Driving 120 miles per day...

Hi Everyone, new member, but previous Tundra owner ('05 TRD Off Road). I haven't owned the Tundra for quite some time so I am a bit rusty. Quick question:

I drive 120 miles per day, mostly highway, but want to step into the Tacoma for its reliability, utility, functionality and looks.

Anyone else on the forum putting on that many daily miles with their 3rd gen?

Can anyone comment on a 3rd gen Tacoma's highway manners? (I've read the Off Road has a more compliant ride).

Knowing that the 18's are coming, I'm hoping to find a 2017 TRD Off Road Tacoma.

Thank you for your feedback.

 

The offroad model is a plusher ride than the sport but the sport corners tighter etc.

The taco is a comfy ride but unless money is of no concern to you than I bet you'll get real tired of the 16.5 mpg that your gonna get.

 

Wife puts 130 miles on her car daily - - I put her in a prius....

 

I have a sport, average over 20 mpg on highway EASY. Average about 19 combined, and that's in southern California. I don't drive quite as much as you, but see no issues in doing so.

 

MY Sport is like a fine tuned sports car.... really corners well. Gets up to 29 MPG CDN..... and just looks coooool..... I bet you never get "nice truck" compliments with the Tundra..... I get about 5/week, but it may be the colour..!!

They ride real nice for a normal proportioned person..... if you are not "normal", do a few test drives to ensure you like the seat position, head room etc...

Best advice I got..!!

 

Buy a good fuel efficient vehicle and use the savings to get a used taco.

 

I did that amount for about 2 years, logged in 80,000 miles in that time. She's a hoot to ride, very comfortable. You obviously need to be mindful that she gets +/- 21mpgs.

The main difference between the OR and SPORT will be the suspension. OR more plush, Sport tighter. Everyone's taste is different so just go test drive both.

 

If you're driving 120 miles a day on a steady highway, the Taco wouldn't be too bad, but if not the real world mileage will be somewhere between 15 & 20 mpg. That is a lot of fuel. It is a nice ride with the ability to handle a high mileage resale, but the fuel costs will be about double what they could be with a different choice.

 

Keep in mind you can always get cheap bilsteins from the OffRoad for any version (e.g. SR, Sport)...

I put around 25-30k miles/yr on my tacoma, and if I was doing 120 miles/day, there's no way I'd consider the manual trans if the commute had any sort of traffic.

 

I have a sr and it is very planted to the road.. I do 60 miles a day 99% highway and it feels very good... sometimes I’m tje stiff side but I prefer it like that and not bouncy.. brakes are good..

 

I drive my '17 TRD OR MT 100 miles per day. I love it.

 

49,000 miles in 14 months for me in my 6MT

Love it

 

I do 130 miles/day. I have the Sport 4x2 DCLB.
I recently bought my first set of replacement tires.
From Toyos to Michelins. The Michelins are light years ahead in comfort.
But they do lack the steering precision and braking aggressiveness.

There is feedback from the road. The tire pressure makes a
huge difference in the ride quality.

I am looking to getting 5100s in the future when the stock suspension give out.

In terms of MPG, I get 21MPG per tank. 100 miles are driven on the 'highway' but there is always traffic(20-50MPH).

 

I don't view the Taco as a commuter friendly vehicle. Comfy, maybe. Tech, maybe. Low TCO, no way.

Piling miles on a new one will eat up that famous 'hold it's value' lore. Not to mention the 'ok for a truck' MPG.

I vote a comfy few year old appliance and a bit older Taco. 2 for the price of one.

Plus, when gas hits $4+ again, you'll be thrilled you did.

 

I bought a CT200h to commute in
Using the logic above
100 miles in a day felt like someone put my soul in a vice and was crushing it
Did I save lots of money in gas ? Yes

But I was literally clinically depressed

Fuck appliances

Lastly miles haven’t hurt values. Look at gen 1 prices. I can get almost 60% value of my gen 1 after 16 years and 210k miles

Then again I don’t plan to take my Tacomas to Barrett Jackson. Just like my friend puts 20,000 miles a year on his Ferraris, as they are HIS appliances, the Tacoma is my appliance

I love my tacoma

 

No way you get 16.5 on your commute unless its heavy hills or you have a lead foot! I'm getting 24+ not really paying attention on a basically flat interstate commute with limited stop and go. That is a 4dr TRD Off Road short bed. I like mine and when you compare it to what is on the market in the class it was an easy decision. I hope reliability is like my 06'.

 

134 miles per day here, getting 23 average per tank over a year. Others have proven the v6 can do the same thing.

Even the Hitachi shocks are good on the highway, no worries about comfort across trim levels. I'm looking for OR shocks to improve the bumps, though.

 

One year ago this past September I bought my 17 TRD OR 4x2 put 43,000 miles..A lot of times my work brought me down to New Orleans ..The streets there put the suspension to the test..I was glad this model truck was equipped to handle those conditions...Even though I did have a main bushing fail on the right front body within the 1st 3 weeks of driving...The dealer replaced it and has been fine since.....I had seeping in rear differential which was repaired under warranty not recall....Also had transmission TSB done.... I averaged 21 mpg... The cruise control is the only thing i am disappointed with having to go over the overpasses..It does not shift correctly....Otherwise ,I would by another Tacoma tomorrow if I had too....

 

I test drove the OR and I think the $ is better spent on 5100s at stock settings(or a one notch lift in the front)

 

Clearwater Bill, I looked at that scenario and I decided it's not worth it. I sold my 06' 4 door OR 2wd w/ locker for $7,000 and probably could have gotten more for it. It had 325,000 miles on it! I sold it because I was concerned with reliability over the next 100K. But I looked at getting a truck with 20-30K on it and they weren't much less! First new truck I have purchased. I agree 120 miles is a lot, but if you are stuck on a Taco and you are going to hold on to it for a long time like I do my trucks I'm not sure its a bad deal if the trucks prove out to be as reliable as the past two gens. When you look at increased insurance, upkeep, etc. of the additional car I then question it. But to each there own. LOL, I drive a beater to work a bit! But only because I have it. So maybe you should follow Clearwater Bill's advice! Used Taco's just proved to much for me to not just pull the trigger on a new one. I think you can get a 17 TRD OR 4dr shortbed with a good amount of options for pushing $33K. If you just go with a 4x4 SR5 you can get it under $30K. Maybe better year end, not sure... Others are probably better informed on pricing than I am.