Keep 2016, get 2023 or switch to 2023 Tundra?

Been a long time since my last post and I still have my 2016 SR5 Tacoma which has been mechanically sound. It currently has just under 99000 miles. I use it as a DD and to tow a small 3000 lb camper. This setup has been coast-to-coast from Maine to Seattle and as far south as southern Texas over the last three years. When the roads are good, towing is fine and the truck is comfortable. When the roads get rough, the ride gets bad quickly. I have tried Sump springs, different hitch heights and varying weight distribution in the truck bed and camper without much difference on rough roads.

I have had issues with the leaking third brake light (fixed, but the dealer did a lousy job cleaning the headliner) and peeling white paint. The paint has been "fixed" with a touch up spray can while waiting to see if Toyota steps up and covers this problem. I recently had more peeling start after previous fixes.

I would like a different paint color, dual zone climate control, and adaptive cruise control. These are not items I can add to the 2016. I plan to do a lot more traveling over the next few years with the same camper.

As I see it, I can keep the 2016 and live with the rough ride (infrastructure being pretty bad nationwide), get a 2023 OR or Sport in LR or MGM or move to a 2023 Tundra (I'm not thrilled with the turbo setup and don't want the poor mileage of the 2021 Tundra).

I know, asking opinions of random internet users and so on, but in all seriousness, what would your choice be? If your answer is move to a new truck, would you buy now or wait until later in 2023?

 

comes down to how much money you'd want to spend.... they're all good options, and they're all good reasons to pull the trigger, but a new truck is going to be more money than keeping the one you have no matter which way you go

 

Why do you think a new Tacoma will ride better than your '16?

 

What you do with your money is your business so if the grass is greener on the other side go for a new Tacoma and sll the older one off.

 

Well to start, OR will give you a softer ride, Sport will be same as your SR5. All depends if you/want more room and ease of towing Tundra will give you that. Ride wise will depend on what model Tundra. I personally would go with Tundra. You'll have more comfort, room, and probably better mpg towing. Food for thought. Like you said, you'll get various opinions. Good luck.

 

Keep the 2016. Get the minor things fixed, paint or wrap the truck and enjoy all the savings you'll get by not buying a new truck. I'm assuming your current one is paid for? With the current market, inflation and high interests rates...it is not a good time to buy a vehicle if you can avoid it, and it sounds like you can.

 

My vote is, "get a 2023 OR or Sport in LR or MGM"
I had a loaded 2014 TRD sport and my new '23 OR is way better and different.

 

The 2016 is paid for. I was wondering if the Sport or OR would have a better ride, looks like the OR would be the way to go for that option. The extra room in the Tundra would be nice. I planned to keep the 2016 for 10-15 years, but the paint issues and ride have me rethinking that.

If I knew I could get that amount of time out of a 3rd gen Tundra, I would probably go that route (if I don't hate it after a test drive). I would want 4x4 and the dual zone climate control in a Tundra, so could probably go with the SR5 version?

 

I can see your point on paint issues. Ride issue is easily fixed. So many new take-off OR suspensions for sale cheap on here or FB. Tundra, you might want OR as well SR5 has stiffer suspension, same Tacoma (limited, sport, SR5) stiffer than OR.

 

Get the OR. Softest ride out there!

 

I'd wait another year or two before buying the new gen Tundra, but some of that is a personal issue with not trusting new products until they are out for a couple years. Thanks GM.
If you want new, with more features but otherwise like your 16, I'd say go for the 23 Tacoma. Maybe spring for a TRD Off Road, most agree they ride a bit softer. Next years Tacoma will likely be all new, who knows what new issues there will be, the 23 is a known commodity, you know exactly what you are getting at this point, which is not a bad thing.

Or...say screw it, maybe get some take-off suspension from a new TRD Off Road or Pro, and drive the thing into the ground. Dual zone climate control doesn't seem to do much in the smallish cabin, the adaptive cruise may be a bigger deal to you than it is to me (I hardly use cruise). Get the truck painted or wrapped. Lots of options.

If my 18 had high miles I'd be tempted to get a fresh 2023, but I only have 24k miles due to driving a lot less than I used to, and I'd miss the Cement paint. And finding another 6MT with the right color and options could be a bit of a project.

 

that's the nearly impossible part..... stick with that one

 

Definitely thinking the OR would probably be my best option. I would hate to have the 2016 paint professionally repaired then have peeling start in other areas. Or, by the time I pay for a full paint job/wrap and an OR suspension, that chunk of change could make a nice dent in the cost of a zero mile OR. The model refresh next year is the reason I am looking at the 2023 models. Any DC LB OR models out there at MSRP with minimal add-ons or optional packages?

 

The 2024 Tacoma engines I believe have been leaked out unnoficially. They will be 4-Banger turbos. So get a reliable 6-cylinder 2023 Tacoma now, which is what I did (got a 2022 last summer), unless you like the Tundra better. I peronally hate the design of the new Tundra with those squared-off fenders Silverado-style, and the fact that they are 6-cylinder turbos. Get the 4x4 Sport if you don't do much off-roading. I like how my Sport rides but I kinda regret getting the 2x4. But that's what I got. I never really needed to drive where my 2x4 cannot take me with proper All-Terrain tires.

 

Go on Cargurs and search. That's how I found mine.

 

I would wait. Let the market keep cooling and let the new tundra get all the growing pains figured out.

Plus, interest rates are outrageous right now.

 

As someone with a 2020.

• Adaptive cruise is great in sedans. Terrible in the Tacoma. might be good in other trucks, though. Maybe it's more how I drive but I am usually just sitting there getting passed by everyone since I'm driving a truck, not a car, I drive it as such. Slow and steady. Adaptive is nice and I do use it, but it wouldn't be enough to get me from a 16 into an 18+, now that I've had it.
  
• Dual zone - same. I've had it in my old sedan, thought I'd miss it, but I don't. The cab is so small that it wouldn't make much of a difference.
  
• Color - white is the easiest to keep clean. I look like a contractor truck for sure, but i like the white. Even with the pending issues I know I'll have with it.

If you're going to change, getting a later model Tacoma will be a waste. It'll be the same truck with an adaptive cruise that doesn't add much, and dual zone climate that is basically the exact same as a regular climate control since our cabs are dinky. You'll regret getting a later model Tacoma I would bet money on it.

Tacoma vs tundra up to you. How often do you tow? If my truck wasn't stellar at towing but I towed 450 miles a year I wouldn't give a rip. If it was half my year, then I'd reconsider. Get your tool for the 95% use case, don't live with the headaches of the tool for the 5% use case 100% of the time. If it's that bed, rent something - rental cost is likely to be less than buying new, having the mpg of the larger truck, maintenance needs of a bigger vehicle (more oil, bigger tires, everything is just bigger, more spark plugs (though with a TT V6, guess that's the same ).

 

So glad I stepped up and bought my '23 OR

 

Your 16 is paid off.
You’d end up with another car note for the 23 taco or tundra.

That money used for the newer vehicles, could cover:
1. New suspension to your liking. Hell, you have 99k miles the stock suspension is prolly tired.
And
2. Repaint

Those two bills right there are less than any car note.

Sure, the newer features of dual zone and shit are nice, but do you NEED it?

With prices for EVERYTHING nowadays the way they are, I’d fix what you got and run it, especially if it’s been good to you.
And don’t even get me going on how expensive groceries are in Hawaii haha.
Save your money for the long haul my man

 

Trade for new gen tacoma. Keep midsize on what kind of crap you bringing. I like compact and minimal so I'd keep mid size.