A Very Proactive Future Owner

Always enjoy vehicle forums so I thought I would sign up here as I know a Tacoma is in my not too distant future. A couple years yet actually but I've been looking forward to getting back into a Tacoma since my kids were born in 2003. When that happened, I went to Crew Cab Full Sized Pick-ups. Kids have gotten older and I won't be needing the "big" pickups anymore in a couple of years.

For now, I thought I'd settle into this forum, get to know the nuances with the current gen. and be prepared when the day finally comes.

I had an 89 Tacoma and a 96 Tacoma. Absolutely loved those trucks. I'm currently in a 2019 Ram, bought it just a couple months after they hit the lots. It's a sweet truck no doubt and some people might think I'm crazy for wanting to get out of this truck (eventually) but there is just something about a Tacoma that has made me miss them ever since I moved on. I'm in PA and by the name, you can probably tell I like to fish.

Thanks for having me.

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome to The Forum!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Welcome, now go get that Tacoma!

 

I got a 2008, 2011, 2013 and then traded into a '17 ford raptor. regretted it... I'm a small truck guy... traded the raptor in for a family hauler explorer, then just traded the explorer on a tacoma... I'm home again. Would be nice if Toyota offered a higher HP version of the Tacoma... something with 350hp would be perfect but, I'm happy with how they are.

 

That is one downside of downsizing, you do get spoiled with 350+ horse and 400+ torque in larger trucks. Do you need it in these trucks, not really but when you had it, it's something you miss.

 

For mid-size types...I like to think that the Tacoma is first and foremost an Adventure vehicle asthetically and mechanically with capabilities for being a mild utility/work truck. I think the Frontier falls into the same purpose and asthetic.

All other mid-size trucks like the Colorado, Ranger, Dakota are primarily work/utility trucks asthetically and mechanically but capable of being an Adventure truck.

So when I had been on the fence on the Colorado and the Taco (which I ended up choosing) and made final choice after weighing out mechanical specs, price, and general engineering/manufacturing reputation, the physical look of the truck was the balance tipper. I wanted to drive around in an Adventure Chariot rather than part of a Work Truck Fleet.

 

And that's why I didn' mind downsizing.
I knew what I was in for, and even test drove the gen 3 Tacoma. Mind you, if there was an option for a higher HP V6 I'd of bought it.
I'm not sure if a supercharger option is available on this motor, but I'll look into it. DI might be a problem. I was thinking about supercharging my 13 MY tacoma gen 2 when I had it.
Overall, I'm content with the truck as is. transmission shift algorithms could be improved...if not for economy. I find if I just use the shifter, it works fine. If I was sure I would keep this truck for end of life, I would have tried to find a manual transmission.

 

Welcome to the forum!! Everyone has been awesome on here so far.

Ha...I just went through somewhat the same thing. I have never owned a Tacoma; but have used Hilux's overseas a ton. Last year, I got my "forever" truck, an 18 Ram Crew cab 3500 srw. It is an awesome truck; and equipped well. But, I live smack in the middle of off roading/overlanding/jeeping capital of the country of sw CO and was really sad to not be able to go 4wheeling on the forest service roads due to size and stiff suspension. I got on the forum about a month ago. The tips everybody were sharing was great.

So, yesterday, we went test driving a 4runner for my wife down in Durango. While there, I test drove a Tacoma...…...and that is all she wrote. I ended up trading the Ram for the 4runner and Tacoma. It was a sweet 75 miles home!!

 

That's cool. A little irony to it too for me. My wife said just the other day she wants out of her Nissan Rogue and something a little bigger...and she literally said that one Toyota, the bigger SUV one and I said 4runner? She said yep and that if she had a bigger vehicle, we wouldn't have to use my truck and I could trade in anytime I want. I wouldn't do it right away as I want the equity to even out to at least my down payment on this Ram ($16k) but who knows, maybe a double deal is in my future as well.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Rather than create a new thread, I thought I'd just add to this one.

Got out today to see the Tacomas in person. Don't take this wrong but the word that came to my brain about the overall look and size of the trucks was "cute". Being a current Ram owner, the size difference is dramatic! That is however what I am looking for, truck ability (albeit smaller) with a nimble and convenient around town experience.

The reason for my visit today was to figure out what model I liked. My current truck is an Off Road model and it seems that I'll stay with an Off Road model. It offers enough capability without the over the top for me Pro stuff I would never use as well as a more aggressive look than the sport.

I'll definitely have to wait for the 2020s though. I have LED lights on my current truck, once you have them, you don't want to go back....seeing is believing. And much like the lights, I am spoiled with Android Auto so that is a must for me as well.

Just typing out my thoughts. Thanks for reading.

In reference to my earlier post about the wife being interested in a 4runner, which was the main reason for my visit today, that vehicle is out. There is just not enough room in the rear passenger seats to fit my son comfortably. Dude is huge, 17 years old, 5'-11", 220lbs and not fat, he's just a large wide man that just won't stop growing! Lol. So the quest for her will continue.....

 

Welcome!

 

Roughly 3 1/2 months later, I am officially part of the team. Picked up my 2020 Tacoma Double Cab 4WD Limited in Magnetic Gray last night. The only other options were the Tonneau Cover, Door Edge Guards and Mat / Sill Package. The only thing I would have like added is the Bed Mat which can be easily done with a click on the net. Need to do some searching here yet though, see if someone local is selling one.

I did a 27 month /12k per year lease on it (27 just worked out better than 24 price wise), $0 Down and the price is dirt cheap compared to what I am use to spending. This is my first time leasing so I am going into it cautiously and admittedly, went with a short term in case I do not like a mid-size truck as much as I thought I would. For now, I'll take the equity I received back from my Ram and put it in savings. In the event I do not like mid-size or leasing after this truck, I have it as a backup.

 

Welcome...Back I guess. Didn't take you long! I am also a small truck kind of guy but with my kids getting bigger and doing more hauling of our boat around I'm swapping to a full-size truck.

Good luck on your lease, I have never leased before either.

 

Thank you. Yeah, reverse rolls at this point you and me. I’ve been through it. I pulled the trigger now just to cut losses on the Ram. I lost 40% of its value in just 18 months. Yeah yeah, I know, you lose a lot of value the first couple of years but the kicker for me was a guy on a Ram forum I visit just got 37% off MSRP on a leftover 2019. They just keep cutting their numbers and they are killing their used market.