Poll: Are you happy with your Tacoma?

I love my truck, although the early twenty-something in me is missing my 315 AWHP WRX that I traded to get it. The truck is much more practical for every day life, with plenty of room for friends, my dog, and cargo all at the same time! I also plan on buying a fixer upper home in the next year, so having a truck to haul all of the materials I will need sounded like a good investment. I was down to choosing between a F-150 FX4 or the Tacoma, I chose the Tacoma because I don't like driving full size pickups every day, and the Tacoma meets all of the towing/hauling needs I'll have.

 

Digging mine. Needs a shell, needs better leaf springs (WTF Toyota?) and although I have spent years in a bench seat I'd love to put buckets in my singlecab. There's room, but the whole airbag thing makes that a non-starter.

After I do the following:

Shell
Some decent lookin' rims
New tires
Replace shitty factory leaf springs (the one thing that I'm REALLY not happy about with this Taco)

Then I wouldn't mind dropping it about an inch. That or sway bars. The ride is cushy but sloppy. I'll give up some cush for getting rid of the slop. Suggestions welcome.

 

Less than 1,000 miles on it... So far I love it (with the exception of the cab whistle I hear when I'm not rocking out loudly enough).

 

Serously. I have 3500 miles on mine and the Leaf Springs sound like they have been abused for 200,000 miles.
Other than that its a solid truck.

 

What do you mean "single coat clear coat?"

Do you mean single stage paint? Not trying to be an ass, just genuinely curious.

 

Not sure what he was referring to, but the paint on my truck chips ridiculously easy. Only had it for 9 months and have numerous chips. Maybe black is more fragile than other colors?

 

Pretty much all modern paints are ridiculously soft and chippy. You can thank the government sorry that one, since they no longer allow the old strong paint due to the VOCs.

If you'd like to prevent it I'd suggest adding a clear bra to the areas that get hit with road debris.

 

Just passed 1,000 miles on my 2013 double cab... loving it so far. Almost bought a 2013 silverado LT but it was the most boring test drive I ever went on. Really glad I went with my Taco

 

My issue with my 2012 double/short 4x4 is gas mileage! I did expect better. I baby the truck and normally get about 15mpg. Truck has 28000 miles on it. Its definately broken in. Also downshifts at above 55mph going down inclines driving the tach up and certainly using fuel.

 

Old paint guy here. It's not the government. It's the painting robots. They can (and do) put on a thinner coat than any human can.

The old paint was strong but would shatter like glass. Brittle. I loved it because that was a big dollar repair. When they went to the urethanes, the same impact that used to knock a hunk the size of your hand off would then just put a quarter-inch ding in it. Most people wouldn't even bother to get that fixed. Behaved like rubber because it was rubber. I got out of the paint biz about that time.

Now they got rid of the humans and robots spray your cars. They're good - really good - but the coats they put on are so thin that they show damage a lot more than they did a decade ago. The repair guys are happy again. The customers, not so much. But it keeps the costs down. As to the long-term quality, well, we'll see in a few years. I have some reservations about it. Thin paint coats are good for some applications, but I'm not sure the leading edges of a car is the appropriate place to skimp on an ounce or two of paint.

 

How old do you mean when you say "old paint?"

I've measured paint thickness on early 80s cars all the way to my new truck....all are between 5 and 10 mil unless there is some special circumstance.

The less durable paint due to VOC restrictions is a fact, not really debatable. I'm not so sure about paint thickness, because like I've said I've tested MANY cars and they are all around the same thickness give or take a mil.

 

I believe it is the VOC's as well, they are all water based now. I do know that some manufactures spec for a thicker paint. My wife's 06 LS430 has a pearl paint that is somewhat thicker than what I have seen.

 

Howdy neighbor! I'm in Cumming as well.

 

Absolutely love it. DCSB TRD OR.
Now the wife wants one for herself!

 

Yes!! I love my truck. Just wish it had leather.

 

I absolutely love mine. I enjoy driving it as much today as I did when I bought it almost 5 years and 70,000 miles ago. I will buy a new one soon if finances allow. This time do a long bed 4x4. Only regret.

 

My only problem is my wife finds every excuse to take mine!

 

I love it, very satisfied.

 

everything is great...except for dashboard squeaks and being a little bit under powered.

 

Love my Tacoma, had a 2012 SR5 4x4 and traded for 2013 Limited 4x4 same color! The only things I don't like is no lights in the floorboards or under the hood but I can fix that easy enough!