What were some reasons for choosing to buy or own a Toyota Tacoma?

The poll is useless and is more for entertainment factor IMO. Not one valuable item that was any influence in my decision.

After making my list of what I wanted (Dodge Eco diesel) and then trying different dealer / manufacturer websites I got severely frustrated. I want THIS ONE OPTION but have to build and price a million times to find what trim and options I must have for that ONE OPTION to be available. Toyota’s website was so much easier to navigate. The big 3 basically want you in the dealership talking to their salesman which pissed me off that they have the website to build and price but it is useless and you need to go in for any number to be of any use.

I was forced to buy what the big 3 wanted to sell me instead of what I wanted due to there being $11,000 in incentives on a higher trim and dbl cab. I didn’t want a dbl cab or the options at the better price. So frustrated I started looking at everything else. I had a friend who raves about his 2nd gen to the point of being a certified fan boy. So I gave the Tacoma a shot. At the same time my wife was finalizing her new car (Civic) so I optioned out a Ridgeline just to know. I had been doing the same at Nissan etc as we were in looking for her car so I had some legwork done. Every make had me jumping up from what I wanted to spend to get the options I wanted. Once certain options were explained to me the Tacoma offered some nice features. The fiber reinforced plastic bed solved my hate of bed liners. The stainless exhaust had value to me since most of my trips are short distance under 5 miles (work). The bedrail system was brilliant to me and one of my favorite features. The Tacoma allowed me to use a trailer brake controller (the one feature that was MANDATORY) and exceeded my min towing capacity of 5000lbs. I wanted nav built in as I had been using my full sized iPad, Garman GLO receiver and ram mounts but wanted a factory look. I can always default back to my iPad / GLO systems when required.

In the end I needed to eliminate a few vehicles in the driveway. The Tacoma was fuel efficient enough to be a daily driver, carry loads as required and be a tow vehicle within the known loads I tow regularly. I can rent or borrow a full sized if my needs require it (like last weekend hauling a loaded dump trailer). I didn’t want a full sized truck but figured I needed one until I realized that I could tow and do everything I wanted with a Tacoma.

 

i like to drive fast

 

Can we add Divorce to the list of reasons?

Or, "Cause I make my own decisions."?

 

Durability. Grandpa and sister both had one. Grandpa had a Toyota truck (80’s I believe) that he bought new. Still was kicking like new when he passed in 2008.

 

LMAO! Definitely some sarcasm there.

 

Because they're bad ass man! Where have you been living, a cave?

 

For as long as I can remember I’ve always loved Toyota trucks. My dad and step dad had them growing up so I was always around them. My first truck was an 85’ pickup 4 speed with 22R. After that I got my first tacoma. It’s been 14 years since I started driving and I’m on my 3rd tacoma, 4th overall Toyota truck and I’ve never once had a complaint. I will always have a Toyota truck. Can’t go wrong!

 

I'm on my third Tacoma. Drunks totaled my first two. Last was a head on fatal at highway speed. I walked away from both. Wife said you're buying another, they saved your bacon. I agree.

 

It makes a good work platform when you need to work above the garage door.

 

Colorado/Canyon and Frontier weren't a consideration. Ergo Tacoma.

So help me God these frames rust too, then it's a different story.

 

I am old and arthritic. I don't even play that one song by Toby Keith very often because I know I am not the man I was 40 years ago.

My last vehicle was a Ranger, perfect for me in every way except the tow capacity on mine was class II, and the other problem with that truck was printed on the radiator grill and highlighted with a blue oval.

If I need something done that my Tacoma can't handle I should also hire a younger man to do the work.

 

I was tired of my Chevy nickel and dimeing me, I wanted something with bulletproof reliability, I come from a Toyota family and no one EVER had problems with any of them, I wanted a Midsized truck and my choices were (in 2016) GM, Toyota, or Nissan. I don't trust Nissan reliability after my parents owned one and I know to many people who had problems as well. Although I really liked the styling of the Colorado/Canyon once I drove them I didn't like it. GM taking the bailout still angered me as well and Toyota's superior reliability lead me to go with them and I'll probably continue to buy Tacoma's unless Honda made a traditional Midsize to maybe sway me.

 

Bought an 07 4runner V6 that has stood the test of time. My first foreign car. Immediately began looking at the Tacoma as Toyota has a proven track record.

Prior to that had several American cars that had lots of problems. Chevy, GM and Jeep. Odd and dangerous problems. My 99 Grand Cherokee had the driver seat supports break off entirely from the frame. On the highway. And the rear axle was growling and leaking. All at 89000 miles. I was basically squatting holding the wheel until I could pull over. Fing dangerous. Took it to the dealer in Detroit and they said both happen fairly often and not under any warranty or recall. I said I'm done. Wife had grown up with Honda and Toyota. Traded the Cherokee in on the 4runner & never looked back at US cars. And I didnt get Jack $hit in trade in. I now have 130000 on both the 4runner and Tacoma and neither has had either of these problems happen. Not to mention the 4runner still runs, drives and looks the way I bought it. Incredible.

 

I wanted the slowest vehicle on the Planet and I got the slowest vehicle on the Planet

 

I had a VW that was c-noting me to death and wanted the most reliable truck I could find to replace it. 130,000 miles later and I have not been disappointed.

 

Bought a Tacoma to tow my sailboat in1999. It was a double lease 1995, 2 wheel drive , regular cab, four banger, with 50000 miles. Drove it four more years until I got a bigger sail boat. Regular maintenance and a rebuilt starter was the only cost of ownership for the 50000 miles I put on it. Then due to a hard-on related incident , I let my wife buy a 1999 dodge intrepid . If it broke before the warranty , it wasn't covered. After the warranty, the really expensive things started to break. Never going to be a mopar fan. Bought a after lease 03 4-runner to replace the insipid, and never looked back. Bought a after lease 02 Avalon for the wife to drive, I drove the 4-Runner another 50000 miles. Next trade-in time, the four runner was worth twice as much as the Avalon, so a 2012 Avalon replaced (after lease, of coarse )it and I borrowed a tow vehicle for a few years. I drove the 02 until it hit175000 miles and I saw a 2013 base access cab at the local car lot. The guy that owns it is real nice and as honest as a car salesman can be. He wouldn't take my car as a trade, said, it will probably go another 175000 miles, but I can't risk my reputation on it. That night I started pricing Tacomas. Sticker shock. All my other Toyota buys, 50000 miles and two years old would save me 8-10000$ ,not on a taco! three years old and 88000 miles and they wanted the same price that they sold it for new. Naturally I bought it. I love the truck.

 

Number 1 reason I purchased.
It’s size is great for off-roading.
IMO the Tacoma (1st,2nd or 3rd) is the the best foundation to start your build with. No Gen is perfect, we all agree on that. Just pick your flavor and enjoy.

 

Durability/Reliability/Quality. Oh, And I didn't want to drop the coin on a fully loaded JLUR/ JT... at least not yet.

 

I've wanted a nice truck since I was a little girl. Toyotas are by far the most reliable. Tundra was too big for my daily city driving. Tacoma it is!

 

Old habits are hard to break. In my 25 years of driving I've owned a Toyota truck for 24 of those years. I'm on my sixth truck and I've loved them all.