Potential new owner debating what to buy

That is one of the thoughts I've had. If I really like the truck I will keep it, otherwise they hold their value well and are not difficult to sell.

 

Any reason you wouldn't consider a good 2nd gen Tacoma? Be a heck of a lot less painful if you end up not liking owning a truck.

 

Fortunately here in CO they don't use salt on the roads during the winter. Instead, the plows will spread a sand/gravel mix for traction, though they do also use magnesium chloride when it is really cold. That stuff is corrosive but not as bad as salt. And here in the Denver area, the snow has usually melted off the roads after a day or two anyway.

 

Ah, gotcha. If you are even considering buying a new subaru in 2018, I would not buy a new vehicle.

Yes the tacomas have great resale value, but you are still going to take a hit. If you don't mind losing alittle bit of money then by all means go for it.

If I was in your position I would buy something old for cheap that would last me by 2018, then make the decision I need to make on a new vehicle.

My jeep grand cherokee has been great for me...the older models zj and wj...and you can by them used for cheap.

If you want you could buy an older tacoma, but I can tell you that they would be much more.

EDIT: My grand cherokee is amazing in the snow.

 

Once you own a Truck you will never want to be without one!

 

I did consider it actually. Being that they hold their value so well, models that are only a few years old with average mileage on them are selling for just a few thousand less than new models. I figure I may as well spend that few thousand more to have a new vehicle with 0 miles and a warranty. Plus I really do like the updated interior.

 

this was exactly my attitude. I'm saying that if you get what you think you'll like it'll probably be a winner. i decided this over the WRX that i could also get MT. now that i have the Tacoma I'm sticking with it. if i short cutted the truck i would have created a mess to get out of it and into another vehicle... even if selling is relatively easy. it's still a mess to do it all over.

 

I agree. I definitely wouldn't buy a new vehicle now if I was planning on buying another new vehicle in a few months to replace it. Even if I was made of money I wouldn't want to take that hit. I do have another vehicle that I've been using to get around for now, my '88 BMW 325is. It's not ideal in the snow, but I make do around town unless the snow is really bad. Taking it into the mountains to go skiing is not an option though; it's just not capable enough during unpredictable weather. And the funny thing is, it also broke down on me last week. It looks like it is just the oxygen sensor, so that should be an easy fix once the part arrives. Reliability is what has me hesitant about buying another used car.

 

If I were you, I would order and wait the 3-4 months necessary for a manual and save up for a bigger down payment on said truck. The manual transmission on this truck is really fun to operate and will offer a superior driving experience over the crappy automatic transmission.

 

That is what I suspect will happen.

 

If you can't have both --how about checking out the Subaru Outback --We have one and love it, and with the added "Eyesight" safety system --we have seen substantial insurance savings. If you are a Colorado person, you may or may not know the Outbacks out sell the F series in one place in the country --your State.
I have a new Tacoma on order,(we/I need a truck as well, for my lifestyle) so I am not dissing them --just understand what you truly "need" (and can afford), and not just what you "want". Only you can know this and nobody here can solve that for you. Good luck with your search!
A couple of drawbacks -- Outback wont perform like a WRX and you can't get a MT on a OB in the US

 

I was going through the same thing but in the opposite direction. Wanted to save money where possible and a small part of me misses an MT, but the way I drive is out of sync. with everyone else on the road it seems and I seldom could cruise in my desired RPM range. People here said get what will make you happier in the long run. Got my AT and no regrets. Better off getting what you want than being unhappy for years.

 

If you like the pep your Subie has then you will probably have a hard time getting used to the AT. I came from S4 but I didn't mind the AT cause I know it's a truck and expect it to have the acceleration it does.

 

You guys are killing me. My new SR5 is the first automatic transmissioned vehicle I've ever owned, and every time I'm at a light and have to wait a half-second for it to start moving, my left foot's all like "you know, if there was a clutch here for me, you'd save a half a second". However, considering the amount of around-town, stop-and-go driving I do, I appreciate the AT. Also, for the 3 or 4 long (5-7 hour) trips I take each year, the couple extra MPGs will be appreciated. Of course, the car I traded in (an '03 Focus) got 30-35 MPG on the highway, so I'm taking a big hit there already.

At any rate, to the OP, if you're set on this being a short-term holdover until the new WRX comes in, I'd get an AT because it'll be easier to sell privately and/or the trade value will be a bit higher (or at least you won't get the mandatory "manual transmission deduction" on the trade amount). If this is potentially your new long-term Winter vehicle, I'd get the MT because that's going to scratch the itchy clutch-foot.

 

For daily drivers, I opt for autos. My "toy" car is manual but it's meant to be driven that way. I picked up my 1st ever Toyota ('17 Tacoma TRDOR in auto)
I bought a 1989 F-150 brand new and it was manual. There were times I wish it were an auto. I live in an area with traffic as well and it's just a PITA to be clutching every 3 seconds.

 

I personally don't think you should pass over an automatic because of some of the issues some people have had. That being said, you have indicated that you would rather have the manual and for that reason you should probably hold out for one. You will not have to wait 2-3 months to get one if you broaden your search. In Oregon we searched out a few hundred miles and had option for both Auto or Manual, the dealer was also able to look at vehicles that were coming into other dealers in our range - so we ended up waiting 3 weeks for exactly what we wanted to arrive at another dealer, dealer did a trade and we picked up the truck the day after it arrived at the original receiving dealer.

The WRX is a vehicle with personality, so is the Tacoma, it sounds like you want to keep the personality nature but go in a different direction - if that is your goal then you likely will not be disappointed. If you aren't happy with your choice then the high resale value is going to put you in a decent position as well.

You didn't ask this but I'll put it out there anyway since we deal with snow/ice (especially this year) and we also have a 2010 Forester with dedicated winter tires, the stock Tacoma Off Road with stock tires does not disappoint in winter road handling.

 

A few details. The current ATs in the Tacomas have misengineered valve bodies... fact. Now, to Toyota's credit, they make some decent software patches to work around the $&@! Problems. Next is where you live. You will not like the AT shifting strategy where you drive... period. Next, you really want an 18 WRX. Fix your motor and wait for 2018. Don't make a huge mistake.

 

You are correct, Outbacks sell like crazy out here. They are a great car, just not my cup of tea. I consider myself an enthusiast which is why I find the WRX/STI appealing along with the Tacoma for similar reasons. My main need for a winter vehicle is all weather capability; being fun to drive is an added bonus. If I had the financial means for a pure "want" vehicle, I'd put an order in for a new Raptor. That would be fun.

 

That's true, but I know that going in. What I really need to do as a few people suggested, is take another test drive up into the mountains to see how it feels at altitude going up and down grades.

 

You hit the nail right on the head there. Life is too short to drive boring cars.

Definitely good to know. Thanks.