Is this the one? Need some vehicle advice.

[Clutch]

... and all the problems that come with it. But all joking aside, I'm in no need of a V8 unless it's the 4.7 L 2UZ-FE. I have no need to tow and probably never will and the gas mileage isn't exciting either.

Gas mileage will be about the same, buddy of mine gets 20 hwy out of his 5.0.

Do believe the reliability thing is an all about nothing, plenty of domestics out there with 200-300K miles on them. It is more about how you treat them, than who makes it. This is coming from a guy who has owned Toyotas for the last 25 years. See plenty of clapped out of Tacomas out there, that are commanding high dollar, just because of the name plate...and internet hype.

Even if you don't need one for towing, that bed will swallow an awful lot of gear with its' 2000# payload. Extra cab domestics have the same if not a little more rear-seat leg room the the Double Cab Tacoma.

I am long time Toyota fan, but dunno...hard not to look at the domestics. At least worth a test drive...you might be surprised. The new F150's are niiiiiiice. You can grab a brand new XL extra cab, with a V8 for around $28K....so much more truck than a Tacoma. I just need to get over my it has to have a manual trans obsession.

 

[Clutch]

$4k in registration and insurance costs?? Wow, that's crazy. I've bought used and new, and my insurance cost didn't change much. Registration, maybe a little, but maybe $50 at most? No way it'd be even close to $4k. Newer cars also need safey/emissions only every other year, so negates some of the other expenses as well.
_
I went through the same process earlier this year and decided to go new. I wanted to stay below 25k miles on the used truck and the price difference was negligible. Maybe $2-3k. Not worth it.

Arizona was like that...they want everyone to drive a newer cleaner buring vehicle yet punish you for doing so. One of the (many ) reasons why I haven't bought a new truck. Idaho is much better.

http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/vehicleservices/RegistrationFees.html

It should be based on weight and not value. As the more the vehicle weighs the more damage it does to the roads....alas...it is the gov'mint...they get you coming in going, their grubby hands are always in your cookie jar....

 

[jhndlntylr]

Well fellas, I guess by a stroke of luck, I was browsing craigslist last week and a gem caught my eye. Fast-forward two day's later and I now have a mint 2008 V8 Limited 4Runner with 78k miles sitting in my driveway. Woops. But seriously, when I saw this thing I was blown away by how clean it was. I even had it inspected by an independent mechanic (just for piece of mind) and he called me to say that it was in immaculate shape. So, I guess I'll have to deal with the V8. :smiley_drive:

(crappy cell phone photos)
View attachment 369395
View attachment 369392