Pre-Purchase Advice
- Thread starter cadrock
- Start date
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Well, since everyone is recommending a DCSB Taco I'll be contrary and put in a word for the 4runner or possibly Sequoia. 
First of all, sit in a DC Taco before you decide - I've heard others say the back seats are far from comfortable. If you never plan on carrying adults in the back seat this may not be an issue but if you are using it as your regular car, it may be.
Not sure if this will also be a DD or drive-around-town rig but there are a lot of advantages to a wagon-style SUV, for example having everything in a climate-controlled cabin vs. having some of your stuff in a bed that is not climate controlled and will get covered in dust unless you seal your bed tightly.
For bad weather driving the 4runner or Sequoia would also give you a rear wiper and defroster, which is not an option on the truck, and if you go with a 4th gen 4runner (2003-2009) or any generation of Sequoia you also get multi-mode 4wd which essentially gives you an AWD capability that is great if you are on an intermittently icy or snowy road.
I've had my 4th gen 4runner (a 2007 V6 SR5) for a little over a year and put ~ 17,000 miles on it, and most of that was pulling a 1,000lb teardrop trailer and it's done great. Average mileage while pulling the trailer is around 16 - 18 and without the trailer it's 17 in the city and as high as 21-22 on the highway. The 4.0 is a great engine (and is the same one you would get in a DCSB anyway.)
The 5 speed auto is pretty nice - for a slushbox (can you tell I don't like automatic transmissions that much? )
Cost is a funny thing - although the 4runner is more expensive new, from what I've seen in the used market, the 4runners depreciate faster (maybe just because they are more common?) which means you can buy a used 4runner for less than a used DCSB and the 4runner usually has a lot of nice features that the Tacoma lacks.
Finally, if you are buying used, consider that while trucks are typically bought by people who take them off road or use them hard, SUVs generally speaking are 'soccer mom mobiles' and it's pretty easy to find used ones that are pristine.
In any case, check them both out, I don't think you can go wrong either way. :ylsmoke:
First of all, sit in a DC Taco before you decide - I've heard others say the back seats are far from comfortable. If you never plan on carrying adults in the back seat this may not be an issue but if you are using it as your regular car, it may be.
Not sure if this will also be a DD or drive-around-town rig but there are a lot of advantages to a wagon-style SUV, for example having everything in a climate-controlled cabin vs. having some of your stuff in a bed that is not climate controlled and will get covered in dust unless you seal your bed tightly.
For bad weather driving the 4runner or Sequoia would also give you a rear wiper and defroster, which is not an option on the truck, and if you go with a 4th gen 4runner (2003-2009) or any generation of Sequoia you also get multi-mode 4wd which essentially gives you an AWD capability that is great if you are on an intermittently icy or snowy road.
I've had my 4th gen 4runner (a 2007 V6 SR5) for a little over a year and put ~ 17,000 miles on it, and most of that was pulling a 1,000lb teardrop trailer and it's done great. Average mileage while pulling the trailer is around 16 - 18 and without the trailer it's 17 in the city and as high as 21-22 on the highway. The 4.0 is a great engine (and is the same one you would get in a DCSB anyway.)
The 5 speed auto is pretty nice - for a slushbox (can you tell I don't like automatic transmissions that much?
) Cost is a funny thing - although the 4runner is more expensive new, from what I've seen in the used market, the 4runners depreciate faster (maybe just because they are more common?) which means you can buy a used 4runner for less than a used DCSB and the 4runner usually has a lot of nice features that the Tacoma lacks.
Finally, if you are buying used, consider that while trucks are typically bought by people who take them off road or use them hard, SUVs generally speaking are 'soccer mom mobiles' and it's pretty easy to find used ones that are pristine.
In any case, check them both out, I don't think you can go wrong either way. :ylsmoke:
surlydiesel
Adventurer
I'll take back my Subaru comment, they do get great gas millage, have decent ground clearance but can't tow very much. Between the two options you are presenting, I would go with the Truck. Yes you do loose the climate controlled rear but you gain storage for dirty, smelly, soaking wet, muddy, ect...items. I own a truck and an suv and I like both for different reasons but I would combine the two if I had to have only one vehicle. That is a quad cab short bed truck with a cap.
Cheers,
Jorge
Cheers,
Jorge
tanglefoot
ExPoseur
With your wheelbase selection, the 4runner might be the best fit. It has nearly the same wheelbase as a reg-cab Tacoma (109.8") and has plenty of room for the kids and cargo. Also a nice tow rig.
Wow, your truck looks awesome!!! Thx for the link. Just an update, I'm researching some mid 00's used trucks right now. For a budget around $25K it looks like I'll be around 70K on a 4Runner or 30-40K on a Double Cab TRD Taco but it's tougher to find the right setup it seems.
tanglefoot
ExPoseur
You might also check out the Nissan Xterra. 4wd MSRP starts at $24,990. It has a chunk more power output than the Toyotas at 261 hp and 281 lb-ft and has a 5,000 lb tow rating like the 4runner. Wheelbase is 106.3".
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Xterra is also available with a manual transmission if that's a factor. I almost went with an Xterra over a 4runner for this reason alone.
Hi All,
I ended up going with the 4Runner Trail 2013. I got what I felt was a pretty fair deal from a really easy to work with sales rep at a dealer in California. If anyone is in the market to buy one of these in Cali let me know and I can get you in touch with her, just PM me. I hate going to a dealership and getting the "come on in and we'll talk about it" experience that takes all day haggling. This lady is in the internet department and she doesn't mess around on the price, should be able to get you $3,500-$4,000 off sticker. She is just trying to close deals and get cars out the door. I did all my stuff over the phone and email and just went in and signed docs, took an hour and I was on the road by 10am.
They have 12 dealerships so I was able to get the color I wanted also in Dark Magnetic Grey Metallic.
I'll take some pics later today and post it, even though it's fully stock right now I'm still loving the look and feel of it.
Thanks again for all the feedback. Now to start planning a build.
Chris
I ended up going with the 4Runner Trail 2013. I got what I felt was a pretty fair deal from a really easy to work with sales rep at a dealer in California. If anyone is in the market to buy one of these in Cali let me know and I can get you in touch with her, just PM me. I hate going to a dealership and getting the "come on in and we'll talk about it" experience that takes all day haggling. This lady is in the internet department and she doesn't mess around on the price, should be able to get you $3,500-$4,000 off sticker. She is just trying to close deals and get cars out the door. I did all my stuff over the phone and email and just went in and signed docs, took an hour and I was on the road by 10am.
They have 12 dealerships so I was able to get the color I wanted also in Dark Magnetic Grey Metallic.
I'll take some pics later today and post it, even though it's fully stock right now I'm still loving the look and feel of it.
Thanks again for all the feedback. Now to start planning a build.
Chris
surlydiesel
Adventurer
Congrats!!!
tanglefoot
ExPoseur
Congrats! My car is mag gray--it's a great color. Has that sophistication of black but is easier to keep looking clean and has plenty of metal flake. Enjoy!