2013 Sport vs. 2017 Off Road... Should I????

The only way my 2nd gen is leaving me is if it's totalled out.

 

Keep your 2013, unless you want a 2017 that has the potential of being at the dealership service dept more than on the road.

Just read all the problem threads of the 3rd gen, including the massive recall.

 

What "massive recall". The slightly weeping rear diff on a select few??? Have you looked at any american made truck?!!??!?

Seriously people are blowing 3rd gen problems WAYYY out of proportion.

About the only negative of them is the lack of low end torque. But gearing of the new 6sp / axle ratios does a good job at filling up that hole.

 

To be fair Toyota certainly has a reputation for standing by their trucks. I'm sure that long run the initial problems will be a blip on the radar in 4 years.

For me, the 3rd gen doesn't do enough things better than the 2nd. There is no place that a 3rd gen TRD PRO can get off road that my Baja can't. There isn't anything that a 3rd gen can tow or haul that mine cant and the 4.0 is a better engine for truck stuff. Even if I kept my payments exactly the same, I would be laying out a couple grand out of pocket and paying another grand or two in taxes / DMV fees and what do I get? A dashboard and some sound deadening? I can think of way more satisfying things I could do to my 2nd gen for a couple grand.

 

Just no, just no. If you're asking this question, you've already answered it. Just nooooooo!

 

I love my 2013. Great drivetrain (v6 + 6M/4wd) and it looks more sporty than the big, gaping fish-mouth 3rd gens. No way would I trade.

 

Any new vehicle is going to have some kinks. Look at the early 2nd gens with their head gaskets, motor mounts, leaf springs, etc.

I really like the interior of the 3rd gen and the look has grown on me. It's pretty cool you can finally get a TRD OR in a DCLB, if only the 6MT was an option(or is it?). The 3.5 2GR ruins it for me, it's just not as enjoyable as the 1GR.

That said I wouldn't be shocked if we ended up buying one as a 2nd vehicle once my 2nd gen is paid off. I'm that satisfied with my Tacoma and we'll need a 2nd vehicle within 5 years.

 

Add the blower to your 2nd gen, then add the smaller pulley. You'll never leave it for the 3rd gen.

 

To the OP I'd really keep your 2013. It is just a baby and you can use all the dollars saved to upgrade it to something far more capable off road than a stock TRD.

I'm a believer in computer traction control and the 3rd gen crawl looks damn impressive. That said I think it is pretty rare for most folks to end up in such a situation. You can add lockers to your 2013 after all.

Diff size difference is over blown in my opinion. It isn't like we see 2nd gens breaking diffs off road. Sure if you are going oversized tires and then rock crawling I guess you could worry.

Well to be fair the recall is for every non-OR and non-MT 3rd gen ever made - something like 70~80% of all 3rd gens. So massive in quantity of recall notices and trips to the dealer. What fraction of those actually need work beyond inspection and torquing is of course much, much lower. Worth noting too that a lot of ORs not in the recall are weeping at least as well and dealers are warranty fixing some of those. But no, it isn't something akin to the air bag recalls or head gaskets in magnitude of the problem.

 

Had a 2012 and it got totaled, Now have a 2013 Sport and I dread the day I have to replace it. Keep the 2013 just my .02

 

Because the 2ng gen has never gone through a recall for frame rust or anything. I'd hardly call retorqueing differential bolts a "massive" recall

 

If I had to replace my truck....a Quicksand TRD Off Road would be mighty tempting, I have to say. If you have the equity in your truck to do it without getting hosed, and you really want to, why not. Me, I think I'll be driving my '15 for quite a while, at least until it looks like all the bugs are worked out of the 3rd gen. I don't like to buy the first few years of any new model from anybody anymore, I've learned my lesson on that with both cars and motorcycles, there are always problems to be worked out. Besides, my truck only has 18k miles.