Pondering a Purchase

bshack wrote: 'the 4.7 Chrysler mill is no more powerful that the Toyota 4.0. Mine made a lot of V8 noise with not much forward motion"

My Jeep's reliability has been suspect but the 4.7 H.O. hauls ass, pushing a 3600 lb. vehicle to 60 in under roughly 6.5 seconds. Jumps up and goes at speed, too. As noted, when I pull my boat the biggest danger is that I forget it's there. The tranny in the Overland is made (I believe) by Mercedez-Benz and has also been fairly solid. It's endless peripheral stuff like sensors, rear end, radiator, window motors, starter, etc. that has eaten my financial lunch. Ten minutes ago I got a $1300 quote to rebuild the entire failed A/C system (cores/seals, condensor, evaporator, etc). Awesome.

"I suspect you ventured on the Tacoma site because you are REALLY interested in a Toyota"

No doubt about it. Like I say, the Tacoma's polished build, driving manners and "everyday" size took me by surprise. And though some rave about all of the options in the bigger domestic trucks there's a refined simplicity about the Tacoma that really appeals to me.

Vmm, good to hear one testimonial about 3 kids working fine in the back. As noted I have two early teens and a 2 year old so none of them are real big. And this exchange got me thinking: I spent a lot of my childhood stuck in the back of an old Beetle or bouncing on a tiny bench seat in the back of an old 70s-era Land Cruiser with my two sisters. Wouldn't change that for the world. Kids are resilient and not as picky and whiny as adults.

lj973, you wrote: 'All my previous brand trucks never had the issues my tacoma does. "

What other issues?

river rat, I like your sig. Not enough folks telling it like it is.

Thanks for the thoughtful advice, Ghostrider.

Fordid, sounds like my 2000# skiff won't pose much of a towing challenge to the Tacoma. And that's good to hear since I plan to fish more.

Cheesit, I agree: if if the bed can't be used to haul stuff like luggage, groceries, etc. I would just buy an SUV.

Dang, tough call. Rust doesn't seem to be an issue in FL and towing doesn't seem like a concern. Comes down to backseat room. Some say three kids in back is fine, some say go larger. Gonna keep mulling it over and any further input on rear-seat space is appreciated.

This site is great, btw. Nice mix of perspective and personalities.

 

I have a 15month old in a car seat and an 8 yo. Depending on the size of your car seat, it might be tight. My car seat is one of the larger ones. My wife has sat in the back seat with my 8yo and they are not cramped but its not the most spacious.

Towing that amount of weight should be fine. Shouldn't have any trouble.

And, I live in PA where they salt like crazy when it snows, and I don't have any major rust. Just some minor rust here and there on my frame. I also power wash the truck off a lot in the winter to prevent it too.

 

Like the OP I am also pondering a purchase. My only previous Toyota (truck) ownership was a 04 DC 4wd I bought in Dec of 09 for $17,200 w60k miles and sold a year plus later with 100k miles for $14,900 to the FIRST PERSON who called about it. Wish I still had it.

Went to Springhill Toyota in Mobile, AL (where we bought my wife's Camry, VERY pleasant experience) and test drove a 2013 DC TRD OR 4x4.

Before I started I sat in each front seat and adjusted them to where I had plenty of leg room (I'm 5'11"). I then got in the back seat and felt like I had PLENTY of leg room. Three adults across the back will be snug at the shoulders, but doable for less than 200 mile trips IMHO. The car seat is key. If its turned rear facing it probably will be VERY comfortable for your other kids. Turned around, it will limit where they can put their inside arms and elbows, but nothing kids couldnt live with.

I took a couple shorter trips with and 18 yr old, a 5 year old, and an infant in a car seat in the back of my gen 1 truck. They lived to tell. The newer body style would be fine.

If you buy a new one and can live with it a few years, you can almost get your $ back on it if you keep it clean and the miles decent.

I looked and looked for a 3-5 year old used truck like I'm considering and couldn't BELIEVE what they're bringing. 3 yr old trucks with 40k miles for $5-6k less than a brand new one like it may make sense to somebody, but it's not me. Heck I've seen plenty of '12 models advertised for what I can buy a brand new one for. WTH?



This is not by accident and it's not a fad. These trucks are literally the best investment available IF they will do what you need.

 

Rkd, thanks. My experience has been much the same. I usually try to find a 2-3 yr old used vehicle that someone else ate the off-the-lot depreciation on but the low mileage used Tacomas are going for crazy high prices. I swore I'd never buy new again but I may go back on my word given that a new Taco (prior model yr, anyway) is often close in price to a truck that's been on the road a couple of years. AMAZING. I really liked the one I drove but please--no vehicle should hold value like that. Yet they do.

 

I have 3 kids all in car seats/boostersthat fit fine (2,4,6). There is some room under their feet but storage is in the bed and now it's dry with the cover I just got. When we purchased the tacoma we measured the interior width and it had more space than our trailblazer my wife drives.

 

I'd love to see a pic with all that in the back seat. That's got to be pretty tight back there.

 

Yeah it's tight but they all fit pretty easily. We do have to slide the booster seat bases over to be able to snap in and then slide them back. Here is a pic from the dealer when we first tested it. Not the best pic but you get the idea.

 

Nice, I'm surprised that all fits back there actually.

 

I got my Taco when I was 19, no kids even now, thank you condoms! I of course was looking used to save a few grand. Low and behold, a 2 year old truck identical to what I wanted was in stock at a local dealer. Called them on it. 28k.... 3 months later I bought a brand new one for 30k. I will never shop used with resale like that! Oh and if you're worried about towing 2k:



Over 5000 pounds there! Kept it under 70 and it towed smooth as could be! Good luck OP!

 

only thing we can't fit is the dog...lol

 

LOL, poor dog gets gypped!

 

Need a smaller dog...mine claims the center console as his seat.