Ford man jumping ship to Toyota need your help

I've bought Ford trucks for 30 years, my latest one I bought used 2018 and the money I've put into this has been ridiculous and I just found out the tranny with 75K is showing signs that it will need to be replaced in the near future for about $9000, rebuild is $9400

I think I'm done with Ford. I've always heard good things about Toyota and I want to buy the last truck I'm going to buy (hitting 60 years old).

Really irks me, I just got this truck decked out the way I wanted it and we were planning on doing some long road trips around the country but I'm not putting another 9K into this truck.

Questions

- do you think I can have a better experience with Toyota or it's 2024 and Toyotas are just as bad as Ford now?

- point me in the direction to look at for truck and trim and features -

My current vehicle is loaded, leather, tons of the latest options, 4x4, crew cab, has the 3.5 eco boost 6cy auto (crazy powerful engine) power of a diesel! That will be hard to give up so I hope Toyota has something comparable? I do mild off roading in Colorado and Utah but want a comfortable highway experience for long trips too.

Probably buy used 1-4 years old with really low miles.

What model and trim level should I be looking at in Toyota? Any tips recommendations? I've never even driven in a Tacoma before so I have no idea about them.

 

Test drive both.

It depends on what you are pulling during these long trips.

Both the Tacoma and Tundra engines are too new to have numbers on long term reliability. The prior generations were solid, but the Tacoma had complaints about comfort and acceleration, while I thought the older Tundra was a snooze fest with zero road feel.

 

The Tacoma is not an F150.
If you like the F150, look at a Tundra.

The issue there is, some of the engines have been failing.
And to make matters worse, they don’t know how many or what ones.
I have to be honest, I’d be a bit worried if I were buying a new Tundra.
Your situation has happened at an unfortunate time.

Every manufacturer is having issues at the moment.
Ford was supposed to have the 10 speed clutch drum fixed late last year.
Ram is still eating cams and lifters.
And Chevrolet is also having transmission issues. (Unless you buy an Allison)

At this point, all you can do is buy one.
And hope luck is on your side.

 

Or, buy a used 2nd gen Tundra V8 in good condition w/ reasonable mileage from a 1st owner w/ good service records?

 

i don't really think any brand is better than any other brand at this point.

the good news is that toyota has a very good reputation in the industry, so most people can almost always re-sell their trucks for a good majority of what they bought them for, even 2-3 years later.

also, you don't specify, but the tacoma is equal to the ranger, which is a 1/4 ton truck, not the f-150, that's a 1/2 ton truck. if you've got an f-150, your equivalent is the tundra.

lots of people have come here looking to downsize from silverado's/f-150's, only to realize post-purchase, that they really need the capabilities of the tundra instead.

 

Buy pre covid. QC on everything has gone down since covid

 

Nope. Not even close!
I had a 4.0L Taco for 2.5 years and have my current 3.5L EB Lariat and the power comparison is amazing! The 3.5L EB is an absolute beast!

 

Anything is better than a ford

 

id be careful saying that these days.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/dealers-are-refusing-toyota-tundra-trade-ins-over-twin-turbo-v6-recall

 

The Tacoma is a half ton truck but comes nowhere near the Tundra and F150 in towing and power. If you need power and leg room and payload capacity, look away from the Tacoma. I would look around at the last year Tundra had the V8. You said you wanted used anyways.

 

I don't think I'll ever understand when people want to change from a full size to a mid but still get full size features.
Smaller na engine or even smaller turbo engine your going to get less power.
Smaller platform less towing capacity and less space in general. Sounds like you need to be on a tundra forum.

 

he never specified which ford product he has that hasn't met his expectations.

 

Look at a Tundra with the 5.7. It's got lots of power and a very good track record for reliability. Only complaint people have is it likes gas,fuel mileage is not great . The new gen turbo Tundras are having some engine issues but if they fix them they are better on fuel.

 

3.5 ecoboost 4x4 strongly suggests f150.
And the mention of the power leads me to believe he will be let down by our wee lil 3.5's output.

 

2021 Tundra TRD Pro should get you most of what you're looking for (except for fuel economy). Last (and best) of the previous generation, off road capable, 5.7 V8 with plenty of HP and torque. Should be good for 400K miles.

Cheers.

 

Really just personal preference and what you like. I don’t know much about newer Toyotas but I do know an old Toyota Tacoma or some tundra’s will never let you down. I have a 03 I bought from an absolute tweaker. I had to fix a couple things not because it’s a bad truck but because of what they did and didn’t service it as needed I fixed it all tho and it hasn’t let me down once with cruising towing anything at all just service regularly as needed and it won’t let you down!

 

I never seriously considered a Ford in my entire life, then I got a 3.5 ecoboost in 2021 that I later traded for a 2023 2.7 ecoboost. I was liking the 19-23 Rangers, which became harder to find in 21. I was looking at 3G Tacomas, saw a marked up TRD Pro, which was as much money as the 21 3.5 XLT. The main reason I got rid of the 21, there was a rear axel bolt recall which there was no fix for at the time. I also wanted a truck with less powered equipment and tech. I considered a new 21 Tundra, which hold there value but I'd probably keep that. I also considered a 22 Tundra, being an all new vehicle, the price, and potential markup being more money, I bought the Ford.

Right now I think Ford has the oldest chassis and cab in the 1/2 ton market, I don't mind the styling but sometimes the Ram and GM trucks look better styled overall.

I like Toyota as a brand, but the domestics usually offer a better price, and better incetives. The biggest problem for me is finding the Toyota truck I would want.

 

If anyone wants an opinion of whether Toyota is “bad” these days or not, just look at how they are handling the recall of their V6 turbo engines.

 

You’ve had full size for 30 years, you may be a little disappointed going to a midsize after that. I’ve had both Tundras and Tacos. Like em both. At this point in my life the Taco double cab 4x4 is everything I want and need. You’d probably be better off with a Tundra after all those years of full size. They are great trucks and very dependable. My only negative with Tundras is that the gas mileage sucks.
Which ever one I wouldn’t buy a 24 (even though I alway buy new vehicles and have for 40 years). I think for either one you are better with one a couple years old with low mileage. Emphasis on the low mileage. Get one with low mileage and I think you’ll be a happy camper.

 

Damn, the OP made one post week+ ago, got a number of people to give thoughtful reply’s and never visited TW since that post. Hasn’t been back since his post. I notice a lot of first time posters do that lately. Makes me not want to respond first to time posters until they have at least a couple posts.