Trading in Tacoma on a FORD

And there it is...

 

I bid Adios to my 2003 GMC duramax diesel/allison transmission yesterday when I traded it for a 12 Tacoma TRD sport. When I purchased the truck almost 10 years ago, it was loaded and expensive. We needed the diesel to pull a variety of trailers including 3 horse slant, toyhauler, and various utility trailers. At the time I purchased the truck, diesel was cheaper than gas-that was short lived. Still, the truck was pretty luxurious and well it should be-it was over 40K, but had leather, heated seats, trailer package, zoned heat and AC, decent multi disk player, dvd system, and was a short bed. The dealership did all my service-even oil changes. Enter failed injectors and the silent recall. GMC has a problem or had a problem the 03 model LB7 fuel injectors that were installed on the trucks and they began failing. They manifested the failure by a light amount of smoke at idle. I went to the dealership after you and I became share holders (you remember the bailout right?). They informed me there was a silent recall and I was 6 months out of the range. The truck needed 2 injectors and actually all would fail eventually. As a "goodwill" gesture, they agreed to lower the price by 500-this still put the repair at around 4K. Mileage on the truck was around 140K when this was discovered. Bottom line is that the truck was defective at assembly and they didn't fix it. If they had told me that I would again have to spend 10% of the purchase price almost 10 years after purchase for something THEY did-I would run away and would have been a Toyota or a Ford owner much earlier. I will not own another GMC product nor would I recommend one-they do not stand behind what they sell and they build crap. They should have failed-there is a reason they were failing and as tax payers we should have let them die like the dinosaur the brand has become-but I digress. The Tacoma is much smaller, less refined, more truck like than the big GMC-it lacks many of the creature comforts and is not the least bit intimidating and well-kinda cute in comparison. But rightly or wrongly, I feel very good about the brand and about the perceived value I received. I anticipate the truck will be reliable and hold it's value. And even though it is a "Japanese" truck, it was made in Texas while my old GMC had much of it built in Mexico. So be careful what you get and I'll "salute" the gmc dealership everytime I drive by.

 

I guess the upside would be having the 4 wheel drive and the one
I'm looking at is really plush. That being said, to this point I have only looked online. Have never driven it or been to the dealer. Just emailing
the sales guy back and forth.
Also they are offering a really good price for what I'm looking at. They are
coming off the sticker by 8500.00 I am still unsure and if I (with all you guys help) talk myself out of it. I will definitely go look at some 4x4 Taco's.

Had I gotten a 4x4 with the Taco, there is no way I would be considering this now.

 

I'll take your roof rack if you decide to sell ..... seriously though i will

 

Do not buy a ford man. Fords are the worst for electronic issues and with twin turbos even more issues will happen. They aren't as fuel efficient as they say. They are fast yes but turbos arent tow friendly at all. My father was always against ford and he was a mechanic and owned his own shop for years. He knew what he was talking about. A decision you will regret for sure

 

Get a 4x4 Taco.

Those Fords are built with cheap ass materials. One of our business trucks is a 2009 F-450 and the sheet metal they use for the doors is so wimpy and thin that I actually dented it by just lightly leaning against the truck. And the interior is made with the shittiest plastics I have seen yet. Just sayin'

 

Ecoboost your truck, just get a twin turbo setup, or you can get a URD supercharger, e-fan to make it quieter, new pulleys, and if you need something to come one and say "Built in America" or "Sexy Beast", etc. you can get a double in unit with a screen. Heated and cooled seats you can aftermarket that, with leather. Hell everything ford offers you can aftermarket. Spiffy hood lights like on the raptor, you can after market those too.

 

I doubt I'd want to own another truck since having this Taco. It's made that much an impression on me in just ten days. I've had a Ford F150 and a Dodge Ram 1500 before this.

 

All in all, if you're itchin' for a full sizer, go with the Tundra. Make sure you get the crew cab short bed though. All the other options look like radiated grubworms, to me. But unless you have something BIG to haul around, just get a 4wd tacoma. These boys pull more than their share of weight.