If Buying Today, Would You Still Choose the Tacoma?

If I had to replace my Tacoma tomorrow, I'd be in the same decision-making situation as the OP. I would consider a new Tacoma, BUT only w/ a 6 speed manual. I wish I could've found one when I purchased my 2017. The manual in the Tacoma is a joy to drive. With the used truck market value as crazy as it's been lately, I've been shopping a lot lately. The truck that has my eye the most is the Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave though.

An automatic Gladiator Rubicon w/ Cold Weather Package, Hardtop, Tow Package, Remote Proximity Keyless Entry and Active Safety Group, equips the Gladiator VERY similarly to a Tacoma TRD OR w/ Technology Package and Premium Off-Road Package. Gladiator Rubicon sticker of $51,085, Tacoma TRD Off Road Double Cab at $44,625. A buyer w/ a little bit of experience is going to get them both for the same price though. Chrysler/Ram/Jeep is going to be able to knock a good bit off that MSRP, and we all know that Toyota, especially right now, isn't going to discount a Tacoma at all.

There were some initial wandering issues w/ the 2020 Gladiators, but that has been fixed with a new steering box for 2021. No rear leaf springs, means no squeaky leaf pads like my 2017 Tacoma every time I get in and out, oh, and in the Gladiator Rubicon you get a disconnecting front sway bar and front locker for the price listed above. My list of gripes about my Tacoma is the squeaky rear leaf springs, a sticking passenger side front door that doesn't like to shut sometimes, rear differential whine, wind noise on driver's door (unable to be fixed 2x by dealer), fender trim coming loose, wheel well plastic coming loose, fuel door hinge sticks and is now bent a little, and the always-in-the-wrong-gear auto transmission. 1st world problems, I know, I know, but it makes me wonder what all else will need fixed over the next few years now that the warranty is expired.

The good, w/ a good 2" lift and 33" BFG AT KO2s, the damn thing will go just about anywhere you point it. And when it doesn't go anymore, put it in low range, lock the rear differential, and click the slowest speed on the Crawl Control, and then it will go everywhere else.

In conclusion, if my truck got totaled today, I'd take the insurance money and buy something older, but it would still be a Toyota.

 

Might be worth posting this same question in the forums of your other choices (Ranger, Colorado, etc). Would be interesting to see why they may have chosen theirs over the Taco.

 

I paid $31.6k for my 4x4 SR with v6/auto.

If I could do it over, I'd get the same but a 4 cylinder and 6 speed manual trans.

 

That thing is pontiac aztec levels of ugly, I seriously have to avert my eyes when I see one

 

I would have probably gone with a tundra or forerunner for the space. Other than that, I have zero complaints about the truck!! Love everything about it. Just hauling things inside gets a little cramped

 

I'm with ya... I've seen 1 that I actually liked, only because it was a Sonic Blue Metallic color. I have a weakness for that color.

 

No. F150. Shifting too much. F150 can get 23 mpg too. Pretty sure they are holding THEIR value right now too. Previous 4 trucks: 4 Chevy, one still out in the driveway, one 2007 Ranger I own now. It's a little war horse. Taco again only if other choices were limited to Colorado, Ranger and Jeep.

I have a '93 4Runner. Close enough...

 

I would still get the Tacoma if I were to buy it today . I need a 6ft bed for camping . Don’t want full size. Shifting issues can be fixed with kdmax so basically nothing left to complain about .

 

Test drive all on as many roads and speeds as possible.

*If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why? Maybe- vibrations, lacking options others have, don't care for engine braking.
* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma? Did I mention vibrations...
* Were these issues significant enough to cause you to doubt the reliability of the truck? Yes, in the long term.
* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma? No other had the combination of cab/bed I wanted except the Frontier and closest dealer is over 2 hours.
* What did you like & dislike about them? above answer

 

I would buy it again especially because when I bought it new in 2019 I paid $32,000 for a TRD OFFROAD with 6 speed manual transmission was offered close to $40,000 yesterday when picking up my truck from the dealership I declined.

 

Probably.

But a little part of me regrets not even driving anything else. I kind of made my mind up that I wanted a Tacoma and got one.

But I constantly wonder what the Ranger, Wrangler and Colorado would have to offer.

Zero interest in the Nissan or Honda.

 

Knowing what I know now and knowing how I use my Tacoma:

I do 95% highway (sales job), basically no off road but I enjoy the capability if I need it. That being said, I would pick a 6mt sport dc, but I would want to have an axle locker I could use anytime

 

If your Tacoma doesn’t notice towing near max limits, I have to question how well calibrated your senses are

 

I think you misunderstood my answer, Question 5 is a sub question of 4. The Tundra wouldn't notice towing 5k. Our Tacoma does it, but there is no question that it's back there..

 

After 16000 miles on my 2020 TRD Off Road... I would say ABSOLUTELY yes. The ONLY complaint I have and that I may have chosen a 4Runner instead is our camping gear being exposed for theft in the bed of the truck when we stop to walk some trails and such. BUT... Other than that, I would hands down buy this truck again.

 

Took some of the bulk out so I could see what I was typing.

- I would buy another Tacoma, yes. Looks good, access cab is small and still has space for people (dogs in my case) and tools in the back under the seats plus has a short wheel base, great colour selection, e-locker, lots of aftermarket support, surprisingly comfortable for long drives but take this as a warning; I am the odd one out in terms of thinking they have comfortable seating for long drives. That being said the power seats have offered much nicer seating configurations. Lumbar feels better, raising the edge of the seat can create more of a "bucket" feeling.
- If I bought anything else it would be between a 4Runner for a more "luxurious" feel while still being nimble or a Tundra for a ton more space and more power. That being said I wouldn't buy either over my access cab Tacoma.
- My 2016 had some pretty nasty shifting issues in Drive. Putting it into sport selection made it much better but still not amazing. New Tacoma has a lot of quality of life improvements inside the cab, out in the bed, and the updated transmission software. The only thing that irks me is that the info-tainment system is a little bit slow if you use it as a touchscreen. If you use the on steering wheel controls it's as fast as lightning.
- No. Regardless of shoddy transmission software in my 2016 I would've never considered it "not reliable". Even the battery was in top shape by the time I traded it in, nearly six years after its production date. I had one rear shock go but that's rough northern Canada roads in the winter for you.
- I looked at second gens. Didn't like how outdated they felt but they had nice power lower in the rpm band. This is pretty trivial but they also don't look as nice in the AC config. Great trucks all around, just not for me. I also have a 1999 Ford Ranger and it's slow, a fuel pig, idler pulleys go every 120,000km. Great truck, very reliable, but way too small, slow, I only get 18-19L per 100km in it and the bench seat sucks. I haven't looked into a donor pair from an Explorer yet.

 

Just bought my first brand new Taco this year. Put me in the fanboy club. It always been a bucketlist purchase I just never had the funds to pull the trigger.
Why? Reliability and the stock performance offroad to get me into those flyfishing spots.

 

I had a Colorado while my Tacoma was at the dealer... felt the shutter the transmission didn't know what gear to be in in certain situations. Those who worry about gear searching with a auto tacoma... the Colorado is worse. It did,however,get decent fuel efficiency. Most likely due to 8 speed and 4x2 with very few options. I did like Android auto and that the ac blower was strong.

 

Throwing my hat into the ring because I want to note how differences in Tacoma Configuration have changed my outlook.

I own the TRD Pro, which in my year (maybe always?) comes with a 5' bed. I reasoned that I am not the kind of person that would change my shocks myself, so I might as well be charged a premium. I didn't realize how much a pain in the butt a short bed would be for camping.

A 5'5 bed would be able to fit me with a camper shell
a 5'7 bed would fit me and my my dog with a camper shell
a 6' bed would fit me and my boyfriend with a camper shell. I would also be able to fit a mid height rack and a roof top tent.

With my 5' bed I have to go cab height for any reasonable size roof top tent, which is a pain for getting in and out of it, and for wind resistance with a soft topper.

Looking for a camper shell makes me think I should have bought a 4 runner. Just saying.

 

As an older than Teenage girl I can attest these are cute.