Which Tacoma do I get?

Is this too rusty?

 

My .02

After this happened to my 96 Nissan I began researching a replacement. I wanted a small single cab, preferably with a 6 cylinder.

First thing I learned is small trucks are a thing of the past. Only medium and large now.

Second, manufacturers targeted the family market and turned their backs on those looking for a work truck. So single cabs are nearly nonexistent.

A Tacoma access cab seemed to be the best fit for me.

Researching Tacomas, I read from multiple sources the v6 mt is preferable. Finding one was harder than expected. I quickly learned being picky or thinking about one would mean it sold to someone else.

6 months later I’m still driving a borrowed car and don’t have a truck. Time to get serious.

I absolutely hate going to dealerships but went to one recommended and highly rated. Every used Tacoma had a 4 cyl auto transmission. So I talked with a salesman about a new one. Of the 3 pages of Tacoma models, 1 had a v6 mt. I test drove a v6 auto transmission 4wd. Got on the freeway and stomped on it. It felt adequate but not fast. We talk pricing and availability. It would have been around 30k and a really long time. I decided to give myself another 2 weeks to find a used one.

My v6 mt xrunner has been adequate for my needs. Occasional trips to Home Depot, sams for cases of water and such. Once to help my brother pick up a large order of tool boxes and shelf units. That one really taxed the brakes but the suspension managed the load adequately.

Pros. Being a xrunner it has a lower bed height so climbing in, loading and unloading is easier. It handles twisting roads incredibly well.

Cons. Gas mileage is not good. The 6 speed transmission isn’t like a 5 speed with an additional higher gear. It’s more like a 5 speed with an additional in between gear. I don’t use 3rd accelerating, just occasionally decelerating. The stock radio sucks, speakers worse. Brakes aren’t great but it does stop, abs kicks in and works when necessary.

There’s 6 lug and 5 lug models. 6 being the bestest one. 5 being the inadequate bastard step child.

The second generation covered a long time period. Off the top of my head. 05 v6 have head gasket issues. At some point they changed to dual variable valve timing, electric brake booster, that’s all I can think of right now.

Happy hunting.

 

Oof that picture is so sad glad you’re okay though and I agree car shopping in general kills me I keep looking for a car that probably doesn’t even exist. Anyways I found a Tacoma near me and snagged it because my car was sold and I just needed something asap kinda no more wrx

 

Ouch

 

Oh my god right when I get back home from getting the new Tacoma I go on fb marketplace and a waaaaaaay nicer one for only 2k more popped up in the same town I’m in brb crying myself to sleep now

 

Stay away from any kind of used car sites for a long time. If you don't you'll see at least one better deal daily. At least, that's what happened to me. Still glad I bought what I bought, but damn, if I had just waited two or three more days... Lol!!!

 

Congrats looks like you got a nice truck. Don't worry about what you might have missed, it will only drive you crazy. Instead focus on the nice truck that you got.

 

Congrats on the new truck

Use that $2k savings on mods to make yours even nicer than that one. Or just roll around in it and put it in the bank, plan a vacation, etc.

 

Welcome to buying Tacomas in Montana. Wait and get a good one.

 

Take a look at L.C. Engineering, as I bought their Street exhaust header, which adds 10% more horsepower to the 2TR-FE by reducing back pressure. It's a bolt-on solution, though I added their stronger mount studs kit to my order. The reviews note that it reduces the amount of downshifting required in going over the passes (I'm driving WA, OR, ID, MT) which would be a good thing. Fuel mileage depends on weight, in cars as well as airplanes (in boats, it's better to plane with that hull design than to plow...). (40% greater cross-section area in the four equal length primary tubes, and it fits in the existing space. Download the instructions before you consider any order.)

 

Waitu for the 4th gen.

 

Best current Tacoma to snag: 2015 Crew Cab V6, 4WD, TRD Offroad, 6 Speed Manual. It's becoming a unicorn, will hold it's value forever.