The ever expanding Taco

I love 1st gens. I was in a buddy's the other day and realized how much smaller it seemed to me than my truck which I was a little surprised by. So I did some research and here's what I found. This is not revolutionary and may be common knowledge to everyone else, but it was new to me. Obviously, there are several configurations for each generation, but I did my best to compare like to like.

1st gen
Height - 67.5
Width - 70.3
Length - 184.4
Wheelbase - 121.9

2nd gen
Height - 70.3
Width - 74.6
Length - 208.1
Wheelbase - 127.4

3rd gen
Height - 70.6
Width - 75.2
Length - 212.3
Wheelbase - 127.4

And just for comparison...
2004 Tundra
Height - 70.5
Width - 75.2
Length - 217.5
Wheelbase - 128.3

 

I think your wheelbase might be off on one of these?

But ya, I had my dads 98 next to my 17, and my truck seemed to tower over his in every single way.

 

Good catch. Fixed.

 

That's a hell of a difference! I much prefer the size of the 1st gen. 3rd gen is almost the same size that full sizes were 20 years ago

 

Also. Size creep is the male version of size queen. So thread title is deceiving.

 

But all vehicles have done this(at least in the American market) Take a Honda Civic for example, its a good bit bigger than the Accord used to be and of course, the Accord is even larger now.

 

First gen was a compact truck.

Second/third are midsize.

 

Wish mine would creep up in size ​

 

Good info there, Thunder. As the former owner of a 1990 Toyota pickup, a 2006 Tacoma and now a 2016 AC MT Taco, I have noticed this progression of increasing size. I was looking at an older Tundra yesterday and thinking that it looked the same size as my Taco, although I think the Tundra's always had an 8' box at least as an option. I liked the size of my 1990 model although they were notorious for being unstable. The narrow profile was good for the type of work I do which involves some pretty sketchy roads. The later models feel more planted. Have to say all three trucks have been good; no G3 problems evident after 26,000 km.
QR

 

The 1st gens definitely have some advantages being smaller. There is no compact truck currently in the US market. That really looks like an untapped area for a company to get in on.

Well, I had no idea. Thread title has been changed.

 

Nobody wants a compact truck.

Hence.. no more compact truck market.

Those that do aren't buying enough of them to justify their expense.

 

It's just interesting that there are so many automotive niches, but there isn't one for that. I realize it's not as simple as it sounds, but what if the Taco was available in a single cab, short bed configuration? I wonder how these companies know the market isn't there, if there isn't a truck for the market.

 

Single cab was killed in 2014 MY due to poor sales, among other things.

The market existed, and it died out. It wasn't like manufacturers said that money is no good and pulled the doors down. They had no market left, and nobody buying the trucks, so they followed suit.

Maybe in 10 years when old is new again, but the compact truck market is dead. Don't expect shrinking.

 

It's what happens. Us fatass americans want bigger and bigger cars. The original honda accord was a compact, and the current one is now a fullsize.

Can you believe that a new camry is longer than a humvee?

 

The market for compact trucks started disappearing once fuel economy improved on mid-full size trucks. People like myself actually love compact trucks for their size, but the truth is the majority want a big truck with good gas mileage...and that's what's out there now (compared to what was around before). Adios compact trucks

 

Blame it on Obama and US EPA CAFE rules, which gave Toyota the incentive to discontinue reg cabs:

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/04/is-the-regular-cab-pickup-doomed.html

 

I didn't want to be political.

 

Wow. No, I did not know that. But as the Accord has grown, the Civic has slipped into its former spot. I could be way wrong about this, but it seems to me that with the right marketing, there could be a demographic that would really appreciate a small, inexpensive truck. If I were in charge of that campaign, I'd target young urbanites with the usability of a truck bed, the nimbleness of a compact design, and the versatility of venturing outside the city. I'd target retired men with the lower price point and ability to make Home Depot runs, a callback to simpler times. These commercials are practically writing themselves.

 

I didn't. I kinda would have preferred the Tacoma stayed smaller than a 2004 tundra. I didn't want a full size, I never wanted a full size. But I'll take what I can get I guess and I still have the 1st gen so my butthurt isn't too bad.