2008 Tundra to 2016 Tacoma?

Hey all,
Was an active member here when I had a 2005 Tacoma that I owned from 2008-2011 when I traded for a 2008 Tundra now with 112k miles. Had the Tundra since then, completely paid off and pretty decently modified. Supercharged, LT headers, King Coilovers, Demello Winch bumper, etc etc etc. So I'd either part it out and trade it in or find a private buyer who is looking for a pretty well built truck.

Lately I've been thinking I don't need a full sized truck anymore - especially one that gets 14mpg on road trips. So that brings me a unloading it and picked up a Tacoma - I'd go for the DCLB TRD Offroad and pretty much immediately upgrade the suspension and tires (Something comparable to ICON stage 7 and 285/70/16s most likely).

Any thoughts on this change? I know that it won't be nearly as fast as the Tundra especially with bigger tires but who has some real world experience with power and MPG with a similar set up?

Also in the equation is my 2004 BMW 330ci ZHP which I could sell privately if I do pick up a Tacoma since I wouldn't need it for gas mileage anymore.

Maybe I'm just rambling but anyone have any thoughts?

EDIT - I'd get a 2017 to get that new fancy rear window and transmission updated

 

After you do the suspension and bigger tires I doubt the MPGs would be that much better than the Tundra.

 

If if your not wheelin tight trails, keep the Tundra. Don't get me wrong I am very happy with my 16' taco but I do sometimes miss my tundra. I would compare it to riding a rice rocket then going to a moped.

 

Not to mention the Tundra is way more comfortable

 

I went from a 2009 Tundra Crewmax to my 2016 DCSB Tacoma. And I really miss that Tundra... I too did not need full size anymore since I wasn't hauling or towing 9,000 lbs worth of tractor like I used to and I'm just a single guy, no family so the Crewmax was a bit overkill though the roommates always loved the space on road trips and I did fill it up form time to time.

The MPG difference is there, but not as significant once I put some AT's on the Tacoma. I got about 14.7 combined average in the Tundra and around 17 highway. The Tacoma gets about 17.5 combined and about 16.5-17 MPG over 70 on the highway. Under 70 it can easily hit 19-20 but that's rare for me. It almost does better in the city than on the highway actually.

If I could do it again, I would have just kept the Tundra. I had hit over 100,000 miles and figured I'd sell it before anything started to go south. I'm actually looking around for a lightly used Tundra and seeing what I could get for my Taco.

Odds are I'll just keep the Tacoma but man I miss the power of the Tundra. The little 3.5L has virtually no low end torque but it gets moving over 4,000 RPM to redline.

Biggest plus the Tacoma has though, it fits in my garage! Easier to park and maneuver too.

Old guy.


New guy.


At least the new Tacomas look good!

 

Hope it isn't a buzzing vibrating rattle trap like my 2016

 

Bretts - Thanks Man! This is pretty much we're I'm at too. Bought the Tundra for towing boats which I don't do anymore. Tundra barely fits in my garage right now and doesn't fit at all with my RTT mounted. Don't have any kids so I don't need the interior space but my friends do like the big back seat for road trips.

I'm worried too about the truck going downhill and don't want to spend every weekend working on the Tundra and my BMW (it seems like I'm always doing something)

I know that I'll miss all the power and it's been fun but I just don't NEED it and do want something easier to park. Also having the new gadgets (camera, nav, bluetooth, etc) will be a nice change.

 

Sounds like you have one badazz Tundra... For me, coming from a lightly modded Titan, the power difference with the 2016 Taco took much getting used to. It will be DRASTIC for you. I would definetely test drive first. However, by now I'm used to it, and I have come to really like this vehicle. It's just a different setup. MPG wise, a modded 2016 Tacoma with heavier tires will not get you great gas mileage. Stock form, highway cruising is great. I'll get anywhere from 21-25 mpg to/from work. However, when city driving or going up steep inclines it will go to 16-18. The final deciding factor for me was that I just flat out wanted a new truck, and didn't want to wait to get super high miles on my Titan before trying to sell. If you offroad, and it does sound like you do, then bypass the GM twins. Suspension setup is hands down better with Toyota. Have fun shopping!

 

Sure thing! Only thing that would make me pull the trigger on a switch is trade in value. If it's not even close then I won't bother. I was looking at a 2014 Tundra with 11K miles that would be of similar value but it likely won't pan out.

I do enjoy the smaller size 90% of the time and despite the short bed, I've fit quite a bit of stuff back there with the tailgate down. My motivating factor for selling the Tundra was milage, hadn't had a single issue when I sold it but like you didn't want to try and sell a 200K mile truck and have components start going out from age.

It'll still hit 110 if you give it time But it's not all that bad, still better than most of the econobox 4 banger rentals I've driven. The gadgets are also sweet! I had a Rock Warrior which was basically the base model with add ons, so it was a single line display in the gauge cluster, basic radio that I later upgraded, etc. The nav is so so and I'd rather use Google Maps but the Entune system otherwise is pretty nice and quick for playing stuff off an iPod, and it has radar! Keyless entry on the TRD models is pretty sweet, I never have to take my key fob out and the push button start makes you feel like it's a sports car or something Sounds like one with the Magnaflow system, seeing as it's shared with the Lexus GS.

It's certainly more manageable off road and fits on the paths carved out by Jeeps pretty well. Clearance has yet to be an issue on the stock suspension. I did have to lift my '09 a bit after I hit the front on some stuff.

 

Whats the change with the rear window on the 2017 Tacos?

 

Power