Help! Need knowledge in picking a Tacoma...

Hey all, I'm about to sell my car finally, which means it's Tacoma time! I need a few opinions though on which one...

I've decided to focus on the 4cyl access cab, because I drive 70+ miles a day and I need to maximize fuel economy while having something big enough to occasionally haul the wife and 2 kids. That being said, there are 2 used 4 cyl Tacos available near me that I've driven and liked:
A: 2005 Access Cab 5 lug manual, silver, convenience package (not SR5), all weather floor mats, Toyota certified, 14k miles, $12.5k + TTL
B: 2005 Access Cab PreRunner manual, darker red with tan interior, SR5, Undercover hard tonneau, small dealership, 19.5k miles, $14k + TTL

My uses are mostly commuting, some yard/Depot runs, and occasionally towing a small boat. I like really the ride and look of the PreRunner, and would end up lifting the 5 lug. Of course the 5 lug will get better mileage with the 3.31 rear end. Right now I'm leaning towards the PreRunner, but it would be nice to have that warranty. Is it worth anything?

I'd like to hear your comments - what would you do?!?!?

 

Fuel economy isnt that much different between the 4 banger and the V6. Since you have a wife and kids, I recommend double cab V6.

 

I agree...get the V6 double cab! It will benefit you in the long run!!

 

Been driving my '09 4 banger for just about three months now, and am loving it. I, like you, needed a daily commuter, but wanted a truck for camping/fishing on the weekends, plus the occasional hauling of firewood, furniture, and other crap that won't fit in a car. I would have loved the V6, but didn't feel that the extra couple thousand (plus mileage) was worth stretching my budget. So far, I'm not the least bit disappointed. I've hauled a full bed of firewood, and helped a friend move some furniture, and she handled beautifully. It is admittidly a little gutless on some of the steeper mountain highways, but drop her into 4th, and she does just fine. My biggest concern for you would be the boat. I've never towed anything with my truck, so I can't speak from experience there, but my guess is that if it's within the towing capacity of the 4 cylinder, you should be fine.

It sounds like either of those trucks will do just fine for your needs, so it really comes down which one you personally like better.

 

I think you will find out that you are disappointed that you got the access cab. Go find yourself a double cab if you have the time to wait.

 

That's something I forgot to mention. Depending on how big the kids are, and how often/far you drive with them, it could be a little cramped in the back seats. If there's an infant, a rear-facing car seat will not fit comfortably back there... It can be done. Did it last weekend, but the front seat has to be put all the way forward for it to fit. It shouldn't be to cramped if they're smaller kids, but once they become teenagers it will be pretty tight for the long hauls. That said, I grew up going camping in my Dads regular cab Chevy, with my brother and I buckled into the middle seat. We complained a bit, but forgot about it as soon as we were in the woods. Later on we would go in the back of his Dodge Ram, with not much more room than the back of the access cab. It was tight, but we survived. Definitely something to consider though.

 

You guys sound like my wife! The double cab/V6 really isn't an option, due to its price and potential for worse fuel economy. I am talking about trucks in the $12~14k after all!

Our other car is an Odyssey, so long hauling with all four of us would be rare. When I test drove it I put my two kids (4 and 20mo, one in a carseat the other a booster) and my wife in the truck and drove for 10 min and didn't have too much of a problem, other than my daughter kicking my wife in the back!!!

I'm not too worried about the towing since it would be rare, and the boat weights less than 2000 lbs.

My biggest question, really, is that is it better to have a truck with a certified warranty that I then will want to lift and buy new wheels for or pick up a truck without warranty that's lifted from the factory?

 

My vote is for a V6 DB. Reconsider your options. I have two kids... a 4 and 2 yr old. The car seats themselves need the space. If you ever find yourself having a 5th passenger, well then you'll have the room but barely. It's better than not at all. Take my word... get a Double Cab. When I purchased my truck new, I opted for the side curtain airbags which were not standard back then. Seriously take a moment and decide what you really need versus want. Try to get the best of both worlds. Even my wife's 04 Highlander has the Side Curtain Airbags. Safety is a must! Glad you asked. Just make the right decision. By the way... Why wouldn't you want side curtain airbags if you plan on putting the kids in the truck? Plus, you've got the latch system on the DB's. That's a +.

 

Get the Access Cab with the 4 cylinder. I, like you, have a long daily commute and get 22-23 mpg with the automaatic tranny. I tow a Carolina Skiff and the Taco does just fine, even launching from the sandy side of a canal. If the kids are only going to rarely be in the truck the inconvenience the few times you have everybody in it will be more than offset by the convenience of daily driving.

 

You get the latch system with the Access cab too you know.

And you might actually get worse fuel economy from the 4 banger towing than you will with the V6. If you're going to make that little 4 cylinder beat it's guts out time and time again, versus the V6 which will handle it like it's empty, you're not really saving anything. Not to mention resale value if you ever decide to consider trading or selling it at a later date.

As for space, the Access cab is fine. I don't know why everyone complains about it. If you're dragging your 4 buddies around with you, sure it'll be small. 2 kids? Pfftt. No worries. And then you can get the long bed with the A/C and not have the extra length of a tundra.

 

Great post and I totally agree. I had a 2004 access cab (old body style) and squeezed my daughters car seat in the back. The front seat had to be at the farthest forward setting and her legs had to be crossed to fit (SHE IS ONLY 1.5yrs old). It was a hassle to load and the wife would have to curl up to ride with us.

*daughters car seat with the '40' side folded down:


I got fed up and bought a 2009 double cab. It has the side and curtain airbags and is perfect for me and my growing family. She can now sit comfortably in her car seat and the wife is happy.

Once I get the Tonneau cover on, this will be our vehicle of choice (she drives a 2006 Grand Cherokee). The cab is far more comfortable than the GC and the bed will have more room than her Jeep with the cover on.


TO THE OP...obviously a brand new truck is out of your price range but I would still look for a double cab. It doesn't sound like you use the bed much and the extra cab space is better used and extra bed space.

As for the 4 vs 6...I would go with 6 because of the re-sale value. Put the extra money in now and get it back when you sell. You will lose more selling a 4 cylinder than selling a 6.

 

next question would be.. are you having another child or are you stoping at 2? 3 would be impossible to fit in an access cab and with 2 kids over time will get frustrating with the access cab. I have 3 kids. 5yrs, 2 yrs and a 2 month and it is damn near impossible to get the 3 different safety seats in the double cab. so that is the reason for my question.

honestly, I know you are asking about access cabs but in the long run you could spend the money and then be frustrated with the set up.

 

Be safer with the kids and get a double cab.

 

If your wife has a toaster (Odyssey) then just get an access cab. As far as the warranty concern we typically don't have any major issues with our trucks. Whatever your budget is comfortable with and what feels good to you. The four cyl will have plenty of power for your commute in a stick model.

 

I just sold my 2003 Xtracab V6 and purchased a 2009 TRD DC. I have 3 kids and usually if we went anywhere we all went in my wife's car. On rare occasions I would have the 3 kids in the accesscab it was a pain. Now in the DC it's perfect.

As far as MPG goes the 2003 V6 Xtracab's avg was about 19.1 MPG
and the 2009 DC TRD V6 has gotten around 21.5. Not sure what a V4 would get.

 

I would get the pre runner. theres nothing wrong with the 4banger, Im still rocking mine with 135K on the clock.

 

I'd take A if I were you since its not Prerunner. I would never get a 2wd truck. Also, the 4 banger and v6 mileage isn't much different. I have a v6 and its rated at no higher than 20 hwy and I get 22 or 23 n city most of the time and better on the hwy.

 

i'm pretty sure he already bought a truck. seeing as that 8 months have past...