If you were given $38k to do whatever you wanted, would you still buy a tacoma?

2023 Tacoma was totaled with 7k on the odometer.....I dont goto the most remote places to hunt or fish so I was initially going to put $5k of my own cash in and buy a new 2024 tacoma SR v6 4x4 instead of a jeep or anything purpose built to go offroad, until i read that they detuned the engine in the SR 2024 so it has LESS torque and HP than my gen 3 v6 2023 and I am paying even more. Having 4x4 wasnt mandatory I have $40.500 total to spend, thats tax included(so around $38.500 total without tax in my state). If you could buy one suv/truck for reliability, value, can do a little offroading and very simple/little tech would it still be a tacoma if the base model is worse than the last generation v6? Thanks in advance

 

2016-2017 Tundra, more truck for less Tacoma tax.



Got this long box for 20k.

 

If you don't need a 6 foot bed, it's hard to beat the prices on a Nissan Frontier ProX.

 

No and........

......Hmmmmmm????

....No

 

If you want 2drs I'd go Frontier KingCab, if you want 4drs Colorado base, or the TrailBoss. The Frontier has less tech so that gets the nod here. I'm not in the market for a truck but there was a nice SV that sold. That dealer network must have sold a dozen Frontiers in the past week.

 

Those things are selling like NA Tacomas.

 

A well taken care of 1st Gen Tacoma or FJ80.

 

counterpoint.

find a really nice 2nd gen for $20-30k. dump the rest into a used commuter car for daily usage to keep the truck for truck things, and to keep it nicer.

 

If I ever did it again I'd probably keep my 2nd Gen Tacoma.. but it would be super hard to not be tempted at a 2014 FJ cruiser or a 2024 4runner since it's the last yr of this model

 

Need a truck bed? Frontier

Or, if you need a real truck, second gen Tundra.

Otherwise, hard to go wrong with a 4Runner.

Or the obvious option: used 3rd gen Tacoma, to replace the one you lost...

 

I'd get a loaded sedan. The new ones get 40mpg and ride like air and cut through the wind.

 

Or one of many capable crossovers on the market.

 

I might be tempted to buy a small fleet of kei trucks lol

https://www.duncanimports.com/certi...ki-Carry-557fd0820a0e09b055c85f12211e255c.htm

 

Find another used 3G in good shape perhaps. Not sure I'd want to be the beta tester on year 1 of the 4G, though I'd definitely go test drive one just to see what I think.

Not as up on them overall but I had a Frontier rental for 2 months in 2021. Didn't need the DCSB model I had and wouldn't buy that config in anything but the vehicle in general was decent enough that I'd give the model a chance.

Avoid GM anything, they will refuse to honor the warranty and cheat you any way they can even if it comes down to "I'm not going to do it because I lose money on warranty jobs".

 

I'd watch the local laws first. Seems it's coming into fashion to revoke registrations for them even years after getting plates...

 

yeah dude I saw a few states have been doing that, seemingly without warning. I think it happened (or almost did) in Michigan?

 

This article has a lot of it. Basically, the non-profit AAMVA recommended that states ban kei trucks for non-compliance to NHTSA standards, and states are slowly implementing laws based on the recommendation.
https://www.theautopian.com/massach...e-car-ban-and-its-even-dumber-than-you-think/

I'm in Indiana, which had created a specific 'mini truck' plate category to encourage local usage with vehicles that were more realistic to peoples needs and sizes and reduce road damage from the weights. But that was before the AAMVA document, so it very well could be used as a 'kill list' later.

I was really into the idea until the bans started, now I'd rather buy a couple dozen beaters instead, which are far more likely to be even less safe...

 

Sure, there’s presently a 2018 TRD Sport DC with a manual transmission at the lot where I got my 2013. I don’t know how he finds these things, but he does.

 

https://www.suntrupnissan.com/inven...ier-pro-4x-4wd-4d-crew-cab-1n6ed1ek2rn657809/