Are You Happy with Tacoma? - Part II

iwphill

Bought mine new in April 2000, and it's an awesome truck. I needed a truck and I couldn't pass up the special they were offering - $12.5K out the door for alloys, A/C, the works. I have 25,000 miles on it and I have not had a single problem. It runs great, has lots of power, and has gotten up to 30 miles per gallon on trips.

After reading some of the posts regarding problems with seat comfort and "rattles in the dash", I must say that I haven't run into any of that. Maybe I just lucked out, but I think this is by far the best truck I've ever driven. I had a '93 Toyota pickup that I loved driving, but it couldn't compare to this one - too cramped! I also had a '95 Tacoma, which had nothing but problems - I traded out of that one after only 4 months. Toyota has definitely redeemed themselves to me with my current truck, that's for sure!

ebbgreatdane

eh... I would let it go and think of it as characterlines.

: )

John

jbraconnier

I am going to buy a new truck (first new vehicle truck or otherwise) in a couple of weeks. I am having trouble deciding between a 6 cyl tundra (anyone out there driving a 6?) or a 6 cyl taco pre runner. I am concerned about the number of complaints I have read regarding the uncomfortable seats in the taco. Has this problem been cleared up in the 2002 models? Also, I am not sure whether to go for the TRD option. I don't plan to do a lot of off-roading, but I will be moving from sunny California to Montana/ British Columbia Canada where there will be snow aplenty. I am sooo tired of being in indecision, and would like to hear from acttual taco or tundra owners, rather than an over-eager salesperson. Is the v6 in the tundra enough to power a bigger pickup? Help!!!!!!P.S. sure would be nice if the prerunner was available with a standard tranny.

eagle63

First off, I'm neither a tacoma owner nor a tundra owner, so don't put too much weight on my opinions. but.... I too have asked others on edmunds about the uncomfortable seat issue with the tacoma. I had a few people tell me that even the 2001's are way better than the older tacomas. I also test drove a 2001 taco a few weeks ago and thought the seats were fine. Granted, a 10 minute test drive doesn't compare to a 9 hour road trip - but I didn't notice anything unusual or uncomfortable about the seats at all.
As for the tacoma vs the tundra, you'll probably hear the same thing from everybody: what do you want/need your truck for? do you tow anything, etc.? I personally just went through the unpleasant experience of buying a full size truck and realizing shortly thereafter that it was way overkill. I live in a city, and driving and parking a full size truck is a royal PITA. If I could go back and do it over again, I would have bought a compact. (probably a tacoma)
Whether you get a tundra or tacoma, I'd spend the money for the TRD package. It's a great package if you ever do some offroading, and if nothing else it's great for resale value. Hope this was of some help in your decision.

jbraconnier

Thanx for ya help eagle 63. I really won't be doing heavy hauling with my p/u. I need enough truck gumption to pull a u-haul trailer loaded with my life when I move from sunny Ca to Montana in the Spring. In the future I will be hauling a midsize holiday trailer, maybe a ski boat..To be honest, my main concern/reason for considering the tundra, is that larger cab, "back seat" is to allow room for my two grandchildren and their requisite car seats. Fuel economy concerns are stopping me from considering the v8, so I have been thinking about the v6. But I am wondering whether buying a full size truck with a less than full size engine to drive the larger body is a good idea, in terms of mileage and power. I understand from research that the jury is still out on the improved seat comfort on the 2002 tacos. I guess I wil have to wait awhile to get some concrete answers, but I am running out of time. Registration on the vehicle I am replacing is up in 3 weeks, also I know the poor thing won't smog.I hope some new n

plutonious

I think you'll find that among 4x4 pickups, there's not that great a mileage difference between the V8s and V6s. I have a 1998 V6 Tacoma 4x4 TRD Ex-cab and the maroney says the mileage is 16/19. I believe the V8 Tundra is 14/something. I do get a little better mileage than my sticker says, though.

I don't think I would go for the V6 in the Tundra, especially a 4x4 Tundra (do they even have V6 4x4 Tundras?). The V6 is a great engine, and works very well with the Tacoma, but probably won't have enough ooomph for a bigger truck. Drive one and see for yourself.

I am very pleased with my truck and have not bought a Tundra for several reasons. Price (sorry, but I'm not into $30K vehicles), no manual tranny with the V8, and I still like my Tacoma too much!

Ditto Eagle's comments on the TRD package.

jholc

I've got a 97 non-TRD Taco that is very capable off-road. The only thing I sometimes wish I had was the rear locker, even though I haven't needed it yet in several difficult off-road situations. The TRD is stiffer riding because of the re-tuned shocks and you will notice it on pavement. If you can find a non-TRD consider it unless you really want the locker.

Regarding the seats. I have the bucket seats and have never had any complaint about them even on several 6+ hour trips. Most of the complaints involve the bench seat and stiff ride of the TRD.

Regarding the V6 in the Tundra. I would probably steer clear of it. I don't think the V6 would get you much better gas milage because it would be hard pressed to move a tundra with any authority. Don't get me wrong, I love the V6 in the Taco but would opt for the V8 in the heavier Tundra.

reynolds6

First off, let me say that I have a Tacoma Double cab and didn't really even consider the Tundra after looking at the size difference. It just didn't fit with what I wanted in a truck. The seats did seem uncomfortable at first but now I don't notice it. Either I have gotten used to them or they have broken in a little and softened up. I got the TRD package and think it was worth it, but if you plan on using the rear locker on snow or ice I would definitely recommend some practice runs in an open area. I haven't actually been able to do this with my Tacoma yet. I do know that when I engage the locking rear on my 4WD tractor, the ability to steer is greatly diminished.
As to the debate between V6 vs V8 in the Tundra, I would prefer the V8 even after fuel economy is taken into consideration. Under hauling or towing conditions, the difference in gas mileage is going to be pretty slim. If you do a lot of unloaded open road travel or commuting, the V6 may just come out ahead mainly due to the gas mileage issue. As others have mentioned above, the folks I talk to with full-size 4WDs seem to be getting gas mileage roughly on par with mine despite the engine differences.

eagle63

Have you looked at the Tacoma doublecab? You mentioned wanting to be able to haul grandkids. The difference in rear seat room in the Tundra vs. the tacoma is pretty small.

dakar232

I am not a tacoma owner (yet) but have done extensive research on the small truck market. I would suggest that you stick with the Tacoma 4x4 Double cab.
If you are concerned about rear seat room then you should be happy with the DC. I have tested the rear seat room on both Tundra's and Tacoma Double cabs and found that being 6' tall, I fit comfortably in the DC. The Tundra felt cramped front to back in the rear seat although it was a little bit wider for hips and shoulders.
A friend has a 4x4 taco extended cab with V6 and automatic and he has no problem hauling a trailer with two 4 wheelers to the Poconos for a weekend of fun. The V6 puts out 190 horsepower.
The only reason that I don't have a DC yet is price (I'm still scrapping together funds). Toyota's are a little more expensive but in my mind I feel that it will be worth it.

Regards,
Dan

tisteve

I have a '99 Ext Cab 4x4 2.7 w/TRD. My previous truck was a '97 w/o the TRD. Having driven both for several thousand miles, I find my self wishing the TRD wasn't so tight. The non TRD is definetly to soft and wallowy. It leaned a lot in corners and floated up and down too much. The TRD Taco handles like a sports car, but it can beat the tar out of you on bad roads. I think adding some adjustable gas shocks like Rancho 9000's would allow you to soften the ride of the TRD up a bit. But when you do go off road, the suspension is awesome and does what it's designed to do very well.
Being that 99% of my driving is urban commuting, I am finding the TRD to be just harsh and uncomfortable.
I would think again about getting it unless I did more serious off roading.

future_taco

just wanted to say thanks to all those who have posted very helpful information. iv been saving my pennies for over two years and doing alot of research looking for the vehicle that fits my needs and i believe i finally found what im looking for in the tacoma.
question, what makes an SR5 package different from any other tacoma? what options are a must have and which should i avoid,(im expecting to pay around 13-14,000 cash)? would an extended warranty be worth the extra cost considering toyotas reliabity,(owning from 3-5yrs.)? im worried about getting screwed with the small print. any hidden fees that i should be wary of?
about 8 months ago i tried to finance a celica gts and the deal fell through. it was such a blessing though because that vehicle was finantially not right for me (but i loved that car, very fun to drive). anyways, my impression was that while the cars were great the salesmen were terrible. i dont know if this is toyotas sales tactics or just this particular dealer?

thanks

dukeofchurchil

I tried to buy a mini van from Toyota Dealer in Jan 01. It was a terrible experience. I would not have bought from that dealer on a bet. Even if the car would walk on water. If this is typical of Toyota dealers they must have really good cars otherwise they could not sell a single one of them.

halogen

It's a 4x2 bargain 4 banger, and it sits higher
than my old '92 Mazda B2600i. Plus, a blast to drive ! Very comfy ! Extremely excellent build
quality.A joy to hear the exactness of even the doors open and shut!
Just a girl <<<<< ))

sc0rpi0

Yeah, I love my silver mist 2002 Xtracab too, a 4x4 V6 5spd one.

ochizon

tacoma 2wd 1996 std cab. So far I love it (of course it is the first car that I have ever bought myself, so I would have liked it no matter what it was), but I find Im getting low gas mileage.

City=20.5 mpg
hwy=24 mpg(at 80 mph)

What do others get?

I would like to see if this is normal.

Alex

sc0rpi0

You're lucky. Those numbers seem to be in order with what I've heard other 4-bangers get. If you want to be sure, go to www.tacomaterritory.com and ask there (although those are all 4x4 4-bangers, but that usually reduces gas milage by about 1mpg). I don't see those numbers with my V6, I get 18mpg at 85 on freeway.

tisteve

I have the 2.7 in a 4x4 and I rarely break 20mpg.

davedave1

Looking at an inexpensive way to get some light hauling capability with good gas mileage;
Have a dealer offering me invoice + 275 + TTL for an extra cab 4x2, sr5, automatic, 2.4 with rear sliding window, Jade with oak interior. It comes in next month at the dealer.
1. Has anyone had experience with the base 4 cyl/automatic. I test drove one and the engine seemed like i expected; nothing special but seemed ok as I am looking for gas mileage. To move to the 2.7 loses about 20 percent in mpg Opinions / Experiences? (yeah, I'd love a stick but can't get that one past the other drivers in the family)
2. Do the interiors hold up well? (show dirt, wear and tear, quality, etc.) I wonder if the charcoal color will do better.
3. The total capacity of these trucks is about 1500 payload. Can I really put a half ton in one of these with two people, or is this too much reality for the drive train?
Thanks..

wrobelc

I'm considering my first purchase of a pickup. I like the Tacomas but am not too keen on the Toyota dealerships. I'm looking at a 4x2 extended cab with an auto trans (period). The salesman went on to say how this is not possible as all models shipped to the pacific NW (Seattle area) have the SR5 pkg. I don't need all the options in this package. The salesman went on to say how difficult it is to do a factory special order without the SR5 package and how it did not make econonmic sense to purchase a Tacoma without this pkg. Is it really that difficult to place factory orders on Tacomas or is this just another run around from a car sales person? Also, anyone aware of any rebates or incentives anytime soon on the Tacomas?

sc0rpi0

Toyota doesnt give many rebates on Tacoma.....people buy it anyway, it's a popular and good truck. So don't hold your breath, you may catch some good sale at the dealer, thats about it.

kg11

I won't respond to your first 2 questions cuz 1) I have a v6 4x4 and 2)I replaced those uncomfortable seats after only one month.
3)In my std cab 4x4 there is always a 400lb welder and 250-300lb of tools.Sometimes there are kegs of bolts that take 2 men to lift.And occasionally I tow another portable welder.This truck has earned it's keep since May '95 and now has 105,000+ on it.
kip

davedave1

even here on the east coast. My salesman said they really didn't like such orders and discouraged them by citing a long time to get the vehicle. Even on the Toyota build-your-own site, when you build one your options are 'guided' to certain packages.
I too am looking at a light pickup and will probably bite soon, and in looking at the sr5 package, toyota 'discounts' the sr5 package by $570. as an incentive. Therefore if you want just A/C and a sliding rear window, for example, they alone will cost you the price of the sr5 package as discounted. If you special order and are successful in getting your vehicle, it will probably cost as much as the sr5 loaded vehicle;
In my search , I've come to peace with the toyota way of doing things, am looking at best overall price of one on the lot, and am willing to write off the sr5 items i don't want as the price of doing business. Look at the $570. as a 'rebate' or as close as you'll get to one.
In my area of Wash. D.C. unless you want a 4x4, it is really hard to find a good combination of colors/interior colors for a base, automatic, xcab. I'm still looking. One dealer said if I wanted a 4x4 he could deal on invoice + 100 and probably less!!

mtngal

You said that you replaced your seats. Where did you go to get other ones? Thanks for the info, since I hate the seats but can't dump the truck because I owe too much on it. The only complaint I have is the seats, but haven't figured out where to go to replace them.

wrobelc

Dave,

You make some points. I too have been to the toyota site and went through the 'build your own' and like you found that you have to select the SR5 pkg. But, the only option I would really like is the sliding rear window ($208) and this is not part of the SR5 pkg. There is really nothing in the SR5 pkg that is really very important to me. My current car does not have AC as I really don't need AC were the high temp may hit 80 for 5 days a year. I would probably use AC more in the winter as a defroster then I'd ever use in the summer.

davedave1

When I read Seattle I thought 'humidity.' I do know that most of my family in New England are just as happy without A/C, but even up there, there are enough days of rain to make it a problem with window fog, etc. And if the A/C quits, they don't fix it (they keep cars forever)
As for your situation, I suppose the only thing is to perhaps do an internet search for dealers that are more agreeable to look at a special order; however expect to pay a real big down payment up front if they do. They probably don't want it on the lot if you have to back out!!!!

kg11

I bought chevy astro van seats at a wrecking yard.The color was almost a perfect match for my sandstone interior(minus the blue flecks)I had to drill new holes and rewire the seatbelt sensor.It took about 2 hours.
kip

mtngal

Thanks for the info. I don't think my other half could handle the drilling part of the install or figuring out the seatbelt sensor, and the reaction I had around here (only a couple of places - I got discouraged quickly) was that no one would redrill because of "safety violations." I was hoping you would have some other magical answer!

kg11

The places that convert vans for handicaped(wheelchair) drivers have seats and could probably install them.
kip