Consumer Reports 2013 auto issue=has Taco #3

You may want to rethink your economics. The Yen is currently at a near 3 year low to the dollar. CNBC, Yahoo Finance and Google searches provide daily financial information.

 

I agree. I'm not afraid to say that I overpaid when I bought my Tacoma, I was fresh out of college and I had two salespeople working the exchange (the salesman... and my wife). Two years later and I have substantial equity in the truck and they are begging me to trade it in. I'm not sure I could say the same with a Ford or Dodge. When it's time for me to "upgrade" I will consider the domestics but I have a feeling I will go with a Tundra.

And also, I think CR tries to mix up their reviews to keep readers interested... if you write the same thing every year people start to get tired of it. It's a strategy that works for a magazine but not so much a vehicle.

 

the lower the yen goes, the stronger it gets... it can be confusing but you are thinking in terms of JPY/USD when CNBC, WSJ, YAHOO Fin. all have it as USD/JPY

 

The problem with CR is they are whimsical. They will fall in love with something that one car company offers and until there is parity they only give "best buy" status to their new favorite.

I remember back in 2000 and 2003 when they listed the Jeep Grand Cherokee as projected to be a reliable car with good resale value. LOL..

Bottom line, like others have said, the Tacoma is a little basic right now. But while some things like the heated mirrors and power seats are nice, I wouldn't be willing to pay more for them.

I do wish they had the diesel option, but that is market and regulation driven.. clearly not sometime Toyota is unwilling to do. In 1, 3, 5 years just look at the frontier or f150 residual value. I trust Toyotas reliability and residual value over all except MAYBE the Honda.

Lastly this truck isn't liberal with the gidgets, gadgets, whizbang creature comforts and foot massagers. It doesn't spray aloe vera into the air automatically and you have to turn the headlights on yourself. The suspension is stiff (on my TRD sport 4x4 anyway) and doesn't float along like an Avalon so CR was predisposed to dislike it.

 

Ex has a 2001 Grand Cherokee and the only thing that broke on that was a $75 power window actuator that I fixed in 45 minutes with minor tools. The 4.7 V8 is a brute of an engine.

 

Yeah them numbers don't lie...

 

I wouldn't say you overpaid (speaking generally...not knowing the specifics of your purchase). Tacoma has limited rebates/factory incentives...and are always in demand so dealers can sell them for more $$ to most buyers...it's part of what keeps the resale #'s higher.

Ford makes a real nice truck. Dodge has greatly improved recently. Tundra does not demand as strong a resale as a Tacoma...but is also a nice truck.

If I needed a full size truck...I'd probably buy a Ford. I kinda think my full size truck need days are past me.

 

... ^^^ ... Ditto ... again ...
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I bought my 2006 Colorado for $18k as a last year model new. Sticker was $21k. Only thing it had that my 2010 Tacoma doesn't was 4 wheel drive.

The Colorado needed $5000 of engine work at 78k..the cylinder head went (a common issue on them) and ate a few other things. I replaced 4 cam actuators in the damn thing over 5 years.

I bought the Tacoma for $17k at 3 years old with 6600 miles. Love it. Does my jaw drop every time I get in it? Nope. Does it have to? Nope.

In general, I don't like the power toys and expensive crap some vehicles come with. Never really cared, just more stuff to break IMO. While I'll agree my regular cab would have been nicer if it had delay wipers already, it was simple to replace the switch. I don't want to spend hundreds for stuff I don't want like heated mirrors, power windows, etc.

Does it feel like my couch at home? Nope. If I wanted that I'd have bought a luxury car or something. It's a truck, it does what I need..specifically it doesn't kill me at the gas pump (I get 22-24 city with the 4 banger versus 17 with the Colorado), gets me to work every day, and does some hauling on the weekends. Nothing wrong with that.

Plus if it ever does have something off the wall like the Chevy did, I'll bet I won't get fib after fib from Toyota and get screwed out of almost $2000 for a "free" repair.

 

....or it has a hard start.

 

Honestly, do any of you really give a rat's ass what CR or anyone else thinks? I personally couldn't care any less. Other's opinions have zero bearing on any decisions I make....especially when it comes to vehicles. I buy what I like and what fits my needs. In my case that was the Taco.

The Ridgeline? Please...never on my radar.

The Frontier I looked at long and hard, but in the end just too many negatives going for it....at least for me.

The Taco? Fit my bill as close as any available vehicle could. I might add that this is the second time I have come to this conclusion. I went through the same drill back in '09...and that was when the field was a little more crowded with the Frontier, Equator, Colorado, etc.

 

When I was looking at trucks--it was between the Tacoma and Frontier. I looked at Consumer reports a few months ago and was wondering how the heck they came up with "average" reliability. It looks like a two year span of climate control problems and a couple of other things that I can't remember. I'm new to the forum, but haven't seen any AC problems that I remember.

When I bought a 4runner last year--Consumer reports actually recommended the Jeep Cherokee over it! The reliability factor--alone--should have prevented that from happening!

I think the Frontier is an ok truck for a little cheaper, but I liked the Tacoma better over all.

 

this rating isn't that shocking, the tacoma hasn't had a fresh redesign in a while. its only natural for it to fall behind in ratings as other models get redesigns.

but in saying that the last redesing for honda was 2005 and nissan 2004 while toyota is 2005, so not sure what minor changes have swayed opinions?

 

Oh yeah--forgot to mention--- The Consumer Reports 2013 buying guide has the 2011 Tacoma on the "used cars to avoid" list.

 

yes...

avoid it, because the resale value #'s are so strong...one can usually buy a brand new one for not much more.

 

Ridgeline, overprised, people are not used to a Unibody construction. Nissan Pickup has not grown up to become a mid-size. The Tacoma sells itself and their are a lot of Tacomas on the streets where I am at, not that many Frontiers or Ridgelines. They should make a census for what kind of Vehicles people are driving....

 

i just got my issue in today and well do some reading and compare to previous years to see why the change of heart, but i recall ridgeline always being highly ranked

 

hahahahaha