Getting the Taco you want or need or could afford?

Been read some threads here. Some of you got the 4X2, and traded in for a 4X4 in the same gen. Or upgraded from TRD Off Road to Pro. That's a lot of $$$ spent, both ways no matter what they offered you in trade/private sale. Which make me think, affording that Taco wasn't the issue. Perhaps your initial Taco purchase was the "wrong choice?'

So the question is:

1. Did you get want you want, need, or could afford?

2. Would you advise someone like me to get what I want, need or could afford?

3. Is it always a good idea to get "more truck" than you need?

Mods are expensive too, right?

4. Or take the logical approach, what you can afford, and not go all-out. It's a Tacoma, you should be happy by default. Some don't even have a Tacoma.

 

Your money get what you want if you can afford it

 

Get want you want, but be reasonable with your budget. You don't HAVE to buy new, there's no shame in going with a better gen than the turd gen.

 

First and foremost, what you can afford should be the first priority. Can't enjoy your taco if it's getting repo'd 6 months into owning it. After that, just get what you want! If you end up getting only what you need vs. what you want, you may regret it later on and trade-up, which will likely cost you more money overall. As far as 4x4, that's all dependent upon your terrain. Someone in SoCal who will never go near the desert has absolutely no need for 4x4, whereas someone like me who lives where it snows should definitely get 4x4.

 

1. Yes, i got what i want and i can afford. I traded in my 11yrs old 4x4 suzuki. Was thinking to get 4runner which i couldn't afford. i am totally happy with my new 2017 taco.

2. NO, cause i don't know your background and what you want ?

3. Good idea always come with if i could afford it.

4. yep, you are right. Always never enough, money talks, i am very happy with default now, but when i can AFFORD something .....hehe.........

 

Get what makes you happy... if you can afford it.
I bought a 2wd Nissan Frontier Pro4x, had it about a year and traded it in for my '13 4x4 TRD OR taco. They didn't have what I wanted in stock, so I put in an order and waited 6 months for it. Same with my wife's truck. She had a '14 4x4 4Runner limited, didn't like it, too streety to take off road, so we ordered a '16 4Runner trail premium for her. We are both happy with these finally after going through a new car each in less than 2 years or so. I think we will keep both of these for a long time.
Life is too short to drive a vehicle you don't love

 

I got exactly what I wanted. I could afford whatever I wanted within reason. Just remember everything in life is a compromise. Get what you can afford or less always.

 

I got what I wanted, needed and could afford (to pay cash for). I got a used regular cab because I couldn't find an Access Cab (what I originally wanted) at a reasonable price. I'm happy with the regular cab since I put a canopy on it.

I've learned I need a 4x4 truck because I see a road or trail and want to drive up it. It snows around here too.

I have no regrets about my choice. If I won the lottery I wouldn't replace it (but I might get another).

 

I got '15 SR5 AC after driving a Corolla for 6 years. When I got the Corolla I made the hard decision to give up an '06 Tundra that I loved because I had an 18 mile commute to work and the gas was killing me and money was tight. When it came time to move back into a truck I settled for a little less than I wanted because I got a killer deal. Fast forward two years later and I always regretted not getting the truck that I wanted, so I traded up to my '17.

I worked like a madman to pay down the principle on the '15 so that I wouldn't lose my ass when I traded it in. I plan on keeping this one until it stops running or I stop running because it is the truck that I wanted. The only thing that could change my mind at this point is if Toyota decided to sell a TRD Pro AC with a M/T.

 

These guys are sp asking truth. First off is what you can afford. If you can afford what you want then great. depending on if/what you are going to modify can change what you really want.

Here is why I ended up with what I got, and totally happy with my decision.

I could afford anything under 40k. I got kids, and the wife said I need to have 4 doors. I know I wanted the short bed because I don't like the turning radius of the long bed. Auto or manual came down to availability. I have driven a manual for the past 15 years, but I am okay with having an auto. Now I knew I was going to modify almost everything in the truck, but I wanted the the larger rear axle, so it was either Offroad or manual to get that. So I ended up with a trd Offroad 4x4 in MGM (I like gunmetal color) with an auto. I knew it would be cheaper to get a SR with manual and do lockers aftermarket, but I liked the fact that I had a factory locker and my wife who doesn't Offroad would be able to use it in emergency situation. She can drive manual but it's different Offroad, so an auto with a locker and everything I have done to it made it friendly for her to use if she ever needed to.

So far I have cbi T3 front bumper with grille guard. Mobtown sliders, kick out, 10degree, with fillplates for the kids, powdercoated with the texture that is great. Pelfrey high clearance rear, and pelfrey full skid set. Front, mid, high clearance transfer, gas tank. I am planning out my suspension and tire setup. Eventually I will regear and may add a locker in the front.

 

Get what you can afford. Keep it super clean. Take care of it. Treat it from very first with trade in value in mind when you decide to sale it. No mods other that floor mats or something that everybody would appreciate. Pay it off an trade it off as soon as possible. That way you have a huge down payment on what you want next time.

 

As stated numerous times already, only get what you can afford.

That doesn't mean to settle for something that you don't want.

It means that if you can't afford what you want right now, make a plan and work that plan until you can get what you really want.

I sold all of my time vampires (boat, camper, rail buggy, 4 wheeler, etc) because I never used them as much as I thought I would and they ALWAYS needed something worked on after sitting a while.

All those gone, I got what I really wanted and am much happier for it.

 

"Your money"... You mean the banks money? Few people paid cash for these $35k trucks.

 

Nope, I carefully figured out what the right choice for me would be and bought just that. I ordered and got the exact configuration and options I wanted. No more and no less. Nearly nine months later I continue to be very happy with that choice.

1: I could afford what wanted and needed, so that worked out. In the past I've wanted more than I could afford, in which event I dialed back my wants to what I could afford.

2: Never buy more than you can afford. IMHO if you can't pay it off in four years you can't afford it.

3: Depends on what you mean, but generally buy only what you foreseeably want/need within the constraints of what you can afford.

4: Always take the logical approach. That doesn't mean emotion has no place, but it is assessed and given appropriate weighting in the logical decision making.

 

1. Did you get want you want, need, or could afford?

No. 2014 DCSB Sport wasn't what I wanted, but I got a better deal on it than any other taco on the lot.

2. Would you advise someone like me to get what I want, need or could afford?

I would find a balance between need and affordability

3. Is it always a good idea to get "more truck" than you need?

Yes, I definitely think so. If there were an option for a stronger option under the hood I'd always opt for that.

Mods are expensive too, right?

4. Or take the logical approach, what you can afford, and not go all-out. It's a Tacoma, you should be happy by default. Some don't even have a Tacoma.

You have to be budget conscious for sure. Don't make yourself truck poor and not have cash for the your basic needs and some of your wants. I want a big honking diesel so bad I can taste it... I want air conditioned seats, leather, nav, all the bells and whistles, etc. I can afford it no problem, I have absolutely no need for it, its a waste of money for me, and at the end of the day I don't want it bad enough to put my self in 50k more debt. So there is my take on it.

 

I got a TRD Off Road because I needed lockers from the factory since I didnt have cash. If I had paid the truck off in cash I would have gone with an SR5 4x4 and build it up from there. Its 4k cheaper over the OR 4x4 which is more than what I paid for my Fox 2.5 coilovers w/ RR and Fox 2.0 extend travel w/ RR, dakar leaf springs, FN counter wheels and 285/75/16 KO2 tires. I would have gone straight to a 315s with 4.88 regear and ARB Lockers and be at the same price point I am right now.

 

I wanted; to tow my snowmobile trailer, an access cab and a 6' bed. I went from there. Always have a budget and stick to it.

 

Got what I wanted and could afford. I had 4 essential items with the truck: (1) double cab, (2) 4x4, (3) tow package, and (4) silver - just because it is my favorite color on the truck. I found a TRD Sport with those features and now it's in my driveway.

 

Oh your that guy starting shit. Get what you want OP if you can afford paying the bank back. Is that better?

 

Priority for me is
1) Afford
2) Want
3) Need