Tacoma to the Stable?

[18Cruiser]

So I know this is the 200 forum.

But toying with the idea of adding a Tacoma to the stable (as the title would suggest), as a spare vehicle. Wife doesn't want a full sized truck.

We have 5 people in the fam and seems like we constantly are short a vehicle even though we have 5 vehicles, kids fly in from school and leave their car at school, car in the shop, or other issues.

There are somethings you can do with a truck that you can't with a 200, or would rather not. For instance:
1. Truck things, moving dirt or rocks for wife's garden;
2. Loan the vehicle to someone (kid or wife), OK so maybe I am a little possessive of my LC;
3. Put a skunk shot dog in the back, yes that did happen but fortunately was in my Dad's LC not mine;
4. Stack stuff up to take to the dump/recycle;
5. Ect....

Just wondering how many of you have both a 200 and a Tacoma and your thoughts as to the combination.

Apologies if this doesn't belong here.

 

[MrM]

I sold my Speedway Blue 07 DCLB TRD Sport, to buy my Land Cruiser, wish I kept it. They are great trucks, stick with 2nd gen, the 3rd gens arent as good in my opinion. Good luck, watch for frame rust....Stevenson Toyota in Denver replaced the frame and suspension components because of a 10mm rust hole next to the convertor. I LOVE Toyotas....Mitch

 

[sdnative]

I have both a 200 and a 2007 Tacoma 2wd 4cyl manual. I think it is a great combination and they really complement each other well. I will keep it for another year or two until I can order a Ford Maverick hybrid (at MSRP or below ), then sell it or pass it on.

 

[Tex68w]

I second looking for a Gen 2.2 over the 3rd Gen. That said, it's a great combo, just be prepared to pay more for it than most think it's worth.

 

[18Cruiser]

I sold my Speedway Blue 07 DCLB TRD Sport, to buy my Land Cruiser, wish I kept it. They are great trucks, stick with 2nd gen, the 3rd gens arent as good in my opinion. Good luck, watch for frame rust....Stevenson Toyota in Denver replaced the frame and suspension components because of a 10mm rust hole next to the convertor. I LOVE Toyotas....MitchView attachment 3183246

Perfect person to answer! Thanks.

One of my questions was to go with the current gen or wait until the 2024 re-vamp? We have a place in Breck and no doubt it would be called to serve both in Texas and Colorado. How well do they handle the mountains at Highway speeds? Thinking the 3.5 but if waited the new gen will hopefully get a boost in power.

 

[18Cruiser]

What's the issue with the current gen @ MrM and Tex68?

 

[Tex68w]

Most aren't fans of the engine and tranny combo and how and where it makes its power. Seat is low which puts your legs nearly straight out, very uncomfortable. Water leaks, transmission issues, vibrations and weird resonating sounds, the list goes on. A few links listing some of the common issues.

Common 3rd Gen Tacoma Problems - (2016 to 2021) - 1A Auto

The 2016 to 2021 or 3rd Gen Tacoma is a newer truck, but like many trucks and cars, it has its own common problems. In this article, we list the Top 5 3rd Gen Toyota Tacoma Problems

blog.1aauto.com

3rd Generation (2016-2021) Tacoma Problems

The 3rd generation Tacoma (2016-2021) ranks 70th in reliability out of 81 generations. There are 241 complaints mostly about transmission problems.

www.toyotaproblems.com

 

[Possie Bugger]

Most aren't fans of the engine and tranny combo and how and where it makes its power. Seat is low which puts your legs nearly straight out, very uncomfortable. Water leaks, transmission issues, vibrations and weird resonating sounds, the list goes on. A few links listing some of the common issues.

Common 3rd Gen Tacoma Problems - (2016 to 2021) - 1A Auto

The 2016 to 2021 or 3rd Gen Tacoma is a newer truck, but like many trucks and cars, it has its own common problems. In this article, we list the Top 5 3rd Gen Toyota Tacoma Problems

blog.1aauto.com

3rd Generation (2016-2021) Tacoma Problems

The 3rd generation Tacoma (2016-2021) ranks 70th in reliability out of 81 generations. There are 241 complaints mostly about transmission problems.

www.toyotaproblems.com

this: my son has a 2019 doulble cab Tacoma. i hate driving it when i visit him in Salt Lake.

my wife also was against getting a full size pickup for a 'backup' vehicle so i compromised and got a 2006 Tundra to split the difference in size of the Tacoma and newer Tundras. it's a fantastic vehicle that does everything better than a Tacoma, IMHO

 

[MrM]

Before I bought my 07 in 16, I was ready to pull the trigger on an Inferno TRD Sport DCLB. Then I read about the engine and transmission and luckily decided to stick with proven mechanicals. The guys I know that bought 3rd gens sometimes dont have good things to say. Mine had 180 thou on it when I sold without ANY problems with engine or trans. I'm religious with my maintenance though. That 4.0 is a long running, proven engine. The 3.5,,,,,MEH. Just my opinion ..dont wish to offend any 3rd gen owners.Mitch

 

[18Cruiser]

I have both a 200 and a 2007 Tacoma 2wd 4cyl manual. I think it is a great combination and they really complement each other well. I will keep it for another year or two until I can order a Ford Maverick hybrid (at MSRP or below ), then sell it or pass it on.

I thought about the Ranger, not the maverick, but give me your thought of going with the blue oval instead?

 

[sdnative]

Not a fan of the blue oval necessarily, much prefer Toyota. I just don't care for Toyota's current offering of small pickups. The Maverick checks most all of the boxes for my wants/needs at the moment, priced right and looks good. If Toyota had a comparable truck I would be looking at that as well. I hear they may have something in a couple years, so who knows. As long as it doesn't look like the Santa Cruz

 

[18Cruiser]

Not a fan of the blue oval necessarily, much prefer Toyota. I just don't care for Toyota's current offering of small pickups. The Maverick checks most all of the boxes for my wants/needs at the moment, priced right and looks good. If Toyota had a comparable truck I would be looking at that as well. I hear they may have something in a couple years, so who knows. As long as it doesn't look like the Santa Cruz

Yeah. I had a couple of Expeditions and a F150. They were good trucks, not great. Lifter problems and other issues as you got to 100 to 150K miles. So they were respectable but not home runs. My sense is with Fords as you approach 100K its time to unload them and move on.

Kind of want to see what the new Ranger vs. new Tacoma are before final decisions are made. But that's me, I obsess and research the sh!t out of every decision. I start early.

 

[Alpine4X4]

Right as COVID was hitting, I had a deal made on a brand new 2020 Tundra to replace my well worn and abused 03 Ford Ranger FX4. The Ranger was approaching 180K miles, and knew it wasn't going to last through my start of building a new home, hauling lumber, supplies, etc. The Ranger was awesome. Manual transmission, V6, zippy, good torque for a small truck, and did very well off-road ect.

Unfortunately, a couple days before I was going to drive to SLC to trade-in the Ranger for a New Tundra, I was notified that all the contacts for my job had been cancelled, so not a good time to buy/finance a new Truck, and I cancelled the deal.

I thought I could make it work by buying a flatbed trailer, and hauling everything with my Ford Explorer that has a V8, but after a couple runs going over mountain passes or bucking a headwind with a loaded trailer, I determined this was going to just barely get me by. Fast forward several months, and I still need to replace the Ranger, and I really prefer manual transmissions. So I got really lucky and was able to get a Tacoma Access Cab with Manual Transmission, and the longer bed, which is only available in the TRD Sport. I was really lucky, because the covid auto buying frenzy had just started, and I was able to snag exactly what I wanted, even down to my first color choice. Plus was able to negotiate $500 off MRSP. Just had to wait 6-weeks for it to be built and delivered to the dealership.

So, my impression of the Tacoma so far...

Lots of zippy power, even at 8000+ ft elevation where I live. Unfortunately, it has no torque, and it's geared way to high. Good thing it has hill start assist, as I would be burning the clutch if it didn't.

Here's an example of how little torque it has; a friend was coming over to pick me up at the new house I moved into. Took a turn down the wrong driveway with his Dodge 2500, and when trying to back out, he got to close the steep edge, and his front left tire went off the edge, and the truck is tettertottering on two wheels, and he can't move. Not really stuck. Calls me, and I come over with the new Tacoma. I tie a rope bumper to bumper, as that's all we had available. Slight incline for me, but again, his truck is not stuck. I put my Tacoma in 4low, first gear, and stalled it twice. Third time I had to feather (burn) the clutch to get him to move and have traction again.

Other than that, It's been a great little truck. Very comfortable on long drives, and gets around an average of 24-mpg on interstate and mountain highways.

I call it the tin can, because it doesn't sound solid when I close the door on it.

Otherwise, I'm going to keep it. Just an FYI. I ended up getting a used 21 Tundra with 13K miles in the exact same spec, configuration, and color I was going to trade the Ranger in on. It has been a godsend pulling a heavy loaded trailer, and just shake my head everytime I see a new generation Tacoma pulling a 15+ft camper behind it.

I was originally wanting the previous generation Tacoma, but when I was looking, trying to find a manual access cab with under 80K miles, it was like looking for the ark of the covenant, and when I did find one, they were asking mucho $$$, and it only made sense to buy a new one.

 

[18Cruiser]

Right as COVID was hitting, I had a deal made on a brand new 2020 Tundra to replace my well worn and abused 03 Ford Ranger FX4. The Ranger was approaching 180K miles, and knew it wasn't going to last through my start of building a new home, hauling lumber, supplies, etc. The Ranger was awesome. Manual transmission, V6, zippy, good torque for a small truck, and did very well off-road ect.

Unfortunately, a couple days before I was going to drive to SLC to trade-in the Ranger for a New Tundra, I was notified that all the contacts for my job had been cancelled, so not a good time to buy/finance a new Truck, and I cancelled the deal.

I thought I could make it work by buying a flatbed trailer, and hauling everything with my Ford Explorer that has a V8, but after a couple runs going over mountain passes or bucking a headwind with a loaded trailer, I determined this was going to just barely get me by. Fast forward several months, and I still need to replace the Ranger, and I really prefer manual transmissions. So I got really lucky and was able to get a Tacoma Access Cab with Manual Transmission, and the longer bed, which is only available in the TRD Sport. I was really lucky, because the covid auto buying frenzy had just started, and I was able to snag exactly what I wanted, even down to my first color choice. Plus was able to negotiate $500 off MRSP. Just had to wait 6-weeks for it to be built and delivered to the dealership.

So, my impression of the Tacoma so far...

Lots of zippy power, even at 8000+ ft elevation where I live. Unfortunately, it has no torque, and it's geared way to high. Good thing it has hill start assist, as I would be burning the clutch if it didn't.

Here's an example of how little torque it has; a friend was coming over to pick me up at the new house I moved into. Took a turn down the wrong driveway with his Dodge 2500, and when trying to back out, he got to close the steep edge, and his front left tire went off the edge, and the truck is tettertottering on two wheels, and he can't move. Not really stuck. Calls me, and I come over with the new Tacoma. I tie a rope bumper to bumper, as that's all we had available. Slight incline for me, but again, his truck is not stuck. I put my Tacoma in 4low, first gear, and stalled it twice. Third time I had to feather (burn) the clutch to get him to move and have traction again.

Other than that, It's been a great little truck. Very comfortable on long drives, and gets around an average of 24-mpg on interstate and mountain highways.

I call it the tin can, because it doesn't sound solid when I close the door on it.

Otherwise, I'm going to keep it. Just an FYI. I ended up getting a used 21 Tundra with 13K miles in the exact same spec, configuration, and color I was going to trade the Ranger in on. It has been a godsend pulling a heavy loaded trailer, and just shake my head everytime I see a new generation Tacoma pulling a 15+ft camper behind it.

I was originally wanting the previous generation Tacoma, but when I was looking, trying to find a manual access cab with under 80K miles, it was like looking for the ark of the covenant, and when I did find one, they were asking mucho $$$, and it only made sense to buy a new one.

That is my experience as well. No used truck depreciation, which is why I was looking at the 2022 version. Lots of neg. press on that here. Sounds like the prior gen better build quality.

 

[kcjaz]

I got a 2017 3rd gen so I could stop daily driving my 200. I was really racking up miles going to our lake place on the weekend plus a DD is not convenient to mod and take apart on a weekend with pressure to get put back together for Monday.

Over alI, like my Taco but the shifting points are annoying and the seats really do suck. I can deal with the driver seat but my wife can’t take the passenger passenger seat for much more than 2 hours at a time. We use the LC or our RAV for road trips so this isn’t a huge deal for us.

There are aftermarket tunes out there that supposedly can make the transmission shift points better but I’m not that interested in that. There is an OEM ECU update that some on the Taco World forum say makes it better. (Side note: TacoWorld ain’t Mudd for sure). I may do the ECU update but the shifting thing is just mildly annoying to me and not that big of a deal. On the upside, after driving my Taco all week, it makes hopping in the 200 put an even bigger smile on my face than my pre-Taco days.

Overall, the pickup LC combo is great. What pickup is kind just preference.

 

[18Cruiser]

I got a 2017 3rd gen so I could stop daily driving my 200. I was really racking up miles going to our lake place on the weekend plus a DD is not convenient to mod and take apart on a weekend with pressure to get put back together for Monday.

Over alI, like my Taco but the shifting points are annoying and the seats really do suck. I can deal with the driver seat but my wife can’t take the passenger passenger seat for much more than 2 hours at a time. We use the LC or our RAV for road trips so this isn’t a huge deal for us.

There are aftermarket tunes out there that supposedly can make the transmission shift points better but I’m not that interested in that. There is an OEM ECU update that some on the Taco World forum say makes it better. (Side note: TacoWorld ain’t Mudd for sure). I may do the ECU update but the shifting thing is just mildly annoying to me and not that big of a deal. On the upside, after driving my Taco all week, it makes hopping in the 200 put an even bigger smile on my face than my pre-Taco days.

Overall, the pickup LC combo is great. What pickup is kind just preference.

Mild annoyances are nothing to me. I've been married for over 25 years.

 

[manofthewoods]

So I know this is the 200 forum.

But toying with the idea of adding a Tacoma to the stable (as the title would suggest), as a spare vehicle. Wife doesn't want a full sized truck.

We have 5 people in the fam and seems like we constantly are short a vehicle even though we have 5 vehicles, kids fly in from school and leave their car at school, car in the shop, or other issues.

There are somethings you can do with a truck that you can't with a 200, or would rather not. For instance:
1. Truck things, moving dirt or rocks for wife's garden;
2. Loan the vehicle to someone (kid or wife), OK so maybe I am a little possessive of my LC;
3. Put a skunk shot dog in the back, yes that did happen but fortunately was in my Dad's LC not mine;
4. Stack stuff up to take to the dump/recycle;
5. Ect....

Just wondering how many of you have both a 200 and a Tacoma and your thoughts as to the combination.

Apologies if this doesn't belong here.

I have a '13 Double cab, TRD OR, w/MT (rare, indeed). 93k miles. Even the wife likes it.
Complaints? Bed is short.

 

[LX Cruiser]

My progression with Toyota vehicles started with a 2012 4Runner, which I loved. My family of 5 (plus a dog) outgrew it for dispersed camping trips. I thought trading for a Tacoma would make sense. It’s just like a 4Runner with a short bed, I thought. This could not be more wrong, as I was extremely disappointed to find out.

In the 4Runner, you’re sitting up in a chair. They are midsize vehicles for sure, but there is a lot of vertical space in the cab. In a Tacoma, the seats are on the floor as others have said, and depending on the lengths of your legs/torso/arms, you could be sitting with your knees up high or your legs straight out in front of you. It feels more like a Camry with a bed rather than a 4Runner with a bed.

So I bought a Tundra instead. All the space and power I need. Underrated as far as carrying loads go, and I’m often at or just above GVWR. Then, I sold our annoyingly unreliable Yukon XL to buy our first 200 series, an LX570.

It’s rated to tow almost as much as my Tundra. I’ve thought about downsizing to a Taco, but my vehicles are paid off, and I just don’t see much sense in it unless I was constantly out on tight trails. The Tundra drives smaller than it is with great visibility and a best in class turn radius.

I have test driven the 3rd Gen Taco. It’s fine. Not exciting, for sure. It has to wind up to make its power, and it is happy to do so. Seems like a lot of people aren’t happy with the power band and shift points, though. If I didn’t already have a Tundra, it would make sense, especially with fuel economy. But towing with the Tundra is a dream compared to the Taco.

 

[kcjaz]

Another thing that surprised me, is the worse maneuverability and turning radius of the Taco compared to the LC. I knew the wheel base was longer but in my head the Taco was a much smaller vehicle (but its actually longer). On day 1, when I pulled it into the garage space formerly occupied by the 200, it didn't fit. I had to reconfigure lawn mower storage to be able to shut the garage door. Not a big deal but I never for a moment wondered "will this fit in the garage" when I was looking to buy.

While the Taco is narrower than the 200, I think I'd really notice the poorer turning radius on a tight trail or hair pin turns. The turning radius bugs me in parking lots. For some reason I can back trailers without thinking in the 200 but I struggle with the Taco. I know its the wheel base and just repetition/practice as the 200 is the tow vehicle, but when I occasionally need to move a trailer or a boat with the Taco, I'm usually lining up and readjusting more than once. Again, minor annoyances. I've been married 33 years, so I've got skills there... (my wife, for sure has more skill dealing with annoyance!)

 

[nissanh]

I got no problem with my 3rd gen taco bought brand new in 2021. The gap between the floor and roof is small as it is a pickup truck. Mine is without a sunroof and 6 speed manual. Drove a 21 4runner and hated it becuase of its gear hunting. My 21 taco gets 17 to 18 mpg all city driving.