Goodbye 2005, hellooo Gen 3 - a mourning thread

Last week, the day after I moved out of Babs, my 2005 Tacoma (Access cab, TRD Off-Road, 6' bed, 245k miles)... on move-in day to my new house home, I was hit by a driver (Subaru Crosstrek AWD) who'd lost traction on the mountain pass I was crossing to get home. I'd been turned around at chain control for this Mid-May blizzard, and had to buy CHAINS (ugh) for my truck with new M+S tires since I was towing. Sadly and gratefully, my beloved home/friend/vehicle took the hit and kept me safe, though she's now a Total Loss. Both me and the other driver walked away from this, for which I am *so* grateful.

I've already picked my replacement, though I'd really been hoping to hold out for the 4th Gen and hopefully a hybrid/electric model. I'm also just annoyed as heck to have to buy a new vehicle in this market. So, welcoming a 2019 Tacoma 4d Long Bed TRD Off-Road in Cavalry Blue. Not thrilled that this model will be bigger with a weaker engine and the same gas mileage, but excited to be able to carpool and dang, it's a head turner!

While there's a small lifetime of memories in my truck, we said goodbye as gently as I could, and she's off to salvage. I can't overstate how reliable she's been - the only time my truck EVER wouldn't start was a weekend I was about to see an old flame so she clearly had my back - and I'm posting this in tribute. In the last year, we've traveled about 25k miles, to every state west of the Rockies. I've never slept better than the nights off some random Forest Service road under endless stars. End of an era for me.

Welcoming advice on the Gen 3, anything to be aware of, and thanks for letting me honor my best Home-y Tacomy








Updated with pictures of correct truck

 

Welcome to TW!

Sorry for your loss but congratulations on the newer truck all the same.

Be sure you visit and share those amazing photos in the multitude of photography threads too!

 

Thanks!! I've always lurked for the amazing advice here, figure it's time to participate

 

Thanks for the welcome! I am so so so grateful. Fortunately, I was in 2nd gear, 4W-Hi, with chains on the rear tires and going about 20mph. Winter collisions tend to be pretty slow movers with mostly property damage, I learned from CHP.

I'd been pretty bummed at the limited options available for sale near me and tight market, and had the *mindblowing revelation* I could buy a vehicle anywhere in the country. I'd been admiring the Cavalry Blue for many years and found myself one in Oregon, so need to get myself up there and drive the 6 hours home to Tahoe!

 

I also look back fondly on my 2005. BTW, the photos you posted of new rig are not long bed. It's a double cab short bed, and therefore not longer than the access cab LB you had previously. Love that color!

 

Welcome and glad you are not hurt! This truck does not have a weaker engine, you just gotta rev it higher!

 

Congrats on the upgrade!

 

Congrats on the 3rd Gen (regardless of circumstances)! I recently made the jump from 2nd Gen (2006 Sport with 260k miles) to 3rd Gen also! I'm a big fan of the cavalry blue too, great looking truck!

 

Thank you! I fully admit I'm not much of a mechanics geek and am just usually grateful for a truck that goes. I'd been told that the shift from 4.0L to 3.5L meant lower power, more hunting for gears, and a bit of a sense of underwhelming ooomph. Can you tell me what you mean by just "rev it higher"? I'd always loved how much power I'd been getting in any scenario, and heard there's some after-market tune-ups to support better performance in Gen 3, but haven't looked into them yet.

 

What a story full of awesome memories! Sorry it had to go out like that and glad you're okay. Congrats on the new one! You're right, that is a head turner indeed but the old one was too. The engine should have more power (on paper, these things like to rev so keep that in mind) and get slightly better MPG. Also, that is a 5' short bed..
Good luck! Welcome to the forum.

 

Ya'll have me scared and I called the dealer back! Confirmed 60" bed via the window sticker... they'd assured me it was a long bed. I'm about ready to ask them to go out with a tape measure... I absolutely want the 6ft bed or I can't live in it.

 

You'll miss that extra foot of bed space. Love the color though.

 

60" would be the short 5ft bed.

 

Embarrassed that I'm so out of it that to me that is thinking that meant 6 feet panicking slightly

 

It happens, it's Friday, math should be outlawed on fridays anyway.

Depends what you're using it for I guess, but the four full size doors and normal sized back seat has been way more useful to me than an extra foot of bed space. My 2006 was also a double cab short bed.

 

I'm admittedly on some painkillers and muscle relaxants for the whiplash the collision caused, which makes me loopy. I also thought I'd financed the wrong amount and nearly redid my full auto-loan process. Maybe shouldn't be rushing into a new vehicle but they keep selling out from under me (one literally sold while I was calling the dealer)

Previously it's been a home for significant periods of time - so needed that 6' bed for sleeping and easily carrying two people for multiple days. But my life is changing so much right now it's hard to predict what I'll be doing next.

 

Yeah those pain killers can mess with ya!

I suppose an option could be some sort of bed-top tent or small camper in place of sleeping inside the actual bed itself. There are definitely options for that even with a short bed!

 

Sorry for your loss, I know exactly how you feel. Lost my 1st gen ('03) with 220,000 miles last August when a young kid ran a red and totaled it. I was with my son when it happened. Luckily, there wasn't anyone hurt but my prized beloved Tacoma died that day. It saved my sons & my life so I am blessed about that...I was pretty lucky to find this 2018 Tacoma pretty fast though. I'm getting used to it but its just not the same as my trusty '03. Oh well, time to move on I guess...

 

Solid point - I'm also only 5'5 so probably could fit quite comfortably in a variety of build options.