Tacoma XtraCab vs F150 Super Cab

Haven’t paid too much attention to them, had a buddy with a Hardbody back in the day, girlfriend with an Xterra (which was problematic), my sister had the 1st Gen Titan that the tranny gave up the ghost before 100K, can’t remember the exact mileage but do remember her complaining about it. With them recently discontinuing the Titan doesn’t seem like a good thing. So haven’t paid too much attention to them these last few years.

The new grill in the F150 sure is nice, that is what made me walk (actually drive over) to the Ford dealer. It caught my eye. Seems like the finally got it right, reminds me of the Bullnose 80s trucks. Liking the interior too, was shocked that the touch screen was so big on the base model. Don’t think it is even an option on the Tacoma SR.

Have been reading up on the Toyota issues, Tundra engine recall, now the Tacoma transmissions are failing, does seem like they are slipping while they used to be a sure thing. While do not care about super long term reliability, seeing them fail right off the bat isn’t good. People are having to wait months for repairs it looks like, I would be pissed.

Do have to flip a coin anymore, don’t care about keeping it long term, maybe a 100K and flip it. On the downside slope of the “over the hill” and picking up speed. Probably most likely kick the bucket before I can wear out a new truck.

 

Found this for a rear slider, can’t find anything for the new Taco. At least manual windows, guessing Toyota did away with them altogether, maybe the aftermarket will have something down the road.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2016911060...71&osub=-1~1&crd=20230719123437&segname=11051


I’ll have to talk to my glass guy to see if he has a better source.

 

I prefer the column shifter in the F-150 helps when backing and making turns due to the platforms limited lock to lock and turning radius. It's really a convenience feature. Probably wouldn't make much difference where the XC is concerned.

 

Keep in mind, everyone that's recommending the Ford, doesn't have a 2024 Tacoma. I like mine a LOT. My nephew had a Ford that they had to pull the engine twice under warranty.

 

I think I was the one off lol. I love my 24 but it's admittedly overpriced and parts will be super slow to come by right now if it has an issue. Honestly it's the best driving truck I've ever experienced though and I've owned them all including two 3rd gens.

 

I'm glad you two are happy, but I would never buy the first year model of anything, and wouldn't recommend it to someone else.

Also, when someone is cross-shopping a full size and a Tacoma, I feel like most of the time the Tacoma just isn't going to work out for them anyway. You could even get a regular cab F150 and have more interior room than the Xtra cab Tacoma, not to mention the range advantages that OP seems pretty concerned about.

 

Not everybody wants a full-size though. It might be the right thing for the OP. But I’ve had full-size trucks before and I definitely prefer midsize.

I think if I were choosing between an F150 and an SR Tacoma, I’d probably take the F150. But if the choice involved a higher trim Tacoma, I’d be in it for sure.

 

I don’t blame you and I wouldn’t recommend it either. Part of my issue is Stellantis is going down the drain & the RAM 2500 is already one of the slowest selling vehicles in the US. Plus it’s getting a refresh next year with new/better trans. My value was going to tank & I'm fortunate to get what I got for it. So I guess my situation was a little unique which drove me to get the 1st year. For sure don’t recommend it.

 

Have been driving manuals the majority of my life, feels out of place to me going to reach for the shifter on the column. That and all the buttons are on the opposite side in the Ford compared to the Toyota. Cruise, radio, think the head lights are on the dash instead of a stalk. That will take some time getting used to.

Very good friend of mine is a Ford tech, yes there are a few bad apples, but overall they are problem free, said they have a bunch with 200-300K on them. Wouldn’t keep it that long, getting too old to do so.

The Tundra engine recall is concerning, that would always sit in the back of my mind. Trans failures in the Taco, wonder how long before they recall those too? That is the main reason we buy Toyotas, their legendary drivetrains, that reputation appears to be slipping.

Range is definitely a concern, could certainly make the Tacoma work by carrying Jerry cans, those are a pain in the ass though. Still baffled why they went smaller since mpgs weren’t greatly increased. Learning that the F150 comes standard with a 36 gal a light bulb went off in my head. Looked at the Tundra SR, those only come with a 22, have to buy the SR5 with the convenience package to get the 32, which is a $10-13K increase in cost. Can’t even find a double cab, Toyota won’t let you order one like Ford does, have to use their asinine allocation system.

Have been on the cusp on needing a full-size for awhile, truth be told the Tacoma has gotten so big there isn’t much difference in size anymore. Have owned Toyota trucks since the 80s, could see the argument about size if they were a true minitruck, not the case anymore.

Found this picture on another thread. The Tacoma is definitely a good looking truck, Toyota really needs to fix that fu-Manchu mustache abomination on the Tundra.

 

I currently have an 2007 Tacoma DC and a 2014 F150 SuperCrew with the 5.0V8. Both are 4X4. The Tacoma beats the Ford by 1 mpg. The 2.7 in a newer F150 will beat either of them. There is no comparison between the interior space and comfort. F150 wins by a mile.

My plan for now is to keep my old Tacoma running as a 3rd vehicle and buy a new truck. My initial plan was to do that a year ago but vehicle prices and other issues have delayed my purchase. I'm looking at some time near the end of 2024 or early 2025.

I was interested in looking at the 4th gen Tacoma, but the more I see the less I like. I no longer NEED a full size but am leaning that way now. Have not ruled out a Ranger either. All things being equal I can get a Ranger equipped the way I want about $10K less than a F150 the way I want it.

Ford's 2.7 EB may be their best engine. "PROPERLY EQUIPPED" it will tow MORE than my current truck with the V8. The key is properly equipped. That is Ford's cheapest engine, and they tend to put them in their cheapest most basic trucks. Most of them don't have the right gearing and other equipment to tow much of anything. I see a lot of them advertised at good prices, but most of those don't have what I want. I may opt for the 3.5.

 

Don’t tow very much in my private vehicle, towed and hauled heavy for work. Go light on “my time”. Maybe 2500 lbs max if at all. The 2.7 F150 is 8000 lbs, vs. the Taco XC SR at 3500.

Ranger no longer comes with a 6’ bed or it would be considered. Have a topper and sleeping platform in my current Tacoma, and will do that on the new truck, like to keep things very simple for a travel rig. Had a class C RV before, those are nothing but a pain in the neck, couldn’t go too far off the beaten path with it, something is always breaking. Have streamlined what the “needs” are, and realized I don’t need very much.

On paper get quite a bit more bang for the buck with the F150. The slightly wider bed of the 1/2 ton would be nice.

Probably build it out like this guy’s F350, or the other pic.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TruckCampe...nished_f350_modular_truck_camper_shell_build/

 

The column shifter on the new F-150 is probably my biggest concern....
The darn thing is motorized, if you open your door with it in drive, the column shifter actually moves back to park.... like the hand of a ghost moving the shifter..... Impressively neat, but..... What's the chances of that breaking? If it's broken, will the truck still be drivable? We're talking Ford here, not so sure I trust Ford with that kind of tech......

 

I don't like that it's motorized, I believe it can be turned off. I just prefer the column in a full size where I might be going back and forth from drive to reverse. I don't think the console shift in tge F-150 isn't in agood ergonomic location, just prefer the column there.

My 2G shifter is fine and very ergonomic, and I usually don't have to maneuver the truck as much to get positioned. The column shift wouldn't be as usefull there.

 

I made the mistake of buying ONE Ford product in my life.Never again.While no brand or dealer are perfect Ford dealers and service departments are the most incompetent and corrupt around.

 

It's all those turbocharged vehicles Ford sells.

 

I was sort of there in my shopping - not too fancy - except 4 doors and locking diff vital.

The 2024 Tacoma earns IIHS Top Safety Pick while F150 does not or depending on version still bets poor for some parts of the test. We lost a family member in a pickup crash so cannot discount that. Traction control can make not having a locker less important but not for some of us. I'm not an offroad 4x4 enthusiast or hobbyist but need it for MTB and ski area trail crew.

In my case the next few years have honest need for truck use but we found our Sienna and Outbacks were otherwise superior for your saying "a lot of camping road trips". For a while I liked that and renting light trucks when needed. We still have a smaller and wonderful wagon so aren't always tied to a pickup.

 

Giving this 4G Tacoma vs F-150 some thought, I'm still thinking one or the other and you still might want another smaller truck or vehicle. Going with the Tacoma that might be less of an issue.

 

If not the F-150, I would be very tempted by a Frontier S or SV King Cab. Very old school NA V-6 truck, but also unique in the current market. I wish Nissan would start discounting them like they did pre-2021. $5K off used to be the starting point.

 

They are expensive, the lowest cost 4x4 SV KC I've seen was $35something. I don't expect anything duscounted much lower as 24s dwindle down and 25s show up. Then to find one with out the technology pkg.

 

Went and took a good test drive in the F150 yesterday, while I do like it, think it is the more valued buy, didn’t care for the seating position, all the controls feel backwards to me, not sure I can relearn what has been ingrained in me for driving Toyota’s since the 80s. Found the column shifter slightly irritating, kept on reaching for the console lever, like to shift to lower gears for engine braking going downhill, blame driving manuals for seemingly forever. Felt odd and flimsy in the F150.

Don’t do any serious off-roading, do however like somewhat out of the way camp spots. Will be used to get to trail heads for hiking and biking.

Rented a Subaru Outback for a 2 week camping and mountain bike trip one year to see if it would work, was real happy to jump back in my Tacoma when I got home to say the least.

Guess I am back trying to decide which Tacoma to get, the price difference between the XtraCab and DoubleCab isn’t much. Test drove a Tundra CrewMax too, while have no need for rear seats, could see using that area for gear. Thinking if the seats were removed, could fit a couple mountain bikes in there out of the weather instead of on a hitch rack.

Went from thinking just needing a basic little truck, to bumping up a couple grades wouldn’t be too bad either. My wife keeps telling me to quit being a cheap SOB.