Why did you buy a Tacoma?

Got tired of driving an F250 44 miles a day to and from work. Did the math, getting 10 MPG @ 2.55 per gallon I was spending 11.22 on gas per day just getting to and from work. I would spend 140 per month on my payment, and somewhere +/- 280 month on gas, totaling around 420 per month. With the 2.7L Tacoma, I spend 200 a month on my payment, and somewhere around 130 a month on gas, totaling 330 a month. SOOO... now I drive a much nicer, more practical, maneuverable truck and save somewhere around 90 bucks a month between fuel and payments. Pretty sure my insurance rates have also dropped a bit. As far as choosing a used midsize truck, IMO there is no competition. Ranger, nope, Frontier, nope, S10, definitely nope. The only thing I would rather have over the tacoma is a hilux ;)
 
I had moved away to college and brought my 2007 Ford ranger with me. It was my first car, paid $5000 for it with only 50k miles but man was that truck a POS. From 75k to 120k I don't think the check engine light was never not on. From the MAF to the alternator, seemed like it was falling apart all of a sudden. Being a college student I didn't want to put money into a truck that wasn't worth even half of what I paid for it. So I gave the truck to my parents to do what they pleased with and bought a 2007 Tacoma. This truck has been so reliable that I don't think I'll ever part with it.... unless it's for another Tacoma. ImageUploadedByTaco Forum1490582103.483522.jpg
 
My first brand new vehicle was a 99 SR5 extra cab 4x4 V6 manual. Loved everything about it. I had it 11 yrs. zero problems. Oil and filter changes, did the belts at 100k and 4 tires. Then I tried a bigger truck, 2010 Silverado, got rid of it after 3 years after all of the sudden all the electronics went haywire and engine revved up and down but itself while I was parked. Took it to dealership and they "found nothing wrong" and charged me for the service. Mind you I had bumper to bumper warranty still. I said fu Chevy and got rid of it. I looked high and low for a used Taco and couldn't find one locally so I went with a Frontier. That truck was fine, but it had little problems here and there that left me wanting a Tacoma even more. So I started looking for another Taco after a year. Finally found a 2012 with low miles and was under Toyota extended warranty. Only problem I had was with the trailer hitch wiring. Previous owner installed aftermarket ones and the wires caused problems with the brake lights and sensor. Toyota fixed it by replacing it with OEM wires.
 
It's a blank canvas that can be used for so much. Business truck, work truck, mall crawler, family truck, street truck, overland truck, prerunner, real crawler. It can do its job well and doesn't break down.
 
I've owed a lot of yota 4x4's from 1981-1994, from pickups to 4runners all with the 22re EFI and 5spd. Then I got into Subaru's for a while had a 2.5RS and 3 WRX's until I bought the 2007 Tundra crew max limited and just traded it in for a 2017 TRD OR DCLB 4x4.
First brand new truck I've ever bought.
I bought it because historically it's reliability and resale have been great. It's off road capabilities are amazing. I got the 2017 for the technology (crawl control) and looks. Thought I'd wait a year for the bugs to work out of the 2016. New engine, tranny and body design.
Worst mid size truck in 2017 says consumer report weeks after I bought it and after being in the shop 3 times. Would have been nice to know that info before I dropped $40k.
I wish I could say all around its been an amazing truck in the 55 days I've owed it. I wish I could say it hasn't been to the toyota service department 6 times for a total of 10 days since I've owned it. I wish I could say that it was fixed and drove great now. I wish I could say toyota case managers had impeccable costumer service and knew what they where talking about. I wish I could say they dont lie again and again trying and hoping I go away.
At this point I wish I didn't buy a 2017 Tacoma. I've owed a lot of Toyota's and loved everyone of them.
I wish toyota would help me love this one.
 
TacoDawgfan said:
I've always wanted one. Great all around truck, holds it's value, reliability, great off road, better mpg's that what I had, and great looking. Why not?
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Couldn't agree more with everything said! Traded my platinum Tundra cause mileage was terrible 11-13. Had a 2012 3500 Ram before that and Love this Tacoma! Oh yeah and GO DAWGS!
 
Bought my first 01' in 2007 while I was stationed in Port Hueneme CA. Drove it up and down hwy1 and she sat in a lot of LA traffic on the 405 going to Kings games and back. Never skipped a beat. I gave it to my dad while I deployed for 08'. When I needed more than 2 wheels in 2010, I spoiled myself and bought new. I moved back to the Midwest in 11' and I needed mileage more than truck. Traded her for a 11' Camry. Wife now drives the Camry with 140k and I've been reunited with an 03, double cab, black beauty, with beautiful leather and only 107k. ... So good to be back in a Tacoma.
 
OR17TRD said:
I've owed a lot of yota 4x4's from 1981-1994, from pickups to 4runners all with the 22re EFI and 5spd. Then I got into Subaru's for a while had a 2.5RS and 3 WRX's until I bought the 2007 Tundra crew max limited and just traded it in for a 2017 TRD OR DCLB 4x4.
First brand new truck I've ever bought.
I bought it because historically it's reliability and resale have been great. It's off road capabilities are amazing. I got the 2017 for the technology (crawl control) and looks. Thought I'd wait a year for the bugs to work out of the 2016. New engine, tranny and body design.
Worst mid size truck in 2017 says consumer report weeks after I bought it and after being in the shop 3 times. Would have been nice to know that info before I dropped $40k.
I wish I could say all around its been an amazing truck in the 55 days I've owed it. I wish I could say it hasn't been to the toyota service department 6 times for a total of 10 days since I've owned it. I wish I could say that it was fixed and drove great now. I wish I could say toyota case managers had impeccable costumer service and knew what they where talking about. I wish I could say they dont lie again and again trying and hoping I go away.
At this point I wish I didn't buy a 2017 Tacoma. I've owed a lot of Toyota's and loved everyone of them.
I wish toyota would help me love this one.
Click to expand...


I've been hearing horror stories.... Get em late 1St generation. Find you a gem.
 
New Tacoma owner for 2 weeks here 15 trd sport 4 door short bed 4wd. Traded my 2011 Titan with 211xxx faithful miles but tranny was starting to slip under hard acceleration or towing an mileage none to speak with my 52mi commute one way. Had a frontier before that loved it good power with the 6speed but got wrecked into. But never owned a Toyota an wanted a midsize again test drove a couple 3rd gen didn't like the powerband of the new motor so for the 15 with newer tech an 4.0 I've read all the stories 300k an counting an so that's my goal leaving it stock for now cause it does what I need to. Plus built in my home state of Texas which is a plus.
 
Two words...
Resale value.
There is no doubt in my mind despite whatever rankings whatever magazines come up with__ cars or trucks__Tacoma's are number 1.
(and looks!)
It sure as hell ain't for gas mileage though.
 
I was looking for a 4x4 that i could afford. the person I Bought my 2005 from was single made good money and took really good care of it. He upgraded to pull his bigger boat. Also, it had a brand new frame installed in 2014 and while it was off original owner had a lot of new parts installed. People think I bought a new truck and then I tell them it is 12 years old and they do a double take.
 
Longevity and it was the only vehicle on the market to meet my what I thought at the time was simple criteria.

Reliable base 4 cylinder, manual trans, 4x4. Almost every other truck on the market requires serious package upgrades as soon as you tick the 4x4 option. Most require upgrading to a v6, most don't even offer a manual transmission, and most start tipping close or over the $30k mark.
I bought my 2015 4cyl, 4x4, 5 speed access cab new for $25k and have absolutely no regrets.

Also, if I ever do let it go, the resale value is ridiculous. Private sale value is still close to what I bought it for minus a little depreciation for the miles I've put on it.
 
I bought it for the high resale value mostly. I also considered a Frontier, but after a short test drive, I quickly decided I didn't want a Frontier. I liked the price, but those trucks are not very fun to drive in my opinion. The Taco is much more comfortable, more nimble, and just felt better overall. And every time I considered something else, all I could think about was how much money I would lose on resale.
 
I bought my first gen one Tacoma in 2002. It's been no question since then. Out of everything I've driven I haven't found a more capable truck. Gotta love the Tacoma. And the resell value is impeccable. RenderedContent-51F82BC6-7DE7-4B7E-BF8B-3C38E6AE70A8.jpgRenderedContent-826DDE36-2850-4FE3-AD99-2D6CC422A0AB.jpg
 
Because in 2013 my 2004 4WD 4Runner had about 300k miles on it. I took it places people didn't think I could get out of with it. I ended up putting 365k on it before it blew a head gasket. Dropped a salvage in it and got another 47k out of it. Reliability and performance. We have a 2013 4WD Tacoma, 2016 4WD 4Runner and a 2017 Camry. Love my Toyotas.
 
I bought my 2017 Off Road because I had such a great truck in my 2003 4 Door. I bought the 03 while I was in Iraq just before I came home. My wife added a grill guard as a surprise for when I saw it for the first time. Very good truck. Fast forward 14 years. I was given an offer I couldn't refuse at my local dealer for the 2003. I loved the body style and technology on the gen 3s and I pulled the trigger on it. It was within my budget and I can trust in Toyota from past experience. I feel like the Tacoma fits my personality the best. Outdoor adventurist. They are loyal trucks that will go almost anywhere at anytime and they look good loaded down with the mountain bikes and kayaks.
 
Having worked for Toyota for many years it became undeniable the value a Taco gives you vs any other mid size truck. I've talked to far too many people who are drastically flipped in their American made truck. Not even touching upon the reliability the Taco offers you. I can go on and on
 
Purchased an 02 new, quad cab 3.4 prerunner, over 600k, and I am proud of every one of them, the first test drive sold me on it, because most trucks I have had, you knew you were in a truck. A taco isn't any ordinary truck. The engineering in the suspension insuring a much smoother ride or drive, anyone else feel the same?
 
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