New Member - Not an owner yet but came close yesterday and almost made an emotional bad buy.

Ive been doing my research for about 5 months now. Ive never owned a Toyota but it is my next truck.

My research tells me what I want is a 3rd Gen Tacoma Offroad - Premium package (I realize this will be damn near impossible to find but that is what I am waiting on) I am not getting the 2016 or 2017 - My oldest I want to get is probably 2020 on. At this point I have zero interest in the Gen 4 tacoma. (ill let others work out the inevitable bugs in a new gen)

Yesterday emotions ran high and I almost bought a 2021 Tacoma Sport (without premium) for $37800. When I did my research I found out that the current gen is ~43000 so 37800 SEEMED like a good deal until I did some more research and found out that Sticker price of that Tacoma sport in 2021 was about 35800 brand new. So yea. I was a minute from doing the finances and about to pay 2000 more than retail new price of that vehicle. Here is the thing. When I buy cars I WANT to have something a form a long relationship with. So here we are. I heard this is the place to discuss things and learn. Ive watched a million youtube videos now the next progression is here.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW.

If you are looking for a 1-3 year old model, I would bite the bullet and buy new instead. Generally speaking, after considering the difference in new vs used finance rates, dollars spent per odometer mile (cost of ownership), included warranty and maintenance, near-zero depreciation, and the probability curve of "previous owner sold it for a reason," I would wager that 99% of the time its cheaper to buy new when it comes to Tacomas.

There are still 3rd gens on the lot, and we are now entering the season of inventory-clearing for the next gen. There will be a dealer nearby thats willing to strike a deal. Good luck.

 

No way in hell I would buy another 3rd gen after owning this thing 4 years. I don’t dislike it enough to get rid of it just yet, especially with the fixes I’ve done, but I’m very much looking forward to the 4th gen.

If I were you’d I’d wait.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Buy off lease Corolla and add roof rack and trailer hitch.

 

I disagree on aesthetics alone. There's something about the 4th, both inside and out, that I very much dislike.




Actually I can tell you. Between the overcomplicated array of buttons on the wheel, the slideshow projector screen that occupies the dash, and the vents/shifter/center console that look like they were kitbashed from GM's and Nissan's parts bin, I fundamentally dislike everything in this picture.





The exterior doesn't exactly spark joy with me either. I'm not digging the overweight hood that unbalances the bed. I'm not liking the fat waistline that makes the greenhouse look like the truck skips shoulder day at the gym. The front clip looks like Renee Zellweger wearing football eye-black makeup.









I'm in the great minority. I love my 2018 and will drive it until it dies, but my next vehicle will probably not be a Toyota. I think they got too zealous with the ugly stick and they're trying to mimic the designs that other car makers introduced a few years ago.

 

Welcome To TW...

 

Post of The Day right there...

 

Could be lease trade ins.

Rest I agree with. I bought new 2020, didn't even consider used. LUCKED out on pandemic shenanigans timing.

But costs will have gone up. Everything's gone up. Groceries. Housing. Cars. 40k today is not 40k 2 years ago, is not 40k 4 years ago.

That stupid 3rd brake light will make toppers absolutely shenanigans.

Screens should be a part of the dash, not stick out like some cancerous tumor.

Otherwise flip a coin. I'd wait for the fourth and at least drive one and get in it, see if the additional costs make sense. Being this close. Especially how our turds drive with the 6AT

edit to clarify





That is going to cause nonsense. Absolute shenanigans for hard and soft toppers, headache racks, probably some bed racks/RTT setups, etc.

Shenanigans.

 

I like how they look and even if I didn’t, the extra power alone is enough to make me want one.

 

I took delivery of my SR V6 in January. I argued with my fiancé over the SR vs one of the TRD models. She was hung up on the fact that it’s a “base model.” The TRDs just didn’t have anything I really needed or wanted.

The Tacoma is in the shop getting turkey collision damage repaired. My rental is a 2023 Jeep Sport Altitude. It’s something like $8k more than my Tacoma, and it doesn’t have any additional features, and it’s missing a few things. (Plus it smells strongly like coolant until it warms up. Weird!)

I think I paid $33,500 for the truck, $1,200 +\_ for 5 Duratracs, $1,800 for the cap, and $200 for Tufskinz mud flaps and the retro rocker guards. I was going to sell the tires for $150.00 but I ended up giving them to a buddy who needed them.

I’m in at $36,700.00 for a brand new truck that looks great. I’ve never owned a vehicle that gets more attention.

“Brah… Is that your Taco? Sick truck man!”

I don’t think there’s a bad Tacoma in the lineup, but the SR is the clear value leader, and you don’t give much up to get the deal.

 

Wow I leave for a hour and the responses! Wild. So I looked after I ate lunch. They have a white offroad. BRAND new with Manual transmission for about 50 a month less than what I would have got that Sport for. We might be VERY close.

Funny I read this post and I am like.. "Lets see what new is like?" My wife likes white on vehicles. So that might sell it too. I just dont think I want something without the locking rear diff. I think that is mandatory based on some youtube videos I watched last night. Well looking forward to contributing here and trying to not ask stupid questions you all have heard a ZILLION times.

legit I can just wait.. that is possible too.. finance rates are insane right now.

 

I'd stay away from the white, until you do some research on peeling paint. I had to foot the bill for a paint repair on my 2018 Tacoma. It started peeling 36 months after my OCT 2018 purchase with less than 30K miles on it, now it is peeling around the hood area.

 

I was worried about the open diffs in the SR, but after an entire winter and summer of having it off the road more than most, I never found a situation a locker would be necessary.

With the Duratracs, I forgot to even engage 4wd retrieving my 17’ Glastron from a fairly steep sand and gravel “rustic” boat launch, and the ELSD performed as advertised.

The only thing that almost got me was deep heavy snow, but that was related to ground clearance more than traction.

That said, an Off-road manual is one of the coolest combinations available.

 

I just took delivery of a black truck just like yours.

 

I had a chance to buy a white one, and even though it was stated that the issues were fixed for the 2023 model, I stayed away.

 

Damn I got a white 2019...great...

 

You driving it off the lot?

 

Congratulations!

What a fun, useful and entertaining little vehicle.

The SR is great the way it is, but it’s also a blank slate that you can modify however you want to.

I had originally thought about installing a TrueTrac, but with the new tires I don’t think I’m going to need it.