If Buying Today, Would You Still Choose the Tacoma?

If gas mileage is important to you, drive a CIVIC or something. Buy a beater truck for weekends.

 

Yea, I think quality control of their manufacturing processes is where Toyota shines big time. Everything else is meh.

 

Absolutely. I've taken courses in process control and Toyota is a case study every time. Its not like the F-150 is a sub-par product, people just have anedoctal evidence of high reliability and thats how you build a reputation.

 

I would buy a manual access cab SX.

the Chevy has weird shock points that aren’t tucked in the wheel like the Tacoma.

Ranger is nice, but I don’t trust the turbo I4 yet.

 

like a sore thumb

 

*If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?
Yes, but not the 3rd gen. I would try and find the mintest 2015 4x4 off road in this country and gladly pay what I paid for this 2021.

* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma?
3.5L garbage…nuff sed

 

Bad part of that, is that you WOULD almost pay the same for a low mileage 2015.

 

* If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?
Yes if the prices were the same as they were in 2019 when I bought mine. Why, reliability and resale. Two things you'd always want in your vehicle.
* If not, why? What would you buy instead? Why? N/A

* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma? I haven't had any problems including the new fuel pump they installed for the recall. Would love to get an OV tune to get the trans/engine setup like it should have come out of the factory.

* Were these issues significant enough to cause you to doubt the reliability of the truck? No

* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma? None, I new I wanted a Tacoma, just shopped around at the dealerships

* What did you like & dislike about them? N/A

 

Do it - get the OV 91 octane tune. Best thing I did to my Tacoma, hands down.

 

Probably not......I really don't need a truck but it's reliable, paid off and I don't drive a ton so I am going to keep it.

 

Just my $.02 as comparing my 21 TRD off road short bed to other vehicles I've owned (which is a very broad selection). Seems like I've had similar experiences to others...

* If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?
A qualified yes - but I'd look much more seriously at other offerings before pulling the trigger. Might have waited a year or two.

* If not, why? What would you buy instead? Why?
Would have at least test driven the Frontier, Jeep Rubicon/mini truck, and might have waited for the Bronco (but the constant delays with the Bronco release, and no pricing breaks would still have probably ruled it out). Might even have looked at the Land Rover (the more off road smaller one), or used Land Cruisers.
Definitely would have looked at the GX and LX series Lexus vehicles more seriously (used ones)
Note that the bed of the truck isn't essential for me, more of a nice to have...

* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma?
Transmission (auto) is so flaky that it drives like an old 70's CAR with a bad carb float (round the corner, stall, jumps up, stalls again)
Forget about using the cruise control - multiple downshifts on 1% grades or headwinds, really embarrassing (Toyota should do much better)
2 OD gears is (at least) 1 too many
Hopefully the transmission type issues can be fixed with an ECU tune/flash that I'm hoping to do in the near future ($500 or so I wasn't intending to spend, but gladly will if it fixes these clear issues)
Stock tires are really off the mark for something called an "off road" (another $500 sunk into upgrading them immediately)
The usual electronics getting used to that all new vehicles seem to put me through these days (no big deal, but it's a truck...)
Fit and finish have been better on other Toyota manufactured vehicles I've owned (some at lower price points)
Paint quality is marginal, though it is "hard" compared to Lexus "soft" in terms of scratching it. Flop is pretty lousy (they could have programmed the robot to do a better job)
Gas mileage is way off the sticker. Was hoping for close to 20, getting more like 16-17 while babying it (with SL 31 tires, not E load 33's).
Would have preferred a regular spin on oil filter
The bed is sort of a funky size for finding things like tool boxes, and the rail system requires adapters for most common stuff.
Would have preferred the weight to be more balanced, vs all on the left (possibly a nit, but noticeable)

* Were these issues significant enough to cause you to doubt the reliability of the truck?
Actually yes, the fact the truck is so completely over-geared does make me question how long it can try to lug itself around, and/or how it will do in a challenging winter deep freeze. The last vehicle I owned that was so ridiculously over geared was built during the Carter administration...

* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma?
Frontier, Jeep. Garage size prevented me from looking at other full size trucks.

* What did you like & dislike about them?
Jeep has questionable reliability (very questionable), and the Frontier was a new model with fewer custom goodies if/when I want to modify. Preferred a truck with bed to an SUV. Very few serious body on frame SUV's anymore to consider, so Taco it was...

Stuff I like about the Taco (bonus section...)
Apple Car play, reasonably good stereo sound (for my non-audiophile needs), but really just want buttons and a dial vs menu after menu for stuff.
Lots of storage under and behind the rear seat compared to plain Jane trucks
Runs on regular unleaded (not a given these days)
Plastic bed takes abuse without dents
Nice big tank (but needs it with the lousy gas mileage)
Auto rear opening window provides good ventilation without much noise
Looks the business (except for the tires, as mentioned previously)

The above said, I think the Taco is a decent truck, but they really need to change the gear ratios on it and get a more sensibly performing transmission in it.

 

Still my favorite truck and one of the favorite vehicles I’ve owned

 

Since I'm looking at spending $45-50,000, At this prove, no way

* If you were buying today, would you still choose the Tacoma? Why?
I don’t think I would. I don’t feel that the new trucks are built as well as the older trucks

* If not, why? What would you buy instead? Why?
After owning 7 other Toyota pickups, starting in 1987, I would of purchased a nice first gen Tacoma and fixed it up.

I had a problem where the truck would tell me to turn it off and it was off, the doors had to be locked manually and a dealer pulled 7 codes. My dealer has seen the truck 6-7 times and nothing has been replaced since the errors never showed back up.
My trip information on the stereo unit hasn’t worked since new and still doesn’t work and Toyota will do nothing to fix that.

I loaded about 500lbs into the bed and drove 900 miles, by the time I got to my destination, my truck was sagging in the back, with only 19k miles on it. I added an Ironman Foam cell 3” lift and with the coil overs set at the middle, I got 3.5” in front and 5.5” in back.

When we put this lift on, I read to change out the drivers side axle shaft bearing, man was there a lot of play in the factory one, the EGGS one fit a lot better.

* What problems have you had that disappointed you in the Tacoma?
See above. Other problems are minor, but still annoying, like 1) trying to get 14.4volts to the battery for a AGM deep cell battery, it has to be tuned, 2)USB or other electric outlets in the back seat area, this is what early 2000 technology 3) wire CarPlay and the wire is in the way, why put the connection in the middle of the dash 4)Remote start, my 2013 JKUR had it 5) no grab handle on the drivers side Little stuff that Tacoma stopped adding or never put in.

Big one is, not being able to select a gear manually and hold it while towing, going up hills or just down the road. Also if using the manual shift and you select say 6th gear on the highway, the truck might go to 6 or stay in 5, the dash will say 6th, but my scan gauge and the tach says different.
* Were these issues significant enough to cause you to doubt the reliability of the truck?
See above, the problem with Toyota getting codes, but not doing anything except checking the truck over and over for the same thing and same checks, nothing different, makes me question their Toyota Cares
* What other trucks did you look at before buying the Tacoma?
Ranger, Colorado. Just something I didn’t like about them
* What did you like & dislike about them?

Thanks for answering my questions. $45-50,000 is a lot of money. I want to feel that I've made the best choice for my needs as a daily driver, light hauler, occasional tower, and hunting/camping/fishing vehicle.

Even with the problems I have had, I think this will be a good truck, but it does need some stuff.
I have a Quicksand 2020 TRD OR with the tech package, OR package, leather powered seats, dual A/C, Nav and more. My out the door price last Augs was $38.9k, sticker was around $42k and I would not of paid that.
I have already added a suspension, ARB dual air compressor, Warn Zeon 10s and this week working on a Aux fuse box to run USB ports to the back and front, plus power outlets. I will also add in a 31M battery to power my refrigerator and other stuff that I use on trails and trips.

I hope you get the truck you want

 

I my 50 years of driving I have had VW, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Nissan, Honda, and Toyota vehicles. Of all these brands my Toyota’s had been far better than all the other brands when it comes to reliability. So I’m a Toyota fan boy based on years of driving experience.

 

A very well thought out and articulated post, but I swear I must have bought a different truck. Granted mine is a Sport, not an OR, but still...

 

I'm coming from a 5th gen (2019-Current) Ranger to a 3rd gen Tacoma.

Loved my Ranger. On paper you'd be stupid not to be skeptical of the 2.3L Turbo, but it was great and I never had a problem.

The 10 speed was like a dream. It ran 33s with ease, no regearing necessary.

Why I'm moving from the Ranger to a Tacoma could be it's own essay, but I'll just say a Tacoma is superior for me -- whilst the Ranger is still a damn fine truck.

With the current mid-size trucks you either go Tacoma or Ranger in my opinion, both will serve you well.

The Tacoma will allow you to sleep better at night, have better resale value, and have far superior aftermarket support.

 

Just bought my first Tacoma last month, which contextually is pretty close to today; so yeah, I’d absolutely buy one today.

 

Hell no, the highway performance is awful. I despise the manual in the city, and hate the auto on the highway haha.

 

If I were you I would buy a Toyota. Myself would buy a 2022 Nissan Frontier due to the redesign and they should be ALMOST as reliable.