2nd Gen owner considering upgrading to 3rd Gen

My second Gen is paid for. Have an 18 year old child needing a vehicle, considering getting myself a 3rd Gen and letting child drive 2nd Gen.

Any advice from 3rd Gen owner’s on “is the 3rd Gen worth upgrading too over a 2nd Gen”?

Current truck:

Additionally, manual or automatic transmission recommendations?

Thanks,

EdinCincinnati

 

I wish I was your kid!

 

Notice I didn’t say “give” truck to child.

 

Oh I noticed! It'll be a while 'till I do the same, but yeah, I'll "let" them drive my nice truck.

 

If you’re looking for a new truck, sure. If you’re selling yours to him, in theory, it will last him longer because you know the history of the vehicle. Also you can ride him about making sure he takes care of “your truck” haha.

I have a second gen and my brother has a third. Driving them both I highly recommend the manual trans.

But if you’re not looking for a new truck, there are a BUNCH of cheaper options for an 18 year old to drive.

 

I went from a 2012 auto dbl cab (I bought new) to a 2016 manual dbl cab new as well.
The manual makes it hands down a more engaging and enjoyable drive but Ive never driven a 2nd gen manual so I cant say its apples to apples.

Other positves IMO are:
1-Easily better mileage (+3-5 mpg).
2mpg).
2-Quieter cabin
3-Sunroof, and general interior a few points better

But all the same otherwise. I would still have mine except some texting driver hit me head on. Wrote off my old taco and here I am.
Love both trucks.
Money wise it doesnt make sense to pay the high used market value for a used one if you were thinking of replacing 2nd gen for 2nd gen- I would just buy new for a bit more.

 

True to cheaper options but I know the service history of my 2nd Gen and am trying to teach a valuable lesson in knowing and maintaining a vehicle that I can also teach easily buy explaining the history of how my 2nd Gen evolved and why I did what modifications I did to that truck.

Plus the quoted insurance for him to drive my 2nd Gen is quite attractive.

 

And my apologies if this is a repetitive post in the 3rd Gen...I rarely visit here.

 

Sounds like a good plan. Hell, my dad took the radio out of my car my whole first year of driving. I had to clean it and maintain it too. Stuck with me for life. You two will have fun.

 

Get an extended or overnight test drive, the Manual is so much smoother than it was on the 2nd Gen.

 

But when you do come over to the dark side you will be a regular

 

But, what about the 3rd Gen is better than the 2nd Gen?

Interior? Power?

Why would or did you go 3rd Gen vs 2nd?

My 2nd is Awesome! I’m not opposed to continue driving it.

Kid can easily end up with an el cheapo used car...why should I go third?

Money isn’t a hurdle. Purely asking about 2nd vs 3rd experience.

 

The ride is smoother and the truck is quieter, the interior and features are nicer, the engine is a bit different as the 2nd Gen has its power down low and the 3rd has its power up high and has to be revved to feel it. You honestly cant go wrong with either truck, get an extended or overnight test drive to see how you like everything.

 

Just got a 3rd gen, my dad drives a 2nd gen. He already wants to upgrade to a 3rd. The interior feels a lot bigger with the flat dashboard. Feels like a totally different truck.

More rigid and the steering feedback to me feels different.

I've had all 3, TRD off-road double cab 1st gen, 2nd gen and now the long bed 3rd gen and it's my favorite. All of the safety features and new technology upgrades and I guess I just like new trucks. .

Your truck now looks great and how stoked would your son be to have matching rigs with his dad? My dad always had Toyota's and I feel like it's a good thing to pass along to your son about buying a quality car and taking care of it!

 

“Better” is purely subjective. I like the looks of the Gen 3 inside and out better than the Gen 2, others like the Gen 2’s better. The power train is different, some love it, some hate it. I’ve owned 5 trucks in my life (3 Toyota’s) and this one is by far my favorite. It’s quieter (although I have added some additional sound deading material), gets good gas mileage, and has a ton of cool features. Who knows, if I live long enough I may have to upgrade to a Gen 4.

 

Id get the manual not just because I like driving a manual, but because it is one of the unique characteristic features of the Tacoma. Every other midsize truck has an auto, probably a better one too, but not too many can you spec a top trim with an MT (and a really good shifting one at that). If Toyota didn't offer an MT, well, might as well pick literally anything else. Like a ridgeline.

 

Me being an 18 year old myself, I might be picking up an 18 Taco TRD Sport in the manual transmission and I LOVE DRIVING IT. It’s fun without being a sports car. Plus it’s safe in bad weather. I definitely would recommend getting the manual. The auto shifts a bit too early for me and is more expensive.

 

Commenting only on the el cheapo car vs 2 Gen for your son aspect...I put my son in a 2005 4Runner primarily due to his 40 mile round trip to high school in heavy/fast traffic. With the crappy drivers out there now, I just couldn't see putting him in anything less than a full body vehicle. I too drove a crappy first vehicle, but times are different. I wasn't going to cheap out on his safety and end up regretting it when I walked into a hospital room when he got hurt, or worse.

Hate to be a downer but its something to consider. Drivers out there now have gotten bad. Thankfully my son made it to graduation with only one fender bender which his ARB bumper absorbed.

 

Statistics and reality show that young drivers are the most accident-prone. There have always been crappy drivers, and America refuses to get rid of them. I'm old school, buying my first car at 15 (Toyota Corona) in the 70s with NO assistance from my folks. They told me if I wanted a car I'd have to buy it and pay for the gas/insurance. I learned to work hard for anything I wanted. Times are indeed different, with today's helicopter parents setting up their kids for failure by NOT making them suffer, fail, or have to earn the nicer things. My advice is to sell the 2nd Gen, and have him earn the money necessary to purchase his first vehicle. THAT memory will be burned in his subconscious forever. You certainly can allow him to drive your new 3rd Gen, but this will provide a goal for him to strive for. Assist him in searching for that new car/truck. I'd recommend a gently used 1st Gen.

 

Y

You will be gaining nothing by going too 3rd gen from a 2 nd gen.both are decent trucks,I say stick with your payment free truck and get your kid a cheap Corolla too learn on.