New Member needs help....purchase decision

Hello everyone....I just joined the forum not too long ago. First off, I have'nt owned a pick-up in several years, about 9 years ago roughly. Both my last pick-ups were Chev and GMC 1500. In the near future I would like to make a purchase...just not sure on what model. My shop manager(construction company) drives a 2011 TRD sport Long box w/leather. It's a beautiful truck and he says it's more than enough for my needs. My immediate supervisors drive a 2011 Tundra double cab TRD Off Road, and the other one drives a 2012 F-150 Super Crew XLT XTR 4X4 Ecoboost. I have only driven the Ford, and must admit that it is very smooth on the road. Didn't get to take it for a long drive but very quiet and smooth over the bumps. My question to you folks is: I don't tow anything or haul anything very big in the box. I have two young children aged 1 and 5 do need room for child car seats and don't won't to cramp the adults in the front. I love the look of the TRD sport w/ long box. From what I've been told the 5.7 Tundra sucks gas like there's no tommorow, and the Ecoboost isn't all that what it's been hyped up to be. I also know the resale for Toyota's is awesome. Will I be giving up alot in ride and comfort in a Tacoma compared to a Tundra or F-150 ? I do realize they are pick-ups and not smart cars...but I don't want to be at the gas station every other day...as I have a 60 mile(total) commute to work every day. Sorry for the long post guys...I just want to get some feedback on the good and bad...so please post away !
Thanks in advance...
Joe

 

Sounds as if you need a double cab for the kiddos due to car seats and what have you. After that it is up to you. What are your needs aside from room for the family?

Do you or are you planning on doing any off-roading?

Where do you live? Snow 6 months a year or are you in the Sun Belt?

Is it going to be your daily driver?

Weigh all your needs. I am sure that the Tundra (and that other vehicle) may give you a smoother ride due to their size, wheel base, etc.

If mileage is a concern the Tacoma is the better fit. If it's payload ... i.e. you make weekend runs to The Home Depot ... the Tacoma should do the trick.

Now, as far as trim level ... TRD ... SR5 ... what have you ... look at the packages ... buy what you can afford and/or need ... not what your neighbor is going to think.

I am sure others will chime in but pound per pound, dollar for dollar the Tacoma is head and shoulders ... no questions.

Best of luck.

By the way .. .welcome.

 

The 1500's are getting killer MPG right now. Maybe go drive a 4dr Tacoma with the kids and seats and then drive a base model Chev 1500 ext cab too. Should be pretty close in MPG and MSRP. Tough decision for sure, always nice to have the family in the largest vehicle that's feasible for added safety......but the resale of the Toyota cannot be overlooked. On the Ford, I would wait until ecoboost has been around a few years before even considering it. Overall cost of ownership is probably going to be the lowest on the Toyota.

TC

 

Get the Tacoma double cab long bed 4x4 and live the dream. Get the Ford and have regrets.

 

Just something to consider, Ford has announced a major recall on the EcoBoost engines. From what I read, they will spontaneously catch on fire/explode. Although I believe it is only the 4 cylinder engines, it is just something to consider.

Since you have such a long commute, if it were me, I would get the Tacoma over Tundra. Even though the Tacoma doesn't get stellar MPG's, your gas expense from month to month would be much lower than if you were to get a Tundra. I prefer full size trucks because I like the room (I don't need one at all) but I LOVED my Tacoma and wish I had gotten another one instead of my FJ.

 

I recently went from a 2011 F150 to a 2012 Tacoma. They are two completely different vehicles. Drive both if you can, one after the other, and the difference is like night and day.

The Tacoma will ride nowhere near as smooth as the F150, and will not have near as much power either. The gas mileage will be very similar between them depending on how you drive and how much city vs. highway.

I find that the Tacoma is more fun to drive, so much easier to park, and I'm glad I made the change.

 

Hey fellas, sorry, I guess I forgot to mention. Yes, the truck would be my daily driver, I live in Ontario, Canada...winter from Dec to late March, although lately we've been having really mild ones. I will not be doing any off-roading at all, maybe some occasional cottage gravel roads, but definitley not be needed the TRD off-road package. My neighbour owns a 2006 DBL cab TRD off-road with the long box. He swears by the reliability and loves the truck, even offered it to me whenever I need it. He's well over 6' tall and does'nt find the truck uncomfortable at all. More and more I look at the TRD sport pkg long box, I think it's the one for me. Yes, the newer chevs and Fords have a ton of room in the Super Crew models, but looking at what these things are worth 3 years later, scares the $hit out of me. Thanks again...

 

Personally I would pick a chevy over a ford any day when it comes to trucks.

But it comes down to personal preference. What YOU like, because no one else can tell you that. GO test drive each a few times if you can and get a feel for the in and outs, ask to take a used one out for a longer test drive.

As for the needs you told us I believe a long bed will suit you just fine, and of course the double cab. I would suggest a hard cap because I have read that young children the dipar bags and what not make the cabin feel kind of cramped.

As far as 4x4 or 2x4 that is up to where you live and what you'll be doing with the truck. If it snows, even just a little, I would get 4x4 just because you have a family. Better have it and not need it because you never know.


And if it's worth anything, I have not heard to many bad things about the tundra's MPG. Most of the time, people drive like jackasses, mod their truck with heavier things and floor everywhere. Then complain that they get shitty mileage I remember a post from one member saying her mileage is not much different from her Tacoma, and if need be she can tow with out worrying about power.

 

Since you said you don't need the TRD package, use the money you save and upgrade the tires, buy a tool box, etc. I had a DC SB SR5 6 speed and I had no problems with space (I'm 6').

 

It sounds like space/safety of the larger pickups vs the cost and resale of the Tacoma are the two sides in this.
Personally, I think the Tacoma would fit your needs. Unless you're hauling a ton of stuff all the time, the Tacoma will suffice.
As for safety, it is a big thing to consider and should be weighed heavily. But if it is worth anything coming from a stranger, when I have kids, they will be going in my Tacoma. Although the Tundra is probably safer due to its size, I still have a lot of confidence in my truck.
For me the cost is the largest issue. And like someone said above, although we don't get fantastic milage in Tacomas it is still better than what you would be getting.

I recommend taking each for a test drive. Perhaps even bring along a car seat and throwing it in really quick to see how much space you would have.
Best of luck in your search!

 

Although I am nowhere near a wife and kids yet...I took my family (4 of us, including me) for the test drive. We aren't the skinniest of people and I'm just shy of 6ft tall. But being I'd have the 4 wheel drive and the bed to haul furniture, appliances, etc. I wanted to make sure that we all could fit comfortably in the truck. And that we do. Even can slide seats forward a little bit to give my passengers in the back a little more breathing room. As another forum member stated, bring the car seat with you and see how that will fit in the truck.

Also considering your in Canada, get yourself a bed cover or cap before your winter hits you ASAP. You'll appreciate it when you got the whole family and need places to put the baggage.

Gas isn't too bad. I mean it's a truck. So coming into it I knew gas was going to be more expensive to fill up for me upgrading from a Rav-4 and 4 cylinders to a pickup truck. I travel 180 miles round trip a week for work. 60 miles, 3x a week for 12 hour shifts.

I was also told Toyota's hold their values, especially their Tacoma's. I really think the guy sugarcoated me but seeing it from a fellow member who mentioned the same I guess he was right. Good to know if you do decide you wanted a Tundra or even another Tacoma in the future.

I absolutely love my Tacoma. I have a 2012 double cab, short bed, off road & v6 tow packages as I plan on towing a camper and going on the beach doing some wheelin'. It took some time to get used to but I'm so happy with it.

Take a step back and see what exactly you want and need. It took me a year to realize that it's the Tacoma I had my eyes set on and what packages etc I wanted to get or take a step back from adding on.

Whatever choice you make in the Tacoma. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

I second this- Ford has been having major problems like this for a while. They are notorious for catching on fire, as my neighbor found out. He had a 2001 F-150 that blew up on the side of the road in front of my house, truck and trailer were completely destroyed. I used to be an exclusively Ford guy, but after all of their problems with fire, I don't trust them at all. Especially the new ones.

IMO, a Tacoma is a better deal than a Tundra. It definitely gets better mileage, for one. Tundras, though they are great trucks, get significantly worse MPG. Tundras do kick butt at hauling, though, I'll admit, and they ride smoother because of how huge they are. They used one to haul the space shuttle, after all.
You're going to want a double cab for the kiddies for sure. And the Tacoma will be worth more down the road than a Ford will- so if you might resell, you'll get more with the Taco.

Anyways, hope this helped.
Fenwick

 

When you go to the dealer, bring your car seats with you. I don't have a family or experience with car seats, but have read here several times that certain seats don't fit so well or leave very little room for up front. That being said I did a few two and three week long road trips with 3 and 4 adults in the truck and it worked out just fine. No complaints from anyone. I think a double cab Tacoma is comparable to a double cab Tundra except it may be a bit narrower. CrewMax Tundra is huge though.

Btw. Double Cab Tacoma TRD Off Road with long box does not exist. Only DCSB and that one is only in the US, unless it was imported here. Us Canadians only get Access Cab TRD Off Road.

As for mileage, you may get a little better than full size do these days, but it very well may end up being about the same. Click on my fuelly banner in my signature for actual numbers. There are people on here that get better, but don't expect more than 17city and 20hwy while doing speed limit imo. (Last 10 or so fuel ups were with winter tires on and last three with -20C and lots of idling.)