Advice and opinions welcome: different models

We, parents, are getting son used Tacoma for college graduation. Very open to advice and opinions about years and pros/cons of different models.

Any problem years?
Any problem models?

Wondering about buyers remorse over wrong model: regular vs access vs double cab.

Gas mileage makes me lean toward reg and access, room for friends leans me toward double cab but will bed be too short?

He's a young geologist so off-pavement and hauling rocks or granite slabs or ... could be in his future. He's likely to hit some dirt roads for camping/fishing, but doesn't appear to be an extreme off-road fan at this time. Barbecues, bikes and surfboards and ice chests and tents for cargo.

I guess I should find out the weight of my boat since he might tow and launch that on occasion. So that raises the question of how much boat the tacoma can handle.

Talk to me good people! I value your thoughts and want to spend our money wisely.

 

V6 is really the only choice for towing, access cab gets better MPG than the double cab. Most folks prefer the auto tranny with the V6. 2007+access cab 4x4 Sport with some beefing of the rear leafs and Bilstein 5100's would handle everything you are describing

 

Double cab short bed or access cab sport 4x4 and you should provide him everything he could need. I would also skip the first two years of production (although my buddy has an 05 and the thing is solid). Since the depreciation is often negligable between 05-06 and 07-10, I would look for a newer low miles used Tacoma. FYI, I found a great deal at CarMax on my 2010 Sport 4x4 and then bought the platinum 100k warranty for under $900 (See thread here).

 

Oh and by the way, we have a few geologists on this forum, once he has the truck he should join the forum!

 

You should sign him up now and get his post count up. Give him the keyes with a card that has his UN and PW

 

couldn't have said it better myself. . .well, im sure i could have, but that would require an effort which i will not be applying. so, .. ok.

 

Access Cab 4x4 4cyl will probably provide the lowest total cost of ownership and fit the level of utility you are looking for.
Auto trans so he won't have expense of replacing the clutch. Service it out front to back and he will be good to go. Later if he wants a double cab to haul friends or a V6 for power he should be able to take care of it.

TC

 

You dont need all the frills either of a TRD package despite what all these guys will say. lol. Have had a sport and an SR5, unless he plans on doing some heavy offroading or likes the look of a fake hoodscoop and some small creature things the SR5 looks nice and will serve just fine will also give you some wiggle room in price.

 

... or OEM roof rack, which I enjoy and seem to get a pretty good rap.

 

Wow! Some great advice. The quality of the TacomaWorld forum seems enough to warrant the Tacoma over other makes. Read everyone's comments and appreciate all. The UN and PW suggestion with the keys seem like a great fun idea. Thanks. Will keep reading. This forum makes me wish I had use for a Tacoma. I might have to borrow his now and then.

 

Unless the truck has been in a flood just pick one you like.

I like buying from private individuals; you can meet them, see how they've treated the truck and decide for yourselves. Be prepared to change the trans and diff oils right away and some nice high pressure gas shocks would be nice, too.

Keep that oil clean!

Good luck in your search.

 

no matter what, your son's gunna be stoked. im jealous of the double cabs at times but know i made the right choice with the access cab. the short beds on the dcabs are just too. . . . . short.

 

this is why I traded in my double cab TRD sport on a newer 4wd access cab Sr5

 

well, it's a done deal.
We, because we could, tried to buy our son, the good one lol, a new tacoma, but he held his ground and said he wouldn't feel right taking a new car as a gift and stuck with used. He opted out of short bed double cabs and decided against 4x4, says he'll get truck of his dreams when he has a real job. So, after a lot of shopping around he went with 2004 (prefers 1st gen look) prerunner. It came with an amp and subwoofer and a shell. One happy kid/young man. Thanks for your feedback/input.