POLL: Was a test drive influential (the deal breaker) in your decision to purchase a new (2016) Taco

This poll is intended only for those who actually purchased a 2016 Tacoma.​

Just curious here, How many of us had already decided to pull the trigger on a gen3 before even test driving one. I may be in the minority but I didnt even need to test drive one to make my decision. Heck I hadn't even seen one in person before making the 260 mile round trip to the nearest dealer (Precision Toy of Tucson) knowing I was gonna drive one home lol.
Nor did I test drive any of the so called competition...to me there is no competition. I love my 2nd gen so much that I knew I could not go wrong with the 3rd gen.
In fact after having traded my gen1 in on a gen2 in early 2005 I waited diligently for the gen3 to come out knowing that I was going to buy one. So I waited and waited and waited....dayam that was a long wait! lol. I kept hoping for the gen3 starting around 2011 or so.

Yeah I'm a Tacoma fanboy

 

Yes. I drove the 2015 Tacoma and loved it. Next I drove the 2015 Colorado/Canyon three times, which was about two too many (multiple fit and finish issues, despite the features). THEN the 2016 was revealed, and I decided to wait for it instead.

(edit: also drove a 2015 Nissan Frontier, which reminded me of an empty U-Haul)

It will have been a year to almost the day from my 2015 test drive, but I'm a master of delayed gratification. I'm married.

 

I was coming in as a First time Toyota buyer, so I test drove 2 different trucks at 2 different dealers. A SR5 was my first test and a Sport was my second. It was the mounds of research and videos that I watched that sold me however.

 

First time Toyota/Truck driver. Test drove a 4runner and Tacoma before deciding to go with the Tacoma.

 

Drove a gen3 for the first time on the drive home from the dealership. I had not seen or sat in a gen3 in person until I picked up my vehicle.

 

Not really, my mind was already made up long before mine came in. I was coming home
with the truck, there was really nothing about it I didn't like and coming from 2 other Tacos
I knew what kind of quality and reliability I was in for.

 

I inspected and test drove a Canyon, Colorado and Frontier before driving the Tacoma. If I had not gone with the Tacoma, the Canyon SLT DC 4x4 was going to be my plan B.

 

I test drove a Nissan dealers were scumbags, on a whim drove to my local Toyota dealer, they had my 2016 MGM TRD sport with manual tranny on the lot. Test drove it 15 min before dealer closed on Saturday. Got 1/2 block into 2nd gear on test drive told the sales guy "I'll take it" - done deal. Settled up on Monday and drove it home.

 

Test driving a third gen kept me from buying one.

 

Sad that you didn't keep an open mind. Ford's Model T used to be the best truck.

an open

 

I had four Tacomas. I did not need a test drive and ordered early to get what I wanted. Before all the buyers came and dealers started trying to get MSRP+. I have no issues with the drive train. My only complaint is a slight tone between 35-45 I am getting used to it. The JBL system is phenomenal compared to other vehicles I had/have.

 

I looked at and drove a Colorado DC. I then sat in a Tacoma double cab. I didn't need to drive it. I didn't like the height of the front seat limits the rear seat passenger to use that space to put their feet.

At this point, I'm not buying anything...but if I had to make a decision tomorrow, I'd probably buy a Tundra DC.

 

Test drove a 2014, then found out about the 2016s, test drove a 2015, and was still not impressed with the 2nd generation. Decided to wait for the 2016s. Test drove a TRD Sport, and almost got that one if it was any other color other than black, I might have drove it home that day. Finally got the call that the exact tacoma I wanted was on the ground, made a deal with the dealership and signed on the dotted line. First tacoma ever, traded up from a jeep jk.

 

I was underwhelmed with my test drive of the 2016. My 2002 has more balls for around town driving (I am sure on the highway the 2016 wins by a large margin) so I was actually quite surprised how feeble the 3.5L felt from a dead stop. It's kind of annoying that if you want decent power from a truck you have to hit a button every time you get in your car. I would consider a manual but no manual offered on the DCLB, the configuration I would get. After years of waiting for a gen 3 I realized that maybe it is just not for me.

 

My 1996 Xtra Cab is still my daily driver. Had planned on getting a 2nd. gen but my 1996 is still running well. It has never broke down or left me stranded. As soon as I heard that the 3rd. gen was coming out, I decided to wait. Glad I did. Driving the 1996 for 19.5 years will allow me to have no payment. I've only sat in a 2016, didn't drive it, it was a auto. I ordered a manual.

 

really it was test driving the canyon that sold the tacoma

the interior quality is terrible on the canyon, you can tell they're still using painted buttons that will wear off quickly

they both seemed similar to drive, tacoma felt taller, but acceleration, turning, braking all nominal

 

I've had '94, '98 and 2006 Tacomas. I didn't even drive one. I have an 11/20 build date. I can't wait!

 

First Taco for me . I was in need of a truck (2004 Dakota 4.7 grenaded itself) was out riding my motorcycle one day and went by the dealership amd decided to stop.
I test drove a black sr utility package ,manual and loved it .I'm pretty easy to please ...
I went back the following day amd drove home a silver auto , (have a issue with a muscle disorder ) I think it's a great truck , like I said , I'm easy to please and plan on keeping it till it can't be driven any longer .

 

Was looking at 2015 1500 Silverado's because GM was knocking $12,000 off MSRP. Test drove it heavily on the highway (where I do most of my driving). Sales guy told me to take it by myself so I dogged it as much as I could on the freeway and I just wasn't feeling it. Test drove the taco and fell in love with it. Smooth and comfortable just like my 2013 Lexus GS.

 

I loved my 2012 Tacoma (see attached picture of big red) but from the day I bought it, I wished I would have went with the 4x4. Countless times I have needed it. I looked at the 15s and of course loved them however, they were still so damn expensive and when I heard the 16s were coming out I thought I'd wait to see what they offer. I went to test the 16 and was sold on it. It's such a nice truck it really is. So, for me, the test drive was the decision maker.