Talk me in to/out of a 3rd Gen.

If you’re dreading the payments then don’t.

Continue to save money until you have enough to not dread the payments.

 

@BRUIN8124 what I do like: easy to work on, tons of aftermarket custom parts, tons of youtube tutorials on repairs, outstanding reliability history, outstanding re-sale value, easy to manage around town, able to navigate any forest service road or 4x4 trail, great if you have outdoor hobbies (camping, skiing, climbing, etc...).

 

Is your 4Runner a V8? Do a few pulls on the highway during the test drive to make sure the Tacoma's smaller engine and transmission shift logic are acceptable to you. Make sure you have enough headroom if you opt for the moonroof. Make sure the seat can be adjusted to a position comfortable to you.

The adaptive cruise and land departure alert on 2018+ trucks are very helpful on long drives.

Mechanically the 2020s are fine. Most of the bugs have been worked out.

 

If you're already going into it worried, then it might not be the best call. Also this..

Only thing I did before I bought mine was a test drive and look up the specs to be informed. Granted it was brand new at the time and nobody had long term experience with it. Test drive, be informed, know potential issues and what you want out of the truck. If the cons outweigh the pros, just hold off, otherwise good luck!

 

Why "Talk me in to/out of a 3rd Gen" is this a good idea? I have one and would purchase another if needed!

 

I have 2. A 2.7 and 3.5

 

Rent one from one of the many rental companies hurting for business.

The tune isn't the greatest.

Sequential shifting meaning it can jump from 5th gear to 3rd gear, or 1st gear to 3red gear. More likely a tune fix for when people say it is a rough downshift when accelerating.

Edit: not to be confused with the shift limiting option for towing or descents

I love mine personally and am in the works of riding in someones truck with a tune to see if I like it better than the stock tunes

MT tall reverse gear can be an issue with towing look into anytime 2 low mod hear it does great.

 

The only thing that makes me miss my 2nd Gen is this stupid forum

Enjoy the upgrade, OP.

 

Never a good way to enter a 'relationship'.

 

The only things I can really complain about are 1. I wish the rear suspension didn't sag so much with the crap I have in the bed. and 2. I felt like I was going to have way more room in the bed but it's not a ton. Really my own fault for going with a cover and bed rack and not a camper shell, but that also happened for other reasons. 3. Wish it had more power. Its definitely suitable for my needs, but I would PREFER more power especially down low (also came from a lot of turbo charged cars) but just changed my driving habits to compensate for it.

 

Exactly, looked at those dd cabs with 5 ft beds..looked about as useful as a station wagon that had an option for an open the bed.

 

I bought a 2017 around 50 days ago.

Things I like:
Stock it handles nice offroad, very sure footed and I drove jeeps for a long time.
I cant wait for our anuall 12 feet of snow this winter.
Things are pretty well laid out for me personally..the controls on the steering wheel etc
I like S mode a lot. I only use overdrive out on the highway.
The truck I bought already had Bilstein 5100s on it..and it rides nice. Better than my Grand Cherokee.
I have a boat...and the tow package. It tows a 2000 lb boat great..no complaints.


Things I dislike:
The seat is too flat and low. My first mod will be spacers to fit under the front bracket so the seat " buckets" or cradles you more and to relieve pressure on my thighs.

I wish it came equipped with more usb outlets...I have teenagers and it can get rediculous.

The rearview mirror is a little too big and a little in the way...not terrible but I do wish it was smaller.


I have really enjoyed it so far...I personally dont feel it neccesary to mod it a ton. I will probably put some decent running boards on this year and upgrade the tires and battery as soon as they are worn/ tired.

In terms of being scared of the payment...if putting 20% down is out of reach...then you probably should find something less expensive.

 

I'm in my first, 2016 TRD off road. Coming from a tuned BMW 335i so the drop in power, handling and driver feel is substantial, however I haul a lot of wood (with the short bed....), take the mountain bikes everywhere, and use it off road. only thing I don't like, I need to stop looking at things that I need to purchase for the truck.

There are a lot of complaints about the auto gearbox shifting, however I never understood this, its not like your shifting the gears yourself so shut up and let it do its thing!!
The only other bad thing I can honestly think of is the MPG. BMW 335i xdrive tuned, around 28 - 30 mpg highway (sticking to posted speeds) and 20 - 22 around town. the Taco gets 16 around town and the best I have had out of it in the highway (8 hours at 70mph) was 20. Now granted it is like pushing a brick through the air so Im not expecting miracles, but when I see full size trucks getting better MPG with V8's.....

what I like - its a truck!! I can do things with it the BMW could only do in its wildest dreams! Off road, Hauling big things (double ovens, sheds wood, timber from DIY, stores Hay and straw for the animals), tow a decent sized trailer with 3 motorbikes and a pile of camping gear. my only regret is I didnt buy one 3 years ago before the BMW. do I miss the power from the BMW - yes, but to scratch the power Itch I bought a Triumph street triple and all associated crash protection.......

Bottom line - drive a few, see if it fills the gap then decide!

 

First is always remembered.

 

Love mine but not very roomy inside even with the 4 door and really appreciate the dependability.

 

I don't hate anything about my truck. It's perfect. 2.7 5 spd manual 4x4

 

Buy it or GTFO.



how’s that? And welcome

 

I like most things about my truck. I traded in an F150, so I had to get use to the size of the Tacoma, a little more planning when doing things like camping. My main gripe is the stock tires. If you stay on pavement, they are great. Overland/off road they leave a lot to be desired. I punctured one with less than 1000 miles on the truck. Not really much tread to dig in when needed. Considering I bought an "Off Road," I would think the stock tires would be a little more suitable for the name.

 

I agree with this. If it's going to put you in a financial hardship, don't do it. Not a vehicle in the world worth that. Especially during these times.

 

I agree, the stock goodyears on an OR or Pro is criminal.