Would you buy again / new?

Would I buy another Tacoma from new - No. Out of all the Toyota's I have purchased including first year(gen)/production year, the Tacoma has been a miss.

 

My 07 has been the best truck I've ever owned. But if buying another new mid-size truck today I'd buy the Ranger.

 

If mine were totaled or stolen or whatever, I'd look a lot of places before I came back to one. I have adored all my older Toyotas, but this one doesn't have the same feel. The others were slow turds and it was funny; this turd cost $40,000 and before I put 5.29's in it couldn't hold a gear on the highway with stock tires and a strong tailwind.

If I were to do it again I'd buy an Offroad Premium Access Cab manual transmission, and not look at it as a daily but more of an enthusiast rig for the weekend or adventures. Then I wouldn't have to deal with the bullshit automatic.

All in all, I think the 3rd Gen is an exercise in brand loyalty. We tend to look past the things that plague them because of their bloodline. If the motor and trans in the new Ranger was like ours, people would hate them. Because the Tacoma has such a reputation for reliability, capability, and its following, we don't mind throwing $3,000 worth of gears at it to make it drive like it arguably should've from the factory.

Ranger, ZR2, F1/2/350, Power Wagon, 2G Raptor, an L5P truck; these are all on my list to test drive when my Tacoma gets to 36,000. Will I keep it? Probably. Will I still feel like it could be better in 250,000 miles? Also, probably.

1,000 bucks says I still have this damn thing when my first kid starts driving

 

95% of what people complain about here should be found in a ten minute test drive.

 

My 2017 has 75,000 on it. It get’s used for sure. Overloaded it many times, and I take it places where you think it would not go. Not one issue with it. All I’ve done is changed the oil and done one set of tires.

I only had 2010 Tacoma for a couple years. I think it had 70k on it when I sold it. I had numerous warranty issues with it. Transmission got pulled for a throughout bearing among other things.

I guess what I’m saying is when the 4 gen Tacoma comes out the 3rd gen will be looked at as the 2nd gen is now. That’s just the way it is.

only thing you really still need to do is take care of the frame. It’s the same one as the 2nd gen. It’s going to rust away for sure.

 

Seems the few owners i've spoken to that have modded their toyota's whether a gen1,2 or 3 have complained about something. Imo, if they just use them as the manufacture intended them to run, i'd bet your right...there would be a whole lot less complaints.

 

People dont usually post about how much they love their trouble free anything

i bet for every negative post there are 500 happy people who didnt post anything positive

 

I see people driving ecoboost Rangers everyday. I wouldn't expect a Ford to last as long as a Toyota.

 

I've got a 2nd gen with the emissions BS. I like it, I would like it better with out the emissions BS. Completely irrelevant in relation to anything 3rd gen.

 

I'm very happy with my mid-cycle '21. No issues and has been a lot of fun so far. (at Only 4,500 miles).

I bought new against my traditional philosophy - because used was as expensive as new. I got a PRO because I found one as I liked in MT in the right color at a lower additional cost than adding a few bits on a similarly equipped OR... I had never driven the Fox suspension, (apart from the one on my MTB!) but I am quite happy with it. It does its job quite well on the road AND Off-Road!

I'd buy my truck again - but only in a Manual Gearbox. I would NOT buy one with an Automatic. This will likely die in my garage - I do not covet new vehicles every few years - I've tended to keep them for a while... If I enjoy my ride, I am happy - regardless of what new stuff may be out there.

When there is a practical Electric ute on the market, however, this will certainly catch my attention. (once it has been well tested and in production for a few years!)

 

Ive been watching the GM Performance EV crate kit lately. Im thinking a late 80's suburban 4wd with the EV crate swap could be alot of fun.

 

I consider myself a "Ford Guy", you couldn't give me a GM product I would drive, but I would put Toyota in a very close second. I have a 2005 Sequoia that is the vehicle I have kept the longest, by far, and while it has not been perfect, it has never left me on the side of the road and I would not hesitate to take it across the country, today, if need be. I've owned 2 Tundras, a 2nd Gen Taco ('10) and currently own 2 3rd Gen Tacos. I also own a 2015 Mustang GT, that I ordered new, and has been flawless. I've owned more Fords than anything else, 3 Mustangs, T-Bird, Ranger, F150, F250 and the only one I wish I hadn't bought was the '95 T-Bird. It wasn't awful, it just didn't do anything very well. I briefly considered a new Ranger but don't really care for the looks and the professional reviews were not very positive. All that being said, the best advice I have is buy what you like.

 

Yes. No vehicle is perfect. Every one has complaints. Being considered the most reliable doesn't mean they're without those. It just means you have less than the competition. Plus, there's always going to be outliers and just plain extremes. But joining a forum is a great way to be convinced you drive a POS. That's not limited to the Tacoma. In one year of ownership this Tacoma has already been more reliable than my GMC Canyon was in my first year of ownership with it, although mileage and age play a bit of a factor. Time will tell how she fares in the long run but I love my 2017.

 

I’ve also owned eight Toyota’s. I too went from a Tundra (12) to a Tacoma (18). Tundra was more than I needed and Tacoma is just enough. It’s not perfect (mostly because I bought used and it wasn’t exactly what I wanted). There isn’t anything else on the market I would rather have. I’m looking at brand new ones, if the right one comes along I might pull the trigger. If not I’m waiting to see what the new Tundra has to offer in 2023. I think if you’re a Toyota guy you will be mostly disappointed with everything else out there. I hear so many complaints from other truck owners about all the issues their Ford’s, Chevys, Nissan’s and Dodges have (less for the Dodge) and I’m over here just doing routine maintenance and complaining about poorly designed radio knobs lol. You won’t regret it, and if by chance you do the thing holds it’s value unbelievably.

 

My 2021 is perfect. No complaints. I only have 4k miles on it though. Definitely would buy again.

My previous Toyota trucks: 1985 Xtracab, 2013 Prerunner (got hit), 2017 OR, 2015 4wd Sport, 2021 4wd OR loaded.

 

Yes, no buyers remorse.

 

I just wish Ford didn't half ass the return of the ranger and barely modify the overseas version and then call it "all new."

 

I’m going with a hell no. I went from a fj cruiser to my 2020 taco and I honestly hate it. Mainly for the motor. It’s a gutless pig that gets the mileage of a full size truck but has the low end torque of a 1980’s era turbo4. Not to mention all the flat spots in the powerband and the laughable transmission tune on the autos. Granted most of the issues can be modded away but if you don’t have a mod-friendly dealer nearby....good luck. I highly suggest taking on an extended drive before buying/ordering. If you’re used to the 4.0 v6, you’re going to be disappointed with the 3.5.

 

The 3.5L has 42 more HP than the 4.0L. What you're complaining about has more to do with gearing. It's the only way Toyota could increase their MPG numbers while simultaneously keeping the stance the Tacoma is known for. Every other truck is either lower to the ground, looks like a crossover, or has a giant chin spoiler (or a combination of the 3).

 

I think my 2013 will make it to 400000 mi / 20 years down the road. So if there is an all electric Tacoma in 2033 then yes, I’ll buy another one. I won’t be purchasing another ICE vehicle unless it’s a beater commuter.