Love Hate Relationship

I purchased a 2021 TRD Off Road loaded. As a car enthusiast, I would like to say that it's a very cool vehicle and fun to drive locally. The truck is killer in the snow and I'm sure off road.
Truth is, my area does not get enough snow, off roading is not conveniently located and I do not like the trucks highway manners.
I would like to switch into a midsize SUV. I know I am going to take a financial hit regardless. Opinions needed on what is the least painful way to unload. Is there a private party market for a truck so new or should I just bite the bullet and trade it in for sales tax savings on next vehicle?

 

Best bet is to try and sell privately. Might take a while and you might have tire kickers or low ball offers. Or you could shop around and see what places will give you the most for the truck. A local dealer and take advantage of the tax advantage or Carmax, Carvana, Vroom, etc.

 

What do you dislike about the "highway manners?" If it's gear shifting, powerband, etc, having someone flash OVtune might solve your issues. Most folks (including myself) charge $250 to flash and it addresses most of the transmission complaints. List here of flashers here - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/vf-ovt-flash-feelers.672354/

You could always check the carvana value on it. Then run the numbers of the carvana offer vs trade value + tax savings and see which way you come out ahead.

 

I have the exact truck as you. Is it like a Range Rover or our lx570 - definitely not. However I knew that going in. For me it’s worlds better than my 4 cyl ACLB 2018 Tacoma

at the end of the day, life is too short to drive vehicles that don’t suit you

we don’t have tax savings on dealer trade in here - so I would have sold private party due to truck shortage and recoup all the $.

in your case a dealer trade in a new suv will likely work out best for you

in 2016 I traded a 23 day old wrx with 871 miles to a local dealer. Hardly lost anything at all - so it all depends on what you paid for it

good luck with your decision

 

Honestly with the amount of money you are going to lose trying to trade it in, I'd try getting it tuned first.

 

I don't want to bash the truck because many love it but it is soo underpowered on the highway. I feel like I am constantly on the gas. Could be the shifting IDK. I drive my wife's Pilot which is boring as sh1t but much more road worthy IMO. I know it's apples and oranges. If I lived in proximity to Off Roading, it may be a different scenario. I could feel the trucks capability.

 

I don’t think you are bashin. most of us are logical adult enthusiasts and not blind fanbois.

No vehicle is perfect, and if it doesn’t work for you that is what it is.

Curious - 1) You didn’t test drive the truck before purchasing ?

2) you didn’t live close to offroading prior to purchase as well, right, since you keep mentioning there is no offroading nearby?

 

Push the ECT button and if you like it, then consider the OV Tune !

 

Does no one try cruise control?

 

I get you, man. I ended up in the Taco as a huge compromise of what I was shopping for but I absolutely love what I can do in the truck. Offroading weekly, living in Michigan it tends to get snowy, and the property management for our acreage is much easier with a truck to help. I do stop by and lustfully look at the M3 Competition they just got in at our local BMW dealer and get slapped down by my wife for it - I only get one toy at a time she says I know the driving experience of the M3 will blow away the Taco, but it sure will suck in snow and won't get me off on trails and the yard chores will be back to unpleasant.

 

I hear carvana is paying good money for tacomas.

 

If this is your primary complaint, it is a very common and warranted complaint. An aftermarket tune can fix this but will require some research on your part. It is primarily a result of the throttle and shift tables / logic in the stock tune. The 3.5 engine makes plenty of power so all that is required is modifying the throttle and shift tables to get it to behave better. I have tuned mine using the vF Tuner software and my truck no longer feels underpowered.

Check out the several OV Tuning / vF tuner threads if you are interested.

 

Spend a couple hundred $$s to flash that thing with an OV tune before you loose a few thousand $$s trading it in/selling to get a different car.

 

I did test drive. Also test drove full size trucks which were very nice on the highway but just to big for my needs. Didn't realize that this truck didn't agree with me until I did some highway commuting. I liked the idea of a pickup for house projects and carrying my bikes. I mentioned off roading because if I could do more of it, I would take it as a compromise because I'm sure this thing kills off road, similar to a jeep.

 

Any issues with warranty?

 

Sorry it hasn't worked out for the OP, but it happens.

That being said, for a fast trouble free sale, I'd get a estimate from Carmax\Carvana that's good for a few days, then go to the stealership and see what they have to offer. If the tax trade benefit is in your favor it should be a no brainer decision to make

Good luck

 

I still don’t get the it’s underpowered on the highway thing. I’ve driven my truck over 2000 miles in one trip and I just drove my sons Tacoma on a 1600 mile trip. Both trucks drive exactly the same, I’ve said it before I’ll now say it again the skinny pedal on these trucks takes a bit of learning/finesse. I have never thought these trucks are underpowered just the opposite I pass way more people then pass me. Learn the truck get the tune if needed but this truck is not underpowered unless your comparing apples to oranges.

 

Same here, out on the highway is where my truck basically wakes up.

 

Exactly mine loves to go fast I was actually surprised at how quick my truck actually is.

 

I guess I'm not the only one who feels the truck had adequate power, huh!