Poll: Why did you buy your 3rd Gen Tacoma?

The new Ridgeline was just to ugly or I would have gotten one of them...

 

Manual transmission. If 4R was available in manual, I would have one of those.

 

I had a 2011 F350 and I no longer tow anything nor haul heavy loads. I also didn’t need the cost of diesel and on top of that the truck was in the shop constantly for one problem after another with the def system.

I’ve always liked the Tacoma and it’s reputation for reliability was a no brainer. I’m completely satisfied with it, the truck suits all my needs.

 

2018 Tacoma won on size, specs, reputation and we just like the look of it.

 

None of those. I bought to have a replacement truck.

 

1st gen 2003 AC 5MT got totalled when my pops borrowed it. Assholed by a flatbed towtruck with a damn Mustang on board. Pushed him into the trailer in front of him. Asshole sandwich. Didn't see that option in the poll.
As a "retired" Toyota/Nissan/Mercedes mechanic, and the fact that I beat the shit out of that 2003 in New Mexico/ Durango, Moab, etc. and only had to replace a ball joint under recall and a couple T-belts/water pumps keeps me coming back. At the very least they are serviceable in every way. Shit's easy enough to get to. Plus you don't need a special tool for every fucking thing like on a Ford.

 

My interest in the Tacoma went from nothing to everything after I started working for a Toyota dealership. For some reason I just fell in love with the vehicle. So I learned as much as I could about it and eventually I pulled the trigger. I really like the way it looks, the capabilities of the TRD Off-Road are amazing, and I love how a standard transmission is offered.

 

I knew I wanted a Tacoma 10 years before I actually got one. I drove one of my buddy's 2nd gens a few times a while back and that started it. When it made sense to get rid of my Mazda3 in late 2015 I was really only reading about 3rd gens. Reliability was an important factor for me and I was initially a bit skeptical about purchasing the very first model year of a redesign. After enough research I came to the conclusion that pretty much everything "new" on the 2016 was just new to the Tacoma and not Toyota. I've had 2 recalls performed at the same time. Crank shaft position sensor and weeping diff. I read about some guys in the early days not having their trucks for weeks or months because of the diff, but I dropped my truck off on a Friday night and my service advisor called me mid-afternoon the next day to tell me I could pick up the truck. I also had the dealer perform 2 TSBs on separate occasions related to the automatic transmission. Oh and the LCA whistling at crosswinds TSB. I knew there would be funky little things with this truck being "redesigned" but I felt confident enough to purchase. After 60,000+ miles I'm still happy. So uhh, Reliability I guess would be the one main reason I got this truck. I also used to drive everything from rental cars and vans to box trucks all over the country back in the day. Don't get me started on the "domestic" brands and reliability.

 

Lots of good replies. Most of the choices I listed actually were factors for my decision to buy one. Exceptions are I never owned a previous gen Tacoma, and the manual trans wasn't ever something I was looking for.

One thing I have heard from multiple friends, and now I know is true - the Tacoma has a cult-like following. I'm sure TW has nothing to do with that...

 

The first reason for me was affordability. I wanted to get another F150 but couldn’t grasp buying one that had less feature than the current one I had and paying a little more. So opted to go to the mid-size market to get more value for my money and a cheaper payment.

The second reason I went with Tacoma was the lack of options. I’m not a GM fan at all and didn’t like/want either of the twins. I previously had a frontier, and that was pretty much unchanged from the 2010 I had. The ridgeline I think was just coming out but didn’t do much for me. Didn’t have any other options.

That all being said, had the ranger of been out then I would of probably gotten that instead. I like the Tacoma interior/exterior better, however the powertrain is way better and having worked at a ford dealer at the time, I would of got D plan pricing.

 

Resale value, looks, off road capability, aftermarket parts availability

 

I love the interior....which when im driving, is where i spend most of my time.

 

Why so many? Accidents, just wanted a newer model year or different color? Please do tell

 

A few years back I plugged my OBD2 scanner into a coworkers Ford because of a CEL. One of the possible solutions to fix the code was clean the MAF sensor. Easy enough. Grabbed the CRC MAF sensor cleaner and a Phillips head screwdriver out of my trunk. (yes I used to carry MAF sensor cleaner everywhere) Popped the hood of the Ford... and there's 2 Torx security bolts just mocking me. I laughed and immediately gave up. I can't imagine doing actual work on a newer Ford.

 

Why did you buy your 3rd Gen Tacoma?

I bought it because my 1st gen Tacoma had 268,000 on that 3.4 V6 and it was a Rusting money pit that just wouldn't die.

 

I should add this as a response choice and see how many votes it gets

 

Had to because of stereo types of where I live. Also another stereo type my wife drives a 4runner.

 

Most of the poll reasons were my reasons to get a Tacoma.

- I liked my 2007(?) that I sold a decade ago when I gave up cars for motorcycles.

- Toyota’s and Tacoma’s reputation for reliability and known great resale value.

- The SR model offered everything I cared about having in my daily driver, and was easy to upgrade many of the things I wanted for less but didn’t get from the factory for less than getting a higher trim level or a different make. This was really key for me.

- My truck was a leftover 2017 in April 2018 so I got a better than average price. It was the least expensive new 4 door truck in Fairbanks by several thousand dollars when I bought it.

- I fit well and am very comfortably in this truck. Just enough room for the kids in the back. I wish it was a long bed but the short bed is really easy to drive in town and park in crowded parking lots and streets. The size is “just right”.

 

I like how it looks. I have Toyota brand loyalty.

I want a manual transmission.

 

I'd always like the Toyota trucks. Back when I got into my smaller cars (Miata into 370z) it was about gas mileage on the Miata, and I got bit by the sports car bug. Then I got a dual sport that I don't get to take to the trails often since it's hard to haul around a bike with a 370z. Started looking at used Tacomas and all the dealers around here thought they were sittin' on gold. I will only buy manual at this point in my life so that made finding one hard. Finally got tired of dealers asking new truck prices for a used truck with 20k+ miles on them and ordered one. Picked it up in May of this year (May 9th) and already have 6300 miles on it. Love the thing.