Tacoma or 4runner?

I'm having a hard time deciding which vehicle to get.

Little background - I currently drive an Acura TL (2012) and wife drives a Honda Odyssey. We have 2 little kids and primarily use the Odyssey anytime we go skiing, beach, road trips, etc. Whatever vehicle we get, we'd like to use it for our weekend travels as well, but also be handy for yard projects, etc. I'm also big into kiteboarding, so I travel with a lot of gear (2 boards, 3 kites, wetsuits, etc.)

What prompted me to start looking at a new vehicle was the Tacoma. It's always had a soft spot for me as my first "real vehicle" out of college was 98 Taco. Plus I just miss having a truck.

So yesterday I finally took the whole family for some test rides. First up (due to what was available) was the SR5 4runner. Really, really liked it. Drove almost the same as the Tacoma, but the interior was much more nicely appointed. More leg room for the rear passengers, like the rear reclining seats, modern dash, sunroof was great, etc. Seems like a great family rig, but cargo / storage space is limited compared to what you can fit in a truck. We could make it work, but I would need to use a roof box and snowboard rack, possibly even a cargo tray. For weekend projects, I'd probably buy and register a small utility trailer for picking up mulch, sone, etc. I do a lot of yard projects.

Then we took the TRD Sport long bed for a nice long ride (without the sales guy ). I liked it, but I didn't love it. Mainly what bugs me is the interior chincyness. It just feels sort of cheap (AC knobs, door handle, etc). I love everything else about it, but I can't stand some of the interior components. Maybe I'm spoiled from coming from an Acura. Aside from that, there's less leg room for rear passengers, but definitely enough for my kids. Big plusses obviously is cargo space in the bed, opens up a lot more possibilities, and I can use it as a truck. I'd likely get a tornneau cover. My kids loved the truck (ages 6 & 3) over the 4runner, mainly because they got to climb all over the bed.

So emotionally I like the 4runner better due to it's creature comforts, but I sort of feel like we already have a good family vehicle with the Odyssey, so why not get something different that can be more versatile? I should mention that I primarily work from home and don't drive much. Really torn though. I've read lots of threads where truck beds are wasted space for lots of people.

Any other parents out there with kids & Tacoma care to comment?

 

IMO since you already have a soccer mom van that can be used for hauling the kids , get the truck because of the bed. You never know how much you need a bed /more storage until you don't have it

 

If i could afford it i would love a new 4runner. Then just get a small trailer to make up for the lack of storage for weekend trips. Im not a parent though lol, i just love how they look. Good luck with the decision. Whatever you end up with get some wet okole seat covers and weathertechs right away.

 

if i had to do it all over again, 4RTE.

 

I bought a six speed manual about a half a year ago and Im having some regrets with it now with my girlfriend having twins. I want to get a tent trailer now and start camping now that my house renovations are complete. It just seems a little too small when your doing activities in the truck. I dirtbike about every week, with 2 bikes in the back and gear its pretty full with 2 adults. I like having the box in the back to do what ever you want a trip to home depot or to the dump. I wouldn't like to load up topsoil in the back of a 4runner.. If you keep vehicles long your kids are only going to get bigger and if the play hockey, or football theres gear to transport also. The Tacoma works for some people but consider the Tundra or even take out some domestics for a test drive.

 

I have both '10 4Runner and '07 Tacoma, My wife loves her 4Runner, plenty of room for 2 girls 3 1/2 & 5,( we just came back from Disney,12hour drive and they were comfortable) . The Tacoma is a little tight for room , but it's a truck . I have a work truck so I drive my Tacoma mainly on weekends, If it would be me I would get the truck ,you already have a family car, and you will use the truck more then you think and you wouldn't have buy a trailer .

 

^ about the same as above. I have a '01 4WD Tacoma and the wife drives a '04 4Runner. Our 4Runner is our kid hauler and is the preferred vehicle for driving the family. My Tacoma is our work horse and off road toy. Since you have the Odyssey, use that as your kid hauler and get the Tacoma for your utility needs.
Before the Tacoma we used the 4Runner (without a trailer) to move lumber and other construction supplies. Little by little more scuff marks appeared and it was apparent we needed the pick up.

 

That's funny - this is how our Odyssey is getting right now. Moved an 8 foot granite lamp post in it the other day and scratched the hell out of the bumper getting it in & out! Wife was not happy one bit.

I think you guys make a good point. We have our family vehicle. The truck wouldn't be our primary weekend hauler.

 

This if you can afford it that is.

 

what about an 07 or newer tundra? lots of room without the cheapness that you described in the interior of the tacoma, and it has the truck bed, might not be one of your considerations because of fuel economy etc. i was just thinking it kind of has the best aspects of both the 4runner and tacoma that you're looking for

 

My cars in order of when I owned them.

2001 Tacoma
1999 Runner
2004 Runner v8
2012 GLI and 1992 runner
Current is my 2011 Taco.

I switched to a Runner from my '01 because they are a lot more practical. I can haul bikes in a runner if I need to, and fold down the rear seats to have just as much room as a truck bed.

I recently upgraded to my 11 Taco and miss my old 2004 v8 everyday. I bought the truck because I needed the bed for camping gear. Now I bought a trailer and want to go back to a 4Runner but don't want to get into another car loan. I will wait to see the new style Tacoma and 4runner (around 2016) before I change. I vote 4runner especially if you have a family. Keeping gear clean and dry in the back is a major plus.

 

If I had to do it over again, I would have bought the black 4Runner Trail Edition that was parked next to my Taco that I have now. Don't get me wrong I love my Tacoma but I really have no real use for a truck. But my wife already had a '10 4Runner SR5 so I saw no reason to have two.

 

Wife has '11 T4R, I have '13 DC Taco. The Taco doesn't compare to the comforts the 4Runner has. It is our family rig and we take that mostly everywhere. It's our 3rd 4Runner, you just can't beat them. It's a tough call for sure. I keep telling my wife we need to lift it a couple inches and she said we need to lift mine first!

 

It's all in what you're going to use it for. I use my truck as a truck a few times a month at least. No way I could be without it. My wife has a 2012 Acura TSX so I know what you mean about interior, but its a truck. Having said that, the TRD interior is nicer than the the non.

 

I've had several SUVs and trucks over the years. I swap back and forth over the desire for a "dirty" area, i.e., the bed. Last couple of decisions have come down to choosing the bed.

But totally depends on your use. The Tacoma is no 4Runner as far as creature comforts is concerned, not in the current incarnation anyway.

 

I've just sold my 05 Taco and got an 07 4runner sport. As much as I liked my taco the 4runner suits me better. It's just that little more refined but still a well capable vehicle.

 

My wife rolls in a 2010 Subaru Impreza. I traded my 95.5 Taco SX for a 2011 DCLB because we had a kid on the way in December 2011. We also have a dog. Our son is now 18 months.

We drove from NH to Arlington, VA in her car. Had to pack it tight, but the mpgs were great and a nimble little car is just what we needed to battle traffic and make good time. The wife really loves her car, and I think it's fun to drive every once in awhile. It's got all of the creature comforts, and AWD up here is a must. I'm not telling her, but when her struts go we're lowering it 1" and it'll corner like its on rails

Around town I put the family in the truck. It's big, armored, has side curtain airbags, and I can't wait for some ass-clown to hit me.

We just took a family camping trip and the truck was perfect. I also need to haul stuff (wood, tools, yard supplies) and have my 4x4 toy so it was the best I could find to fit all of my needs. A Runner could be a lot of fun, but I would actually be forced to give a shit when the dog tracks mud into it or my son dumps food all over the back of my $40k+ investment. I also wouldn't have any money leftover for sweet mods

As a small family I think we've balanced out our needs and wants. If your wifes Odyssey gets it done in a domestic capacity than I recommend you buy a Double Cab Taco.