Any issues you’re still waiting to be fixed before buying a new Tacoma?

The Toyotas are so expensive comment was in reference to the Xtra cab being kind of expensive comment when the only other Xtra/Access/King cab is slightly more expensive or apparently, what the market will bear.

 

How is the new motor with towing ? I tow from time to time wondering how the 4CYL would handle that.

 

Far better than the 3.5. More useful power and far more torque way earlier, paired with more gears to maximize the power delivery.

not towing, but I was hauling dirt bikes and camp gear up a 6% grade in 7th gear at 2100rpm just effortlessly this weekend. Would have had the 3.5 screaming at 4000rpm to maintain speed doing the same

 

Nice. I don’t tow heavy stuff. I use the dodge for the heavier things.

 

Your first point is just half of the equation. Just as an example if truck prices went up 20% due to inflation and most people got 2 or 3% pay raise, that makes it a much more expensive vehicle.

On your second point, I'm not arguing that. I agree that the Tacoma is a much improved vehicle, in all trims. I've been wanting to get another truck for quite a while now. I've researched at length all the mid sized trucks because for the first time in my life I didn't have a favorite right off the bat. Contrary to the pigeonholing by the fan boys because I have some issues with not the truck but the marketing, I'm viewed as a troll. I've stated in other threads I've test driven several mid size. The Ridgeline bored me to death. I didn't like the push button shifter or the cylinder deactivation or that it has DI only. The Ranger was a huge surprise to me given the reviews. Not a good ride (XLT) weird steering, cramped interior that already looks old, and horrible braking. The engine however felt a bit more responsive than the Tacoma but also DI only. The Colorado and Frontier have, on paper, the most bang for the buck but I've been screwed by GM too many times and I don't like heavy steering on the Frontier, which BTW was the thing that the Tacoma gets 10+ points for, the steering feel. So, I came to the conclusion that the Tacoma is the best available right now. My issues are the price, the lack of power seats in SR5, lack of other options I want without bumping the price another 20k, and nickle dime stuff like no underhood insulation which of course you can buy.........for $400! That's the kind of crap GM pulls. When I bought a new 2014 Silverado you get to visit with the "accessories manager", who tells you about all the parts that SHOULD have been on the truck that you can buy separately. Like wheel well liners, drivers grab handle and all kinds of other parts. I left there with the bed filled with parts to make the truck complete.

People on these forums don't know the power you have. The manufacturers pay attention to them. On a Dodge Challenger forum I used to be on there were two members who used to ask questions like the OP in this thread. What do you like or don't like. What would you like future cars to have, etc. Turned out those two members were high level Dodge Executives and many of the suggestions were incorporated on future refreshes and even as a production/marketing change on current trims. That's why honest discussions pay off instead of just yelling "TROLL!".

 

I don’t view you as a troll.

 

You're retired USAF, your retiree pay went up more than 2-3%/year during peak inflation. I know mine did. And my savings went up way more. I don't consider myself rich, but I'm better off now than a few years ago.

Members on the Challenger Forum suggested they discontinue the Challenger? And bring it back as an EV? That is power.

 

Who is covering the cost of the bz4x? Those sold so poorly Toyota was going to change the name. I don't think Toyota wanted to sell that car to begin with. Toyota does get some things wrong and at the end of the day that gets passed on to the consumer.

 

Man you certainly like cherry picking don't you. Last year's COLA was 3.2%. This year is 2.5%. That doesn't make up for a huge hike in vehicle prices not to mention food, housing etc. As far as the Challenger, yes, when Dodge was owned by better companies and the government wasn't exerting pressure and bribes, there were suggestions accepted and implemented. I guess you didn't know what's been going on the past four years with government or Stellantis. The poor quality CEO of Stellantis has resigned and more ICE friendly people are taking over. The ship is turning around already. Ram will finally be making a mid size truck again at the Belvedere plant. First truck to roll off in 2027. See, things change. So when I related the story about the Challenger suggestions, they did happen. Now, not so much in that instance. That doesn't negate the other facts presented concerning corporate involvement on forums. You may want to change facts just to argue, but facts are facts.

 

Wages didn’t keep up with inflation from when my first gen was new. Was your third gen ridiculously overpriced when you bought it because of that?

 

Corporations often reinvest their profit in R&D to develop new technologies. There's always an ROI associated with the project but it doesn't always pay off. Does management then go back to legacy program managers and milk them for more to compensate? Sure, but risking your legacy cash cows is risky too.

 

I don't have a third gen. or a second or a first. Are you on the correct thread?

 

I guess the cherry picking depends on when you retired. COLA was slightly less than Core Inflation the last two years but was way better in 21/22. As I also mentioned, if you invested wisely, you should have more in savings now. As others mentioned the new Tacomas have more features than the previous generation. When you're paying more for eggs, you're paying more for the same thing. You're paying more a Tacoma because your paying for inflation and for next gen improvements. It's different.

Inflation COLA
2021 5.50% 5.90%
2022 5.70% 8.70%
2023 3.90% 3.20%
2024 3.20% 2.50%

You lost me there. Not with my experience with Dodge. You also didn't say what changed on the Challengers, you just said it was a fact. I don't doubt that someone from Dodge may have been lurking on the forum but people on forums make up a small population of owners and tend to have extreme opinions (it has to a a V8 or diesel!, etc). The changes could have just been a coincidence.

 

Inflation stats they've used (there are several methods) conveniently do not include food, energy, housing so that it sounds better. In other words all the things we use on a daily basis and whose prices rose the most. I didn't write a historical review of the Dodge Challenger because this is a Tacoma forum and a cursory mention should have been sufficient, lest the thin skinned fan boys would go nuts. Yes forum members are a tiny subset of any vehicle's total ownership. However they are the one's most interested in that vehicle and most likely to buy again, hence the interest of corporate on the forums. I'll let you have the last word on this since that seems important to you.

 

I meant it as a royal you. Sorry for my lack of clarity

 

Very well stated…..

 

Housing is included in the Core CPI. Food and energy are excluded. If you pay rent it's factored in. If you have a mortgage (probably your largest expense), your principal & interest should not have increased due to inflation. Your homeowner's insurance and property taxes may have increased, but they're included in the CPI. Without sounding classist, are things too expensive or do you not have enough money? The price of Porsches is outrageous, way more than the rate on inflation...

Thanks

 

Not a good picture but this is a 21ft marlin, old and heavy 6k+ loaded. Coming from a 2013 Tundra about the only difference when towing is the new Tacoma doesn’t shift as much! I was honestly shocked how well it towed, I was a little concerned.

 

Nice, that's good to hear. I want to test drive one Maybe this weekend. I just wish I could drive it home and back up the mountain to get a good feel for it before I buy

 

Any rentals in your area?