Any Taco owners out there?

[lock n' load]

Back around Labor Day, I ended up buying a used 2021 Tacoma to be my new daily driver. It is the TRD Offroad trim. Aside from some of the usual complaints I've read about the 3rd gen Tacos (tranny likes to hunt for gears, cramped back seat, etc), I really like it. I'm kinda hoping it snows at some point so I can play in it some with 4WD. I've also been thinking of trying overlanding one day. I'd love to visit Moab, UT from some of the videos I've watched from people taking their Tacos and 4Runners there. I doubt I'll ever will since that would be a long drive..lol. The older Toyotas have a reputation for being reliable and capable and that's one reason I went with one. I have a coworker that still has a late 90's 4Runner with over 600k miles on it and it still runs like a champ . Does anyone on here drive a Taco and if so, what are your thoughts/experiences with yours?

[Erik88]

25 minutes ago, lock n' load said:

The older Toyotas have a reputation for being reliable and capable and that's one reason I went with one

Yes they do. I'm still driving my 2002 Tundra. We drove it to Arizona in 2023. Shooting for Moab next. 

[lock n' load]

I've seen some awesome rigs that people built but they are too expensive for me to do. One guy's rig was around 30k and that wasn't including the truck.

[Johnny Rotten]

I like Tacos too

 

[Ronald_55]

45 minutes ago, Johnny Rotten said:

I like Tacos too

 

Johnny is that a serving for one? 

Tacos 

No I don't own a Tacoma, but my Dad has had one for years. 

[lock n' load]

Dang..that looks good..lol. Guess I know what's for lunch..

[Sleep profit]

47 minutes ago, Ronald_55 said:

Johnny is that a serving for one? 

Tacos 

No I don't own a Tacoma, but my Dad has had one for years. 

I would like to own one of these 

[gregintenn]

I bought this 02 here on the forum about a decade ago.  It is a 4 cylinder, automatic, and has 167k on it now. I think I put an injector in it once, and squirrels have chewed the fuel lines up a couple of times. Short of that, I've changed the oil every 10k, put gas in it, and drove it. 

It doesn't have much power, gets only about 20mpg, and isn't overly comfortable, but it is boringly reliable, and I've yet to have it stuck. I pull a boat with it just fine. I plan to keep it til it dies, which it may well outlast me.

Dad has a 98 model. The speedometer quit working, so I'm unsure of the miles, but it's over 400k. Same thing. Gas and drive. His is a v6 5 speed, and has twice the power mine does.

My son had an 03 and drove it for years. Sold it to a buddy and it's still on the road. If he can't tear one up, that's saying something!

I've no experience with newer models, but the older ones are amazing.

[Johnny Rotten]

55 minutes ago, Ronald_55 said:

Johnny is that a serving for one? 

Tacos 

No I don't own a Tacoma, but my Dad has had one for years. 

[gregintenn]

1 hour ago, Johnny Rotten said:

I like Tacos too

 

I love those things!

[Alleycat72]

So I own a Jeep and my Wife owns a Toyota. I'm going to keep my mouth shut. 

So everyone knows i can't keep my mouth shut.

My buddy has a r22 Toyota and it's fantastic. You can say they are under powered, but we have never gotten stuck. I feel like Jeeps are under powered also. It is sometimes better that way for the heavy footed break stuff people. Getting 1/2 million miles out of a truck is a bonus. 

Ps. Don't tell my Wife I like Toyota. 

[BigK]

58 minutes ago, Alleycat72 said:

So I own a Jeep and my Wife owns a Toyota. I'm going to keep my mouth shut. 

So everyone knows i can't keep my mouth shut.

My buddy has a r22 Toyota and it's fantastic. You can say they are under powered, but we have never gotten stuck. I feel like Jeeps are under powered also. It is sometimes better that way for the heavy footed break stuff people. Getting 1/2 million miles out of a truck is a bonus. 

Ps. Don't tell my Wife I like Toyota. 

I'm a Jeep guy, myself, but I really like the looks of a Tacoma. I can only tow up to 3500 lbs, but I think I read that the Tacoma with the tow pkg can tow 6500 lbs. In hindsight that'd come in handy more often than the ability to go almost anywhere.

Edited 10 hours ago by BigK

[Johnny Rotten]

There's 3 things I luv.

First I can eat 5 of these suckers 

and

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[btq96r]

22 years ago, for my first vehicle, I wanted a Toyota Tacoma.  I couldn't afford one, so I settled on a Ford Ranger.  I still have that truck.  But when I'm ready for a new one, the Tacoma is at the top of the short list.  Hoping the quality holds until then, because I don't plan on buying for a bit to come if my Ranger holds out.

[leroy]

We are Toyota junkies.  Two Tacomas, 2 FJ cruisers.  One of each wrecked.   09 FJ stillrunning like a top, and a semi daily driver. As solid as the day it wuz built.   '16 Tacoma TRD straight shift.  About 90k miles... Daily driver for the son.  Runs n looks like a new one...

The 08 FJ that wuz wrecked wuz North of 240k miles; it wuz running like a top.  No major repairs, only fair maintenance n good tires.

These trucks are my absolute favorites.  I've owned everything, including Jeeps, blazers, S10s, Suburbans, a Lincoln navigator, and a 15 Nissan Xterra.  Nothing else is even close. 

The 15 XTerra is a DISTANT second.  The XTerra has been a daily driver.  All the engine crank n cam sensors n a couple of mass flow air sensors have been replaced on it.  Musta been built on a Monday or Friday.

Save or spend the extra dollars for the Toyotas.  Ya can't beat em dmgor reliable transportation.

Toyota leroy...

[hillbillyfab]

Just bought my first Tacoma a few weeks ago, ‘96 Ext cab 4WD.I had been hunting a used one to use as a backup vehicle, hunting/fishing rig, etc. My wife stumbled across it on FB for sale. I’ve had older Toy trucks, Gen I and II’s but never a Tacoma. I’m  pleased with it so far. I’d like to find some stock later model takeoff Tacoma wheels if any of you guess are upgrading or have upgraded.

[gregintenn]

2 hours ago, btq96r said:

22 years ago, for my first vehicle, I wanted a Toyota Tacoma.  I couldn't afford one, so I settled on a Ford Ranger.  I still have that truck.  But when I'm ready for a new one, the Tacoma is at the top of the short list.  Hoping the quality holds until then, because I don't plan on buying for a bit to come if my Ranger holds out.

Those Rangers were some great little trucks as well. I can’t believe there isn’t currently a market for a basic, small pickup.

[Garufa]

11 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

Those Rangers were some great little trucks as well. I can’t believe there isn’t currently a market for a basic, small pickup.

I would submit that there is a market for such a pickup, but manufacturers are going to cater to those who want huge ass trucks with 7+ year loans they can’t afford to take up two spots at the Walmart.

[Omega]

18 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

Those Rangers were some great little trucks as well. I can’t believe there isn’t currently a market for a basic, small pickup.

Not in my experience, when I returned from Japan I asked around and was warned off the Ranger, so ended up with a B2300   (same truck) Transmission gave out, replaced it and not long after it started showing signs so traded it in for a GMC.

[gregintenn]

10 minutes ago, Omega said:

Not in my experience, when I returned from Japan I asked around and was warned off the Ranger, so ended up with a B2300   (same truck) Transmission gave out, replaced it and not long after it started showing signs so traded it in for a GMC.

We had em for years as fleet trucks at work. I personally drove several from new to trade in (250k). I wouldn’t have hesitated to buy any of them for a daily driver at that point. They required very little work above standard maintenance. Perhaps you just go a lemon, which does occasionally happen with any make/model.

[Omega]

Just now, gregintenn said:

We had em for years as fleet trucks at work. I personally drove several from new to trade in (250k). I wouldn’t have hesitated to buy any of them for a daily driver at that point. They required very little work above standard maintenance. Perhaps you just go a lemon, which does occasionally happen with any make/model.

It's possible, but exactly what they warned me about happened, so it couldn't have been a coincidence.  Then again, maybe they worked out the bugs.

[gregintenn]

4 minutes ago, Omega said:

It's possible, but exactly what they warned me about happened, so it couldn't have been a coincidence.  Then again, maybe they worked out the bugs.

I wasn’t aware of transmission issues, and have yet to see a Ranger (Mazda) with a bad transmission. One of my kids had one that required a quart of oil at every gas fill up (it was worn smack out), yet the transmission still worked like new. All vehicles have weak points. I guess I’ve just been really lucky.

[Omega]

16 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

I wasn’t aware of transmission issues, and have yet to see a Ranger (Mazda) with a bad transmission. One of my kids had one that required a quart of oil at every gas fill up (it was worn smack out), yet the transmission still worked like new. All vehicles have weak points. I guess I’ve just been really lucky.

Yea, this was before internet so had to read about it in magazines, and word of mouth, but now it's been written about a bunch.  Can't recall the year of mine, but it was mid 90s, and fit these issues perfectly.

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/seven-common-problems-with-the-ford-4r55e-transmission/#gsc.tab=0

https://bryansgarage.com/ford-ranger-transmission-problems/

[leroy]

RE:... Rangers.... Excellent little trucks... Plenty of them running with Lotsa miles on em too.. 

While I'm thinking, if ya are in East TN, there is a gang ( White Motor Co..  I think ) in Vonore, TN; that specialized ( ain't sure if they still do ) in repairable wreck Tacomas and junk title Tacomas of all flavors... Basic ta fancy, along with four runners as well. 

Lots of the guys I worked with who needed a decent, sensibly priced daily driver would buy em from Mr White ( he wuz a hybrid bodyman/ mechanic ) and drive em as work trucks. He wuz fair and princely to deal with.

  If ya are into bargain daily drivers n ain't worried about trade-in value, he wuz the guy to see.  

That said, I'ma thinkin his kids or partners may be running the business now, if they are still around...  He would be worth the time to Google if ya are into budget Tacomas.. 

leroy...

[lock n' load]

1 hour ago, Garufa said:

I would submit that there is a market for such a pickup, but manufacturers are going to cater to those who want huge ass trucks with 7+ year loans they can’t afford to take up two spots at the Walmart.

That's what turned me off about the new full-size trucks. They keep getting bigger and bigger but they aren't making the roads, parking spots and garages any bigger to accommodate them.  My '08 Ram is a full size truck but today's mid-sized trucks are close in size to the older full-sized ones. As for compact trucks, the Maverick is an option.