What started your love for Tacomas?

Got an 02 Reg cab 4x4 2.7 manual in 2005 when I was a junior in HS. Had it for 11 years before I sold it. Love my 2nd gen but still miss the ol girl. It was a tank!

 

My wife owns a 2014 Limited. She has been rear-ended twice without even a scratch anywhere on the truck to show. I owned a Camry and was also rear ended. The lady that hit me was looking at a neon lit restaurant. The accident demolished the rear of my vehicle. After it was repaired, I traded it for a 2017 Limited. I want to get out of my truck with a smile on my face the next time somebody hits me- so sorry for your loss!

 

This was my first truck in around 06? Put coilovers and a UCA on it. I loved that truck so much.
I would probably still have it if I didn’t get in a accident.

 

I didn't fall in love. I needed a truck with a bed long enough to fit my motorcycles, but it couldn't be so long that it interfered in the driveway with my wife getting her car in the side entry garage. The Tacoma Access Cab was the only one that would work. That was 13 years and 3 Tacomas ago, so I must have grown to love them at some point

 

Wanted a truck BAD. Had to replace my grand cherokee...Saw the tacoma as the most realistic option while in college (gas money, easy to drive)

 

When my dad and I were looking for my first vehicle prior to my 16th Birthday, the first one that I really fell in love with was a green 2000 Tacoma ext cab V6 4x4. The salesman let us take it for the afternoon and we both really liked it, but they wouldn’t move much on price and we ended up moving on. I ended up in Chevy trucks until I decided to get away from the full size and I bought my 2008 TRD OR. I’ve had a 2016 Sport and now a 2017 OR. Loved them all.

 

It’s funny, but the third Gen started my love of Tacomas. I never could stand the look of the last two versions. Especially I really didn’t like the weird wave-shaped wheel wells on the last generation. Something about that side-profile of the 2nd gens always bothered me.

Like many people (or so it seems based on sales), I saw a 3rd Gen taco and told myself I had to get one. Such a great looking truck. I’m happy I took the plunge.

Previous to my Tacoma my 4x4’s were a 1987 Mazda B2600 and a 2007 Ford Ranger FX4.

 

My love for a tacoma or toyota pickups in general started when I used to drive an 87 ford bronco in high school, and then I went on a road trip with my best friend in his 89 toyota pickup 4x4 MT. He taught me how to drive a stick in that truck, and I was sad when I hopped back into my ford... I started to look in auto-traders for older toyota pickups and newer tacomas. Fast forward now to this day I and drive a 16 MT tacoma 4x4. They are just nimble and fun to drive trucks.

 

This thing. Dad brought one home (his was white) from Thompson Toyota, in the SF Bay Area. He was a landscaper at the time and as a child I’d tag along with him during summer vacation and after school. Truth be told, he hated that effing thing. Nothing but problems. For many years he’d curse at the dealership whenever we drove past on highway 101. 30 years later, I bought his 2nd gen from him when he purchased a 3rd gen. Now I’m the guy hauling plants and adding the mods.

 

I was surfing in malibu around the time 3rd gens were first available. I saw this guy with a brand new 16 in blue with his longboard on his roof rack. His other gear neatly packed in his bed, and he’s laughing with the guy parked next to him. His setup was the most rad modern surf rig I had seen. When deciding between a Subaru and the Tacoma, that image was stuck in my mind and I went with the Tacoma about 2 years later. Not for one second have I ever thought I made the wrong decision.

 

Mine was also an 85 2wd 4spd vinyl seat, no ac, no power steering, no cigarette lighter, and no radio. It did have a spare tire but, didn't have the inner metal panels for the box. So anything that bumped the inside of the box made a mark on the outside. That by far was the toughest truck I've ever owned. I put 235/75/15 tires on the back and 205/75/15 tires on the front, stock size was 195/75/14. The truck acted like it was made for the 235's the motor seemed happier going down the road, it still would set the truck sideways in second, still would take off in 2nd without abusing the clutch, and it was impressive in the mud and snow with the bigger tires on it. I was 17 when I bought it and it was thoroughly tested. The motor is still going strong in an 87 4wd extra cab.

 

Being from Hawaii and the Tacoma love and practicalness and going to Iraq and Afghanistan and watching them own the mountains and deserts.

 

Most always owned reliable Toyotas, so when the time came to get a truck, that's what I wanted.
Then I saw the British show, how tough is a Toyota? Well, that just reinforced my love for the Taco.

 

I always liked the idea of a pickup. Growing up I always liked the looks of the 4x4 ranger everyone had around.
My dad ended up with a new 1987 4Runner after having to get rid of his Chevy.
The rest is history after that! The 1st vehicle I purchased after college was a new 2000 Tacoma Extracab 3.4 MT...Was such a good vehicle I skipped the Gen2 because it was lasting and bought a new
Gen3 when it finally needed to pasture!
I do miss dad’s old ‘87 T4R and my 2000 Taco beach buggie..

 

What he said.

 

My Very first Toyota, 1970 Toyota Corolla Sprinter. Bought it new $1900. My first Pickup 1989 4x4, 4-banger stick single cab,I think $11500

 

I grew up camping in my family’s Toyota Dolphin camper. My father, grandfather and uncle all had Toyota pickups. My first truck was a ranger which I got rid of when I could afford my first Taco which was a 2003 Regular cab and I’ve been hooked ever since. Since then I’ve owned a 2007 Taco, a 2016 Tundra and now finally a 2017 Taco again and I’ve loved it.

 

TBH, it started way back in high school with all the Toyota pickups running around.... and of course the McFly princess.

I looked at new 2nd gens about 10 years ago but meh, was still married with kids in tow (didn't really make sense in MY situation at the time).

FF to 2015, and the 3rd gen was unveiled at some auto show or another. Bam.

October of that year saw a transport deliver a bunch of Tacos to the stealership, and one of them was a black access cab OR V6 with a manual trans.. uh huh.

 

the first time I saw a second gen silver tacoma with about a 3" lift and a hood scoop I thought- that is the coolest truck I have seen. It took about 12 years to get my own but have always dreamed of that truck since then.

 

I had two Toyota trucks prior to getting a Tacoma.

What sent me running and screaming back to Toyota was owning a MINI Cooper S. It felt like I was in an abusive relationship. In the end I was half tempted to donate it because the dashboard was lit up like a Christmas tree. It was a fun car to drive, but the build quality of certain components was total rubbish.