Should I buy a Tacoma.....Help me out.

Always gotta be trolling don't you Ryan every post I see is trolling hahaha

 

The rear leaf springs are weak under load for the sake of providing a comfortable ride on and offroad. The Tacoma is made with offroading in mind. The cab is a hair too small and like others said it's no towing machine like the Tundra (Otherwise it would eat into the Tundra market)

As a DD I love mine and can never wait to go offroad with friends I met here on TW. I think 3 kids would be OK and 2 kids would be good for the backseat as long as you don't have anything back there. Unfortunately it just can't be as roomy as a full size.

I may be walking on thin ice here because you said you don't want a 1/2 ton but if I were to NOT buy a Tacoma, I would probably get an F-150. Roomy, can tow whatever I need that the Tacoma couldn't, and is the only domestic I trust.

Edit: If you do buy a Tacoma and decide to stick around TW, say goodbye to any money saved by maintenance as you will be buying mods for the truck left and right. Lol

2nd edit: The 5 speed automatic is a more reliable transmission but the 6 speed manual is supposedly better for towing. I don't have firsthand experience on that but it's something for someone to chime in about. If you will be towing, I would suggest an appropriate trailer, the 6MT, tow package (including oil and tranny cooler) and maybe even a load distribution hitch but I don't know much about that.

 

Haha I see your posts alot you always gotta be trollin lol but yea I get your point a 3/4 ton to a mid size truck is a huge down grade it's all on OP opinion I guess

 

OP!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/#post-35021

 

Wow, first off let me say wow...This is a great community so much feedback. And everyone is kind of right. 90% of the time I don't have the kids, and we have the mini van. I'd like to have the ability to haul everyone, but I can't justify the cost of a larger truck just because I don't like driving a mini van.

The 18' enclosed hauler is going to be sold. So I won't need to haul that. But the very small bed size of the taco makes me nervous but I was saying I could buy a small utility trailer for the days I need it.

I used to do a lot of commercial work, but I took a new job about 5 months ago and 5 days a week I am literally driving to the bus stop, and the weekends its a work truck.

Exceptionally big loads are delivered anyway.

The interior space may be an issue, but again I never have anyone with me, occasionnly the family would take my car (snow, camping ect) I can't justify a larger truck for the occasion i have everyone.


The two I am debating on is the.

2015 Toyota Tacoma, TRD-OR, 6 speed, crew cab short bed. I am going to buy towards the end of the year, and at the same time I am also going to pick up a 2015 Sienna for my wife. So I may be able to get a pretty good deal purchasing two new cars at year end from same dealer.

-or-

2014/2015 Ram 2500, 6.7, 6 speed, crew cab 6.5 bed. - I DON"T NEED the diesel at all. I would get it because I prefer a manual, and this configuration holds it's value very well, and @100K miles will still be worth a lot.


I am going to sit down, and figure out the actual annual costs of each, insurance, etc. Then see what what the difference works out to over a year to include the payment. depending on what that difference is will probably make my decision.

If the annual difference is 8k, I could rent a 1 ton for the few times i need more truck. If the difference is 1,500 I may just say that for 1500 I never have to worry about what It can do.


I am leaning towards the tacoma, with a set of air bags. and a small utility trailer. It will haul jet skis, and motorcycles no issue. cars not so much but I haven't been buying/selling full cars for a few months. I think the tacoma is much cooler looking. I like that it is smaller and easier to manuver.

Another big one is price, I will have to see what I can realistically get both for, as we get closer. But I think the taco will still end up being 10k cheaper. And 10k is 10k.

I also like that oil changes, fuel filters, air filters, brakes, tires, and everything is MUCH CHEAPER on the taco.


I will steer clear of the 1/2 tons because they are useless, they cost more then a base model 3/4 ton. Don't haul as well, and don't hold their value as much. I'd happily spend the same money on a BASE 3/4 ton vs a middle of the line 1/2 ton.

 

Also, let me say that I am working on getting to the point where my side work isn't so demanding. IE I plan on selling the rentals and investing elsewhere in the next few years, as well as hiring more people for work around here. I don't like the responsibilities of rentals and now that i work m-f, 9-5 I am not loving having to spend my only free time working on houses.

Also the smaller truck makes me MUCH more profitable. Over the course of the year, the more I make with my truck while at the same time the truck is cheaper to run...i make more. So if the taco will move bikes, and gear, and pull jet skis (for fun), and a small enclised trailer( for income) and the truck cost me 1000/yr vs 2500 I mean that just makes more sense.


I also love that I am seeing 2nd gen tacos with 250k on the clock, and have just changed basic stuff. I have less faithe in the new diesles and the repairs are MUCH MORE.


I have also considered selling my truck and buying something (based on price) that is newer then mine and will do the trick....but I like new because I don't have to worry about it for next 7 years. And again with my new m-f 9-5 job...i don't want to spend weekend doing water pumps, and clutch fans, and brake line replacements. My truck would run another 10 years (6.0 vortec) but I can tell already its going to start needing all the small things that eat away my weekends, and it's not worth it. At least not to me.

 

Just throwing this out there. If you're concerned about resale you could just lease. The domestic trucks have some good programs right now. I used to work at a shop where we had a bunch of full size trucks, and I was driving my boyfriend's f150 for a while. If I were looking full size I'd probably lean toward a gm product. Used to pull our trailers like nothing was back there, and a much smoother ride than the ford.

 

Sounds like you need a full size so to answer you question.No.

 

if you are buying full size i would buy a ford, then chevy, then dodge. I guess if you can afford it a tundra

 

I have had a ton in my bed and I regularly put 1400# + passengers in mine with no problems. Get a Tacoma. It'll handle most of what you ask of it. And for the few times you need more, rent a full size.
That's my biased opinion

 

I just put a small steel sink 2 bicycles, 2 small window air conditioners and my 2009 crew cab and it was bottoming out. I think an AMC pacer is tougher than my Tacoma. Very disappointing

 

The reliability and value of a tacoma is second to none...tacoma all day everyday.