If Buying Today, Would You Still Choose the Tacoma?

I would get a gladiator. Fits 37 stock and has a nicer interior. Feel free to freak out on me.

 

I love my taco but if I was buying today I'd be tempted to pick up the Bronco and get a trailer for when I need to haul. The only thing is I'm not sure that Bronco will last 10+ years where I believe my taco will.

If it had to be a pickup though I'd still choose the tried and true Tacoma - IMO looks best, reliable, resale value, and fun. bad is HP is a bit low, mpg mid, a little cramped.

Mid sized trucks
Ranger is kinda bland looking to me with a really high bed.
Nissan looks very dated to me.
Ridgeline (not a real truck but works) looks to bland but slightly better in the new form but to look good they sacrificed the best part which was the fuel economy.
Coloranyon twins - no way when I was shopping I noticed there are no older ones running around and the ones I did see were broken/rusted to hell so no reliability there
Gladiator - I keep going between love/hate. the lower end model looks like crap but that super expensive one with the bulging hood and huge tires does look good. Have my doubts on reliability and fit/finish. My buddy's jeep was a rattlebox, fun, but you couldn't have a conversation inside. But still tempting =)

 

It's when you flick the wiper stalk intermittently as you drive I believe.

 

Id jump all over a Gladiator if it wasn't made by Jeep.

 

I see. Will give it a try.

 

I'd jump on a Jeep Wrangler if it had independent suspension, wasn't a Fiat, better engine, dependable, higher quality, and randos wouldn't wave at me.

 

Yes, because the small size of it is what I need to fit in the garage currently. If I didn't mind parking outside I would have gotten a full size

 

I checked out the first gen when it first came out, totally pumped to get one and take it off roading. They had a single cab sitting on the floor. I walk around, get in, really digging the interior, and close the door... the damn drivers side window is pushing on my left shoulder (I am 6'2" 210lbs). First gen was built for half-men and horse jockeys.

Was excited when they announced the 2nd gen as being a mid-size. They show the new model and those big dumb headlights piss me off. Dodged a bullet honestly with all the frame rust issues.

On my second, third gen now, no issues and runs like a champ. Also, Jeeps are garbage.

 

I so want the new 2 door bronco.

 

Looks like a stretched Chevy HHR.

 

Had pretty much all the full-size trucks. Had an early model Toyota and Datsun trucks. Numerous cars in between. I bought this one because it suits my needs at the time. When it stops doing that I'll get rid of it and do something else. Vehicles, I don't really get attached and over mod for just the looks of it. Only for the need. That's just me Maybe not you.
If I did go jeep it would be the 392. The gladiator has a forever wheelbase and a pig powerplant.

 

* If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why? - Maybe. I do like that it fits in my garage and is easy to park
* If not, why? What would you buy instead? Why? - as my kids have gotten bigger, I've wished for more internal space. I have a 17 dcsb. For similar or better gas mileage, you can get a fullsize and a lot more space... with the downside of it not fitting in my garage.
* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma? - gas mileage is meh. i had a 16 dclb SR5 that was getting 22-23 regularly. my 17 offroad dcsb rarely gets over 20. I'm driving them the same but I'm just living with it. it's likely the heavier/grippier tires. everything else is stock. I don't drive a ton, so this isn't a major issue. just now at 33k miles in my 4 years of ownership. it primarily hauls my bike to bike trails. i work from home but if i ever start commuting, i'll likely get a more comfortable vehicle for it.
* Were these issues significant enough to cause you to doubt the reliability of the truck? - nah... toyota is reliable
* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma? - jeep wrangler, ford f150
* What did you like & dislike about them? - at the time jeep didn't have a truck. full size trucks are harder to park and drive down the narrow backroads. almost every full size truck that i meet on the backroads near my house is at least 50% over the center line. if you can't drive a truck that wide, don't drive a truck that wide.

 

I've owned Ford, GMC, VW, Suzuki, Subaru, Toyota Tundra, and now a Tacoma. Wouldn't trade it for all of those combined. It's everything I want. Tundra was great reliability and capability wise. But max I could get mileage wise was 12. Didn't matter if it was summer, winter, loaded, unloaded, always 12. Also the suspension in the Tundra was so stiff you feared every pebble on a road. Tacoma I get 24-26 with a non highway tire (Toyo Open Country At3's), suspension feels great, I doubt I'll have any reliability issues either. Only thing I added so far is airbags in the rear as I have a decked drawer system in and a truck cap coming.

 

My 3rd Toyota truck (1982 RN38 4x4 SR5, 2011 Tacoma plain work truck, 2017 Tacoma AC LB Sport) is perfect for my current needs. We've also had a 1983 Celica GTS coupe, 1988 Tercel coupe, and my wife's current 2012 Venza. Empty nesters now so I don't need room for anyone but me and my wife. Tows my utility trailer like nothing. My 12' fishing kayak slides right in under the hard tonneau with a hitch extender in place. Rides and handles and maneuvers great and gets pretty reasonable mileage (avg 18-19 city). I've had Chevys, my best friend has a Colorado, and my son drives an F150, and unless I had a LARGE trailer to haul I'd buy the Taco again in a minute. Very reliable vehicle. I've been a parts manager for several auto manufacturers over the last 36 years and from the inside looking out I would still buy another Tacoma simply for the piece of mind.

 

I was initially attracted to the RAM 1500 for styling, but as a former mechanic, I have serious doubts about any domestic truck's reliability. I started to consider Tacoma when I saw the black TRD Pro at the dealer and the styling really vibed with me. Also I know Toyota makes a reliable truck. So I started comparing mid-size pickups and went to all the dealers.

I road tested the Gladiator and liked it, but the 3 problems were: 1. Gladiator isn't a good value truck. 2. It's worse value because dealers charge above MSRP. 3. I seriously doubt their reliability.
Then was the Ford Ranger. I sat inside the truck at the dealer and the styling didn't vibe with me.
Lastly, was the Chevrolet Colorado which I like the off road styling. But the towing capacity takes a major hit on the off road models. Then the interior, where I spend all my time, feels more like a family vehicle. I've always hated GM interiors..

I bought my Tacoma new and I'm happy with it. Some issues I have is that Toyota was cheap not to include electric tailgate lock and some other details that they should include on a 40k truck.. It's been a long time since I had passion about my vehicle. I had a supercharged grand prix when I was a teenager and that was my fun car and I was obsessed with modding. After that car I stopped to care and drove old man cars "Point A to Point B", but the Tacoma spiked my interest again and i've spent $5000 in mods. It will stay with me a long time

 

I had to get warranty work done on my front seat at 18K miles. the leather started falling apart. Apparently it is an issue in the 17-19 Colorado models.. heehee

 

If we were on a normal timeline, when F-150s were available all over the place and heavily discounted, I would have seriously considered one. On paper I was really interested in an extended cab XL with the 6.5-foot bed, 4WD, the dual-injected 3.3-liter V6 (290 hp, 265 lb-ft), 10-speed automatic, 3.73 rear locker ($500 standalone option), 36-gallon gas tank, skid plates, power package and appearance package (alloy wheels and chrome bumpers). The XL comes with Android Auto/CarPlay standard and an MFD now and after adding a couple of packages is on par with the Tacoma SR. Sticker on that combo is about $42k which is too much, but when they were previously discounted $8000 or whatever, I would have strongly considered one.

I really, really wanted the bench seat and sweep-it-out vinyl floor. But they have been close to MSRP for the past several months and basically unavailable so I decided to go with the safe choice when buying at MSRP, a Tacoma.

 

If it's anything like the first run of them, just wait till 4 years and 70K. That's when the engine will fall apart.

 

its the diesel so not worried. and oct will be 4 years and only has 22k.. lol. I dont drive a lot. I drive my TJ more.