Thinking about losing my GMC for a Taco - Advice?

I currently own a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab with the 5.3. Love this truck. Love the LS engines - bulletproof. BUT, I am under a predicament right now.

I want a vehicle that I can use to haul junk to the dump, pull my four wheelers, take on trips and go on roadies/off road with my friends. I feel like my GMC doesn't meet the latter. Its such a pretty truck I'm afraid of it getting scratched or rock chipped etc etc.

I feel like I would rather put the money into coilovers in a 2nd Gen Taco OR 1st Gen Tundra for the more all around truck for everything I want.

WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO is add another vehicle to my already started collection (09 GMC, 99 Buick, 1971 Ford F250). Cause my other option is (since I paid off my four wheeler) to buy a late 90's early 00's Taco for fun and beating around while keeping my GMC.

It was either I get the fun off road "di*k around" truck and keep my GMC or I get rid of the GMC and get a newer (09-12 Taco or (04-06 Tundra).

I apologize for the long drawn out first post. I've had two Toyota's in my past ('84 SFA Pickup & '92 4x4 3.0) and I've always enjoyed there nimbleness, size and reliability.

I don't need any negative replies/remarks to my GM ownership. The LS engine is proven to be the most popular modifiable engine in the world. Thanks.

-Zach

 

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking.

The GMC truck is a good cowboy Cadillac, but if you want a capable off-roader that doesn't stress you out, get the Tacoma. You'll have a lot more fun with it.

 

Buckoma, I'm just basically asking for encouragement to trade off my '09 for a Taco haha!

 

Sounds almost exactly like another new member earlier this week.


Like you said, you want something you can beat up. You already said you will invest in a suspension kit, so go with the older less expensive models to give you more play room.

 

Toyota's can take abuse. You'll get mod fever with a Tacoma, so expect to sink $2-6k extra into mods. Keeping it stock with aftermarket coilovers won't last long... trust me

 

A DC 1st gen Tundra isn't really much smaller than your GMC (in some ways it'll be larger), and it's going to be down a little on power and torque because it's an older truck. I think they're something like 275 HP/315 TQ. If you're looking to downsize, I'd go with a Tacoma.

If you go for one with a 4.0, I don't think you'll miss much performance-wise. Whenever I've driven a 5.3, they drive me nuts downshifting on every single hill--GM guys tell me that's the torque management. The Tacoma is obviously lighter and the 4.0 has an extremely flat torque curve so it always feels like it's got good power.

 

These replies are awesome. Thanks guys.

 

I went from an 06 Silverado LT2 (with this 5.3 that you love so much) to a new 2014 Taco. The Silvy was an extended cab. It's frame was starting to rust. I offloaded it some. It made awful creek noises when I did (beam flex they call it. I call it a shit-frame) When I washed it, the roof flexed and you could hear it in the cab. It had 89k miles and the front end was going to need tie rods and bushings soon.

The Taco has a more ridged frame and it feels like it flexs less to me. Granted, it's over 1000lbs lighter. It just feels more solid. Silvy had more power, the 4.0 with a manual is decent if you get her wrapped up to 3 or 4 grand, it's a bit less than the silvy but not much. The Tacoma is better in snow and can handle abuse better. It's been almost two winters now, no signs of rust on the frame. The Taco is much easier to park in town and easier to drive around town in.

Negatives, comfort. The Silvy was plush and a cowboy caddie compared to the Taco. I've heard the third gen is better, but not much. The Taco is more cramped. The Taco came with a really shit stereo...but the converse is it's much easier and cheaper to upgrade the stereo than compared to the Silvy (I stayed with the stock 'Bose' there). The Taco has a plastic bed. It seems fine though, I don't haul much. Just had to put 450 lbs of sand in the back to get some traction in the winter. Yes I have 4wd, but a good driver with a manual can do a lot of things in this truck in 2wd on ice. It is that good.

So is it better? I can't say yet. I have over 18k miles and I havn't had to put any money into the Tacoma. I hadn't put any money into the silvy at this point either. I think the first major failure in the Silverado was a front wheel spindle going out at about 40k miles costing me 400 bucks (dealer wanted 700 to fix it, I told them to fuck off and drove it to another mechanic, making terrible grindy noises).

 

timothom,

my past two Toyota's were manuals. I am definitely gunning for a manual trans Taco if I go for one!

 

If you are towing and going on trips, spend some money to service your GMC and pocket the rest. Sounds like it's in nice shape and better suited for your needs. The 5.3 will last as long as the 4.0 will with the same mileage for a heavier and larger truck.

 

This takes me out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8E_zMLCRNg

 

Use the Ford for hauling and towing, ditch the GMC, buy a Gen2 Taco, and come to the dark side!

 

I do like my manual trans. It is a pleasure to drive where I live. I like it much better than my auto Silverado tranny. I hated how that high-geared bastard would shift down from Overdrive all the time. If I had a 15 mile headwind in that pickup, I couldn't use cruse control going 75 mph on a flat road. FORGET about cruise going that fast on anything with hills. It had the high gearing, 3.23 I think. The Taco is lower geared, and does about 2500 rpm at 75mph. That being said, it pulls hard there, and handles most hills in cruise control at 75mph in the high gear. No need to shift to down. This alone makes me love my Tacoma more than that Silverado.....

As far as MPG on the highway goes..they are roughly equal. The Taco might be 1 or 2 better...but it's not a big difference in at the end of the money when I have to pay the credit card bills....

 

I went from this to to

 

And I'm stoked. All have ups and downs ,but I'm happy

 

Doittoit

 

To me it really does feel like a more solid vehicle. The frame, the drive train, the ride...the Tacoma just feels more rigid and well built. Plus, I like to wrench on my own stuff. And working on the Tacoma is defiantly easier than working on the Silverado.

 

Joe D still comments

 

But, I didn't...or did I?

 

Joe, it's a bigger mystery than who was the second gunman on the grassy knoll?