A New Member in Maryland

I bought a brand new SR5 V6 XtraCab back in 1992 and I’m still driving it today. Twenty four years later the mileage is just shy of 300,000 and although it still runs fine, rust is beginning to show in a few places. If I were to continue driving it daily, it would need some maintenance to ensure reliability. All the usual stuff, timing belt, water pump, plugs, wires, tires, muffler etc. The body rust is advancing quickly and it will need at least a fender soon. So I’m considering the purchase of a 2016 Tacoma. That’s what brings me to the TacomaWorld forum. I wanted to read what you owners had to say, good or bad about the “3rd Gen” and if it is a truck that can take me another 300,000 trouble free miles.

I’m more of an old school, access cab kinda guy. Double cabs dominate the market these days. I live in the MidAtlantic region and look (online) at dozens of dealership inventories regularly. Tonneau covers on access cabs are scarce, so I have almost abandoned the hope of finding an AC with that option. Automatic transmissions far outnumber my manual trans preference. Choices get fewer with every point of configuration. Some concessions are more practical than others. I would like a V6 with a tow package but I really don’t want a hood scoop or a double cab. I started thinking that maybe the best choice, for me at least, is to go minimalist and add my own accessories over time. However adding a trailer attachment, and on rare occasion, pulling light to medium loads with 4-cylinder might be too optimistic. I am trying to get my priorities straight and make the best practical decision while I comb the forums for useful information.

A lot has changed since I bought my 92’ SR5. But, even with the benefit of the internet, trying to find a truck with the options I want hasn’t changed much. You want that option, you have to buy this cab type, but it only comes in that color on another trim level which includes a cheese grater, etc., etc. I do understand the Sales and Operations Planning processes needed to juggle options to keep the production line moving efficiently and help move a color or trim that isn’t as popular. Anyway, this forum is a wealth of knowledge and mods that I am hoping will help me adjust whatever concessions I may end up making at the dealership.

I’ll let you all know if I take the plunge.

 

Holy wall of text!Welcome to TW!Good luck!

 

welcome