What started your love for Tacomas?

This is a positive thread, so if you don't love your Tacoma then please move on, and I mean that in the nicest way possible!
In 2010 I picked up my first Tacoma, an '01 Base 4x4 2.7L 5spd with 140k for $3400 from an older gentleman down the street. The truck was in immaculate condition and I couldn't help but feel like a bit of a criminal for getting it so cheap. It was an excellent daily driver and unstoppable offroad. Countless carefree miles on Michigan 2-tracks and trips to Silver Lake sand dunes later and here I am. The proud owner of a new 3rd Gen! A truck just as capable while also catering to my wife's demand for control of the A/C.... on her side. Dual climate control for the win!

Lets hear about what brought you to be a happy tacoma owner!

 

Too many trips to Hawaii. Can't go more than a minute without seeing a taco.

 

I love off roading. Always had jeeps except the one time I had a standard cab taco for a year. It was great. Finally made it back since Jeep still hasnt released the gladiator for ordering.

 

You ever notice the birds seem happier in Hawaii than stateside? Very peaceful sounding songbirds, by comparison.
I need to confirm it isn't just me.


Oh, and I love the Tacoma reliability and peace of mind..

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Back to the Future. That Toyota pick up was everything I ever wanted in a truck. Oh and the girl too. I was about 6 and that was subliminal advertising at its best.

 

Had my 1st tacoma in the 80s. Had to turn the hubs to lock 4wd. It was the right size truck. Most others were too big.

 

Prior to buying mine, I had wanted one for years. To me they are the best looking midsize truck and every time I saw a 2nd gen I was jealous of the owner. I remember finding a 2009 double cab in spruce mica which IMO is one of the best colors on the 2nd gen. it had 36k miles on it and the dealership wanted 28k for it and would not budge on the pricing. At the time I had just switched jobs and just couldn't make it work financially. But would drive by all the time to see if it was still there. After a few months it was gone. Fast forward 2 years and I was finally in a position to get the truck I wanted. Originally wanted a CPO 2nd gen but realized the price difference between that and a new one was fairly nominal. Went in to the dealership on a 2015 black double cab, left with a deposit down on a new 2017 black double cab manual. One month later the sales guy called me and said they had 3 manual off road models on the lot but none of them were black. 2 White and one Red. They applied the deposit to the sale and gave me a deal so I drove out in one of the white ones and haven't once wished it was black.

TLR- Always liked them, lost out on a good one, ended up with a great one.

 

Saw a '16 Taco at a McDonalds one day, and started the plan from there.

 

I grew up camping fishing and hunting in a Toyota pickup. My old man had a 1994 22re Extracab 4x4 which he kept stock for most of its life, I had no idea what these trucks were capable of nor how capable they could be when modified. When I got my license I bought an 86 Toyota 4x4 truck, right around this time the 2nd gen Tacoma’s was just released. If I remember correctly, there was a commercial of a Tacoma getting eaten by an animal/creature and spitting it back out. Not exactly sure but that was the moment I thought to myself, I need/want a Tacoma. Haha
Fast forward 3 22re pickups and a 4Runner later I bought my 2017 Tacoma TRD Offroad

 

This what got me started BTTF:

 

Not really a "love" of Tacomas, but was looking to replace my 98 Wrangler with a 2018 Wrangler, and started reading about problems they had, plus it was the first model year of a bunch of new technology for the Wrangler (including the engine starting and stopping all the time). I'd had very reliable experiences with three other Toyota trucks and a 4Runner (we won't talk about the 88 Toyota van on a family friendly site), so I looked at Tacomas. One thing I admit I forgot about was checking used cars for an FJ Cruiser. I am happy with the Tacoma I bought, even with being on the recall list for the brake cylinder.

 

I've wanted a Taco since I was in middle school..I saw a blue one and was hooked from that point on. Now I'm on the road of saving money and getting my payoff amount down on my Frontier so I can be a proud owner. Love to see all the positive stories

 

I bought my first Tacoma thirty days ago because I am retired and no longer need a full-size truck to tow my boat.

Three of my friends have been Tacoma owners for more than six years, none of them have had any problems with their trucks.
Took a 500+ mile road trip with one of them and I was impressed with the ride and interior comfort of their mid-size truck.

When I'm not fishing I'm hunting so I need four-wheel drive to get to my hunting spots. Took a look around and noticed quite a few dog hunters driving the backwoods in their Tacoma's. Easier to get around on the logging roads than a full-size vehicle, better gas mileage, and fun to drive.

This website is new to me, I am learning a lot of good information here and enjoy looking at the different modifications other members have done to their vehicles.

 

A used 1st Gen was going to be my first vehicle, but we couldn't find one that my parents were okay with me having. I've always wanted one and now that I can afford one on my own, I got the truck I always wanted. I love it and wouldn't give it up for anything!

 

I came from a 2013 VW GTI, into a 2016 Audi S3 and after many trips to PA and dirt roads for days, it was time for a truck. I always liked vehicles with a cult like following and what other truck has that other than the Tacoma? So anyway, September 2018 I drove over to Toyota, traded in my Audi and got my 2018 TRD OR DCSB in my favorite color (next to Taliban Tan) Cement. Let me tell you, I’ve never been happier. Not to mention the forums remind me of the GTI days when I cared about my vehicle like nothing else. Something the Audi never had.

 

4x4 mid/long travel options.

 

6MT.

 

First vehicle was a hand me down 84 Xtra cab 4x4. I loved that truck; it went everywhere and did everything. Sold it during college (huge mistake!).

After I graduated and got my first job, I bought a 2001 Xterra. It was a capable machine, but I could never find the love for it. After 250k miles it was finally coming apart and needed to be replaced.

Bought a 2016 DCLB TRDOR in Super White with all options (Tech, Premium, JBL) and the love came back. Once again I have a go anywhere, do anything Toyota pickup and couldn't be happier.

 

The First Generation for sure.

 

It was time to replace my Ranger. I ordered a fully loaded Ranger. After a suitable period of time I asked the salesman what the status was.
They hadn't even placed the order yet! I walked away. If they had placed the order then, it might not have been built anyway.. The production line might have been shutdown earlier than it eventually did.
They were trying to unload an Explorer Sport Trac on me. No thanks. When I looked at what was available for what I wanted, it was a Tacoma OR. Without question.