If you considered a Tundra vs 2nd gen Tacoma

tell me why you ultimately settled on a Tacoma, and what about a Tundra you like better and were tempted by.

I really like the size of the Tacoma (DCLB), but my husband thinks we should get a Tundra instead. He thinks that for the price, you get more for the money. That said, we don't tow anything and we don't really *need* that much truck. This will be my daily driver, mostly city driving. He's all about the updates and nicer interior, but I just am not sold on spending more $ on something we don't need. He also is a big consumer reports guy and you all know they don't give great ratings for the Tacomas.

that said, they rated honda ridgeline as the best compact pickup and I'd rather set myself on fire than buy one of those.

 

Tundras are pretty big to drive through the city, the Tacoma will probably hold its value if you trade in a lot.

 

I had an 07 Crew Max Tundra for a few years. Very nice truck, loved everything about it except driving it daily. I ended up buying a 2012 VW GTI to drive daily and let my Tundra sit. Then I ended up selling my camp trailer and no longer had a NEED for the Tundra. Sold both the Tundra and the GTI and got a 2013 Double Cab Tacoma. The two things I miss about the Tundra. The power! That 5.7L would get up and go, the 4.0L is no slouch, but the 5.7L was fun. The other thing is the interior room. The back seat on the Crew Max Tundras is incredible. The seats can slide forward a little and recline even...how many truck have back seats that can recline! I've daily drove Full-size Dodges, Powerstrokes, etc and the Tundra was no easier than any of those to park, etc. It's a wide truck that doesn't have a great turning radius. Mine was lifted, so that made it even a bit worse.

I love my Tacoma, the only vehicle I had ever regretted getting rid of was my 2003 Double Cab Tacoma. So when I was downsizing from the Tundra, a Tacoma was a no brainer. Great power, plenty of room for my small family, can tow my enclosed trailer with a couple bikes in it without any problem, easy to daily drive, etc. If it were me and I didn't have the need for the Tundra (hauling, towing, etc) then I'd 100% got go for the Tacoma over the Tundra.

HTH

 

For me, I never really considered a Tundra because I don't have a need for a full size truck. If I had a boat or travel trailer, Tundra all the way. But for my daily commute, weekends at Home Depot, and the occasional off road journey, the Taco more than handles everything I throw at it.

I do like the nicer, seemingly higher quality feel of the Tundra. Plusher creature comforts and options. The 5.7 V-8 is amazing! But the thing is huge, difficult to park, and won't fit in a suburban garage. These things matter to me; you may feel different.

Consumer Reports ranks the Tacoma lower mostly because it rides and drives like a truck. This is not a Cadillac and doesn't pretend to be. Also, the current generation Taco is 10 years old and the competition has caught up, if not taken the lead in some areas. But this is a tried and true platform that will make 200,000 miles with little more than maintenance. Resale value is about the best in the business.

Whatever you do, don't get the Ridgeline!

 

The selling point for me was price. I really like the cab room in the crewman tundra and found the exact truck I wanted (2010 rock warrior 4x4 crewmax) but couldn't bring myself to pay 26k for a truck with 90k miles and I recently checked because I thought about trading in my taco and the prices have skyrocketed since

 

I know for me I really didn't need a full size pick up. But I still love the Tundras, but I had always wanted a tacoma

 

Absolutely loved my 2007 Tundra being that it was all new and redesigned.Had to sell it for financial reasons at the end of 2009.Definetly would of kept it but rode my motorcycles for a few years and decided to go with a 2012 Tacoma.I've had this truck for almost 3yrs and i'm very happy where i'm at and where i'll be and end up!Road trips,off roading and just doing the daily driving has made me very happy with being a Tacoma driver and owner!

 

Absolutely loved my 2007 Tundra being that it was all new and redesigned.Had to sell it for financial reasons at the end of 2009.Definetly would of kept it but rode my motorcycles for a few years and decided to go with a 2012 Tacoma.I've had this truck for almost 3yrs and i'm very happy where i'm at and where i'll be and end up!Road trips,off roafing and just the every day drive has made me so very satisfied!

 

Tundra's look bad in my opinion. They're also the worst half ton out there

 

Whats your reasoning behind that?

 

Probably because they don't have some unreliable, eco motor that doesn't get the advertised mileage.

 

For ease of parking and maneuvering in the city, I would go for the Tacoma. Tundra's are cool trucks, but unless if you constantly do some heavy towing and carrying heavy equipment around all day, the Tacoma is more than enough truck for the average person.

 

Too damn big!!!

I went from a 1st Gen Tacoma to a Dodge Ram and back to a Tacoma.

We needed the Dodge Ram for towing the Jeep. But for daily driving, its just too damn big. My first day pulling out of a parking space at work, I took the corner too sharp and ended up rubbing my wheels on the cars bumper beside me. You have to 'think' like your driving a tank. There were times I squeezed it thru places 'just barely'. Makes me nervous. Parking spaces are sooo small and you have to be extra careful getting in & out when cars are beside you (when you can't park in East Africa).

I'll never forget...I was at the grocery store getting out of the Dodge and a guy says to me..."That's such a big truck for such a little girl" . I mean..WTF?? LOL

I was sooooooooooooo glad to get back to a smaller truck.

 

I pinstripe the hell out of my Taco, a Tundra would NEVER fit. Hell at this point I might end up buying a cheapshit jeep, I almost lost a flare last night in the woods.

 

Consumer reports = bullshit.
Let husband drive the Tundra, then the Tacoma. What does it matter what he like when it's going to be your truck?

 

My previous trucks since 2006 were a Chevy 2500 HD Duramax crew cab 4x4 bought new. Thought I was going to pull a 5th wheel camper. A 2008 Sierra crew cab Z71 4x4. A 2015 Tacoma Pre Runner DCLB 2wd kept for only 2 months due to wanting another 4wd. And now a 2015 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4x4 DCSB.

I bought the two Tacomas because of reputation for reliability and the smaller profile. The Pre Runner long bed was not as wide but about the same length as my full size GMC. It fit in parking spaces better but was still too long for me garage.

The TRD short bed finally meets all of my needs. It will fit in the garage, is 4x4, and most of all is very maneuverable . It has a tighter turning radius and handles well and is just a joy to drive. It also tows my 18' Center Console boat with no problem and hauls anything I need to. Did I mention how nice it is to park in a tight spot on the first try.

By contrast the Tundra is another big make that huge truck. This is exactly what I wanted to get rid of.

The PrevRunner long bed was almost exactly the same size/length as the original 2000-2006 Tundra and has more back seat room or at least more rear seat back rake than the older Tundra Acess Cab.

Before you buy you owe it to yourself to test drive, including parking in a tight space, the Tundra and the Tacoma long bed AND the short bed. I think the short bed Doublecab will feel like a sports car compared to the other two.

JMO

 

Size matters.

That's why I went Tacoma. Drive the Tundra around a bit. Park it in a busy area and drive in traffic a bit, you'll see. It can be done, sure but the Taco is so much nicer to DD.

That said, I wanted the smaller truck for tighter trails as much as anything.

 

I have a 15' Taco DC and my buddy has the Tundra Crewmax. The power of the Tundra is insane,looks great but the thing is HUGE. No way I would drive one for daily duty.

 

I owned a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab a few years ago and while it was a nice truck for the most part.....it was just too big for what I needed it for. I caught it at a good price with low mileage but I should have never bought it because I never used it for anything like towing. Plus, it use to kill me at the gas pumps because of the big fuel tank. I am in the same boat as you....I don't tow anything and I needed something as my daily driver. That is why I got a Tacoma. Although I don't tow anything, the Tacoma is big enough to where if I need to haul something or tow a small trailer. I got a double cab and it is the perfect size for me and my family. I agree with some of the posters on here.....go test drive both and see which one you most comfortable with because you will be the one driving it everyday.

 

Many good posts here. I drove full size Chevy and Ford trucks for decades. Bought a Tacoma in 2010 and now on my 3rd Tacoma (2015).

I had a 2014 F-150 but recently traded it. I really love the Tacoma and missed it. Plus, on the occasion that my wife may need the truck, the big Ford crew cab is a bit intimidating to a 5'-3" petite lady.

I've tried in vain to like the Tundra, but just can not feel the love. Personally I think ToyMoCo is wasting their effort in the full size truck segment.

Get the Tacoma. You will love it!!!