I made the switch.

I realize this isn't a normal thing to do, but I don't think I've ever been accused of being normal either. I walked away from the deal with enough cash to nix what was left of my 5-figure truck payment (that wasn't the motivation, but it sure is nice).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/trading-3rd-gen-for-a-2nd.819146/

Ended up going with a 2.7L SR5 4WD 5MT. My "old" truck had 75,000 miles and the "new" one has 80,000. The suspension isn't nearly as comfortable as my 3rd gen, it doesn't have any of the tech that the 3G TRD OR offered, and it's slow as shit--but damn I love it. I probably won't keep this truck for forever.. I had planned on keeping my 3G until I needed something other than a midsized truck which I figured might be 5-7 years. I think that estimate is still fairly reasonable and I foresee myself with 3-5 years of ownership of this vehicle.

I'm genuinely happy for the majority of the people that love their 3G tacos and am not here to rain on their parade, I was just never one of those people. I didn't give a damn about any of the tech installed in the 3G truck in the first place, the throttle response was inexcusably bad and inconsistent (tunes vastly helped, but I still found myself bitching frequently), and the whole design philosophy of the truck (and most modern vehicles it seems) seemed to revolve around the presumption that the driver is too stupid or lazy to do anything for themselves--limited control over interior lighting brightness, electronically dimmed rearview mirror (I'd rather just have the old school type you can flip back and forth.. thank you), pre collision assist that goes nuts over nothing even at its least sensitive setting, other "nanny" tech... Nothing alone was a deal breaker (the bad tune was close), but I just got to feeling like there was nothing "good" about that truck.

I realize that even though I pocketed a good chunk of change, it's still not a financially sound decision, that I'm going from a 3yr vehicle that only I've ever driven to a 14 yr old used vehicle, and that 2Gs aren't without issues, but I just feel so much more at peace driving this truck and that's worth everything. I feel like I'm actually in control, not just making "suggestions" with my right foot that the ECM crudely executes. I'm not nagged by the pesky nanny tech and the truck just feels perfectly "simple".

Anyway, I'd just like to say that I'm happy to have made the switch and will be occasionally posting in the 2G forum now.

 

I'll add a bit more. I loved my 3G Taco... on paper... and still do. It checked all the boxes for me... truck bed, fits in garage, can carry more than one passenger, 4WD, limited tow capacity, and MT of course. I just couldn't stand the actual ownership/driving experience. It's like a girl who checks all the boxes for you but you just don't click with. I'm not asking anyone to agree with me or even understand my decision, I just wanted to share my experience.

 

Post some pictures of the beauty.