Would you buy a 3rd gen again?

I did buy mine again, sort of. I bought a 2017 OR brand new and I needed another truck so I bought a used 2017 Pro in 2022. Bad time to buy a vehicle so it was the jerk price, but I love both trucks. You learn to live with the quirks and how to get around them. I would buy another one if I needed it.

 

Yes on my 2017, getting ready to pass 100k. Glad I bought it.

 

I'd buy mine again. Just as it is now... (but hopefully when the time comes, there will be a fully electric 3rd gen!)

If it was totaled tomorrow, I'd try to get another '21-'23 taco... manual gearbox only since I don't know how to drive an automatic...

Seriously. What other 4x4 vehicle would you trust for a solo trip in the outback, or in Baja?

Given the option, no one in their right mind would choose to take a ram/ford/chevy/Jeep, etc.

Quality options with a manual? There are none. Full size trucks are a joke.

If I had to go automatic, I'd go with a LC / lexus suv.

 

Yes, 2016 DCLB Sport, 151k miles
If I had to do it over again, not as many mods, less weight, had to replace all 4 wheel bearing and rear diff, think weight
played a part in that!! Love the truck tho, many adventures and trips, more to come!!!

 

In all honesty it has been extremely reliable, 4 cross country road trips

6 years, 90k miles
I can’t complain

Wish it was a V8 but….

 

No, there's a 4th gen, and the marketplace has changed drastically between now and when I got mine in 2016. Which still runs pretty darned good, fwiw.

So - buying a used 3rd gen? No.. mine still works. Buying dealer leftovers.. doubt they have a 6MT.. and even then, have to look at the alternatives unless I really needed a truck RIGHT NOW(tm) which... mine works fine, so I don't.

But say my truck got totaled or something. And, for some reason I /needed/ a truck (I don't), and a gently used or unsold 3G was in my slate of options...

Pros - it's a reliable midsize. All the bugs were worked out. Comfy enough for my family (we're on the short side), does outdoors things awesome. If you had to have a truck from the late 2010s.. I don't think it's a wrong choice at all.
Cons - kinda dated. 20mpg highway tops. Way less if you're doing stuff. Infotechthings are ehhhhh. And it's literally 'the old truck'.

But, I'd also be cross shopping different categories. When I got the taco back in 16, the cross shops were the wrangler and outback. My needs have changed, tbh, and in 2025 I'd likely not be making the same optimizations. So that really just goes into 'what do you need'? For me, I think the 'don't get another truck for now' option is the best, and just pocket the say.. insurance money. Save it for a future PHEV Stout/Tundra or maybe even look into something like the ramcharger or scout terra.

 

I bought my 2023 DCLB 4x4 SR5 brand new 9/23. Today I have 40,000 miles on it. No huge complaints but I definitely preferred the Gen 2 Tacoma. This is my second 3rd gen, the first was a 2016 SR5 DCLB. And it’s my 8th Toyota Tacoma including a 1994 that wasn’t a Tacoma really. This one definitely shifts better than the first gen 3 I had, but it’s definitely not smooth, and still does funky things from time to time. A tune would definitely help. I bought the SR5 over the TRD options because the SR5 was supposed to use a key instead of a FOB. I was seriously disappointed when I picked it up at the dealer and was told all Tacomas were now FOB only. I know that’s the way all vehicles are going, I personally really don’t like it. I don’t want or need a panic button on my key. I don’t know how many times the truck seems to lock itself shut, often with one of the FOB’s sitting in the console. The other gripe I have is that”Did Toyota engineers intentionally take one of the best designed oil filter systems I have ever seen and change it for the worst system I have ever seen??”. The Gen 2 filter was accessible from the top, had a guard around it with a drain that a water bottle could catch oil from, and a paper towel wiped clean after filter removal. Outstanding design! Now after you remove your skid plate, the filter requires a special tool, you need to make sure you get two different rubber washers positioned perfectly and clean up the big mess on your garage floor from the oil draining from your filter. Ridiculous design!!
I think I’ll keep this truck for another year, but I’m keeping my eyes open for a 2013-2015 low mileage Tacoma.

 

The whole engine shredded the main bearing is a deal breaker for me.

 

I test drove almost everything in the mid size category and I ended up with Tacoma because it offered the best total package. For ranger was a close second because of the power it made but ford doesn't produce a reliable vehicle so the decision was easy.

If it was today I would look harder at the new frontier.

 

I have so many mods I couldn’t buy it again

 

You must be joking - you are seriously comparing a RAM 2500 a full size truck with a 6.7 Cummins engine ( not even a RAM 1500 with an engine comparable a 3.6 another fullsize truck) to a mid size 3.5 V6 Taco. Gee I bet your RAM 2500 with a 6.7 Cummins could tow a lot more than the joke Taco too not to mention carry way more weight and I bet the bed was bigger.

Yeah when it comes to performance and handling the the Tacoma is a joke compared to a Dodge Hellcat and the new Corvette.

 

Definitely to answer the question directly.

Mine seems to shift at weird times or it doesn't always seem to shift in a timely manner. Sure the truck isn't as fast as people would like but in all honesty the truck isn't made for speed. People buy these things for the reliability. Take care of the truck and it will take care of you.

 

A $450 OTT tune will fix all that and more.

 

Some beautiful rigs there sir!

 

Probably, but unlikely. I'm not paying the over inflated used truck prices or the new 4th gen prices.

 

I'm not familiar with this.

Are you saying you had a late model Tundra and lost a main bearing? What year - what motor? Genuinely interested.

 

Thanks man.

 

No personal experience but its well known that they have a recall on 100k trucks for that issue. Toyota Replacing 102K Tundra and Lexus LX Engines after Recall https://search.app/gGWgbZm1s8j2o9Ty8

 

Curious as to why you would jump on a fully electric one (that's fine, no biggie), but then emphasize trusting one for a solo trip in the Outback, or Baja?
Joe