After owning my 2nd gen for 18 years, it’s sad to see it finally go

I bought my 2006 Tacoma brand new and had it for 18 years. It has been a dependable truck but things are starting to go wrong which need repair/replacing. I was holding out for the 4th gen Tacoma but was disappointed the cabin size and rear leg room are even smaller than the 2nd gen.

I’ve replaced it with a new 2023 F-150 4x4 Powerboost hybrid. I love the enormous amount of power, awesome gas mileage, and creature comforts. I know it’s a Ford so let’s see how long it will last.

I’m not totally out of the Toyota family. I still have a 2018 4Runner.

 

How many miles you get out of the '06?

 

Approaching 200k miles.

 

I hear you on the rear leg room. At my local auto show two weeks ago, I noticed the rear leg room was reduced. It felt like they added 2” of leg room to the front seats and robbed it from the rear seats. I swear even the rear doors are shorter than my 2nd gen.

Good luck with your new Ford!

 

Dang 200k is still young, what repairs are needed? My buddy has an 05 (original owner) 1gr he just hit 300k with very minimal maintenance

 

I noticed the rear doors are slightly smaller on the 4th gens.

 

My 07 is at 245,000 miles and so far nothing major has been replaced. I have no doubts it's going to at least 300,000 miles before anything major. But I fully understand the need for a bigger truck. Love my Tacoma, but a few years ago we reached the point where I needed a bigger truck. In 2016 I had the option of trading my Tacoma for a new F150 crew cab 4X4 or keeping the Tacoma and buying a 2-3 year old used F150. It would have been about the same money out of pocket either way.

I chose to keep the Tacoma and found a used 2014 Ford with only 17,000 miles on it. I now have 143,000 on the Ford and it has been just as reliable as my Tacoma. It gets 1 mpg worse fuel mileage. I'm less confident that it will go 300,000+ than I am with my Tacoma.

I was thinking about trading the Ford for a new 4th gen Tacoma. I'm at the point where I can get by with a smaller truck now. But I'm waiting to see how they work out. So far it doesn't look good. Going keep what I have for at least another year and see what happens. I'm starting to think that spending $20K to have my 2007 Tacoma rebuilt and repainted is a good idea.

 

I 100% agree with the end of your statement. I bought my 2015 limited with 176k. I now have 211k. Runs like a scalded dog. I need to get my coolant flushed here soon. Also, my timing cover has a good leak to it. My engine is caked in oil on the bottom. However, it very seldom drips on the ground. I didn't even have to add oil to it on my last oil change. I just changed it today. So, I will keep riding it out till it leaks so bad to where i'm having to add oil constantly. Other than that, its been a solid truck. I will not complain. My frame is pristine. So, I will keep dropping engines and transmissions in it till the frame will not let me. Things are to expensive now. Tacomas are worth it to do this to, they are such solid trucks. OP, i'm happy to hear your happy with your ford. I hope you don't have serious issues with it.

 

if I didn’t have kids then the rear leg room wouldn’t be such a big deal. Now they are bigger the 2nd gen I had was becoming a little cramped so the 4th gen would definitely not work for us.

 

Can I ask why you picked the old guy from the Simpsons for a user name? lol

edit: I have no idea why I ever remember that.

 

You should'a paid yo respects to the Tacoma Gods by renewing your allegiance with either the new or used purchase of another Tacoma. Tacoma Gods looked over you carefully for 18 years always getting you down the highway safely and in second gen-style. Made you look cool and hip while doing it. Kept the jingle in YOUR pocket instead of all them mechanics with their $50,000 tool kits. Now 18 years later, when loyalty is hoped for, you casually turn your back on 'em and walk away cause you need a little bit mo' rear leg room as you said. I'm not quite sure the Tacoma Gods appreciated that and had hoped from more outta you. But they are always willing to forgive. Get 'ridda the bubba truck, grab a Tacoma and they'll take you back and write it off as temporary societal decay.

 

1. A/C condenser and evaporator. Possibly compressor too.
2. Water pump leaking
3. Timing cover leaking
4. Rear wheel bearing
5. Front diff bearing, was planni g to replace with ECGS bushing
6. Master cylinder staring to go bad

 

I like how he looks like a peanut

 

Haha if I remember right he was always getting hurt or hit by something.

 

head gasket just went on my 05... all the local (canadian mind you...) shops are quoting 6-7k+ yay...

 

time to upgrade?

 

haha eventually, it was my dad's truck so i'll be keeping it forever just such shitty timing. Pretty sure it's been leaking for a couple years now as i've been very slowly watching the coolant reservoir go down. It's losing coolant at a noticeable rate now tho