Thinking of Leaving Chevy For A 2021 Tacoma. Convince me?

Yeah I loved them both....it was before kids - and life was simpler then, not better but simpler. I have looked and I like what the Wagonmaster guy does with the vehicles...we've talked a few times, but I am probably going to wait a few years...maybe.

 

The 2nd gen Frontier is criminally underrated. It might not have the aftermarket of the Tacoma, but it's a solid truck.

 

Don't forget those 1500 gmc tailgates...their priceless.

 

I did forget, I usually picture a Uhaul pick up when I hear GMC.

 

I drive both, pretty close to stock, with no loyalty to either brand (I came from ford), so here ya go:

2021 Colorado (Bison):

• All-around Cheap looking interior
• Better seating position
• Looks better on the outside IMO. Harder paint too so that's always a plus for me
• Quieter, nicer sound. Sounds less like a truck for sure

2021 Tacoma Off Road:

• Way better interior (head unit is much nicer, materials, etc.)
• seating position sucks (seat is just sitting on the ground), just get the electric seats, and have big hamstrings or your knee is probably gonna hurt after long drives (from what i've read). There's also some seat jackers you can get but I never needed em
• terrible shiftmaps. I never knew what this was til I testdrove it and it screamed going on a flat. Just pay the $300 for a KDMAX/OVtune and it'll solve this.
• Softest paint I've ever had if you care about the look of your truck. I marr it even with a microfiber towel and a graphene coating

I haven't had a tacoma for that long so I'll let other people speak to reliability. Tacoma is also more peppy, but could be because of the KDMAX tune. The nice thing about tacos is they're popular with DIYers so any problems with it is likely already dealt with in the aftermarket and probably well documented somewhere...

On the price, you can def find a tacoma OR for that much. got my current taco a month ago for $41K out the door, and the one a month before that for $40.3K out the door (dealer, dmv, 4% sales tax,etc included). That was for a DCSB OffRoad w/ the tech package and LED headlights. Can't speak for the colorado unless youre looking at a bison ($49K out the door). Tacos was harder to get as they were in a shortage at the time.

I'd go with the Colorado if I wanted to just buy and forget (no desire to do any aftermarket stuff). Tacoma if you're alright with spending some $$ and time in the aftermarket.

If you do go tacoma, I did this to upgrade the sound. Makes a world of difference if you play it loud as it's clearer. stock speakers are already good if you dont crank it imo. Stocks get muddy when you turn them up a bit.

 

DON'T DO IT!!!

Been there done that!!(ZR2)

 

Even Toyota has tranny / and other problems,so I say keep what you already have.

 

The Toyota trans issue is programing, however most of the chevy issues are torque convertor related. Cheaper to fix the Taco issue than the chevy.

However I've heard a few folks claim they fixed their Colorados by simply swapping out the trans fluid.

 

Yeah and the trans issue isn't really a problem on the Tacoma, per-se. It's just more of an annoyance when you go to step on it, and it goes to 2nd gear. Or when youre on the highway and it shifts between gears while youre going the same speed for seemingly no reason. 90% of people probably dont even notice

 

Coming from a 2016 WRX, my 21 Tacoma feels like a luxury vehicle. Whats this loudness everyone talks about?! The cabin is so quiet for me. It’s also my first automatic vehicle, so maybe I don’t know what they are supposed to behave like, but I have zero complaints about the shifting so far. I came into it with a clean slate and zero expectations of what the drive was supposed to feel like. tacomaworld’s bitching almost had me decide against it, but I’m happy af with my truck and glad I purchased it.

 

I'm guessing you're young and haven't driven enough trucks. I felt that my dinosaur shit old 2020 Frontier Pro 4X was hands down a better truck than the 2018 TRD Off Road that it replaced.

The Tacoma does a lot of things well, but if Toyota wants to take it to the next level they have some work to do in the NVH and audio dept

 

And what did u go and do, you got rid of the Frontier too.

 

Resale, reliability

 

Stick with what you have until things are normal. Now is a shitty time to buy a truck.

 

Go for it when ever your ready, you will never ever regret it.

 

I personally love the JBL system and agree it's nice to have great audio in the truck. I can't image why anyone wouldn't rave about it. Make sure the seating position is comfortable for you. I have a tall torso and a DCOR with the sunroof which makes the ceiling shorter and my hair rubs more than I'd like. There is the transmission gear hunting that happens on the highway that a tune can fix. I say go for the JBL and a tune and skip the sunroof. I totally love the reliability and "right sized" nature and socio economic positioning of this vehicle. It's not fancy nor underdone - for me it's just right, super capable and crazy reliable.

 

Buy a used second Gen sport & add an air locker. That’s what I’m doing. I waited till I found one with a shell. GL OP!

 

Seems were rapidly being pushed toward ev's too which i believe were totally unprepared.

 

Buy the Taco:
My last two trucks were 2007 Ram 1500 and 2017 F250 Diesel Lariat, both bought new. The dodge was our 5th in a row...enough! Tired of a crappy product and even worse, poor customer service. Then, ponied up the money for new diesel, very nicely loaded f250. Super powerful and beautiful interior, but what a pile of garbage! We paid about $60K for a $20K truck. Nothing electronic worked, and the front end (tie rod ends, track bar, wheel bearings, and ball joints) worn out at 24k miles due to "death wobble" that the dealer was never able to fix and they were assholes. My wife called it "Super Doodie" not Super Duty. We sued Ford under the "lemon law" and settled for $9K and got $50K on trade in for the new Taco. I'm a fairly patriotic man but, I'll never buy another American car if I can help it.

Now, on to the Tacoma...

I got the Off Road with tech package so, I have leather, sunroof, and a host of nice options. Not even close the luxury of a full size truck, unfortunately. But it's okay; comfortable but not luxurious. I have the electric seats because I'm 6'3" and 275 pounds. Is it a comfortable fit, yes. I've made 10-12 hour road trips in comfort. Its just all black, plasticky and boring. Why do it like it? EVERYTHING WORKS, ALL THE FUCKING TIME! That's why, it is soooooo refreshing to not wonder what is going to NOT work today. Dealer service has been nothing but pleasant. Yes, I did the KDMax tune after a little research...you MUST do this. It was $350, took 2 minutes, easy, and completely changes how the truck drives for the better. And, it was my only real complaint about the Toyota. I lifted it, added a winch, new tires because I like to off road recreationally with the Mrs once in a while. The 4wd options (MTS + CRAWL) are mind blowing...super truck for the casual off roader.

I LOVE my Tacoma, seriously. It is the best we've had besides are 2011 Subaru Outback (NOT American made) which is stellar, even today. Buy the Tacoma, don't look back, be happy.

 

I am the same..but I'm also not going to buy something that is clearly subpar and going to cost me time, money, and headaches unnecessarily or well before their time for the sake of that.

Hell, my Tacoma was built in either Texas or Mexico..but either way I bought it here from someone who works here, get it serviced at a place here by people who live here and work here. Good enough.