3rd Gen Owners who previously owned a 2nd Gen

Maybe he plans to overland by road-tripping to various places...

 

I would not go back to my '15 Sport from my '17 DCOR. I did love my sport, but my OR is much nicer

 

I'd buy another 3rd gen if I had the chance.

Bought my new 2015 PreRunner DCSB last August, always regretted not buying the 4x4. Anytime we would meet up to go off-roading I had to ride with someone else. I kept it a year and found a heck of a deal that I couldn't pass up.

Paid 30k for my 2015 PreRunner and drove it a year...put 20k miles on it and they gave me 29500 for it. Traded it in for my 2016 TRD OR

 

I had an 05 and now a 16. 05 was a prerunner TRD Sport. 16 is a 4X4 TRD Sport. Both trucks are awesome. I like the 16 a lot better though. I wouldn't buy a 15, go with a third gen.

 

I've had all 3 generations. Very happy with the 3rd gen.
I will say that, weather you think it's an upgrade is going to be entirely up to you.
With the exception from the engine, exterior sheetmetal and the interior, it is essentially the same truck. So to me, aside from asthethics and a few new creature comforts, it felt very familiar and comfortable.
I didn't go 3G becaue I planned to, my 2G was totaled, so it was either get another 2G or a new Tacoma.
I liked the fact that it was basically a 2G with a few minor tweaks because I loved my 2G and I wasn't ready to get rid of it yet.
If you go into it with that kind of mindset I think you will be happy. But if you are expecting something radically different, you may not consider it worth the upgrade.

 

After getting stuck a few times down near Matanzas Inlet wade fishing amonst loose sand, I vowed never to get another 2wd truck. All had been 4x4 1st Gen 4Runners prior to this one, and I thought back in 09' I'll never take a 30k truck and go wheeling with it. I was wrong. Plus, I own an A-liner camper which has been up to Wisconsin and back from FL so I have no desire to limit where we go next with it either.

 

On 11-19-2016 traded in my 2009 Double Cab V6 for a 2017 Access Cab V6 Automatic Tacoma. Got $16,000 for the 2009 with 92,000 miles on it. Had cut two 3/4 inch holes in the roof of the old truck for NMO antenna mounts and had removed the rear panel behind the drivers side rear seat, replaced with a piece of ABS for mounting up radio bodies. Came home on the afternoon of the 19th and stripped the radio stuff from the old vehicle, took me 3 hours as I had 5 radios installed, plus a Scorpion SA-680 HF antenna with its mount welded to the trailer hitch cross tube. Picked up the new buggy with 26 miles on it on the 20th.

Now trying to figure out how to mount the radios into the new truck. Have two front fender mounted antennas already installed one for 220 MHz and the other for VHF/UHF. The factory trailer hitch is very different than the one on the 2009 so may need a certified welder to rebuild my HF antenna mount, the entire HF antenna system weights some 35 lbs so I would not want that coming off at 70 MPH. Now where to place the radios, might remove the rear jump seats and install a piece of ABS for radio, antenna controller, GPS and power distribution mounting. Have not decided yet but do that. The 220 MHz radio is operational. As soon as the weather straightens up I will post new photos of it in my profile. It is a black truck with the factory tonneau cover and side steps. Need to cut a piece of ABS to remount my RED devil horns on the front as they emblem area is a bit larger than the 2nd gen was.

 

Had a 06 second gen. OR ECSB m/t and put 180k Miles on it. loved it. Sold it and now have a third gen OR DCSB m/t and love it even more. Haven't looked back.

 

I went from a '13 to a '17. I would absolutely do it again, including getting the premium+tech package.

Before these I had a 99, a 97, and then an 87 way back in the day. I love me some yoters.

 

my 3rd Taco, most recent went from 09 4 banger AC to 17 v6 DC all manual trans. I only went to the 3rd gen for the double cab and v6 for towing. Hands down the 17 is great and I would buy another. After learning about the cement pros I would love to have a cement, thats my only regret.

As another poster stated, if I didn't want a manual, not sure I would be in a Taco.

 

I had a 2011, a 2014, and now a 2017; all were/are DCOR Short bed. I loved my 2011 over the 2014 but of the 3 trucks the 2017 is my favorite. I know most of it is aesthetics but I feel like I am riding in an actual truck vs the 2nd gens. The 2nd gens felt like a car or SUV at some points.

 

Just curious: how has the change from the long bed to the short bed been for you?

 

Fine, but haven't had it long enough to really determine that. Knowing that I was getting a bigger engine and smaller bed, I purchased an 8 by 10 trailer.

 

My friend went the other route, short bed to long, he loves it. He said the extra foot makes a huge difference hauling.

 

I went from an 09 TRD OR 4x4 Manual with 130k miles to a 2017 TRD OR 4x4 Manual, its a nice upgrade. Its a lot quieter than the 09, I'm averaging about 4 mpg more on average and its nice to have navigation separate from my phone. If I wasn't given $18,700 for my 09, I would have kept it.
Some things worth noting though:
1. You're going to think that the engine is weaksauce, and at first it is, but it gradually gets better. I don't know if its because the truck is "learning" how I drive, or I've adjusted my driving, but its a lot better now with close to 2,500 miles on it.
2. Your significant other may cry, even if they hated your current Taco (mine did, realizing that she loved it as much as I did)
3. It's not an all new truck, its definitely an evolution, which I believe is a good thing.

 

Best explanation of the 3rd Gen I've seen.

 

I have had two 2nd Gen (08 & 13) and traded for a 2016 - Love my 2016 not one complaint or issue.

I MISS MISS my 6 speed manual but my back issue forced the trade in!

 

I haven't "owned" a Tacoma before. My brother has one that I have driven. I'm also a Chevy guy who liked the Taco better than the Colorado and didn't really want a full sized truck. So, I think I can give objective advice on the 2nd Gen vs. 3rd.

The 2nd Gen is a good tough little truck. The 3rd Gen is more refined. It's quieter, has nicer features, more tech..... it about does everything better than the previous generation with a caveat on the power train.

The 3.5L setup generally makes power about 1000 rpms higher in the band than the older 4.0 (only tested by the seat of my pants). The transmission is shift happy in order to return you better mpgs. If you want the truck to go or pull, it's going to turn some RPMs. There really isn't anyway around that. Both the 2002 S10 Extended Cab (4.3L) and the 2012 Taco DCLB (4.0L) had gobs more low engine speed torque and passing someone was just squeezing on the gas. The new truck needs RPMs to move. That being said, this new engine runs like a sewing machine at higher RPMs where the older trucks felt like they were getting ready to let a few rods loose (though they never did). That new engine also pulls much harder than the other trucks at the higher rpms. The truck will move, you just have to open the throttle enough.

The power train in this truck is quirky and doesn't operate like older trucks or trucks with V8s. As long as you can accept that, you will be happy with the truck.

In every other way, this truck is nicer than the one it replaced.

 

Well, regardless if how "sucky" the shift points currently are, thank God they haven't ruined it with a CVT. I despise my wife's Accord Sport turd with that trans.

 

Same here, Ready to pull the trigger. 2009 4x4 auto 4doors 69,000 miles. The steeler gave me $17,000 for my truck but wants $33,00 for a 2017 v6 2x4 4door long bed.
I am not sure, Personally I paid $27,00 for mine back then and mine is 4x4. Now a day I am not hunting, or pull a boat on a steep and wet lunching ramp. He won't drop a dime from his price, saying: in Bay area Tacoma trucks sale like hot cakes. I have yet to check with other dealers, Maybe after Christmas.