Considering a Tacoma...Anyone come from an F-150?

jimbo45,

Use Kelly blue book .com and other vehicle value sources to determine value both of your current truck and what you decide to look at. Consider also selling your truck privately.

As others have stated, look around, do your research and it will pay off handsomely, both in money savings and getting exactly what you want. Consider looking at "Toyota.com" to see what a new truck is, many of the same options would be found on a older truck. I feel this would assist you in finding the same in an older truck.

Use the search feature here and ask questions.

 

I apologize for my wording as well, I didn't exactly pay attention to what you had written. I was looking for things online for my truck, I got distracted. I personally don't care that you said it but I'm sure some people will. I just didn't want people to start bashing you because of it is all.

 

OP you are lucky thats all the problems you have had with your F-150. I worked as a tech at the local ford dealer for ten years, believe me there is a TSB list a mile long on those trucks for common problems. I liked them when I worked at the dealer, they made me money. I got a chance to get one that was an 04 that needed cam phasers, and a whole list of things, and I bought it knowing I could fix all the problems myself. Put it this way, I bought it and drove it two years and sold it for the same price I paid for it, if that tells you how good of a deal I got. That is minus all the money I spent on parts....which was alot...and with a discount. Anyway, I am a first gen tacoma dude and know nothing about the second gen. The only thing I miss is the room but for the jump in MPG, I am happy. You are not making a mistake. I was a die hard ford man as well, but also loved me a toyota too!! I said to hell with Ford!!! Other companies can make a full size truck with alot better MPG, why can't Ford???? May be it has to do with the fact that you will find "Ford recommends BP Gasoline" on the gas cap of most Fords these days.

 

Thanks guys, for all the help. I will be spending a lot of time reading on this forum in the next few weeks, and getting more familiar with the Tacos. Sounds like I might be onto something here. And Genesis0225, thanks for the detailed breakdown...I see by your "tin", I am in good company.

 

a buddy of mine has an F-150 and what i like about it is that the inside is a lot more spacious than the Tacoma, but then again its comparing a full size to a mid size truck. my dad has a '94 Explorer and it started to have problems at the 10 year mark. with that being said, i dont find american made brand cars to be as reliable as foreign cars.

my '84 4runner lasted 25 years and my 2007 Trailblazer SS was good for a year before it started giving me tranny issues... you do the math. so from my previous experiences, its what led me to my Tacoma today.

 

I just traded my '06 F-150 Super-crew with the 5.4L motor in on a '09 Tacoma.My Ford was a 2-wd and I was getting about 13 city and if I kept it below 2000 rpm's I could get 23 or so. Couldn't be happier. The F-150 was an uncomfortable beast to drive for more than a couple for hours. Just took a trip from San Diego to Sacramento and back. No back or butt pain.

Ray

 

Found a couple listed online at a local dealer within my ballpark:

- 2010 4wd 4.0L 4 Door "Access Cab" (smaller half doors that open rearward, I assume) with 17K miles, TRD, SR5 sport, Tow package

- 2006 4wd 4.0L 4 Door Double Cab with 71K miles, TRD, SR5 something, Tow package

Both look nice, but am unsure if a full child car seat would work in the rear seat of the "access cab" ( is that the correct name?). Anyone?

I need to read up and learn the differences over the years of the '05-'11's I guess, too.

 

I just bought a 2012 Tacoma after driving and F150 for the last ten years. The Tacoma is a much more comfortable truck to sit in. It also gets a lot better gas mileage. It appears that I am just repeating what everyone else has said in previous posts. I haven't had the mechanical issues that a lot of other people have mentioned. I am not saying that I haven't had to spend some money on it, any truck with 145,000 miles and 12 years old is going to start to have some issues, but never anything too major.

Anyway, I definitely like my Tacoma a lot better than my Ford, but there are plenty of avid Ford fans out there also.

 

just get the double cab, more leg room

 

Sold my Chevy duramax crew cab after ten years because we are no longer towing a 5th wheel trailer. Bought an 11 trd OR crew cab. Took a little time to get used to the smaller space coming from a large truck. I really like the way it drives, good power, and plenty of room for 4 people and gear. Very nice to be able to pull in and park without having to find a big enough parking spot. I would buy it again. If you decide to change there really is no choice but the Tacoma.

 

I drive an F150 once in awhile, 5.4L, 4wd, Super Cab.

To me the Tacoma feels a lot faster and more powerful. The 5.4L seems to have to keep the rev's way up where as the 4.0L has a lot of low end grunt. The F150 drives really nice, but the Tacoma is more comfortable over all and feels more attached to the road. Fuel economy difference is huge.

Id have the Tacoma hands down as my daily driver over the F150.

 

i bought an 09 dbl cab trd sport package...test drove an access cab and loved it...then i tried to put the kids in it with their car seats (i have a 3 and 5yr old) they hated it!!! too squishy.....anyway get the dbl cab......i also had a ranger extended cab before my taco.....loved it, had no issues w/ it except that the kids couldn't go in it.......wouldn't trade my taco for the ranger now, even if ford made it a double cab. I love my truck and i'm keeping it for a long time!!!

 

Wow, I can't believe the replies I have gotten! Thanks to all of you! Talked to the boss (wife) about it earlier, and we are planning to go take a look on the dealer's lot tomorrow, so I can get an idea of how big the double cab is over the access cab. Just LOOKING, since the dealer will be closed anyway.

From pictures, it does look like the access cab will be a bit snug with a baby type seat, but looks like it may work ok with on the passenger side, if the front seat is moved forward. I only would need to run one baby seat for about another year, then both kids will be in boosters, which should fit a lot easier, and I would rarely have to have all four of our family in there anyway. I haven't taken the fam in the Ford for about a month as it is now. Plus, I like the idea of the 6 foot bed of the access cab. With my Ford's 5.5' bed, I can barely fit a dirtbike in there and still have to run with the gate down. I imagine with a 5' bed, the rear wheel would be on the extreme edge of the gate. I do see that a double cab with 6' bed may be out there, but I haven't seen one yet for sale.

Thanks again for all the help! Let the search fun begin....

 

I just traded my 2006 f150 4x4, supercab 4.6 liter last weekend for a 2010 access cab,6cyl, 6 speed 4x4, trd sport. I really liked my f150 but the gas mileage was bad. I decided I didn't need the full size truck. I tow a few times a year and for this the f150 is better. The other 95% I am commuting or going hunting(which involves light offroading sometimes) and the taco will be better. If I was you I would look at a DCLB. Good luck with your choice.
Karl

 

I went from a 07 Dodge Ram 1500ST to the Taco '11 4x4 access cab since I needed four wheel drive after a few rough winters up here in the hills.

My gas milage stayed about the same, towing capacity went up and repairs went down.

I had to pull the steering knuckes off the dodge to press out the wheel bearings at 40k miles.

Taco's are quality, but for kids, get a double cab.

 

I have a 2012 sport 4 door coming from a ford ranger which I had no complaints I love my Toyota I looked at the 150 but as I stated in previous post to big to much for my needs. Yes there are things I don't like the biggest is made in Mexico again I love my Tacoma.

 

I wish mine was built in Texas it was not, it was made in the 51st state south of you.

 

If I were buying again, I would probably go to the new F150 with the higher gas mileage engines. The Tacoma is okay for me, but I have not been impressed by the quality of the materials of the Tacoma vs. the 93 Toyota pickup I traded (gauge of metal, interior materials, etc.). The Tacoma is very comfortable and does get pretty decent mileage, but looking back I was swayed by those two factors and should have also considered how I might be using the truck.

If you've moved past the need for a true truck, the Tacoma will be a great choice for you.

Just my two cents.

 

If you have two kids in booster seats, get a double cab. I have an 11 and a 12 year old and they sit in the back of my access cab for short trips to school or the mall but I would never take them on a longer trip. The access cab is a better looking truck but I would have got the double cab if my kids were younger in car seats or booster seats.

I remember reading that one guy has one kid in a car seat and his wife sits in the back and the car seat goes in the front. Might be ok for short trips?

Cheers.

One more thing ... Get a TRD if your going to tow often. It has a 6500lb rating.

 

i went from a 2005 nissan titan to a 2010 tacoma. i do miss the power of the titan, but i do not miss the MPG. when gas was approaching $5 a gallon, it was about $125 a week to fill the titan. also, the titan was a hugh pain in the ass to park when i was living in los angeles. i dont miss that either.

after 2 years of owning the tacoma, i still feel that it is still the best truck i have ever owned. the size of it makes it easier to maneuver than a full size truck and i feel much more supported inside the truck. yes, its smaller inside, but its not a bad thing. it just fits me better. before i lifted it, i was getting 17-19 mpg around the city and 19-21 mpg on the highway. now, i am getting 15-16 mpg around the city and 17-18 on the highway. even with the lift and tires, i am still getting better mpg than the titan did at 12 mpg.

with you having the kids, i totally recommend a double cab. and if you are concerned about hauling your dirt bikes, you can always get a sport, double cab, long bed. keep in mind, however, that this configuration approaches the length of a full sized truck. if you got a double cab short bed, you could always get the bed extender for when you haul the bikes. also with the short bed, you get the option of getting the off road package. this comes with a rear locker and some other offroad control gadgets (which i have used a few times).

i recommed that you just go take one for a drive and see how you like it. i also recommend the 4x4 db, sb, off-road package version.... only because i am partial to it

good luck.