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

The passenger seat can move WAY up, so it will easily accommodate a baby seat if the passenger seat is unoccupied. You could probably fit a person there, too, depending on their legroom needs.

 

Well I have and am in the process of selling my 97 Lariat 4x4 tow package,5.4L . I wanted a mid size and looked at the Dakota,Ranger,Mazda etc etc.. I got a 06 TRD,Prerunner,SR5,with factory tow package. Love it so far. Great fit and finish. Rides great. No complaints. Choice was between the Ranger extended cab and Tacoma Access cab. A lot more room in the Tacoma. I need that, I'm 6'4"!
My poor F150 has 300,000 miles on it and it was/is used like a truck and still running down the road fine. My only concern with the Tacoma is the weak tailgate. It should fair as well from what I've seen and experience. My last Toyota was in my eyes the last hardcore rig Toyota made. A 1980 FJ40 Land Cruiser. Damn! That thing was tough!

 

Just traded in my 04 F150 FX4 extended cab for an 09 Dbl Cab Off Road, with the tow pkg., a Leer camper, and 34,000 miles and couldn't be happier with it. My old truck had 104,000 miles and had been pretty good other than a new transmission at 82,000, but was in need of the normal maint. for a truck that age and mileage, and the trans. was starting to act up again. Anyway I was looking to get something smaller as I no longer have the need for a fullsize truck and wanted four full doors. I have a daughter who will turn four in a week and it is much easier to haul her around now than before. My tacoma has running boards and she is able to climb right in no problem. My Ford had step tubes but it was still not near as easy for her to get in without me helping her. As for adults, I am not a tall guy only 5'8" and driving the tacoma is great. With the driver's seat adjusted for me I can sit in the rear seat with plenty of leg room. You may also want to look at 09 and newer because I believe that's when the side curtain airbags were made standard, if that's something you consider since you have kids. It is also much easier to park since it is about two feet shorter and six inches norrower that the Ford. The tacoma also has a ton more storage inside than the F150. I'm still trying to find more junk to fill it up. Can't give you any solid numbers on mpg's as I have only had the truck for two weeks, but it looks like I will probably get around 17 avg, and that's with the Leer camper on the truck. Curious what I'll get while towing, but all I plan on pulling is a 5'x10' trailer with a Honda Rubicon and some coolers loaded on it. I got 14.5 in the Ford, but it would do that even while pulling a trailer loaded full of tools and lumber. To sum up I am completely satisfied with my newer truck. It meets all the criteria I had, similar to your own, but it does have it's limits being a mid and not fullsize. They are pricey so good luck shopping. Gave 25,500 for mine, but that includes an eight year 100,000 mile platinum warranty.

 

Nice looking full size truck you got there. Keep it.

 

Its in the garage, but don't get too excited. Its on an overnight test drive. Only drove it home, and have been busy with other things all night, and now that I get a chance to really look it over and drive again, its time to go to bed, since I will have a sick child at home tomorrow.

Man, this little truck sure is neat, and I really do like it. The problem is, I also looked at new F150's. I can get a brand new 4x4 F150 5.0L or ecoboost, for less than $5K more than this gently used '10 Tacoma. Both dealers were about the same for trade in value, but the toyota dealer wouldn't come down from $25,900 for this. They knew I was headed to Ford next, and still politely explained that there was no haggling, and if I didn't buy it at that price, then someone else would, within a week. I don't doubt that, they are hard to come by in my area, and the other two Tacos they had sold in the last week.

Oh, decisions decisions. I was pretty set to go with the Taco until I told my car fanatic brother what I was doing. He agrees that the Taco is a fantastic truck, but he thinks for my needs, it will not be big enough. He said with the new F150 so close in price, it should be a no brainer (F150).

Man, if they would just come down to $23-$24K, it might be sold. I just fear my easily bored with trucks self will want to trade again in a couple years, and would risk less of a hit.

I so wish I could have both......what to do, what to do.........

 

I came out of my Dodge Ram Quad cab with a Hemi. I couldnt even drive past a gas station. Has anybody heard real numbers on the eco boost yet? Not Sure. But OP if passenger room is what you need I would look at a plain SR5 double cab with out the TRD package. It could save you some money and give you the space you need.

PS...Resale value will be much higher on the Tacoma whem it comes time to get rid of it.

 

I am going to buy a new truck to replace my 99 Tacoma in a month or two. The Tacoma is at the top of my list but the Tundra, F150, and Silverado can be had for nearly the same price. I really don't need the full size but there have been a few times in the last 13 years when I needed a full size bed.

The F150 with EcoBoost looks very promising. My concern is with the long term reliability in this engine. I'm not sure Ford has all the bugs completely worked out and I don't want to be their guinea pig!

The Active Fuel Management on the GM 5.3 L's has me concerned as well. Just google search "5.3 liter oil consumption" and you will see what I mean.

The Tundra seems to be the better of the full size trucks but it has had its share of issues as well. Been reading about failing water pumps at some pretty low mileage and of course the air pumps failing is a concern as well....of course Toyota extended the warranty on these.

 

roger that, if price point is the only issue then go with a SR5 DC and shave `3k off the price. I like the Taco as well, but do miss my full size GMC when I run out of space in the back.

 

Well guys, it was close, but I decided to go with another F150. I took a pre owned '10 AC Tacoma home over night, but it just wasn't practical to cram kids cars seats in the back. Doable, but not comfortable. I know the double cab would have been a bit bigger, but more pricey, and be into the F150 price range, so I just couldn't pass up the Ford incentives and the offer made for my F150 by the ford dealer.

But, I have a new respect for Toyota for sure. It was a nice truck and looked great. If I were single or didn't have kids, and didn't ever think I would need to pull a big trailer again, I would have a Tacoma. I can see how much you guys enjoy your trucks on here, and I can now understand why. I will probably check in here from time to time. Oh, and the Toyota dealer just got in a sharp Baja TX Pro, the day I took back the Taco. It was sweet! Thanks for all your help guys!

Here's what I came home with today:

 

Not a bad decision and nice color

 

Mine was manufactured in San Antonio, I didn't know they had a plant in Austin?

 

I don't think they do

 

I came from a 2001 F150 supercrew getting terrible fuel mileage. I liked the truck quite a bit but hated the mileage. So I bought a 2005. Trying to sell the Ford now.

 

Me too. I was on the Hemi truck club. Ever been on there?

 

I don't think anyone touched on this yet but in terms of the packages offered on the tacoma.

SR5 is your electronic equipment package probably would ad all the standard features your f150 has.......

TRD offroad is essentially toyotas version of the fx4 package

TRD sport is kind of like the harley davidson package

Hope this helps

 

Nice truck OP! I like that color alot!! You get the five-o?

 

Nice truck, I have always liked the look of the new 150's. Tacomas are pricey (I own 2) but does it make it up on fuel cost versus a full size truck? I would think so but thats just my opinion. Can anyone confirm? Thnks

 

No EcoBoost badging so more than likely he did get the 5.0.. although with the Supercab he could still have the base 3.7 in there I guess..

 

Yep, 5.0L. I drove the ecoboost too. It was about the same power, I just prefer naturally aspirated, and the 5.0L sounds like no other stock v8 I have ever owned. You can hear all 360 hp this engine makes! Its not loud, just sounds good. Oh and on the gas mileage, it is rated 14/20, so about the same as a Taco. According to the real time mpg gauge, it appears that it may do better than that. Wish I could have both this and a Taco. Maybe I can get a beater Taco sometime down the road.

 

Nice choice man, I wish I could afford a new F-150.