Avoid 2011 Tacomas?

From an editorial perspective, CR doesn't like anything that is not a hybrid designed for DC, where they live and work.. So you have to take their analyses with a big grain of salt when it comes to vehicles people actually use in the West. They think the FJ is terrible, but it has the highest resale value out there.

Also, CR does not make clear that all cars are steadily improving. An 2013 car with "average" reliability is far better than a car that had "average" reliability 10 years ago. Average today most likely would have been excellent then.

 

No problems with my 2011 other than the chirping blower motor (warranty fixed) and the 5 speed trans is ridiculously clunky. It drives though so I can't complain too much.

 

Not DC, suburban NYC, their test track was the last drag strip in Connecticut.

I had a subscription for decades, real handy on buying household appliances.


Howard

 

So based on everything being made by humans, sounds like your just saying reviews don't mean shit and it's all a crap shoot. Amazon's reviews are just as useless as CR's or anyone elses right? No, I don't buy blind but reviews are taken with grain of salt, especially since reviews are always sprinkled with good and bad. Basically you have to expect some bullshit with anything you buy nowadays. All you can do is research and buy what has had the least amount of bullshit or has had some level of bullshit that is acceptable to you. There has been no more or less bullshit with 2011 Tacomas than can be expected with any other 2nd gen year model.

 

Just thought I would post an update. This morning I put a deposit on a 2011 double cab sport. It's silver, with a manual transmission, the 6-disc changer, and 13,800 miles.

I won't be able to complete the purchase until the end of next week, and it's killing me! I am so excited!

Thanks everyone!

 

Congrats on the purchase and also for finding a 2011 with low limes. Mine has 22,300 which I got in Oct of 2010. So it actually was a re-badged 2010 but with a 2011 Vin number and the grill, but not the new gauge cluster. Oly problems I had was the noisy blower motor, a fog light with water in it, and had the leaf spring TSB done being a DCLB and tow/haul frequently.

 

Assuming nothing strange happens, tomorrow I'll be upgrading from my current 2005 Access Cab, SR5, TRD Off-Road, Pre-Runner w/ 123k miles to a 2011 Double Cab, SR5, TRD Off-Road, 4x4 w/ 19k miles! I'll have to wait ~1 week for a transfer :|

 

I used to respect Consumer Reports, but they are fukkin' useless if you're trying to research body-on-frame 4X4 trucks. Like anyone out there in consumer-land is thinking "I need a family car that rides really nice on the freeway and fits my kids. I'll get this Tacoma TRD Off-Road that's too high off the ground for a child to get in unassisted, with all-terrain tires and a locking differential in a leaf-sprung live axle vehicle that gets 15 mpg in town! Can you throw in a manual transmission with 6 speeds so I can't drive and slap my kid in the backseat at the same time? How 'bout some part-time 4wd with low-range that my wife will never know or care how to use correctly?

They also recommended the Nissan Frontier over the Tacoma, but when you go to their used car buying guide, their own research shows the Tacoma's reliability history slaughters the Frontier's...WTF? In 1/2 ton trucks they recommended the Chevy Avalanche over a normal crew cab 1/2 ton...WTF? WTF?

 

OK, I guess something strange happened, because I didn't get the 2011 w/ 19k miles...

I got this:


2010 Double Cab, 4x4, TRD Off-Road, 46k miles. They say it has (and from what I can see, it appears to) stock suspension, but it looks and feels lifted to me. Are the 2010's higher than the 2005 (I know, I'll search that and this isn't the correct thread )? Maybe just the new wheels/tires are making it feel big?

I'm stoked to finally have the TRD Off-Road 4x4 that I've been wanting for the last... EVER!

 

Nice truck, what did u pay for it? BTW with color matched bumpers, door handles and side view mirrors I would have thought it to be a TRD sport than an off road. Does it have a hood scoop?

 

Nice looking truck, suspension looks basically stock perhaps with the rear leaf TSB and Billy 5100s for leveling.

While those short beds look nice, it won't carry building materials or a motorcycle easily.

Howard

 

i launch my 2011 off sweet jumps all the time. no issues

 

Thanks, I paid $27k for it and they gave me $11k on the trade-in for my 2005 pre-runner (I probably could've gotten ~$13 for it, but it needed tires, a windshield, and a re-paint on the left rear panel).

No scoop, it's an off-road. Had the RW Diff lock and the pwr outlet in the bed (although I think the sport might have that too?). The previous owner put on the wheels/tires, so they probably made those mods too.

 

Thanks, yeah a look underneath and everything looks like the stock off-road parts to me. It must be the 17" wheels & larger tires I'm feeling (my 2005 had 16's).

Yeah, I actually like the look of the access cab + long bed better (that's what I had before), but I'll be OK w/ the shorter bed. I don't ride and I rarely carry building materials. I'm a trail runner & occasional car camper, so getting around on the 4x4 access trails in the Sierra and not having to "chain up" in the winter, is all I need.

Also, I was able to convince my wife that this is a family car, w/ the 4-doors. We'll probably be working on making some little ones next year or so.

 

Only problem I had with mine was a bad fuel rail and that's not because it's a '11 model. It's been replaced and zero problems since. Got it Oct 2010 and currently has 29xxx miles.

 

BTW, the reason I went with the 2010 instead of the 2011 had nothing to do with wanting to avoid the 2011. I would've had to pay a $970 transfer fee to get the 2011 in CA, so it was just a $$$ and availability thing.

 

I read that report a while back.
Their opinion seems to be "if it has 4 doors, it shouldn't ride like a truck".
Well...guess what? It rides like a truck.

If you're looking for a truck you can put the whole family in = perfect.
If you're looking for a family vehicle but need it to do the work of a truck = perfect.
If you need the comfort of a family sedan but want it to look like a truck = Tacoma, no. Ridgeline maybe?