever see myself paying the $60k premium price for it.

 

I have a V8 Toyota Sequoia as well so when I miss the large cabin feel and such I drive that for a day or two.
I prefer daily driving and off roading in my Tacoma.
Sequoia for family road trips and such is the best.

Hmmm maybe you should get a nice used Suburban or Yukon to compliment your Tacoma.

 

I wanted a Ram 1500 limited. I would have had to pony up at least another 15K. So I bought the Tacoma limited. Is it luxurious? No. Is it efficient? No. Do I like a 400 dollar payment (vs 7-800+)? YES!!!! Do I like the resale the Toyota has? Absolutely.
There is a “miniature ruggedness” of a Toyota that just keeps me coming back. This is my fourth Toyota truck. Aside from rust problems they have served me well.

 

I have definitely thought of this, but the price of used vehicles is just a bit crazy right now.... seeing stuff with over 200k miles on it going for over 30k is insanity.

 

How come are you only getting 15MPGs? I’ve got very similar set up to yours and I can easily achieve stock MPGs if I drive conservative. I love this little truck.

A premium gas tune definitely woke up this 3.5L. I’m on 94E0.

 

Well, I do live in Colorado, west of I25, in the mountains. I live at 8600 feet. I drove it from Colorado Springs to Denver and back and averaged 17 MPG (I puposely kept it 65 and under and drove very conservatively), so highway mileage is not horrible, but I wish it could be just a little better. This isn't that big a deal, its just little hit coming from a big truck (albeit a diesel) that got 27mpg on the highway.

I have yet to take mine offroad, so maybe I should get to that and who knows, maybe my attitude will change.

Nice looking truck!!

 

If you don’t have a smile on your face when you exit (any) vehicle, get rid of it.

 

i do have a smile on my face when i exit, cause i do like looking at it, and well cause Im no longer driving it. But this is a good point, even my wife said i cant keep if I dont like driving it.

 

Was the diesel kitted out for off-roading or was it stock? Because lift kit = worse fuel economy. Big tires = worse fuel economy. Rugged off road tires = worse fuel economy. Heavy bed accessories with weight and increased drag = worse fuel economy. Naturally aspirated engine at high altitude = worse fuel economy than at sea level or with forced induction engine. My stock taco easily hits low 20s but if I did the mods you have it’d probably be 15 like you. Gotta pick - extreme capability or fuel economy. Can’t have both.

 

I wish I could get E0 around here. The only way to get it is Cam2 leaded racing fuel.

 

You married a good lady. I’d like to try a Corolla with a trailer hitch and a roof rack. No ragrets

 

No and I heavily researched my options. But in hindsight, if I said screw all the Denali comfort ride features and put 12k into that truck id still have a damn good truck with most of the comfort . I was aware if I did all of rhat my MPG would tank. The MPG is annoying but not the source of my unhappiness.

 

Most people move from mid size trucks to full size trucks rather than the other way around. A mid size will always be less capable than a full size and so if you've downgraded you're going to notice the loss of features.

I ended up in a Tacoma rather than something like an F150 for a variety of reasons. The Toyota reputation for reliability was appealing since I was leaving behind a diesel Mercedes that had become excessively expensive to maintain. Additionally, the used car market was and is bonkers meaning I was looking to buy new without a market adjustment from the dealer. That narrowed my options down to Toyota or Toyota.

So I bought my Tacoma and, given the price, was able to pay cash - something I wouldn't have been able to do with a full size truck. Do I sometimes wish it could tow more or that there was more interior space? Sure. But I don't have a car payment and I likely won't have to repair this vehicle very often, so all-in-all I'm happy.

You need to decide what's important to you and what you're willing to pay for it. But here's a thought. In just a couple of years, you've gone through two pretty new vehicles. I don't know your financial situation, but unless there's some compelling reason to change it seems expensive to change to another truck so soon.

 

You are wasting your time. Sell it complete or part out the accessories separately then sell it and move on. You'll be much happier.

 

Thanks!

Yeah when I drive mountain passes I do feel that the engine works harder. I don’t mind winding it out though.

Off road is where this truck really shines, impressed me multiple times. Your truck is already equipped with some off road goodies, it’s begging to go haha.

The cab is a bit cramped in the back yes, but it works for us.