Why did you buy your Tacoma?

When it came time to buy a new truck nothing else appealed to me. I had a 94 Toyota truck and had no real issues with it. I looked at what was out there (Oct 2005) and I ended going back to Toyota and I'm very happy I did.

 

Simply couldn't find a ranger that fit my requirements (4cyl, manual, 4x4, ext cab) in SoCal... I could have done a combo of 6cyl/auto/4x4, but had to have 4x4 and ext cab...

So I ended up with a 6cyl/auto taco... I like it.

 

Grew up riding in my dad's T-100 when I was a kid (which btw was an absolute workhorse). He sold it in 2003 for a new reg cab Tundra when he needed more umph to tow our Edgewater after selling the Boston Whaler. Parents bought me an '08 reg cab as a beginning of senior year/you're gonna go to college gift. It's suited my needs up until now just fine - there's room for my road bike, my spearfishing gear, pool lanelines, etc. But anyone who has ever owned a regular cab knows, it's not all that spacious with one other person. I've saved up enough over the past 6 years and worked hard enough that I'll hopefully sell my '08 reg cab that has 53k miles on it and possibly buy the new 2016 model that we're all itching to hear more about when the Detroit Auto Show rolls around - fingers crossed

 

My 1988 Bronco finally died on me. Needed something that could haul 5 people and a pop-up trailer into the Shenandoah mountains, but could still fit in a parking garage in DC. And I wanted a stick-shift.

I couldn't wait for a special order, I needed something to commute in, so I was stuck picking from what dealerships had on the lot. That literally narrowed it down to a blue Frontier SV or a grey Tacoma Sport. The Frontier was cheaper, the Tacoma was a better color and had a skewp. The rest is history.

(I'm not joking, the color was part of my decision, the two trucks are extremely similar when you look at them without bias)

 

My dad had one when he was my age, and even when I was a toddler.

Also, I love Top Gear (the real top gear, not the lazy american bs "top gear") and saw this before I got my license:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk

I was sold, then they drove one to the North Pole...

 

Oh come on, you think lighted switches would make a Tacoma less reliable? I think they are just keeping production costs low to maximize profits.

Anyway, if anyone figures out how to get lighted window switches by using another Toyota part, I'm in.

 

ive had a car and different trucks over the years one of them died on me one day.
so i decided to go get a new one and that was when the first gen came out in the double cab and the stealer ship wouldn't deal with me.

My credit at the time was not that great so my grandmother said lets go look at this place and settled on a F150 know its gone and i got a 2006 DCLB sport 4x4 and love it it was everything i wanted and then some

 

I really wanted the convenience of a truck again, but didn't really need a full size. And the only full size that would fit in my garage would have been a regular cab, short bed. I never owned a Toyota before, but my neighbor has a Tundra and he loves it. I did some research, compared prices and capabilities of the Tacoma and full size "Big 3". When I bought in June of '13, Toyota had deals going on, the dealer I purchased from gave a good price and did great on my trade in, and the rest is history. So far, really like the Tacoma. Has easily met my needs, and having the capability to fit 4 people in the truck when need be, towing a small utility trailer once in a while, and even the 4WD during a snow storm last January has made it seem like I almost knew what I was doing when I decided to go Tacoma.

 

Because my 99 PreRunner did this, and they wouldn't let me drive it off the dealership lot!



It worked out though, they gave me $9500.00 for my 99 PreRunner Standard Cab 4 cylinder and they gave me a 2013 AC SR5 as a loaner until I bought something else. Which was kind of nice because it allowed me to get used to all of the changes between the 99 standard model and the newer one. Sort of like an extended test drive.

 

I had a 94 4Runner. It was time for a new vehicle but I did not like the new 4Runners. They gave up cargo space for extra rear seat space. Since I rarely had folks back there I decided a truck was a better fit. Didn't want a full sized truck. At least, not yet, anyway. So the Taco fit my needs. Very happy about my decision.

 

Went from my Titan after Nissan gave me the boot when my front diff was about to explode with less than 50k miles..

 

All my previous vehicles played a part in buying my Tacoma

Purchased my 2014 Regular Cab / 4WD / 5 spd new in June 2014.

Reason:
-New vehicle (clean slate, not inheriting other person's issues)
-Warranty
-Toyota quality
-needed a 4x4 truck
-4 cyl mpg



Previous '06 TSX - sold June 2014
-sold due to being an 8yr old vehicle, so numerous "needs" kept arising. Just didn't want to spend my time and money fixing items each month


Previous '10 Silverado, sold Feb. 2013
-sold due to buying house and didn't need a 15 mpg daily driver.




Previous '08 Civic Si, sold Jan. 2012
-I was just ready for something more "grown-up" and itched to have a truck again. So sold it. Shouldn't have done so though.




Additionally not pictured:

2001 S-10 ZR2 - sold June 2008
-was great other than all the little gremlins... door rust, 3rd door handle broke every 2 months, front wheel bearings every year, HVAC control vacuum leaks, air pump failures.
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee - sold April 2004
-First vehicle. Wanted a Cherokee or Grand Cherokee. This one was spotless so I bought it. But transmission ended up slipping, full exhaust needed (exhaust manifold too), and shocks.

 

Seven years ago I was in the market for a new vehicle and so was my mom. I ended up going with the brand new Jeep Liberty and she went with the Tacoma (based on my recommendation). I sorta envied her when it came to having a bed for things like fishing poles and beach stuff when I had to take care of keeping the back of my SUV clean, but by then it was too late. Then I got a new job which included a 105 mile commute so I got a smart car for the 40+ mpg. Once I moved closer to work I was ready to upgrade in size and comfort. Plus, my husband and I are ready to grow our family and he has a Jeep JK so one of us should probably have at least 4 doors. So the first (and last) place I went was the Toyota dealership so I could finally get that Tacoma I've had my eye on for 7 years. By the way, my mom is jealous of mine now because she likes my Spruce Mica better than her silver and my short bed over her long bed

 

Had good luck with Toyota's overall. Worst luck with Fords (engines), Fair luck with Chevy's (older ones), never considered a Chrysler product. I will say I'm glad they don't salt the roads here seeing the incredibly rotted out frames on this site. I think the Taco is a good truck, but it needs some competition in it's size market to keep them honest.

 

Had an '89 Tacoma 4-banger that was tough as nails. I put over 100k on it and then gave it to my son who drove it through college until he rammed the back end of his girlfriend with it. (that didn't come out right). One day I pulled my boat 60 miles with it with zero (yes, zero) water in the radiator. Just turned the heater on high to cool down the engine ( I was in a hurry to fish and didn't have time to stop and put water in it). Didn't hurt it a bit. After that I knew I found a reliable vehicle and went out and bought the prerunner.

 

I bought my '07 Access cab because my I needed a 4WD and the Tacoma was an awesome ride. It was everything I needed in a truck at the time. Looked cool on the road and was just a fun ride. Then I got married and needed something with a little more room in the back so I said hey, why not another Tacoma. I ended up with a DCSB which was great, honestly missed my Sport, but the Off Road was a great buy too. I just wished the long bed was available on the off road.

On a side note, even though I no longer have my Tacoma, if the needs of a full size didn't supersede it, I'd have another one in a heartbeat .

My Sport 07


My 2011 Off Road

 

I own an 01 taco ext cab 4x4 .most reliable vehicle I have own...but too small for my kids..so I needed a bigger truck..after looking at used prices for a Tacoma..I decided to buy a new one...proud owner of an 2015 red dcsb 4x4 with the xsp bling..(got a good deal). .love it so far..

 

lol! That's what I told them at the dealership! The only reason I took it right in is because I thought it was pinching the flexible portion of the brake line. Otherwise I would have had four bald tires on it and the factory stereo and speakers back in it. As it was, the service manager was nice and had his guys pull my Sony head unit and replace it with the factory one I still had. They wouldn't go with changing out the brand new tires though.

 

It's my number 5 Toyota pickup guess I'm a slow learner. My first Japanese pickup was an 64 Datsun 320 had a hand crank in the tool kit.