Next Tacoma

$41K for a truck is pornagraphic. No wonder they miss all the truck and SUV sales.

 

Sorry to blow your assumption but I've driven both an Explorer 4x4 and a Bronco II 4x4 to almost 300,000 miles without any significant breakdowns. I do keep my vehicles well serviced but I didn't even have to replace the clutch on the 5 speed. I did have to do some radiator work on the Explorer but that was it.

 

Brand loyalty is blind. Go to the Ford Truck forum and you'll hear them all tear apart Toyota, GMC, Dodge, etc. or go to the GM Truck forum and... you get my drift. I think the Tacoma is a good truck but am disappointed at the lack of options including options that anyone who spends loads of time working in their truck would appreciate. I agree that if Ford were to bring a new small pickup to market with all the bells and whistles, it would take sales away from Toyota.

 

+1
I'm 45 years old, and remember when trucks were for working. Just my opinion.

 

Ford, generally, makes good trucks. I'd drive one.
But to me the bells and whistles are things like ground clearance, roll-over resistance, tightest turning circle......
All things considered, I love my Tacoma.

 

They still are, but they are also now used for other things and more comfortable. The truck has evolved into a much better and more flexible vehicle than it was in the past.

 

Gnarly!

 

My guess is that the feeling of the company would be that the majority of those wanting that much luxury would steer towards the SUV models, whether they be Toyota or Lexus.

They need to be able to sell enough of any given model to make it worth it for them and quite possibly feel the other related models have it covered for the majority.

 

I suppose you're right.
It seems like it's getting harder to find an affordable "base model" for working though. A friend of mine was looking to replace his '91 Toyota Pickup with a newer model of the same and found out all the ones they made they were carpeted and had air conditioning and cloth or leather seats instead of vinyl like his old one. They cost too much for him, so he kept the old one. (which he continued to beat like red-headed step-child for 225,000 miles. ) It was still a goer when he sold it.

Rob

 

The funniest thing I've seen is on my old Neon. Didn't have power mirrors, but it had that little knob to adjust it... on the driver side only The passenger side, where it's actually hard to roll down the window, then reach outside to adjust the mirror, had no knob.

 

Toyota is expert at leaving just the those last 2 features off its base trucks that we have come to expect on every vehicle - to get you to trade up and then you get even more options you DON't want. It's all about getting more cash for each vehicle. Cash Flow (EBITDA) is the game.....

 

I think that options are great!! As long as some of them stay just that - options!! Something like leather and heated seats, or even a workable toilet seat in the driver's position for some would be great as OPTIONS. Would it be to much to ask for tailgate locks - STANDARD?? Toyota also tends to offer different things in different parts of the country. Some things get offered only on the east coast and not on the west. Fact of the matter is that not everyone will agree on everything that is or will be offered on our trucks, but it is the possibility of the choice that you will have to get or not get the items in your truck. I am very happy with my truck and think that for the most part Toyota has done it right. There are always things that can be improved, but that is the same for all automakers. I would never drive another brand of vehicle.

 

I bet your gonna need a heated steering wheel too. I dont wanna have to open my door how about a automatic opening door.

 

I just wish Toyota would go back to building the trucks that made their name well known and respected in the offroad and working mans community instead of trying to capture the biggest market share with a one size fits all mentality.
Too much compromise has to take place when you are trying to please the entire broad spectrum of the public.

You end up selling a truck to a guy that wants to haul a decent load in back but has crappy springs to appeal to the should have bought a car guy that wants a cushy ride.
The Mall cruising Soccer Mom gets plenty of cupholders and the high school kid wanting to look cool in the parking lot gets plenty of shine, but neither of those are what the working man needs in an off road truck and Toyota tries to appease him with a locker and big ass Off Road stickers all the while hoping that he will overlook dragging mud flaps over every bump and bush encountered along the way.
I'm willing to bet the engineers today no longer even have a clue what an approach or departure angle is or why an offroad truck needs it.


I have been buying Toyota 4 X's since 1979 and with every model change it seems I have to spend more and more in order to get the truck to fit my needs of just wanting a truck and still fall short of even coming close to the first one I drove off the showroom floor back in 79

Just give me a damn truck that I don't have to print off a TSB to argue with a dealer to put truck springs under something they are selling as a truck.

I'd love to see Toyota get back to the basics.

The Yuppie Bling Loving, gotta have every option known to man long ago destroyed the Landcruiser as being a great affordable off road utility vehicle with the requests for leather seats, wall to wall carpeting, and push button gadgets, the last several years they set their sites on wrapping their perfectly manicured fingers around the pick up truck.

I'm afraid it won't be too much longer before you will have to squat down to get in the pick up truck but I'm sure you will be able to cruise along in nice cushy heated electric powered leather seats to keep your ass nice and comphy for your daily cruise down to the mall to do a little speed bump offroading.

 

I think you can get leather in the TRD Double cabs now as an option? Am I wrong?

But the more goodies you throw on the more to go wrong later on. I like the basic purpose for utility first nature of the Tacoma too! But I don't have a problem with giving the customer the extra options if they want them. Heated mirrors should be standard! Yaris' have it for crying out loud!!! MY 2Xcents

 

I hear ya man! If you want Fancy buy a Lexus RX330

 

Im with you man, next truck probably wont be a toyota

 

you know the way I think of it is like this. lexus is toyotas luxury brand. Toyota is to Lexus as Honda is to Acura and also Nissan is to Infinity. Not sure if it makes sense or not. But thats some more .02 of mine

 

I waited for years for Ford to offer a modern 4 door Ranger with the FX4 package. you're right, that would be sweet.