Why did you choose a Tacoma?

I used to own the smaller toyota pickups. In 2010 I bought a 2006 OR with MT and found the transmission to be weak. In 2016 I was going to buy a new Tacoma. I test drove it for 3 hours. I've been dealing with the same dealership for almost 30 years and with that comes a few perks. Anyway, I was not thrilled about the power delivery (no balls) of the 3.5 or the shifty transmission. They had a 2013 limited with the automatic 5 speed and I fell in love. I paid almost as much for this as a new 2016 but didn't care. I will drive this truck until hell freezes over.

 

I bot a 1st gen new in 1997 (traded in a sharp blue metallic 4x4 4cyl '95 Toyota pickup SC 5sp with no A/C & no power nothing (except steering & brakes) a difficult truck to work out of on the road in the summer of '95 & '96 with nothing but a rear sliding window and a hot breeze
the company I was at the time used early '90s chevy S10 2wd drive trucks for their fleets, need I say more? … this Tacoma felt like a sporty truck compared to those
during HS I always turned my head to check out the 80s Toyota pickups and their sporty tailgates, some just said YO

I did not care for the aesthetic exterior features of the Ranger, need I say more
no clue about the Dodge Dakota, probably cost too much for the v8 lol, only compact truck advertised (omitted) to beat mine in its class
my boss had a new Nissan truck but the door chime drove me batkrapkrazy
I guess I lucked out getting this when I did, because the trucks lost all the fancy striping and tailgate decals (you can see from afar) the next year and have never 'really' returned in 2 decades imo

22years and still runs like a champ and handles nearly like the day I drove it off the lot and hit the highways
no recalls
no major unforeseen maintenance issues so far (unless you count a leaky VCG )

entered the old truck that is still 'new-to-me' in TW ride of the month
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tw-ride-of-the-month-photo-challenge-june.613274/page-6
#119 on page 6 … like or not to like … shameless promoting almost pure stock truck that handles 4wheeling a foot of city snow like its nobody's business

 

or 22

 

Somehow, when I said that, it didn't really sound right, because I knew I hadn't bought one of the last few model years offered. I stand corrected, thanks. Amazing the price doubled on them in 6 years. I also wish I had mine back, had a lot of great fun in that machine.

 

What year was your 3rd gen?

 

I always think the same... Ill come out of a store and see it across the lot and say "yeahhhh" in the tim taylor voice from home improvement!

 

Interesting idea with the oil... Hows that work just paint it on?

 

I had a 2017 TRD Off Road, Auto. Loved everything about the truck except the drivetrain. Never thought I'd sell something new for used, but no regrets here. Had the truck for 6 months then sold it.

 

I love these questions!

I chose a 2010 extended cab base model 4x4 with a 4cy and manual transmission. I have an ARE mx cap on it with a roof top box and a felt insulated bed liner. I then lifted it 4ish inches (suspension lift), and tossed some slightly larger firestone all terrains on it (more road friendly than KO2s).

My reasoning is that I wanted something I could sleep in with good gas mileage and a reliable engine. My wife and I leave the truck packed for camping at all times and routinely take off on Friday or Saturday nights for a quick over-nighter. I like a mid-sized truck because I can get down/up more 4x4 trails than a full-sized truck due to the width. We live in Colorado, so this setup is very conducive to our lifestyle. I prefer the 4cy over the 6cy for gas mileage purposes. Granted, given the lift and slightly larger tires, I do have 6cy envy at times... then I remember to downshift and think of Fred from Dirt Every Day, who drives a t100 with a 4cy and 40" maxis tires, and I get over it. Its a great truck for daily driving. Handles home depot runs no problem too. In truth, I really wanted a truck that I could customize down to the smallest details that were important to me. I will admit that I can get all of these things from a Chevy or a Ford, but the aftermarket for tacos is what really sealed the deal. My next project is putting on a locking rear-diff followed (so new axle in my case) and a rear bumper with a swinging tailgate to carry water and my stove. I have an almost overwhelming number of options for these projects, whereas with the chevy and ford I dont.

Last but least, Tacoma World also played a major role. I can ask all sorts of questions and get genuinely good help. Makes working on my rig easy. The fords and chevys don't have the same community, I know this because I have owned chevys and fords and the community is not as active.

Oh, and my wife liked it. So, now you know the real story.

 

Same reason I didn't keep the Ram . I can't see putting a nice truck in places I go. This is all I need now BUT, if I could just get the Hemi in this truck I would be a happy boy

 

I started off with a brand new 2007 4cl 4x4. Loved that truck. Had that truck for 10 years and never had a issue after 119,000 miles. Then I bought a 3200lb camper. After towing it home from the dealership I knew I had to upgrade. A few days later we were at the Jeep dealership having tires put on our Jeep. I decided to go walk the lot across the street at the Toyota dealership. I found a 2015 6cyl double cab in the exact same color as my 2007. A quick test drive later and I was doing paperwork. Best driving truck I have ever owned. Hoping it does as well as my 2007. Im sure it will.

 

There are members on here that have dropped the v8 tundra engine into their tacos. The process seems like a relatively easy swap.

 

Same here with Limted - fell in love. Plan to drive it as long as I can.

 

This is not a new idea, or my idea. People have been using boiled linseed oil to protect metal for ages. It's been used in the inside of tubing used in aircraft frames, old school hot rods, tools, and to protect frames of large trucks and heavy equipment.

You can put it on in any number of ways. I'll be using a cheap "engine cleaning gun" to spray it on both inside and outside the frame and undercarriage but yes you can can use a brush, roller, rags, pretty much whatever.

It's yellowish clear when it dries and it does dry or harden. This is not an oil like motor oil. Boiling the linseed oil changes it such that it dries sort of like an oil paint, it doesn't stay wet and once dry it doesn't attract a great deal more dirt.

Some folks make up various mixtures with boiled linseed oil (blo) and old engine oil, melted wax, grease, and all sorts of other things, but it works well all by itself too.

I'm just waiting on decent weather and a day off to do it.

 

Because it’s pretty

 

The price as compared to a full size, especially back in 2011 (I don't need a full size truck anyway). The fuel mileage, turning radius, ease of parking, etc.

 

Me too!

 

6 months??? Wow thats saying something.

I heard the ac evap chamber drains into the p.side cab?

 

For me it is because of history. My first Tacoma was a 1982 Regular Cab 4x4. Drove it for about 2 years and had to sell it for family . My second was a 1995 2WD for work. I drove it for Three years. Gave it to my son on his 16th Birthday. My Third was a 2004 DCSB SR5 Prerunner. I drove it for work. I put 55,000 miles on it in one year. I should still have it but was stupid and traded. I did get 2,000 more for it used than I paid for it. My most recent purchase is a 2007 DCSB Prerunner. It is used of course. I bought it with 153,000 miles on it. I do all the work on it myself, that I can. You know, change the oil, oil filter, plugs, Diff oil, pulleys as needed, serpentine belt, cleaned the throttle body and mass air filter, changed the air filter, the cabin air filter. I got the rear springs replaced in a recall. I have bought a complete new front brake system which I will change when these brakes need replacing. U joints coming in the future. I now have turned 167,000 miles and my Tacoma drives like it is New. I love it. Would not drive anything else.

 

I've always loved the Taco style and when the jeep motor detonated, it was time to fulfill a fantasy.....so I did !