Talk me into or out of my first truck.

[CK_32]

Let me start off as saying yes I'm about to be that new guy. This will be my first truck purchase but this isn't my first time on a forum. That said I'm not looking for the magical "best" truck out there.


I'm already set on a 08-14 Toyo Taco 4x4 4 door as my first new truck. Either encourage me into getting it and getting probably the best suited truck for my use or if there may be a better truck for the money for my needs. With a budget of about $20 - $25k max.

I'm not looking to kill trails in a blaze of glory, not looking to jump rocks. I'm trying to make sure the 08-14 Tacoma is going to be one of the top picks for a commuter car basically to and from work with good trim, comfortable ride and all around dependable good DD with ok to decent gas mileage. (Mileage is the least of my concern as long as I'm about 12-15)

BUT! I'm also going to be touching dirt roads on occasion (monthly) to get out to my local shoot spot (Calico, CA) for those who know the place so very subtle easy trails where most cars couldn't make it. But nothing farther than that really. I'm 25, no kids but want a 4 door for storage and seating for camping/shoot gear and passengers for said camp/shooting trips.

Also on rare occasion load up my 600cc sport bike. Even tho I know the payload for the Tacomas are suited for sport bikes again its rare. Im more focused on the daily driving and daily reliability than the offloading and hauling support. But obviously want to maximize my all around purchase for the uses it will be put in.


So reassure me or talk me out of buying a new Tacoma for my first modern car purchase.

 

[kanger]

I don't own a Tacoma, but if I were to buy a midsize truck...that'd be my choice. If you're going to buy one, I'd recommend getting an older one for less money as opposed to a new one. I say this because a lot of changes are happening right now with car manufacturers trying to meet MPG regulations. In the next several years, we're going to see a lot of changes in trucks to increase MPG (diesels, turbos, hybrids?, lighter materials, add'l gears). A few examples being the Ford Ecoboosts and Ram Ecodiesels. Yes, those are full size but there are already talks of making those updates to midsizes also.

The thing with used Tacomas is...they retain their damn value. Good for owners, not so much for those trying to buy used. If you're going to haul your sporty, a longbed will fit it nicely but those Tacomas run almost as long as a fullsize. You can def fit a bike with the tailgate down on a shortbed, or load it diagonally. Just my .02.

 

[Clutch]

Don't do it!

 

[upcountry]

Don't do it. It's a disease. Especially with the encouragement this lovely forum provides. Step away and never look back.

 

[zelatore]

FWIW, and this is in no way Toyota specific, you're going to have a heck of a time getting a sportbike into the back of any 4wd truck without a VERY long ramp or the use of a hill to load from. The break-over angle is a killer. Heck, even my lowered 2wd Dodge sometimes causes me issues loading bikes using an 8' long ramp with a mid-point bow to help with the break-over.

 

[Clutch]

FWIW, and this is in no way Toyota specific, you're going to have a heck of a time getting a sportbike into the back of any 4wd truck without a VERY long ramp or the use of a hill to load from. The break-over angle is a killer. Heck, even my lowered 2wd Dodge sometimes causes me issues loading bikes using an 8' long ramp with a mid-point bow to help with the break-over.

LOL....dooood...

 

[TheDave]

I bought a 2012 Double Cab TRD Off Road last year with 12,500 miles on it for $28K. So you could pickup up something close. Best vehicle i have ever owned. I make a 70 mile commute daily. Great on the highway and great off road. I didn't need anything bigger, although the price is about the same. They are right about the addiction. First it's just a small lift, then rock rails, Bed rack, front bumper, winch, back bumper, etc... Its not too late, as soon as you start looking at roof top tents it's over, you can never go back!

Also, how about a hitch mounted bike carrier? I have seen a few with sport bikes on them.

 

[bkg]

Tacoma is virtually unchanged in 10 years, sans steering wheel and front grill. While I am a Toyota fan and own three today, I could not ever justify buying a new Tacoma.

 

[ExploreNorthernBC]

The Tacomas are amazing trucks. I bought one new in August 2013 (DCSB) and don't regret it for a second. Best purchase ever. To someone looking to buy one, take a close look at the Tacoma values - the used ones retain an unusually high resale value. So much so, that it made more sense for me to buy new rather than new. Also, examine the various packages (SR5, TRD etc) to see if you really need them. In the end, I went with a new double cab short box (manual tranny - love it) base model with a price of $28,600. That compared with $24,000 to $30,000 prices for Tacomas that were 2 to 3 years old used and $16,000 to $20,000 for ones that were 8 down to 5 years old. Add in some nice financing and it worked amazingly well for my budget.

Why a base model and not an SR5 or a TRD, well, simply put, they are a lot more money for little more than electronic gizmos and a painted bumper. The SR5 adds backup cameras and other bits, but nothing that improves the function of the truck except intermittent wipers. I'd add intermittent wipers if I could to my base model, however if you have your dealer/glass shop apply Aquapel to your windshield you won't miss it. Really you're paying for painted bumpers and fenders which don't look as good as the black plastic and are prone to chipping. The TRD adds more toys and an E-locker, but at the price increase you could afford onboard air with ARB lockers front and rear and still have an extra $3000 in the bank.

All of these prices are Canadian as that is where I live and are the figures that I came up with over the 3 months of research prior to purchasing my truck.

 

[amo292]

Trust me. its really not that difficult to load a bike of any sort bike in the back. I have a Tundra (That I love) and have transported many bikes in. Everything from my CBR1000 to my dirt bikes. We even put my fathers Harley in the back with a couple of people to just stabilize. The trick is a quality ramp, thats is all.

You should be set with the tacoma. Great trucks.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I doubt you could put a bike in a short bed Tacoma without resting it on the tailgate, and even then I'd bet you'd have to have it diagonally.

If you really want to haul a bike, for probably less than $500 you can pick up a used ramp-gate utility trailer that will be easier to load and unload. I paid $100 for mine but it was in bad shape. Even with a new wood deck, paint, lights, and tires I'll bet I don't have $400 invested into mine and it's paid for itself many times over. The trailer is so low that I can load/unload even a heavy bike (I ride a big BMW road bike) by myself. I would never try loading a bike into a pickup by myself unless I was doing it off of a loading dock, and probably not even then.

As far as the truck, Toyotas are great but look at other manufacturers, too. The "Toyota tax" is very real. For that matter, a Tacoma might be great but if you are shopping used, you should at least check out a 1st gen (2000 - 2006) Tundra. Very close in size to the Tacoma but with a more powerful V8 engine and a metal bed (the Tacoma's bed is plastic.) Something to consider, at least.

 

[MINO]

A few years ago I was shopping for a Tacoma until I sat on the passenger side. I knew the wife would be driving if I got too tired on some trips. I'm 6'1, 220lbs and it was uncomfortably tight. Then I started to look for a low mileage used Tundra but those were selling for damn near new. Loans were at higher interest rates than new, so it wasn't worth it.

Been very happy with my 2012 Tundra. Getting 11-13mpg with my 1100lb camper and lead foot. It does get tight on some trails, but I've been very happy with how capable it is.

 

[p nut]

I can see the lynch mob already forming with the comments I'm about to make.

Have you considered a 2WD? Seems like you really don't need a 4x4. 2WD DC will sit lower, meaning easier loading, have less maintenance costs and will cost less to purchase. If you opt for the 2.7L, mileage is decent at 24MPG highway. Just something to at least consider.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I can see the lynch mob already forming with the comments I'm about to make.

Not from me you won't.

I put more miles on my 2wd Ford Ranger from the 3.5 years I owned it (1999 - 2003) than I've put on my last three Toyota 4x4's put together (bought it new and traded it in at ~93,000 miles.)

I've put less than 85,000 miles on my last 3 trucks (all 4x4s) in 8 years.

Even living in snowy/icy/bitter cold Laramie, WY from 2000 - 2003 I did OK with the 2wd Ranger. Got decent tires on it and knew to just stay home when the streets were covered in snow.

I took that Ranger all over Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, even up into Montana, then all the way East to North Carolina and back. Never gave me a bit of trouble. And I got 26mpg even with a high-rise shell, a carpet kit, and the 3.0 flex-fuel V6. Having it in NC was a dream - the AC in that cab could freeze a side of beef!

I'm at the point now where I can afford a 4wd and that's what I choose, but I wouldn't discourage anybody from getting a 2wd if they were willing to live within its limitations.

 

[Clutch]

I can see the lynch mob already forming with the comments I'm about to make.

Have you considered a 2WD? Seems like you really don't need a 4x4. 2WD DC will sit lower, meaning easier loading, have less maintenance costs and will cost less to purchase. If you opt for the 2.7L, mileage is decent at 24MPG highway. Just something to at least consider.

I rarely use 4WD in mine, only use it if absolutely have to. Even then, I usually hit the button for the locker instead of pulling on the lever.

I was going to suggest buying a Ridgeline, can find those a bit cheaper than a Tacoma, and it will do everything he wants. Even has a trunk for his guns.

Let the flaming begin!