Tacoma for long distance commutes

I drive 85 a day just to work and home,getting 17-18 08 dbl cab v6 4x4,its not really mileage I don't think,truck lovers will drive there trucks..i could prob get a little beater but id miss my truck when I get off work and start the drive

 

My commute is 63 miles round trip, and the Taco is my preference, even over Park 'n Ride (which I do to keep the miles off the truck).

 

Made a 500 mile trip a few months back. Very comfortable. 18.1 avg MPG.

 

I worked in Munich for ten years and lived in the Bavarian Alps with a 150 mile per day commute. Of that, 50% was autobahn and the rest was split between two lane highway and city. For the first three and half years I drove a an 2000 E series Mercedes turbo diesel Wagon, which turned be a POS due to reliability problems, but a great ride. The rest of the time, I drove 2L TDI's in Audi A4s Wagons. The 2L TDIs are sweet especially over 100 MPH on the autobahns.

I moved to Santa Clara and purchased a 2.7L 4x2 AT Tacoma Access Cab anticipating high mileage driving that typically occurred in the Silicon Valley/SF area. The bucket seats in the Access Cab turned out to be the best decision I made. I wanted the utility of a pick up recognizing that I was sacrificing fuel economy. Diesel or hybrid were not an practical option. After 18 months, I retired in Bozeman, Montana. Sometimes I wished that I had a 4x4 for better traction on the icy roads, but good tires and 60 pounds of sand have allow me to drive in the valleys without getting stuck.

I believe it all comes down to your application (truck or car), comfort and a good sound system during long commutes, and reliability.

 

^This. The Sonata hybrid has become my default rental car on business trips. Handling, interior and a lot of giddy-up... Sips gas when you set the cruise control and decent score over at US News if you're into that sorta thing. http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/Hybrid-Cars/

 

Id say you should spend some time in one to see if its comfortable. The tacoma is not a high MPG vehicle but it is extremely reliable.

I commute 4 hours one way to work twice a week. My 07 v6 trd off road has 280,000 miles on it and all I have replaced is a wheel bearing, several sets of tires, and one set of pads and rotors. The trd seats are extremely comfortable and the interior is first rate. I dont think a base model anything will be too fun to spend two hours a day in even after you dump a lot of money into a stereo.

If you have 18k to play with Id suggest something else that meets your needs a little better right out of the box... maybe a used infinity or acura that already has a good stereo in it. Maybe get a first gen tacoma for less than 18k.