Opinion - 3rd Gen Vs. 2nd Gen: Which to buy?

*I* think you have good taste. I still can't get past that carp mouth grill opening. (sorry folks, that's just what I see)

Mileage can be insignificant or found quite low with effort. Really depends on how long you plan on keeping it. At some point in age it doesn't matter. So are you an every few years or 10+ year type owner?

Newer tech, yes. Better? Maybe. Jury hasn't come in yet on aged stuff breaking down. But the electronics won't be cheap.

Really depends on how you use the truck. If mostly local, short trips, does gee whiz stuff matter? If it's a high road trip use, some of the toys can be pleasant.

Of course older should be cheaper. But a call to your agent with some hypothetical quotes is the right way to know. Not us. Too much of insurance cost is location and driver based, not just the vehicle.

What are you going to mod on a 2wd that isn't really cosmetic? Plenty of stuff for the 2nd gens.

www.fueleconomy.gov People poo-poo it all the time, I find it close on several vehicles. And the relativity between vehicle is what matters more than the exact number, which many variables affect. And harshly, if you are struggling on a decision based on a couple MPG, you don't want a truck of any type. You want an econo box and a utility trailer. Gas will return to the $4 range in the future too.

You need to figure that out on your own with butt time in vehicles on lots. Only you can decide what works for you.

But here's the big story.

Figure out why you need a truck and how it will *really* be used. Then pick one that meets the most of those needs.

I have a '13 5 lug/2.7/auto. 98% of the board members here would look down their lifted/black wheeled/knobby tired noses at it. But I don't care, as it does everything (and more) than *I* ask of it.

 

Did the 2016's ( the more expensive ones of course ) have a supercharger on them?

 

2015 with supercharger was less $ and a lot more truck than a 2016. Sorry if that wasn’t clear enough.

 

it was clear, it just makes no sense. hopes that's clear enough

 

I believe you and won't be coming to confirm. Still hilarious you reccomend a 2nd gen with 5k$+ plus in mods over a stock 3rd. Like, no shit..

 

Buy a 2015 so I could feel superior when I pass you on the street.
.
.
.
j/k man. They are both great. I don't have any issue with my 3rd gen, depsites all the rumors/scare mongers.

 

that's called sarcasm bill, there are no current boost options for the 3rd Gen, less the TT's OV is working on.

 

Maybe it was my 2nd gen that was weird lol.

I'm not saying it's bad by any means, just something I noticed. It certainly hasn't slowed me down any and I love driving my truck.

 

3rd

 

Which is why I answered 'nope'.

Some readers of our stellar threads need to have the questions more clearly answered. The reader may or may not have adequate discernment, especially if the writer may be obfuscating information.

 

Good luck finding a clean low miles 2015. It took me quite a while.

The pandemic has also driven prices up across the board. Limited supply of new and used trucks.

I was hoping to buy an end of year 2020 but there aren’t going to be many on dealer lots, and trying to get the exact config I want has been a big problem.

I’ll likely drive my 2015 another year and see what happens in the market.

 

And don’t get Super White. The paint falls off in a couple of years which I didn’t know at the time I got my white 2020. I guess we will see!!

 

Tundra’s are nice for sure. They are just too big for some of the trails here. I can’t compare as I have only ever had the 2020 Tacoma but I am very impressed with it’s off-road capabilities. Don’t know if the 2nd Gen has the terrain modes and crawl modes but if not and one is going to do wheel then I suggest a Gen 3. I am getting used to having to stay in “S” mode and keep the RPM’s high on the road. It does better than my 2008 FJ did off road.

 

Still can't figure why anyone would need the S modes if not towing. I've got a 2020 sr5 v6 auto and it does just fine in the D mode for a combination of hilly and flat roads here.

 

I have owned a 2006 and 2016 Taco. I like the 3rd gen way more. The interior is much better, more quiet and the body lines are much more attractive to me. The chassis is nearly identical, which was a plus for me. I also prefer the 3.5 to the 4.0.

Lots of people like 2G's, obviously. I think if you plan to keep it for a very long time, consider buying the newest one you can afford and soak the frame in your choice of fluid film/wool wax/etc.

 

Fluid film/wool wax? I just bought my first Taco, a 2016 TRD Off Road with a good non-rusted undercarriage. Is there some preferred way to preserve it?

 

There is no such thing as a 2015 with bells and whistles haha.

 

I like wool wax. I got a kit with an air gun off Amazon-you need a sizeable air compressor for it. They also have wool wax in spray bottles I think. I just pressure wash everything, put fans on it for several days and spray away

 

It is getting harder to find a low mileage Gen 2 in perfect shape. Even the newest is now almost 6 years old. The interior in the Gen 2 is looking pretty dated but the exterior styling has held up. I would go Gen 3 at this point as it wont be much more and you can get a low mileage example that looks like new pretty easily.