Possible New Owner

Hey all, names Ryan. 26 years old from Georgia, currently work as a paramedic full time. I've been preparing to get a new vehicle for a while now and I've been drawn to the tacoma recently. I'm not looking at a brand new one, but a lightly used, but I'm unsure which model year y'all might suggest looking for. I'd like to take it up to the mountains in north Georgia and play, not sure about the whole mudding scene though. So has to be 4x4. I'm seriously interested and figured y'all would be the best place to maybe find some answers! I'm stuck at work till 8am, so ill be around and watching. Thanks all!

 

I’d say search 2010+. I think 2012 has the updated front end.

 

Alrighty, any major known issues that I might need to look out for in the 2012+ models? Ill be doing test drives and all in august...so I've got time to research. Should probably say I'm upgrading from a 2005 gmc sierra single cab 2wd and a 2010 ford focus s lol

 

I would look for a supercharged 4.0 2nd gen. Perhaps there is one for sale in the TW buy/sell section and welcome to TW! Edit: When I read “paramedic” in description to me equals supercharger and nothing less.

 

Welcome to the TW family!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Might help to post budget. Good luck on the purchase!

 

Welcome. The 4.0L in my 2014 is one of the easiest engines to work on that I have ever seen. And with Toyota recently sticking by their products with the air pump recall, it's a no-brainer to recommend the Taco!

Edit: It's not a recall, it's a known issue that Toyota is fixing out of warrenty:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/secondary-air-injection-system.555258/

 

You're going to get everyone telling you to pick their favourite Taco.

There are sooooo many to chose from..

You really just need to search around and look at the pros and cons to find out what works best for you.

I have an '09 AC 4 banger and it suits what I do with it great. Other guys on here, not so much.

 

Welcome! Come join us in the night shift thread. Not much else going on overnight on TW.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/graveyard-shift-bs.73190/

 

Fair point! My budget with financing is about $35k max. I do intend to use this as my daily driver as well, and unfortunately I don't have the room to do my own work, which sucks. I love the look of the 2017s grill, but the 2012-2015 are still sexy with a grill guard. So basically, nothing too crazy custom since I can't do the work myself but like I said, enough I can go play a little in the mountains. I'm seeing that the 4.0 v6 is a pretty well loved engine, so ill probably try and find something with that.

 

It's simple, it doesn't get that great of gas mileage...but it just keeps running for years. I expect to get 30 years, at least 400k out of my truck.

 

I have a 4.3l v6 in my 05 gmc and you can't kill it...its just time for me to upgrade, as much as I hate to let the memories go.

 

The 4.3 is a great comparison for this motor. I had a '87 S10 with the 2.5 Iron duke. Could not kill it, the salt did. I actually just didn't feel safe driving that truck anymore, it was running great, it ALWAYS started, even at 30 below. But there was just no metal left on it...

 

I feel a whole lot better about the 4.0 then. But yeah, those old s10s could take a mortar round, nothing else would move but the engine would still crank up lmao

 

You thinking of going with a Manual or Automatic?

 

So 2012+, 4.0l v6 is what I'm seeing is the general consensus. Glad to see toyota standing by their products even out of warranty too, makes me feel better about it. I'm actually looking at an automatic. I'm ashamed to say I've never had the opportunity to really learn to drive manual outside of an hour with a 99 Honda civic where the clutch was useless lol

 

I live in a rural area. In city traffic, I would take a automatic hands down.

 

I live in BFE south Georgia with dirt roads everywhere and I avoid city traffic like the plague when I'm not working...I desl with it enough then. I wouldn't mind finding a beater to learn on though

 

Ladies and Gentlemen...I've finally joined the tacoma family after years of drooling over them. I decided to go with a new, 2019 Tacoma Sport 4x4. This is the color I wanted and has all the features I wanted as well, had it for 2 days now and I already took it out to the river and played on the sand bar with it for a little bit. I'm extremely happy about it! I'll be getting some more aggressive tires and maybe some wheels as well, but the stock ones are pretty sharp. Also will be adding running boards to it as well here shortly! I'll post more pictures after that's all done!