Considering buying a tacoma.

I have a few questions.

What year/s are better for the tacoma?
What common problems do they have to watch for?
What is your average mpg, what mods can you do to improve it? What mods hurt it?
Is a manual or automatic better? Which one gets better mpgs?

Thanks.

 

Def 2018 or newer
Average mpg is 13-14 on 33's lifted
Tuning usually helps also regearing
Definitely lift and tires hurt it
Depends on what you enjoy more

 

MPGs will never be stellar. Even changing to new/slightly-more-aggressive tire will impact MPG (mine dropped 1.5 MPG with new and thus knobbier tires). Deal with it or buy a Prius ...

Decide you need mods first, then buy. But lift and larger tire will affect (positive or negative, you will find out) handling.

Frame rust can be a killer ... have any unit you want to buy examined. Post in the region for you (https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/regions.36/) and maybe someone from TW will check it for you or recommend a trusted shop.

Other question I cannot answer.

 

I get rated or better mileage, driving conservatively about 21mpg. Manual transmission. I will not do mods that will hurt the mileage on my daily, so stock size tires, no lift, no roof rack and carry what I need for the day. I'm happy with it, it does everything I need and hasn't given me any problems. Great truck.

 

What do you need a truck to do for you?

 

As said, depends on what you need/want it to do for you. Personally, having never really been a “truck guy” before, I LOVE my 2015 V6 6spd 4x4 and will drive it till the wheels fall off. Then bolt new ones on and keep going. I needed a solid, reliable midsize vehicle with 4x4 for Maine winters and moderate towing/hauling capacity. And the taco fit the bill perfectly.

Downsides, it’s a pig on gas. I’ve got a 3” lift, AT tires, and a few other minor mods, and get about 17-21mpg unloaded depending on what driving I’m doing. Less while towing. Also it’s very basic and utilitarian, not many fancy doodads and gizmos. Fanciest stock thing on it is a backup camera. I added some minor niceties myself, like heated mirrors. But that’s something I kinda like about it, it’s a blank canvas to mod to your needs/wants. Though I do wish it had a manual-shift 4wd system instead of the electric actuators. I haven’t had any issues with proper maintenance but others have.

Upsides, not many fancy electronical components to break. It’s simple, relatively easy to work on, and the 4.0 engine is bulletproof, albeit not exactly a powerhouse. The traction control works really well, even if it’s kind of annoying not being able to turn it off completely and do dumb shit in the snow. But it does its job well and keeps me safe when it does kick in.

And honestly this truck is way more capable Offroad than it has any right being. With the appropriate setup and adequate driving skill anyway. I’ve never been stuck once even in 2ft of snow. (Well, to clarify, I’ve gotten stuck but was always able to get myself out without getting winched). Drop it in 4lo and it just goes wherever you tell it to, within reason. Not a bona fide crawler outta the box, but a good balance between good Offroad and good highway handling.

 

- 2018+, but ideally 2019+. 2020+ will give you the "facelift".
- There really aren't many. Check if the hpfp is leaking or if there are any coolant leaks from the rear of the engine. Also check the steering rack boots for seepage
- I can get 20mpg+ going the speed limit on the highway with my manual 2021. That's with heavy E load 265/75R16 tires and a 2" lift. Lift and bigger tires will hurt it, no mods will help it. A tune on your stock truck will probably help mpg.
- Without a tune I'd guess the manual does a little better, but that's if you're being conscious of how you're driving. They'll both do pretty similarly though so get whatever you feel most comfortable with.

 

Anything above 19
Differential whine on the off roads
19-23mpg ….lift bigger tires will make it worse .
I prefer the manual no gear hunting like the auto .

 

I am looking for an all around truck. I am looking for a truck to do my 80 mile per day commute, mostly interstate. The roads can vary from dry to 8 inches of snow. A vehicle that I can take to the mountains. A vehicle I can hook up my trailer and drive my sideXside to the mountains and a vehicle I can use in place of my sideXside when the weather is too crappy for it. Right now, I am getting the impression it can do all just not very fuel efficient for the commute...

 

Long Highway I was getting 25mpg+ on a DCSB SR v6 AT stock @70mph no stops. Normal commute it was about 22mpg with half highway/half in town. It's obviously gunna drop quite a bit if your hauling the side by side. I feel like the posts I've seen were people haul/pull 600+lbs aren't getting over 16mpg

The TRD Pro I have now seems to be about 1-2mpg lower, but I need to calculate more fill-to-fill miles to validate.

 

I like 2020+ because those come with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and power driver seats standard which has height adjustability unlike the older ones

MPG: I usually get between 16-18 mpg in my manual Tacoma. Depends on how much stop and go traffic I drive, and I drive 70 mph on the highway. When I’m towing, I’ve gotten between 7-15 mpg.

 

When I'm towing 15mpg would be downhill with a tailwind
Definitely depends on the type of trailer, aerodynamics of load, etc but that's getting a bit into the weeds

 

Well a 2024 would be a very expensive purchase and mediocre on MPG. And I'm 'guessing' insurance won't be cheap because of the cost of the vehile being covered as well as it's complexity to repair.

You could buy 2 nice used vehicles for the price of a 2024 (I know this is the 3rd gen forum, but you had same-ish post in the 4G forum)

A nice econo box for that commute, something in the 30+ mpg range. And a bit older 4wd truck for foul weather and hauling/mountain trips.

For a number of years we had 3 vehicles with 2 drivers, each had a purpose. They were insured and maintained for less than most folks were making in new car payments/maintenance. A nice people hauler/road tripper, a true sports car and a small p/u.

 

I am currently a single driver. Running two vehicles isn't bad, having a third might be pushing it, even though it was my first plan. But, having 3 sets of tire, 3 oil changes/ maintenance's, 3 insurances, 3 licenses, etc. I am considering looking at used, but if there was something really great in the newer one I might consider it, but so far at 50 to 60k in price most likely not. With replacing my commuting vehicle, I don't want to get to old and high mileage either. I thought about Tacoma's because I know a few people who have and love them.. An older one might be a good choice for a third vehicle...

 

Based on the criteria you have stated, I'd recommend a 2021 to 2023 TRD Off Road in stock form and auto tranny. Hopefully it will have 265\70\16 tires in highway tread or an All terrain with low resistance. I have 2023 stock and I can get up to 22MPG. My previous 2013 only got 17MPG no matter what. It was pretty much stock with AT tires and only 2wd. I'm confident my current truck can do anything I need it to do (within reason). Your side by side can do all the other fun stuff. The 2024s are too high priced and don't get that much better MPGs to justify the higher price and more complex parts (turbo, stop start, etc.)

 

This 'hunting' issue is way over-rated my 2021 auto ( AC-Cab 4x4 ) runs fine.
If I had lottery money I'd go out and buy up every leftover 2023 I could find and just sit on 'em.
I would not ( not at this time for sure ) buy the newfangled turbo whatchamacallit 2024's.

The 3rd gen with all of it's subtle nuances is a tried and true platform.


Just keep in mind it's a truck, not a BMW...

Toyota:
Eats Dodge
Farts Fords
Sh*ts Chevy's

 

What vehicle are you using for all of this now?

 

You either need two vehicles or a Ridgeline.

I also have an 80 mile per day habit. I picked up a used commuter car for that - the Miata will get 35mpg under heavy abuse and furious gear-flogging; if I baby the truck and keep it under 70 I can achieve half of that on an average tank. It will eat your lunch on gas money.

The truck stays garaged for weekend and road trip duty now. Plus its fun to be riding on the ground for a month at a time, then crawl into the truck and say, hot damn, I can actually see over things.

 

Right now I am using two vehicles, a toyota corolla and a ram 2500. The corolla is limited to commuting and the 2500 does everything else, but if something happens to it I am screwed.. Been there a couple of times...

 

Not looking for a bmw heard too many horror stories.. It's interesting, because I have heard rumors etc, but if toyota built a diesel tacoma and tundra 1/2 that got 30 mpg and could have different versions for off road or city driving for the wanna bes, and kept the pricing reasonable they could make a killing. Plus if they were to enter the 3/4 to 1 ton market with a reliable diesel engine and transmission combination, and yet, not be like the american/mexican made which have theirs vehicles at 90 to 120k in price they would rule the market. It seems either the vehicle prices are high, the fuel prices are high or the replacement part prices are high....