Would you buy a 3rd gen again?

Absolutely. My 2017 Blazing Blue TRD Sport AC was exactly what I wanted as 2 extra doors (for me = 6ft bed instead) were useless and again, to me, AC's look better. Auto wasn't an issue an although I only had 28k miles on it, never had a Toyota issue. Yes, mice/squirrels but that's not Toyota's fault.

 

Yes, even with some of those subjective quirks and all.

My then new 1992 extra-cab 3.0 5spd 4x4 treated me very well for 14 years despite the head gaskets blowing twice in and out of warranty. Both times covered by Toyota. Truck never left me stranded. Even did an 18 day Alaska Highway road trip with it when it had over 200K kms. Sold it for ridiculous resale $ in 2006. Even had the original clutch when It sold.

Our DCLB with the 2020 model year refresh with the power adjustable drivers seat was perfect for me and my wife to drive comfortably.

4.5 years and 80K trouble free kilometers so far. Mostly stock with OTT tune. Meets our lifestyle needs.

However, If it was ever written off, I think I'd look at a new 4th gen. If I was looking for used I would still consider an 3rd gen.

Although, I can't believe the resale values on Tacoma's overall. Just amazing.

Both my wife and I still look back and admire how good looking these 3rd gens are.

 

She is everything u want she is everything u need she is everything inside of you that you wish u could be.. she says all the right things at exactly the right time.. but she means nothing to u and u dont knowwwww whyy.

 

I would buy a 3rd gen again, but realistically I would buy a Frontier over an NA V6 Tacoma, because cost, and a 2.3 ranger before a 2.4 turbo tacoma, again, because cost. Both are nailing it, no need to pay the toyota tax when those options are on the market.

 

I stopped towing my Jeep, which is the only reason I had the Ram. Maintenance was somewhat of a hassle and DEF was a joke. Really didn't want to deal with the expense of replace my the turbo once it failed.

 

I really love mine.

Lack of power is a relative thing. Tons more power than our RAV and my van. Tons less than my Yamaha XSR900. I’ve never found a situation that I really NEEDED more power.

Even with open differentials, it goes anywhere I would take a daily driver. Mine is covered in pinstripes from testing that theory over and over.

The transmission is fine. Meh… If things like that bother you? If I hadn’t heard the complaints online, I probably wouldn’t have really thought about it all that much.

My wife hates it. It’s loud and bouncy. Oh! She thinks it’s embarrassing when we do things with boring people who don’t understand what’s cool. Plus, the Duratracs haven’t been rotated enough, so people turn to look at us in residential neighborhoods.

It gets atrocious fuel economy.

My dog loves it.

I’m considering selling it to try something else, but I don’t know of anything else I would replace it with right now, so I’m holding onto it.

If there was money in my budget and storage space for multiple vehicles, I would probably keep it forever. I still might.

It is what it is! Great truck if you keep that in mind.

 

I bought my Sport in May 2021 and logged as newbie here in Sep of the same year...so I get your point about online complaints.

My previous long-term was 2003 Honda Pilot EX, 3.5L Engine, 19GL tank instead of 22GL the TRD Sport has; fuel economy was almost the same.

I've learned quite a bit on a platform I've never owned--definitely keeping a positive mind.

 

Yeah, I would jump in th ol’ Time Machine and get another 1989 SR5 Xtra-Cab 4x4 2.4

190k miles and only ever had to replace the timing chain. It was still on the original clutch when I traded it in.

That photo brings back memories of driving cross-country (FL-OH-CO-CA and back) with my FXRST in the back.

3rd Gen has some big shoes to fill!

 

Love the truck and the capability. It’s just small.

 

I'd buy mine again. I don't need or want 4 doors, the suicide doors on the 3rd gen work well in my opinion. I took the rear folding seat surfaces out as soon as I got it home. Nobody has ever sat back there! Being manual is important to me, no other midsize comes with one. I'd consider a 4th gen, manual access cab but the lack of rear doors doesn't really work. Other brands insist that you need 4 door and an auto, I insist that I don't want that. Looks like I'll be keeping this for the long run.

 

I did! I traded my 2017 Blazing Blue Limited at 192,000km for a 2023 Black TRD Sport Premium. Sure, the transmission bucks a bit here and there but I have learned to drive with it. It pulls my trailers and fishing boats just fine and gets respectable fuel economy if you aren’t driving like a “Race Car Ya Ya”.

- I honestly hate the electric seat in the 2023, the grab bar was fast and efficient and I am generally the only one who drives it. Getting it into the proper position after it gets moved after servicing is f’n annoying….. electric seat without memory position is just dumb

I looked at a 2024 and I just didn’t like the interior which could be just as much about familiarity with Gen 3 but it seems more crowded.

Then …. no hand brake…. deal breaker

So I found a 2023 with 26,000 km that had been driven by a dealer service manager and snapped it up while I could.

 

Love mine. Its the first truck I've owned that I wasn't completely sick of within the first 5-6 years. Should hit 120k within the next week or two, I'll keep it until it starts costing more money than is worth putting into it.

 

Love my 3rd gen - ~50K miles absolutely trouble free (knock on wood) - not sure what folks are looking for performance wise . . . it's a truck, so . . . . I got an OTT tune so maybe that is the difference - also lifted 2" with 5100 and 285/75R16 33s so I like how it loks and handles and can go off road as well as a DD. So yeah it's a winner all around.

 

Yes I would. Tried and true v6, best looking body style and worth more now than I paid for it in 2023.

 

I would buy it again. 98,000 on it with no issues. All around good truck unless you need to haul heavy loads. Off road the hell out of it and does very well. Looking at customer satisfaction of the big three auto makers and ongoing problems with many of their engines and electronics reinforces my decision to stay with the Tacoma. Too early for me to bite on the 4th gen as it irons out some issues often already discussed here at TW. I think the EPA and all the govt regulations will continue to weaken the auto industry and any hope of having the reliability Toyota has had a reputation for. I am not a fan of turbo engines, not a knock on those that love em, just not for me. If Toyota put another v6 in the Tacoma or a V8 back in the Tundra I would consider a new truck. Otherwise, I will keep this one as it continues to go strong and the parts for it are plentiful.

 

Ill help some folks out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwTQOPZvY3s&pp=ygUQdmVydGljYWwgaG9yaXpvbg==

 

One vote for the diesel.

 

I dig mine. I picked up my '22 new. First (maybe last) new vehicle. I came to really enjoy the body lines of the 3rd gen. In my mind, it's an instant classic. I love that the Celestial Silver Metallic really accentuate the lines on the quarter panels and hood. It has plenty of power for me, even on 285/75/17 (34's) and stock gears. I don't get all the gear-hunting that people complain about. It's an auto, an my not 'always' be in the gear that I'd like, but it doesn't ruffle my feathers.

I don't hate the 4th gen taco. The front looks okay, but I don't care for how it looks from the back of the driver's seat to the rear bumper. That, and it seems a bit big to me for a mid-sized truck. It's not horrible or anything, it just doesn't excite me. That, and I feel that all automobile manufacturers have lost their minds with bananas pricing. I, for one, don't feel like putting that much of my money into new vehicles these days. And that's okay.

I happen to be quite fond of, and am lucky enough to have had a few older Toyotas. I had a 1994 3.0 MT Extended cab that was a trouble free vehicle for 13 years. No head gasket issues on my watch. But that thing was great! was super easy to drive around too! Nice and narrow, but didn't feel cramped. It was simple with manual windows. Hell.. I thought I got a luxury vehicle when I was driving it down the road one day, and noticed a stealth cup holder above the CD player!!! What?!?! You mean I don't have to hold it in my hand? Hahaha.. I realized we don't need most of this crap they sell us. Then the 3rd gen 4Runner was/is another fun one.

Would I buy it again? Sure. But I am easy. I would also be happy with trying a 1st gen taco, a 2.5 gen taco, a 1st, 4th, or 5th gen 4Runner, (I have a built 3rd gen 4Runner), any LC I could afford. Older would be cool. Maybe a GX... whatever. Lucky for me, there are TONS of Yotas on the road. And there are plenty of people who take care of them that hand them off to the next caretakers