If Buying Today, Would You Still Choose the Tacoma?

I do rock crawl. I’m not making those assertions (if you look I already said the Gladiator is more off-road capable). I am pointing out a weak spot which is the crappy break over, though. My taco scrapes less in the middle, which is important. Not interested in an internet fight. So this is the last comment on this topic from my end.

 

Answering the original question, Yes I would buy the taco again.

 

You are not totally wrong. The 2.7L v6 has had reported problems of dropping valves or rods I think. The 2.3l inline 4 which is more of what I'm looking at seems to be good. That tracks because it is the same set up as the ranger which has been around.

I am curious as to why the 2.7l engine has had issues because it comes in a lot of f-150s. That has been proven for a while now. I don't care about the larger engine just because it doesn't provide all that much more power.

Also I think the 2.7l is probably fine. I'm sure the issues stem from a supplier issue potentially since they have had no issues in the f150s.


Honestly, I was looking at broncos before looking at my 3rd gen... as a engineer in the auto industry, I will never buy the first model of anything new. Not because it can be bad, warranties are a thing and as always, anything major will show its head in the first 10k miles "typically" its the downtime I want to avoid.

Now seeing what issues there are, and that we are past the first year, I'm more inclined to do it. Also the production and orders were not handled good at all with the first year.

 

I do not pound my truck every time I get in it, but when I do pound it; I pound it hard. I need a truck that'll get me in to the outback, then bring me back. I was a fly fishing guide for a number of years, so a reliable truck is another piece of equipment. The trucks I own(ed):

1976 Ford F150 with a 360cid V-8 and a Warner T18 4 speed transmission. The engine blew up when it was a year old.Several years later, I gave it away.
1990 Toyota SR5 truck that had a V-6, 5-speed manny, access cab and 350K on it when it when to a new home.
2005 Tacoma TRD OffRoad, V-6, 6-speed manny tranny, access cab with 225K. I still own this one but will be selling it soon.
I just bought a 2015 TRD OffRoad, V-6, 6-speed manny tranny, access cab with 40K on it.

I have a type, and I'll buy'em as long as I can find'em.

 

Yes, but a standard cab and one less axle.

 

Your point is not lost at all. I had originally not added this to my first post, but I was originally looking at broncos before they came out. I didn't want to commit on something that new into the life cycle.

I figured going to another tacoma was easy because the model I got was relatively good off road from the get go which is what I wanted. I also thought I would be using the bed a whole lot more.

I like the idea of the vinyl seats and rubber flooring. Just being able to get a hose and wash out everything is fantastic. So really if I need to put dirty/muddy things in it, it's totally fine in the bronco. I also like how it can fit 35s + without having to cut into the mounts. I do realize that the tacoma can be just as good at off roading, I just don't like the idea of cutting into a new frame, let alone a frame under warranty.

If I need to haul long stuff like lumber, a trailer can be used for that. Especially since that is less of a frequent need for me.

To be honest, while the bed in my truck is nice for lumber, a trailer would probably still hold things easier.

 

I bought my Tacoma (2019) this past January and love it. I had a 2008 Ranger that was totaled on Christmas Day and needed a truck replacement. I always wanted a Tacoma so that's what I bought.

However, I'd been looking around for a year or so, and had some thoughts. First and most important: If I wanted a full-size truck, I would buy one. That said, I don't. I kept telling the fools at Ford that ever since they killed the original Ranger and kept trying to sell me an F150.

As for the new ranger, it's a 'pretend truck' IMO. It's not a ranger, and I dislike the 'you can have any engine as long as it's a four-banger' approach. I hate turbos. Just a lot of added headache down the road.

I don't want full-size, so all those trucks are out. I just don't need HUGE, and all modern pickups in that 'size' are HUGE. I had a '95 F350 (crew cab 8' box) for a while and it was just too big for me.

The Tacoma is a REAL truck, even though I got the Sport, it's still as much a truck as my 08 Ranger was. MT, crew cab, v6. Does 4x4 just fine for me (mostly for deep snow as opposed to offroad as we live in the country).

 

Maybe.

 

Look guys, all we really want is a solid closed channel frame, stock 35s, a nicer interior, and 500 ft pound of torque in the next taco Gen….