Why did you pick your Tacoma over another choice?

I’m not a truck guy and in a tight spot at work (I work for an ad agency that works for Toyota but a newbie).

I’ve been assigned the task of explaining all the reasons why Tacoma owners picked a Tacoma over other choices — especially in “truck countries” like Texas, and OK — although I'm thinking there isn't much difference. As a New Yorker, don’t want to mess this up.

I’m responsible for the real reasons real people pick Tacoma and not the reasons corporate people think. I've got to share what I learned in a meeting and look like I know what I'm talking about. So I figured why not ask.

(Mods) Is this kind of think O.K. to ask here or is it not cool? Just trying to be smart, you know? Apologies if this is out of line. I asked the same of Tundra owners and they were awesome helping out. Thx all!

 

Welcome aboard new member

 

My first experience with Toyota was learning to drive on a ’73 Toyota Corona. Later, when I was a young adult in the market for a compact pickup, I went to the local car show and sat in the Toyota, Datsun, and Mazda trucks. The Toyota Pickup had the most comfortable bench seat.

For 11 years, I used that ’86 Toyota Pickup as my daily driver and put over 300,000 miles on it. It still had its original exhaust on it. That should tell you something about quality. Of the very few times I didn't buy my family a Toyota, I’ve regretted it. I am a strong believer of keeping a car until at least 200K miles.

About a year and a half ago, my ’06 Matrix hit 200k and I was in a financial position that it was my turn to get a new vehicle. (I prefer driving a truck but had to switch to the Matrix because of gas was too expensive at the time.) I started looking at the Tacoma because its cargo size fit my current needs. The Tundra is too big. I wish Toyota would bring back the compact truck.

When the 2020 Army Green Pro was first shown, I was immediately sold on it. I absolutely hate white, black, silver, grey tone vehicles. Especially when they are the most common colors. I really like the color of my old ’86 Pickup. Beige. It never showed dirt. I want the Pro because of its capabilities right off the lot. With my lifestyle (and age), I don’t have time to do the mods myself and I like having a warranty. Also, the driver seat was improved for 2020.

So, to answer your question directly, my top reasons on getting a Tacoma is reliability, capability, cargo capacity, and seat comfort. It also helps that the Army Green color with graphics look bad ass.

Very loyal Toyota fan.

 

I was between a Tacoma and Ranger when shopping around. FWIW this is my first truck and Toyota. I have driven an F150 and Frontier, but as rentals.

Ranger Pros:
- More comfortable all-around, driving felt better, and seat was comfortable
- That ecoboost is nifty; truck is very quick
- Gas was better
- Backseat was a little roomier than Tacoma
- Towing was better, but I don't tow much

Ranger Cons:
- Interior felt cheap
- Too expensive for what you get
- My other car is a ford and am not optimistic about getting another
- Didn't have the bird's-eye camera (needed mostly for the gf)
- Backseat didn't have much storage and didn't fold down flat
- Looks weren't too bad, but Taco for sure looks better

Overall I went with Tacoma for the touted reliability, looks, modability, and support group (this forum). I bought a 2020 so power-seating helped with comfort as I've driven my friend's 2nd gen and that thing is killer on my back on trips more than 20mins, but still not ideally comfortable (why does the steering column not extend past like an inch?).

 

OP, I am a New Yorker too (Westchester though) but figured I'd answer

Reliability was a big one for me. While I have backup vehicles, this is my daily. I do not want to be stuck on the side of the road. Toyotas have that bullet proof reputation I wanted

Size. Occasionally I do need to go into Manhattan and even my lifted Taco is more maneuverable than a full sized truck. I also am getting into off roading and a full size would not be right. Why not a Ranger or a Colorado you might ask?

Heritage. Toyotas have the off road heritage that I wanted. These things run forever

Slightly related, aftermarket. Look at this site. It goes back over a decade, full of info. If a question hasn't already been answered, someone here will know the answer. Parts are readily available as well

I will admit, in a lot of 'truck' circles, people feel the need to buy American. I did for a while, too. America = Pickups. I don't need no rice burner truck (Despite me being Asian...). But it just made sense for my life. It's good year round, I can haul stuff, my 6'2" girlfriend fits in it unlike my Miata, but it's also not that horrible on gas. It's not great, but it's not an old V8. Enough pep for what I need, but I still have the ability to tow

 

Welcome aboard.

I try to live an "active" lifestyle, so when my 94 Hilux was killed in 2008, I narrowed my search to three vehicles: Honda Element 4x4, a FJ Cruiser, and a Tacoma. All would take my bikes to any trail I wanted to ride. It eventually came down to what would I get more use out of, which is why I settled on the X-Runner. Being able to take garbage to the dump or pick up a load of mulch pushed the Tacoma over the top. Since I didn't have a lot of "off road" trails near me, I probably didn't need a 4X4...it was more of a "nice to have."

Once I settled on the Tacoma, I had 4 requirements: air Conditioning (duh), manual transmission, access (or crew) cab so I could put a gym bag in the back seat, and a LSD. When looking at Tacomas that met those requirements, the X-Runner sort of jumped out at me. It's nice having a "sports car" truck for my daily commutes to work, or driving "twisty" roads on the weekend.

I looked at Chevy S-10s and Ford Rangers, and neither appealed to me. Both looked like stripped down, bottom level crap buckets when compared to Silverados and F-150. It appeared that both manufacturers just wanted to put something out, and didn't want to waste any effort to actually compete with the Tacoma. No idea if the current Ranger is worth checking out. I know you have to remove a wheel to change the oil filter. WTHeck????

 

And how many "American" trucks are built with foreign parts. My 2020 Tacoma Pro was built with American hands!

 

Where I’m from in Hawai’i everyone has a Tacoma. It’s very reliable and cheaper to maintain. It fits in parking garages and in town tight parking spots. You can load up surf boards and kayaks and beach stuff. All while still being able what furnishings to the new place you rent every year. I recently moved to Oregon and see a decent amount of the tacomas an I brought mine with me. I can see why people own them here. They can get down almost every trail to those hard to reach camping and fishing spots and they are great truck for most Home Depot runs and loading up mountain bikes and skis and snow boards. They are a very versatile vehicle.

 

I have a 2020 TRD OR Premium and it's my second Tacoma and my 4th Toyota. My wife also owns a Lexus RX350 and previously a Camry, so we're loyal to the Toyota brand for many reasons, but the the Tacoma was the truck I always wanted.

I chose the Tacoma the 1st time and my new one because of:
1. Resale value
2. Dependability/Reliability/inexpensive to maintain
3. No reason to own a full size truck (owned a '14 Tundra CM and hated parking and driving around town due to it's size)
4. Most aesthetically pleasing mid size truck in my eyes
5. The aftermarket mods are endless
6. My current knowledge base on the Tacoma and this forum helps it continue to grow

 

Welcome to TW! I’m pretty loyal to Tacoma’s for many of reasons posted above, I’m on my 4th one. The only real downfall to Tacoma’s is the frame issue, if Toyota could make the frame issues go away then these trucks would be bulletproof. Even if you experience the frame rot within 12 years of the in service date, Toyota will replace it. I had a 2000 Tacoma that I paid $13k for it in 2003, and in 2010 Toyota bought it back for 11,775 because of frame perforation...Who else does that??

 

Welcome to TW!

 

I picked mine really because of the way it looked and drove didn't like the body style of the other small trucks Honestly the other ones was ugly to me but that just my Opinion

 

I picked a truck cus it saves gas

 

well I'm not going to lie it don't get as good as gas mileage as my car did but for a truck it great and my job said I need a truck so I got on