Late Model Tacoma...Experience? Info?

[Flyinbowtie]

Wife and I are looking at purchasing a newer Tacoma. My current "get around" is a 1997 Tacoma extended cab 4x4 with the 4 banger and a 5 speed. It has right at 335k on it.
It is great as a run to town, dump run, run around truck but I don't like taking to more than 50 miles. The original engine popped a head gasket at 285k when our son still owned it and we got a 90k take out engine from Toyotas only recycler. I put a new clutch in it and new bearings in the trans about 10k ago.
It is probably going to go to #2 son as a "ranch truck".
Wife has a Ford Edge as her daily, although it is now mostly a grocery getter run to town rig for her.
I have my trailer toter dually but it isn't great for running around with, and with diesel fuel being what it is I'd like something a bit newer.

We are looking at 2018-2022 Tacoma double cab 4x4 trucks. V-6 only, automatic only. (Dually is six speed but wife no drive clutch too good)
I am doing research and I hear some complaints about sluggish trans shifting...anyone run into this?
We want a fairly lo mile rig. I want this...whatever it turns out to be...to last a very very long time. I take care of my stuff...OK lets say I am pretty anal.
Any ideas?

These things are going for serious $ up here, but not as serious as new, which just makes no sense to me.

Looking forward to what the RDP mind has to say on this...

 

[dread Pirate]

Good friend has had 2 and loved them. His first one saved his life when he was run off the road and into a divider on the 210. He's trying to get out of the second one as it was vandalized. Tweaker put sugar in his gas tank. Insurance put a new motor and fuel system in, but he want's out of it.

 

[2Driver]

2015 is supposed to be the year. They come up with low miles if you look hard enough.

 

[Cobalt232]

I had a 2022 or 2023 Tacoma rental last year that I drove from Detroit to OC. I pulled an empty 2000# boat trailer. It beat the crap out of us and reminded me of my 1985 Toyota 4x4 that I put 185k on in the 80s. It got terrible gas mileage but seemed to be well-built. It would be a good truck to run around town.

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Wife and I are looking at purchasing a newer Tacoma. My current "get around" is a 1997 Tacoma extended cab 4x4 with the 4 banger and a 5 speed. It has right at 335k on it.
It is great as a run to town, dump run, run around truck but I don't like taking to more than 50 miles. The original engine popped a head gasket at 285k when our son still owned it and we got a 90k take out engine from Toyotas only recycler. I put a new clutch in it and new bearings in the trans about 10k ago.
It is probably going to go to #2 son as a "ranch truck".
Wife has a Ford Edge as her daily, although it is now mostly a grocery getter run to town rig for her.
I have my trailer toter dually but it isn't great for running around with, and with diesel fuel being what it is I'd like something a bit newer.

We are looking at 2018-2022 Tacoma double cab 4x4 trucks. V-6 only, automatic only. (Dually is six speed but wife no drive clutch too good)
I am doing research and I hear some complaints about sluggish trans shifting...anyone run into this?
We want a fairly lo mile rig. I want this...whatever it turns out to be...to last a very very long time. I take care of my stuff...OK lets say I am pretty anal.
Any ideas?

These things are going for serious $ up here, but not as serious as new, which just makes no sense to me.

Looking forward to what the RDP mind has to say on this...

I'll start with I'm a big Toyota pickup fan but..

My wifes cousin just rented a new tacoma to drive down to see us last week. Front seats are very uncomfortable, the tranny shifts slow and to soon so it is gutless as hell, my 94 with a 22re will run circles around it. But it does get good mileage around 30mpg on the highway.

 

[dread Pirate]

Not bad for hitting a divider head on at 70+mph

 

[lbhsbz]

I've driven a few and currently have a 2016. The automatic trans in the 3rd gen (2016-2023) along with the stupid camry engine they decided to put in them will make you wanna punch babies and kick dogs. After 2 days (rented one first to find out if the rumors were true) I couldn't wait to get rid of it.

I ended up with a 6 spd manual trans TRD Off Road, it's just OK. I don't love it, but it's easier to park than my 2002 Chevy 1500HD crew cab, so I tolerate it. It's just such a lathargic piece of shit until you get to about 3K RPMS....then it kinda hauls ass (for a mid sized truck). I have 2 options when pulling by boat outta the water, smoke the clutch or click it into 4low....absolutely no low end horsetorques at all. The seats and seating position is the horrible. Honestly, I think it's a pile of shit but when looking at the competition....they're even worse.

If you're going with an automatic....I'd look for a 2nd gen with a 4.0L. The interior is kinda shitty on those and the seats wear out quick, but all in all, it's a much better truck for doing truck stuff. The 3rd gens are a car with a bed.

The 2024 has the turbo 4 cylinder in it and I've never been a fan of that....because I use mine like a truck. Running around making boost all day isn't a good way to make an engine go 300K miles, which is what I expect from a toyota.

Also...build quality is not great....example: The rear bumper looks like a conventional metal bumper, those are just plastic chromed clip on trim piece clips to a stamped sheet metal "structure" underneath....

Trucks shouldn't have plastic fucking bumpers.

 

[Bowtiepower00]

I thought I wanted to downsize and sold my ‘16 Ram 2500 and purchased a ‘21 TRD Offroad off the lot. I purchased it in February and sold it by July because I hated it. The Camry motor was gutless and couldn’t maintain 85 mph on flat highway without downshifting out of 6th gear. Fuel mileage was similar or worse than the CTD Ram it replaced. And I’m only 5’8” but I would hit my head everytime I got in the damn thing.

Fit and finish was excellent, and it drove nice both on and offroad, but I couldn’t get used to the engine/ trans combo.

A couple of months in I test drove/ ordered one with a 6 speed manual trans (none were available when I purchased mine) and I preferred the way it drove compared to the auto, but I ended up backing out of the deal to get into another Ram CTD. I prefer fullsize trucks.

Having owned several older hilux era Toyota trucks and 4 runners, the new ones are nice but as mentioned above they are no longer the tanks they used to be.

Also, the post covid pricing is crazy on these. In Feb 21 I purchased my ‘21 TRD offroad DCSB for 36k, which was about 1500 under invoice, no markups. When I placed my order for the manual trans model I wanted from the start in June they were going to give me 38 on trade and sell me the new 21 for 1000 under invoice. I ended up trading it to vroom for 38 or 39 and they turned around and listed it for 45. I say all of this to point out that many of the used Tacomas I see listed are still selling for what they were available for new.

I agree, look for a clean 2nd gen with the 4.0/ 5 speed auto. If you end up test driving a 3rd gen, get it out on the highway and see if you like it.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Thanks guys, very much appreciate the feedback. I will look around for a 2015. There is a '17 in town with 22k on it, it isn't equipped like I want. I will try to take the wife and go test drive it this weekend perhaps. My truck, with the 2.7 4 banger, is no rocket by any means, and living in the hills doesn't help it. I don't need or want a second full size truck...so we shall see.

 

[CLdrinker]

What’s your price range?

Have you looked at the new Style Ranger?

My buddies 2018 Tacoma has the paint falling off. That combined with the comments above along with the “Toyota” pricing. You may be better off with a different brand.

 

[Todd Mohr]

The Colorado is the better truck from 2017 on IMHO

 

[Bajastu]

I bought my 17 year old son a 2018 Tacoma with a 4-banger, auto, and 75k miles. Seems like a nice truck with creature comforts and decent fuel mileage. So far so good.

 

[Backlash]

I honestly don't think you can do any better than a Toyota. And this is coming from a Chevrolet guy.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

The Colorado is the better truck from 2017 on IMHO

We have three gmc canyons/chevy Colorado's in our work fleet right now and two retired ones that an employee bought for his sons. They’ve all been trouble free with over 100k on each. Only issue on one was the rear diff went out but was covered under warranty. The V6 in them makes them pretty sporty and towed decent. I pulled my 19ft ski boat when I had mine no problem.

 

[NicPaus]

My lead guy bought 1. Fully loaded but damn he paid 60k. We loaded it up yesterday with materials. He tows my little dump trailer with it. It looks like it's going to break in half with a small load but it gets it done.

My Mom has one also. I have drove it a few times. Not much power. My 04 Tundra with v6 will smoke it. Make sure to get the catalytic converter theft shield and tail gate locks if you get 1.

 

[MCnParker]

We found my son a low miles 2018 about 2 years ago, 2x4 ccsb trd off road. I would say its a great kids truck, but holy F they have some resale value. If you want comfortable seats with leg room I would look elsewhere, otherwise it has been a great truck for him, would I want one, NO!

 

[Dalton]

2016-2023 are all the same basically, referred to as the third gen, also known as the turd gen, and I’m a huge Toyota guy lol.

The transmission is wonky, and the v6 engine doesn’t make power down low, these are the main complaints from people. I only have experience with the 3rd gen 4 cyl, seemed a little slow but not bad.

I’ve never driven the v6, but I like Toyota enough I could probably put up with the wonky engines/trans combo for the rock solid reliability.

The 2024’s are all new and supposedly address all the down falls of the 3rd gen, if you don’t mind a base model, 2024 SR Tacoma’s can be had under 40k.

 

[mash on it]

Son in law had a '21 crew cab whatever for a minute. Not much legroom. Even him at 6'1, and I'm 6'3.

Seemed peppy enough though.

Dan'l

 

[Minimatt]

I have a 2017 4x4 double cab long bed that I've had since new and use as a work truck. The day it came home it had about 800 lbs of equipment put in the bed and it is in there 100% of the time. As of today it has 257k miles. It has required zero work other than normal maintenance and still does not consume oil. As others have stated, the V6 doesn't make power until it is up in the RPM range. Transmission has never hinted at a problem. 4x4 gets used a couple of times a month. Low range can sometimes be finicky shifting in and out. No interior squeaks or rattles, yet.

 

[TPC]

We recently rented one in Reno. Had it for a week. 2022 4WD CCab with locker rear screws.
I liked it.