From sports car to Tacoma?

I would say that anyone who makes fun of one has never been behind the wheel of even a bone stock. I was actually killing time before going to test and likely buy a Focus ST that someone was offering up for suspiciously cheap. I saw the Miata on a lot that I passed, and curiosity got the better of me. So I drove it. I immediately knew that I had to buy it right then and there. I dont care what it looks like, that car is damn fun. Its twitchier than a go-cart at Action Park. Its scrappy-doo. If you tune one, then it would be scrappy-doo on a meth and steroid cocktail. Its a car that invites hijinks because its easy to spool up, dump the clutch, and pull the hand brake, and it promises that youll recover in time before you wrap it around the light pole. Its a car that makes every street feel like a track and it does it in a way that the high powered sports cars cant.

...and it does all of that for a very reasonable price.

 

I'm kinda on the opposite here. I went from a MK7 GTI to a second gen Tacoma initially. I actually preferred driving the truck over the little car. It sat up higher and I just liked the overall feel. Eventually sold the GTI (for a couple different reasons actually) and traded the second gen in on a new 3rd gen.

 

Our testing for sure found having AWD could be nice but the short bed only and solid axle plus height makes it laughable for sport and handling against true wagons that would not be far away in price. We got our Tacoma for actual truck needs, no often no good short bed, it's wonderful, but my wife's German AWD wagon and a pal's brand new Volvo wagon can carry longer things that those silly short bed pickups. At same time they have handling, pep, power and fuel economy a pickup cannot match.

I'm probably different than a lot of enthusiasts here. I don't have any desire to play SuperTrucker and don't like to stand out when I drive. The Tacoma has been good for work and a wonderfully civil and quiet pickup but they can't be what other vehicles are for sporty stuff. The friend mentioned has a pickup too. We always prefer the AWD European wagons we have now or the Subarus prior if we don't honestly need a pickup truck.

 

I think the best way to go from a sport car to a truck is to have both!

I would never expect my car to be able to do the things my truck does (haul, tow, off-road), and a truck will never drive and handle like a sporty car.

If you can't have both, then you may just need to have realistic expectations, otherwise, you may be disappointed.

 

Yes Mustangs are sports cars. They go fast and handle great. I used to have one. Here is a proof from Ford on Google:



Tacoma isn't fast enough with stock engine but it is good enough for going off road. Tacomas aren't designed for going fast unless you change the engine, transmission, etc. They are designed for off road use or daily driven on roads.

 

I am going to have to jump in on the Miata love. I have had several sports cars but the Miata was one of the most fun vehicles I have ever owned. I could drive that thing 10/10 on regular roads without a bother. Heel toe was very easy in it and the amount of control you have with the throttle around a corner was impressive. My other sports cars if you drove 10/10 you'd be in jail. I would still have the Miata today if someone didn't crash into it when it was parked and total it but that is a car that I will own again soon.

To the OP, the tacoma is going to be nothing like a sports car but it will also be able to do things and take you places a sports car never could. I missed the speed, cornering, and acceleration coming from a 370z to a Rubicon Wrangler on 37's but was able to find just as much enjoyment in the jeep by taking it off road.

 

Previously owned several Z’s, Audi’s, an MR2 Spyder, Evolution IX, and traded a 3-series manual on a then-brand-new 2016 Tacoma.

For the first few months I questioned my own sanity, as all of the controls initially felt like slop comparatively. After 6 months of re-learning to cruise, and not race, I was hooked. Liked it so much, I bought an ‘18 Taco.

Hard to beat the practicality of a truck, but making the switch from sports car to truck is more about adjusting your own state of mind, versus the actual vehicles. The new ones do have a little more pep now, but if you live stoplight to stoplight and don’t necessarily need a bed, there’s a ton of better alternatives.

 

Best answer right here.

 

The classic definition of a sports car is, small, light, 2 seats, convertible, and able to be used for competition driving. It's been quite bastardized over the years.

The Stang is a classic pony/muscle car that does very well on the track and has plenty of power. I like them and had a GT convertible a while back. That gen was still a pig and you could feel every pound as it pounded around a tight corner. The new ones are very nice, handle great, and I'd have no issue with owning or driving one but you'll never get the feel of a Miata in one unless you shed well over 1000 pounds [actually closer to 1500 pounds]. That road feel of knowing exactly when your front tires juuuuust start to wash a bit is where the fun begins in a Miata. Take all the electronic gimmicks away and a lot of modern cars would not be what they are. And they are fine to be honest because I don't even want to imagine a modern mustang being driven by most of the population. 2025 brings ''crowd avoidance'' as a safety feature.

 

I sold my Camaro ZL1 for my TRD OR Hybrid. The OR doesn't corner like the ZL1 or the power but I like being up off the road and the ability to go anywhere!

 

The higher ride height is nice for sure. I feel like I need a trench periscope mounted on my Miata sometimes.

 

I came here to say pretty much the same thing. I went from a WRX as my daily driver to my TRD sport. Your driving mindset will totally change, I end up driving slower and more conservative. Dont need to carve up the mountain roads but simply settle in and enjoy the view. I have never been more happy with a daily driver... You have a small bed if you need it, fits in the garage, easy to maneuver around parking lots and way more comfortable for longer trip. At the end of the say its just a tool to supplement life.

 

These two right here OP. I think you're setting yourself up for disappointment even considering any Tacoma. Even Raptors and Lightnings will not give you a toss-around the corner sporty feeling. They'll have power, and acceleration with some "butt speedo" kicking you into your seat, but the experience isn't the same. What you're looking for doesn't truly exist off the dealer floor. Get a truck for truck stuff. Get a fast truck for fast truck stuff. Get a sports car for sports car stuff. Or adapt.

@dnlskier Wasn't going to ignore the Syclone, nice!

 

Sports cars have 2 seats, not 4...

Merriam Webster definition of a sports car
sports car
noun

Synonyms of sports car
: a low small usually 2-passenger automobile designed for quick response, easy maneuverability, and high-speed driving

Google and Ford are wrong...but yes alas.....the world continues to put cars with back seats into the sports car class...due to the lack of true 2 seater sports cars...

Even car and driver is guilty!!!!....

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g27197524/best-sports-cars/

 

Rav4 with a bed would be exactly how I might describe the driving dynamics of the Tacoma.

 

A car guy is never truly happy with a truck and a truck guy is never truly happy with a car...jmho....my 3rd gen is a utility/snow vehicle period...GT-R and Integra Type S for daily or weekend fun...thinking really hard about trading the 3rd gen for new Hybrid sport once the beta testing period is over....Tough spot OP... god speed on your decision...

 

Have you called around for the install of the tune? The first 2 dealers I spoke with said they aren't a "Performance Dealer". Then when I search for ASE mechanics there are none within 200 miles of my location. Which I find hard to believe.

 

My solution for many years was 3 vehicles. All used, paid for and well maintained, so TCO was less than a couple of newish vehicles.

1) Miata, sports car, SoloII and HPDE fun.
2) Sonoma, light duty local HD home project truck. Much like my current 5 lug Tacoma
3) Highlander. Great people mover and enclosed hauler.

No. I didn't off-road. But if I'd wanted to I would have swapped the Sonoma for a similar sized 4wd.

 

I was gonna be the annoying person that came here to post that!

I've had plenty of sporty cars, but my Miata was definitely the only true sports car I've had in the past. Five speed, manual windows, no ABS or traction control. Then I doubled the HP with 12 PSI of boost. Been kicking around the idea of getting another one and swapping in a Honda K-series motor to make the same power.

 

LOL no