Decision to buy a 3rd gen.

I have now been on this forum for a week or so and after reading some negative thoughts on the 3rd gen I decided to write a review of sorts to hopefully help someothers that are on the fence about buying one. First of all I want to state that I could of bought any of these trucks that I am going to write about and I choose to buy a 3rd gen. Here we go...

Here are the top attributes that drove my decision:
1. Reliability- I like to keep my vehicles for about 10 years. I personally feel this is the only way to justify the amount of money these things cost.
2. MPG - I feel in the years to come we will see the fuel prices go back up and if you are not getting decent fuel economy you will/could regret your decision.
3. Versatility - the vehicle needs to cover many different areas for me. From daily driver to material hauling, off-roading, and towing my jet ski.
4. Comfort - obviously if you are not comfortable in the vehicle you will not be happy with it for long.
5.looks - you have to like what you drive after all.

Now let's break down the contenders
The GM twins Colorado and Canyon
1. Reliability - I know everyone now wants to believe that GM has fixed all their reliability issues. I on the other hand I have been talking to friends that have newer GM's 2012 to present and they are still having problems. Just recently a buddy who has a 2013 Silverado and 2012 Tahoe has decided they have had enough and are going to buy a Honda or Toyota. They can't seem to get the formula right to make something that lasts without headaches along the way. Therefore, while everyone is saying that the Colorado and canyon are number 3 for reliability. I on the other hand am calling BS and believe that within 5 years they will be having issues. For that reason I decided to look at the Diesel. I think it is a great engine but could I bring myself to pay that extra money for it. In my mind the MPG would have to be majorly different to justify. Not to mention there is still the rest of the truck that could have issues. Like in there cars and the wheel bearings. My family has had 3 GM cars all three at 80,000+ miles needed at least 2 wheel bearings replaced. These are not cheap and not as easy to replace as the should be.

2. MPG- if you believe the EPA numbers they have the 3rd gen beat. However, if you trust those numbers you are out of your mind. I have talked to many people that have them and they have told me that at freeway speeds they get ~22-23MPG (V6 gas). Not 26 like the EPA says. As for the Diesel the EPA is 30 MPG highway I believe. Not bad but with the increase in cost of the vehicle it would take over 6 years of ownership to make it worth it.

3. Versatility- It can be a daily driver, it can tow,it can haul, but off-road. Go watch TFL on YouTube. They take a stock Colorado, Tacoma, frontier, and ridgeline off-road up a mountain in Colorado. The Colorado and ridgeline did not make it. Pretty simple here.

4.Comfort - I test drove several and I was not that comfortable. I actually felt like I was sitting more flat in the Colorado than the new taco. I am 6'2" so it is not that hieght thing everyone is saying about the tacos that played into this. As for the electric seats... From my experience with GM it is just one more thing to go wrong. Family had 2 cars that we had to take the seat out to replace the motor.

5. I don't like the looks of the Colorado. I do like the looks of the canyon. Unfortunately there is a cost increase to buy a canyon even if it is equipped the same.

Ram Ecodiesel
1. Reliability- I want to believe it will be as good as Toyota, but then there is all the emissions crap. If you dontunderstand what I am talking about go read on the Ram forums. No don't just read just look at what they have to do to keep ahead of the thing so that the engine doesn't blow. Now I am very mechanically inclined. I do all my own maintance and I would do it on this vehicle if I had gotten it. Also there was a time that I had talked myself into buying one. Thank god I talked myself out of it and decided to wait. I think they can be a good truck but I questioned how much extra work you have to do to keep them that way. and I have not even gotten into the other Chrysler issues. If I was buying a 2500 I would buy one all day long for the Cummins. My brother and father both have one.

2 MPG - EPA 27MPG highway in a full size. Awesome, and from forums they can beat that. One problem... How long will it take to pay off the difference in cost to the taco. You really dont want to know. But hey you would have a full size.

3. Versatility - check here for everything.

4. Comfort - I test drove them and loved them. Which I knew I would my father and brother both have 3500 which is the same cab and seats.

5. Looks - I liked them My wife did not. A few points deducted.

Ridgeline - was not available when I was doing all my comparisons and I didn't want to wait. Also I already knew off-road was a no go.

Ford F-150
1. Reliability - it has been my experience that when ford gets something figured out they stopmaking it. Perfect example is the 300 straight 6 motor. Probably one of the most robust motors ever made and they no longer offer it. Another example is the triton V8 a lot of trouble with it and when they finally got it all worked out puff it was gone. Don't believe me just YouTube some of the reviews/mechanics they go through it and describe exactly what I am stating. Now as for the new engines I really like the eco boosts I think they are great motors.

2. MPG - My only knock is that when I test drove both I could not get the dang things to return the fuel economy the EPA stated. The forums and reviews of friends support this.

3. Versatility - Off-road can be somewhat of a challenge depending on where you go.

4. Comfort - very comfortable.

5. Looks- I liked them my wife did not. A few points deducted.

Tacoma
1. Reliability - Toyota need I say more. Lol no really I am coming from a 2005 with 200k miles and all I ever replaced was the following tires, break pads, shocks, and changed the oil every 5000. Everything worked in it even when I traded it in. I could have drove it for another 5 years. It is the reason my wife wanted a RAV4. She has had 3 vehicles in the time I had that. So this time when I asked here what she wanted she said something as reliable as our taco. Toyota or Honda here we come I told her. In all honesty I know of no truck that beats a Tacoma for reliability.

2. MPG - Ok this is a real concern here. The EPA numbers show it being way below everyone. I even told the delear this was something I was unsure of and was unsure how I could test it in a test drive. The dealer took one look at me and without hesitation gave me the keys and said take it overnight. Well that night I put over 100 miles on it testing MPG i different conditions. what I found is that at freeway speeds 75 to 80 I get between 21 to 22.5MPG. Close to the Colorado, but wait there is more... The real surprise was when I was doing between 30 and 60MPH. I got and still get high 20's MPG. Basically what I learned was that everyone that says they are getting these low MPG have to be driving it like a race car. I drive it like it is a truck. I only put the accelerator to the floor when absolutely have to. Anyway the decision in my head is it meats my standards here (given where everyone else really is).

3. Versatility - Tacoma need I say more.

4. Comfort - reading the reviews I was nervous about this. After I sat in it and drove 100 miles I walked away with a smile. Even though I am 6' 2" and the reviews say I should have head room issues. In reality, where I live, I had no issue at all, and in all honesty I was more comfortable than the GM twins. As for the none electric seats... It makes no difference to me. I set my seat and I never move it. And if someone else drives it takes less than a minute to reset it. Come one people stop being lazy and complaining over nothing.

5. Looks- Inferno need I say more. Lol. Also, the wife likes it. Add a couple points.

So that is what helped in my decision making. Now I have much more to add to all of this, however, out of trying to keep this shortish I kept some out. Anyone that is in fact looking to buy and would like some more input please let me know and I will fill you in. Especially since I just got the new vehicle 2 weeks ago all the information is current and relavant.

Let me also say I think all of these are great trucks and if you have one I applaud you. This is in no way me trying to bash the other brands. I am just trying to highlight why in my mind someone would buy a taco over some of these others and to show some that the taco is really a great option. Even if some like to bash it.

One last thing what is up with GM adding its own Inferno color? Who is really chasing who here? Lol

 

Wow my eyes are tired now.

 

So you dont believe your friends drive thier GMs like race cars?

Not trying to start anything. But you cant use one point to make your case, then make the opposite point to buy the other.

Ive owned both. Canyon (gas) got 27ish mpg on highway. Taco gets 22ish. GM easily gets the stocker mpgs. But... so does the taco.

Anyways... congrats on the new truck!

 

@smitty99

 

I would want to check MPGs manually versus what the dash computer says.

 

To be honest I have talked to multiple sources and none reported getting over 23 mpg when doing 75 to 80 on the freeway. Now that you are saying that makes me wish I could have drove one for an extended period of time. Glad to hear you are getting those types of numbers, and you are right I think more people drive these trucks like race cars than trucks. Thanks for your feedback and glad you like your truck!

 

I do check the average mpg that the computer gets vs. calculated and so far it is within +/-0.2 on the Tacoma on every tank which surprised me.

 

That's just too much to read man. I'm sorry.

 

In the city here, driving a fullsize is impossible as a daily. Midsize is a tight squeeze but fits.

 

Hended out to dinner but don't make any hasty decisions on a 3rd gen just yet. I'll weigh in soon.

 

Thank God

 

Yes !!!!!

 

Oh boy. This is going to be helpful.

Let me summarize what you'll say: third gens suck. Worst. Vehicle. Ever.

But for some reason you still drive one.

 

You lost me at "I"

and 3rd Gen.

 

Whats more important, your dinner or saving someone from the agony and despair of buying a turd gen? I am starting to question your commitment to saving the world from this scourge

 

Agree with melikey.

Smitty99 placed on "Probable Ignore"

 

He's changed since honeymoon and marriage

Doesn't care about us anymore

 

No way am I ignoring the Smit.

 

Smitty now placed on "Never Ignore" list.

Me neither. He's my man.