Buy gen2 or gen3 for $5500 more?

I'm torn between a CPO 2013 TRD Off-road DCSB with 36k miles and new 3rd gen TRD Off-road DCSB. Basically I'd be paying $5500 more for the 3rd gen which I can afford so money is not my issue. At the moment I'm leaning towards paying a few grand more for brand new but am uncertain if the new gen is worth it now since there's still a lot of kinks to work out from the sound of things and I don't want to wait for subsequent model years. Suggestions?

 

Buy the 3g. Almost everyone loves it over the 2g.

 

I am on my second Tacoma (1995 which I had for 14 yrs and my current 2016 TDR OR) and I am totally happy with both. Not a bit of problem with either.... If it was me I would not hesitate to go with the new 3rd Gen.... new is always better.

 

Do you like either of them better? Appearance aside there's a lot of built up knowledge about the 2nd gen to tap into for repairs and mods plus by 2013 they were pretty much on cruise control building them without drama. To me $5,500 isn't chump change. Plus the 36K truck will have all it's initial issues either already fixed or should be evident.

One thing, I bought a CPO from a dealer (my 2008 in Jan 2015 at 42K) and I would negotiate the price down. It's likely priced at the top of the market value being CPO and honestly their certification process is bullshit and trying to get them to do anything under the so-called bumper-to-bumper warranty is a pain. The first words from their mouth are always "normal wear and tear for a used truck." So that's their starting position and you have to work to get the whatever it is fixed.

 

3rd Gen!

 

I was in the exact same situation. Absolutely love my 2015!

 

Well since you say you can afford the difference, I personally would go with the new one. It's a no brainer.

 

2nd gen

 

'13 is the best year. Temp and compass in the rear view mirror FTW.

 

Lot of folks having issues with their 3rd gen that Toyota is slow to acknowledge, much less fix, under warranty so in that sense the warranty on the 3rd gen has been next to useless for me.

Consider the money you save on the 2nd gen, on top of that the money you lose when you drive that 3rd gen off the lot....

Financially it's still smarter to buy used. It won't depreciate like the 3rd gen. Although we love to rationalize to ourselves why it's cheaper to buy a brand new truck so we can smell plastic and adhesive offgassing for 6 months. Then it's back to sweat and farts smell.

 

After four Tacomas (08,14,15) I decided the Third Gen is much better even with the few flaws it has that are being looked at, We got a TSB for the howling and one for the transmission two of the most irritating flaws.

I am getting my oil changed this week and will ask about the transmission TSB. Otherwise I am satisfied although I do hear a very faint bearing type noise that goes away when accelerating and is apparent when coasting, Not worried about it. I bought an ESC from Toby at Shreveport Lexus. 8 years ,100K platinum Toyota ESC, for $1050. Not the Fidelity ESC SE Toyota sells.

Although this is the first time in a long time I don;t have a "toy" car and a bike. I am looking at a few roadsters for local fun in the sun.. I am done with bikes. Too hot. On my short list is an RF Miata ( not released yet) , Spider 124, 370Z, or maybe an Infiniti G37


I digress. I would say if you only have one vehicle buy the 3rd Gen, If you have another you enjoy driving buy the 2nd Gen and use it when you need a truck. Since I have a large yard with plenty of grass to haul away I need a truck as well for picking up top soil and Lowes stuff that would not fit in any of the listed "toy" cars.

 

I'm pretty happy with my 3rd Gen. Given the choice you have, I'd pick the 3rd Gen without hesitation.

 

Financially the 3g makes more sense. 3 model years, 36k, full warranty.

But I couldn't do it, because I still can't get past the size/look of the 3g. Sorry, just the way I am. Wouldn't matter if everyone was sprinkled with fairy dust and there were not a single mechanical issue.

OTOH, I think the '13 is overpriced. Yeah, I know 'resale', 'Toyota tax' blah blah blah. Still not enough spread for the age/mileage.

Ask your insurance agent what a payment would be on the totaled '13. Ask a banker what the loan value of the '13 would be. Might offer some perspective?

 

Yeah but you are buying a buzzy lawnmower motor with no low-end torque. The 4.0 has more usable torque and gets similar MPG.

 

I would be curious why the previous owner traded in his 2013 immediately after the warranty was up... 3yr/36k (assuming he did not have the extended warranty).

Drive them both and see which one you like the most.

 

I bought a used 2nd gen (2013). I figured most of the bugs should've been worked out of the truck that late in the production cycle of that generation and think of all the toys/mods you can get with $5500.

 

It may have been a lease?

Besides the insurance, another financial aspect that people neglect is the tax, license and registration. The first couple of years of a new car can be quite a bit more expensive at the DMV. Total cost of ownership and all that. All things being equal I bet the real difference is closer to $10K than $5.5K.

 

I love my 3g, haven't had any issues with it like most people on here. I jumped from an 01 to the 16 so what really sold me on it was the interior much better than the 1st and 2nd gens. Personally loved the redesign as well, to each their own though good luck op!

 

Drive them both and see which you prefer. The interior of the 3rd gen is more upscale, refined and comfortable but some prefer the low end grunt feel of the 2nd gen. I drove many 2nd and 3rd gens both back to back and overall preferred the feel of the 3rd gen.

But each person is different, what I like may not necessarily be what you like.

 

If the extra cost doesn't matter. 3rd gen. would be my pick. I love mine.