From luxury full size pickup to manual 2021 Tacoma!

It may be your lift and larger tires. I still have a stock tires and no lift. It's my daily and I get 23-27mpg on the highway. I don't drive over 65mph that often. My buddy has a 3" lift with 275s and he gets 17-20.

 

Definitely a lift, tires and about 650 pounds of extra weight. I’m still very happy with the mileage though.

 

I'm 6'3" and pretty much everything from a day in day out driving aspect would be more comfortable and plush in a full size than in a tacoma. But I had to have the manual while they're still around and that engagement of driving makes all the other things worth it to me.

 

Same but I’m 6’5”

 

Man...sorry to hear that you're not loving it.
A medium-sized pickup that is pretty much "behind" the technological curve in just about every aspect certainly isn't for everyone - but that's what makes it so desirable for most of us.

I think you bought it expecting something else - and that happens...

I too went from a 2021 xc60 with every bell and whistle you can imagine. Heat steering wheel, actual heated wiper blades, etc etc...you name it, that thing was as technological as they come. But I realized in the two years that I was driving that, that I missed the older, refined, rougher-around-the-edges pickup truck that I had in my 20's. The Tacoma was the closest thing I could get to that (with the safety features I've come to expect and an actual warranty haha).

No more heated steering wheel - but if it's super cold, I put my Mechanix gloves on, and blow that heater right at the two spots on the steering wheel where my hands are - just like I used to 20 years ago.

For me, I love it...but I can understand why you don't.
You shouldn't have to be "talked into" loving the truck that you have. Go make the concession and do what it takes to get into something you do love. We all deserve to be in something we love. Keep in mind the 2024 is coming out soon and will be fully-redesigned and much more technologically advanced.

 

Anyone on here isn't going to be able to "talk" you into loving your Taco, you need to do that for yourself. You aren't going to suddenly wake up one day and get warm tingly feelings because you are going to drive the Taco. If you dislike it after modifying it into the version of the truck that you wanted, you are never going to be happy with it.

Did you consider a new Bronco? Manual trans is still an option, top comes off and they seem to be extremely capable off road.

I got a 2015 base Taco a few years ago to replace my aging 3rd gen 4runner. After putting a few thousand miles on it, it became clear to me that I would never love the Taco. The seats are horrible ( at least to me) the fit/finish isn't great, I hate the twist knob for the t-case. The composite bed is a joke in how easy it gets scratched and chipped, new rear leaf springs that bend flat after a year of light duty use. After finding this site and driving into the other deep issues with frame rot, control arm mounting tabs bending with light trail riding, ect.. it just solidified my opinion that these trucks aren't cut from the same cloth as the mid- 80's Toyotas that I once owned. I find myself driving the old 4runner much more then the Taco, its more comfortable for me and just seems to be an overall better built machine. I'm keeping the Taco until I find the right deal on a 5th gen 4runner, then the Taco will go away.

One thing that does stand out for me is this community here. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many great people from my regional forum and just general conversations with other members.

 

You either like it or you don’t. If I was in as deep as you I probably would learn to love it. I’m somewhat in the same boat in that I’m not 100% feeling the Tacoma right now. I think I’d like a 1500 hemi Ram more, which has gobs more power, and gets better mpgs to boot (I’m also averaging 16-17), but I really need/want something that fits an a standard garage.

 

Some people might have a smile on there face driving a 15 year old beater but smiling for a different reason knowing they have a thick wallet and large savings account.

 

Happy as a clam with my 2021 SR5.
And I took a picture (since deleted) 3 days ago of 25.8 mpg highway ( 70+ ) mph speeds for some 32 miles of driving...

I've never been in the Kardashian tax bracket so 'luxury' to me is driving something reliable.

 

Did the opposite after having 3 Tacoma's and a 4runner and couldn't be happier. Better MPG, more relaxing to drive, and *knock on wood* less stuff has broken.

 

Thanks again to everyone who participated in this thread. I valued all the feedback. Ive decided to leave her…. I didnt like riding her much and dont think I ever will, she she sure was a looker though.

She’s packed up and ready to go.



This is the new gal (sorry the pic i snapped sucks - 2022 Ford F250 Platinum diesel, 10k miles):

 

Thats a nice looking truck!

 

You sir need a TUNDRA

 

I used to have a similar truck. Good truck, very capable, shockingly expensive if anything goes wrong.

 

Nice rig, enjoy. I had a 2000 that was similar, and it served me well for 16 years and 200K+ miles and more recently
a 2016 that also served me well for 100K+ miles. They're both still on the road, reliable, and solid vehicles.

 

I traded in my 2019 super duty ford lariat in on a 23 trd off road access cab. I would have got a manual trans if I could have, but here were none available.
I was no longer towing anything heavy, and was sick of the gas guzzling ford and driving a big heavy stiff riding truck.
To drive a vehicle that was such overkill in every way that I only needed its capacities and abilities less than 5% of the time just no longer made sense.
My truck is unloaded and not towing anything 95% of the time. I also travel back roads and jeep trails on regular basis . The ford was harsh riding and I was always struggling to fit on these narrow roads without scratching the paint.
I love the size and simplicity of the Tacoma .
To be honest, I’d even do away with the bit of tech it does have. give me roll up windows and a manual trans .. even take away the infotainment screen and give me a basic old stereo with a volume knob .
I wish the Tacoma didn’t have the collision prevention and adaptive cruise like it does. But this tech is standard unfortunately. But overall, I like the basic no frills truck that the Tacoma is.
I would have even opted for the 4 cyl engine if it was available.
It’s a shame that the 3rd Gen Tacoma is the last of a somewhat basic truck . The new ones will be nice no doubt … but I hate all the tech and the turbos and the hybrid crap. Don’t want it, don’t need it. I just want a truck to do truck things.

 

Came from 2016, 2500HD Crew Cab diesel with tow mirrors. I purchased as a CPO traded with my 2006, extended cab, no tow mirrors. I thought I would adjust to the mirrors, but they looked like drive-in theaters. It was awful to plow with due to its size. I decided after 15 years of plowing, reaching 72 years of age, I would down size, quit plowing and trade my Chevy. A million years ago, I had a 4runer so I was kinda familiar with Toyotas. Found a very low mileage 2021 Limited. It is now my sports car/truck. Compared to the 2500, it is more nimble, does not have a heated steering wheel, nice leather, or a powerful engine, but it's fun to drive. Now let's talk about the short bed with the factory fold-up toneau which will not fold up against the rear window making the bed not a short, but a mini bed.
Dan

 

A lot of regrets shared by Tacoma owners boil down to simple full size vs mid size and nothing inherent to the Tacoma itself. Your truck is pretty sweet btw, but full size is probably your comfort zone. I’d recommend getting bk into one. Maybe Tundra, maybe not.

There are deals on full size trucks right now & it’s a Tacoma so you’ll get top trade value, but as mentioned part out the mods prior.

 

"LUXURY"

OP seeks FORD luxury!

Haaaa!

 

Tundra???

https://www.kbb.com/pickup-truck/best-full-size-trucks/

2023 top pick from KBB is F-150. I think the Silverado 1500 Custom trail boss 2.7 t4 is the best 1/2 ton money can buy if some one is buying a new 1/2 ton crewcab offroad trimmed truck today!

The only truck Tundra beat on the KBB list was the Titan.