Long term ownership experience

Hi Folks -
I've been a member here for quite some time so I thought I'd share my long term ownership experience. Here's the background.

2008 base access cab. V6 SR5 automatic in Passion red. Factory tow package. My only regret is I think maybe I should have gone with the alloy wheels as my steel wheels are getting kind of beat up at this point due to long New England winters, but alloys would probably be beat up too at this point!
Accessories I've added are few and include, Tacoma OEM seat covers, AVS chrome hood protector, extang trifold tonneau cover, replacement weathertech mud flaps (OEM's were too long and eventually broke), Husky cargo liner (I've always kept the rear jump seats folded down), Toyota OEM all weather mats (wearing thin these days) and a GTA car kit (wired connection/charger to OEM stereo for iphone)

Recalls have included spiral air bag cable, seat belt restrainer bolts, gas pedal reconfig (cut shorter due to law suits), frame corrosion treatment (didn't need new frame) and leaf spring notification (yet to be addressed).

I've followed the recommended maintenance (almost) to the letter. All done at the dealership. My service record book reflects it with dealer 'stamps' for all of it. I've used Mobil 1 every 5k since new. I average about 15k miles a year so I bring it in about every 4 months for service. The average cost for a minor service which includes synthetic oil change, tire rotation, inspections of this and that averages about $90. I had the plugs changed at 60k, I also had the coolant and break fluid flush at 100k. In addition, the front brake rotors were turned and new pads installed at 65k. I also replaced the original Dunlop grand trek tires at 65k. I had to replace the battery at 38k miles for some reason it just died. I figure at around 130k I'll be needing front brakes , tires and plugs again. I will definitely get Dunlops again as they average about only $100 each and last 65k miles. The rear brakes are still good since new but i'm assuming they will need attention in the near future as well. I still have original exhaust, and belts (still good).

That's it! Absolutely NO mechanical failures other than the battery. It's just been routine maintenance and maybe a half dozen bulbs throughout the years. The cost of ownership has been low in my opinion. Much lower than I expected and much lower than my previous truck, a 1999 Ford Ranger that gave my all sorts of mechanical problems by the time it hit 120k miles.
I'm absolutely happy with my purchase and would buy another one in a heart beat. So for those pondering buying a Tacoma, I 100% recommend this truck. Thanks for reading my long winded review! JJLOCO

 

UPDATE:
Truck owned 8 years, 1 month to the day. Still ZERO mechanical problems. No visible body rust at all. She turned 135,000 miles this morning on my way to work. On my 3rd set of tires now. Still only one front brake job done at this point but i think i'm getting close to needing another since the brakes are starting to feel a bit mushy.
This is by far the most dependable, low cost to own, vehicle I've ever purchased. I plan on running her into the ground. The way it's going, I hope to get at least another 8 years out of this truck.

 

Great review John!
It reminds me of Demoncleaner's reviews from upstate NY.
Simple and on point.
Glad your truck has been a good one

 

I've owned mine for 6 years now and I agree its the best value of any vehicle I have owned. No break downs. 1 tire change. Original brakes (67k on the clock). Best of all when I drive it I still get the same smile as I did the day I bought it. Tacos FTMFW!

 

I was stalking jeep forum yesterdayand read this. The topic was wrangler vs tacoma. "I had 2008 Tacoma Prerunner. It always started and I never had any problems with it. My 2010 Wrangler has been in the shop twice for computer problems stranding me 5 miles off road. my vote is for the Taco. If my jeep breaks down one more time I'm going back to a Tacoma" so even the jeep guys know tacomas are better

 

My 2008 was the best vehicle I've owned, I did all routine maintenance and replaced the tires, zero mechanical issues.

 

I had a 2004 AC Off Road from Jan 04 til Dec 14; 310,000 miles. Only regular maintenance . Still ran like a top. Sold it for $7500. Bought a 2015

 

Same experience here. Had a 2006 DC LB 4x4 Base model for 7 years and only thing I've done is the front brake pads at 6 years /120 000kms. Sold it at 7 years /140 000 kms for $15k.

It's a bit reassuring to see there's others stock Tacos. By hanging there, one might think everyone had lifts...

 

Certainly not "long" term, but 64k miles in 15 months of ownership.

I follow the service manual on everything and document it well for the lifetime powertrain warranty that my dealer has on all new Toyota's. I'm on original brakes and battery at 64k. Changed auto trans fluid @ 60k. Front and rear diffs and t-case are on 45k intervals. Mobile 1 every 5k with Toyota filter.

Outside of service manual: take-off vibes denied by Toyota. Smoked Bluetooth (pairing my iPhone 6) denied by dealer, out of warranty (mileage) @ 11 months old. Transfer case bleeding fluid, repaired by dealer. Left front axle needle bearing denied by dealer - normal. Squeaky leafs denied by dealer - normal for trucks.

Not too bad for heavy use and I will continue to support Toyota by purchasing their vehicles, as they simply go the distance and fit my lifestyle.

Between 2001 and 2011, I had numerous Ford Taurus' (yuck) for company cars and never did I have issues such as above. Could have been lucky, we'll never know, just sayin...

 

I've had 3 different 05's. 1st one I bought new 4cyl/4x4 5spd. replaced stock tires at about 5k miles because they sucked so bad in the snow. Then nothing until about 70k miles when the A/C compressor locked up. a few months later my brother in law's 05 did the same thing. Never fixed that, just took the relay out. Then 5k miles later one of the front wheel bearings went out. 2k miles later the other side went. About 2500 miles later the alternator went. Sold the truck at about 105k miles.

Bought another 05 V6/auto 4x4 the same day for cheap. Had 112k on it and 2 bad front wheel bearings, smoked front brakes, and a broken 4lo switch on the transfer case. Easy fix considering my newfound experience with changing wheel bearings on these. Then about 2 years later at 140k the plug where the transmission connects to the wire harness rotted out. That was a fun one I left up to a friend's shop. They had to replace the harness inside the trans and re-pin the truck side harness. The truck developed an odd shifting issue shortly afterwards where it would occasionally pop into neutral for a second between 2nd and 3rd gears. I sold it and drove a beater 96 for a year.

A year later I regretfully sold my 79FJ40 and bought my current truck (another V6/Auto/4x4 double cab) with 121k miles on it. Super-clean and red, the color I wanted all along. A week later a rear spring snapped. Replaced those. A few weeks after that it blows a head gasket. Fortunately still under warranty from the Toyota dealer I bought it from so they fixed it free of charge. A few months later the alternator goes. A few weeks later the belt tensioner fails and I lose the belt. Replaced all the pullies and tensioner and of course a new belt. Then last year had to replace both front calipers, one front wheel bearing (both fronts went before 100k according to service records) and rotors up front. Truck now has 158k on it.

I take very good care of my stuff and do lots of preventative maintenance. And I haven't done any real off-roading in years. Honestly although I still think these trucks are great and I wouldn't trade mine for any other brand of truck out there I don't think they hold a candle to the durability of the 95 and earlier trucks. I've had 15 different Toyota 4x4's over the years from FJ40's to solid axle pickups, a few IFS trucks, and 4 1st gen tacomas. The old stuff is the best of all of them. Problem is they are all REALLY old now. And I've gotten used to the cushy new trucks that can actually get out of their own way too.

 

I did the almost same thing. Sold mine at 290k.

 

I have owned 4 tacomas I now have a 2015 limited. I never had a problem with any of them with the exception of mu 2010 that needed a u joint at 86000 miles. I do maintain my trucks very well 3000 mile oil changes etc

 

I'm going to sound old here. I have had Toyota trucks since 1990.

 

Wow! That's great! These are stories for a Toyota commercial!

 

So I must sound even OLDER....My first "Tacoma" was before they were Tacoma's.....I bought a brand new 1984 SR5 the day they hit the lots. Hands down the best money spent on a vehicle in my lifetime. Also had an '86, SECOND best truck I owned. Then a '92, a 95, then a 2000 Tundra. Now a 2011 Taco. They all rank amongst the best vehicles I've owned. Had a few issues early on with the Tundra, but nothing serious and Toyota stepped up and took care of those problems. The 2011 is solid as a rock and a VERY fine vehicle. No complaints. Then again, I didn't expect a rear window defroster or power cup holders..........like some people who've openly complained about what they DON'T like.

 

traded my 99 prerunner(4cyl) for my 2010 prerunner,other than belts,tune-ups,brake pads,tires,i didn't(haven't) had any problems with either truck.the 99 was auto and so is the 2010,no problems with either..the 2.7 (99) was a bit underpowered on the interstate for passing and maintaining speed on long upgrades..around town it was fine,the 4.0l is decent around town,and can feel kinda sporty when you feel like driving that way..but you pay for it in MPG,maintains highway speeds without too much kick-down from the tranny,i upgraded the 99 with bilstein 4600's(big difference,lasted 10 yrs) the 2010 has 5100's(.85 on stock sport springs) and tsb leafs,with the 4dr I have much more room to store useless junk,and even with the short bed,i can still load 3 dog crates(1 model 500 and 2 400's) with the tail gate extender.the 3 gens are nice...can't dig that grill thou..not a chrome-guy.