Who actually likes their 3rd gen?

Oh but on topic I like mine other than all of the money I have spent on it. Would have saved money and had a better performing vehicle if I would have just bought a raptor and left it stock.

 

Nuff said!

 

This coming fall i'll be sending the Tacoma down the road. Grew up in a family that was "pro Toyota". I've had a 89 pickup, 07 FJ, 2010 Tacoma and my 2016, Plus the additional 15 other Toyotas immediate household family have owned. I find the 3rd gen tacoma much less than a great truck, if I could go back I wouldn't have even consider it as a possible rig. Jerky shifting, SHIT dealer, power sucks, SHIT mileage(dads PowerWagon gets equivalent MPG) , plastic that scratches if you look at it, transmision is horrible. Nothing to nock the truck for, lack of room is horrible! instrument cluster going black, speedo and tach that decide to stop working if its over 60* outside(dealer can't replicate so they can't fix it). Radio screen that goes black and won't work till you shut the truck off and back on. Speakers that decide to stop working if it's cold outside. I recently drove a 2023 lifted w/ 35s f150 3.5EB and it was much newer of course, but it drove and felt like 10X the truck the tacoma is. Also drove same spec of f150 but V8, same lift and 35's yet again... 10X the truck. Both f150s were brand new with less than 30 miles on them. Drove both trucks same day and the same route. Both trucks were over 20mpg and that was playing around in them and "feeling" the power. Zero wind and driving like an "old man" it takes everything I can do to get 16mpg out of my tacoma with a leveling kit, 265s on stock wheels with no additional cargo and just me in it. For the money there are much better trucks out there to pick over the tacoma. Unless you're a single individual with no friends and no hobbies then the Tacoma might fit the bill. I'm a single guy that has a dog that hunts. So a dog, bird vest, lunch box, water and some extra shoes and odd and end hunting stuff and you're just about maxed out.. throw in another person and it's pretty uncomfortable. This is just my outlook on it. As for this forum, tons of great people, knowledge, insight and builds. One of the better forums that I'm apart of.

 

Sorry to hear about the issues u have had with the Tacoma. That transmission issue sounds like low fluid level as some of the early years had an issue with.

As far as comparing it to a F 150, Im guessing they were the Black Widow Edtion packages that have a price in the $85-90k range so it would literally be twice the truck in cost as well.

 

I'm new to Tacomas, grew up with Chevy trucks and was happy with them. After becoming an empty nester, felt a need for a mid size truck. I have a coworker that has had a Tacoma for some time and suggested I look into them. I ended up buying one and very happy and satisfied with it. Fits all my needs and I like how easy and fun they are to mod.

 

The trans fluid was extremely low in mine. Then some which way when I took it in to the dealer for their shit oil changes, some how they drained my trans fluid instead of the motor oil. So 7hrs for an incompetent dealer to change my oil and fuck it up. Mines been to the dealer 5 times for transmission issues. Unfortunately "we can't replicate the issue". My Toyota dealer is a complete joke. Definitely time to move one. As for the F150s, negative on the black widow package. Loaded xlt minus sunroof with a BDS 6inch non coil over. Right at 60k. Paid $44k for my loaded TRD OR. Without the added lift of the f150 it was $52k and some change. So 8k more without the lift for what seems to be a much better truck, definitely seems like a better deal to me. I can say, I'll never buy another Toyota product again.

 

Wait til you see the 2024 Taco...plastic everything in the engine bay, un tested un proven turbo i4, nanny and epa tech galore, Mexican build quality and probably an msrp of 50k +.....I think toyota's days as king of reliability are over soon.

 

Overall the truck is is still the best mid size on the market and the resale value is unmatched. I wish I had a heated steering wheel and the RPM surge at startup is really annoying as it happens right when I get near my workbench at the back of garage and have to stomp on the brakes.

Also the factory bed cover is way to heavy for older owners to be taking it on and off. My truck already had one when I bought it so I removed it and it is in my garage rafters to go back on when I trade it in. I installed the Extang trifold from my previous Gen 3 and it is much easier to take on and off.

 

I don't disagree.

On the flip side.
(Assuming average but good maintenance) I would not buy a used Ford with 125,000 miles, I would buy a used Tacoma with 150,000+. Obviously not at the same price, but I wouldn't buy the Ford at all if I planned to drive it regularly, I would buy the Tacoma. My wifes 19 Highlander has 60k and feels exactly like the day we bought it, my daughters 12 Prius has 230,000 miles and feels solid, I have NEVER had a domestic that didn't seem worn out by 100,000 miles and I have owned 17 different vehicles.

 

I like my 3rd gen Taco, it's a good truck...but I sorely miss my 2nd gen. Went from ACLB to DCSB. Needed more room for the growing family. Wish I'd bought the Trail Edition instead of the Off Road, but that's a story for another day. It is what it is.

 

It’s a solid truck. The “Mexico build quality or pre Covid” insinuations are bullshit. Plenty of state side Tacomas had a crap ton of problems. if someone is comparing these to Fords then they bought the wrong shit at the start… just say you outgrew it, but that doesn’t make it a bad product. I bought my 23 OR SB for under 39k, there’s nothing close to that made today that is in anyway comparable. Anyone see a used F150 sell for anything close to MSRP? Nope, but you can sell your Taco for damn near whatever you want whenever you want. Good luck with the Raptors engine failures too. That’s just my opinion though. I know nobody gives a shit, I’m just pissed to have to work in the rain today, cheers everyone.

 

My 2010 Tacoma felt much better than my 16 Tacoma. When Toyota came out with the 3.5, they had big plans to put it into everything. What's else is it in? The "rendering" photos I've seen looks horrible. More plastic, cheaper build and higher price. CERTAIN Toyotas have much better quality and build. Mexican made Tacoma's aren't one of them. I do think their days of being reliable "kings" are gone.

 

I'm not a used rig buyer anymore. Too many unknowns on them and with all the tech now days usually people get rid of a rig because of issues. I would never buy a used f150 EB. I'm leaning extremely heavily towards the 5.0. don't get me wrong! I'm not saying ford is days better in reliability. I've had too many issues with my 3rd gen to even consider another Toyota product. Here comes my 1st world problems, I don't keep rigs past 100K any more. My 89 had 230k on it, no issues. 07FJ had 140k, clutch issues. 2010 Tacoma had 60k, tons of issues. Traded the 10 in on the 16 with 12 miles on it. People like too many creature features for rigs to be as reliable as they used to be. I love all the tech and features of new rigs. But you can't have tech without having issues. Auto manufacturers are ALL cramming more tech and trying to make truck motors smaller and more "efficient" which leads to more issues. Smaller motors and adding turbos in trucks never made much sense to me. Ford's 5.0 is a great motor, Toyotas 5.7 another great motor, Rams 5.7 not bad and the 6.4 hemi another great motor. Toyota dropped the ball on the new Tundras, in my opinion. How many issues did the 5.7 have compared to the junk motor they have now? The Toyota 4.0 was much better than the 3.5, 3.5 was supposed to go into the outdated 4runner.... Still has the 4.0 from my knowledge. I'm also not one to be upside down in an auto loan just to get out of a rig that is IMO junk, pay it off and sell it when the time is right, not end up upside down when you roll off the lot in a different rig. The 16 has been paid off for a while now and has 74k on it. I'm just waiting to see what Ford does with the '24 F150 to decide if I want a 23 or 24.

 

Having owned both a 2nd and 3rd gen i loved both. Sure I like the 4.0 better than the 3.5. Yes the 3rd gen tranny can be a bit stupid. But the 3rd gen has better tech for your phone and hav etc. 140,000 miles and plan to keep it until it dies.

 

24s will mostly get a new grille and headlight cobonation, maybe some revised tail lights, maybe some interior tweaks. Nothing major. I'd get a 23 over the 24. Unless you really like the Maverick, and the new 23 Super Duty and, 24 Ranger front end.

 

After upgrading the suspension to king 2.5s with adjusters, bump stops all around, ucas and icon RXT leaf pack, magnuson supercharger, and a gfc camper, i have my unicorn. Done with vehicles till this thing dies, and so far she’s running strong! 83k on the clock, she’s my daily driver and weekend getaway vehicle.

 

I haven't looked at the others to see the directions they are going. I'd like to see some actual photos or one in person before I commit. Once the 24s become available the 23s should be priced a little better. I do think the 23s look great. If they don't screw the 24s up I'll go that route, but no one and I mean no one wants a Full size mavric looking f150 haha.

 

I'd expect a mix of this, and yeah F-150 will probably get those bed steps.

I guess it all depends on what configuration, trim, and options you want when waiting on the end of model left overs. I've found several left over custom ordered trucks pretty close to what I'd order. I'd go for a 22 Super Duty if you want a full size Ford.

 

Hm. I’ve got none of the issues that you mentioned.