I might buy a Tacoma. shall I or not?

F

fratt

New Member
I've only known my 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport and it's about time to move on. I've always liked the taco but not sure after reading about the engine and transmission. seems they run high rpm's instead of shifting to the next gear. also, potential issues on hill when up/down shifting, as well as noise issues around 50mph. lastly, I'm leaning towards a model with a V6, SR5, TRD Sport or TRD Off-Road.
things to consider when purchasing?
things you wish you knew before hand?

thanks
 
Are you buying a new one or used ? I had a 2010 and had 153,000 miles and never had a mechanical problem. It did have a few recalls. The only reason I got a Tacoma is a friend had one with over 300,000 miles without any problems. This is what I traded for and so far I like it. 22.5 mpg out of a full size truck is pretty good I think IMG_1110.jpg
 
fratt said:
I've only known my 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport and it's about time to move on. I've always liked the taco but not sure after reading about the engine and transmission. seems they run high rpm's instead of shifting to the next gear. also, potential issues on hill when up/down shifting, as well as noise issues around 50mph. lastly, I'm leaning towards a model with a V6, SR5, TRD Sport or TRD Off-Road.
things to consider when purchasing?
things you wish you knew before hand?

thanks
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I bought and ‘16 and had a ton of issues. I then traded it for a ‘17 and it also had some issues. I now have a ‘10 and love it. I would recommend a 1st or 2nd gen. Good luck!!
 
kp.taco said:
Yep.. to avoid the issues stay away from the 3rd gens. 2016 to current. I have a 2009 Trd sport and couldn't be happier... or if you do consider a 3rd gen get the manual transmission.
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[emoji3516] this...
If you get a Turd gen get a manual and the OV tune... over 40k and couldn't be happier... now... lol
It was quite a letdown when new, coming from 2 2nd gens, a first gen and a bunch of V8s... lol
 
I have an '18 TRD Off Road with 15,000 miles and no issues. I have towed a 3,500 lb. travel trailer about 4,000 of the 15, and have no complaints. It seemed like it took a thousand miles or so for the transmission to learn its current settings.
 
A guy at a local truck shop was telling me last week that his ‘16 is constantly searching for gears. He said that several people have changed gears in the diffs and it solved that issue. I have a coworker that got a ‘16 right before I did and he hasn’t had an ounce of trouble. I think it’s a hit and miss with them (like any other vehicle). I was just lucky enough to get 2 bad apples, which put a bad taste in my mouth on the 3rd gens, haha.
 
kp.taco said:
Yep.. to avoid the issues stay away from the 3rd gens. 2016 to current. I have a 2009 Trd sport and couldn't be happier... or if you do consider a 3rd gen get the manual transmission.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree @kp.taco
The second gen had its own issues at the onset, as does any new line up of a vehicle.
While the third gen has had its issues it’s still a lot better than it was.
I can tell a huge difference in the shifting of the 2019 as opposed to the 2017 I owned.

biosamleg said:
How common is it get a 3rd gen that has issues?
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There were quite a few issues with rear diff leakage and transmission shift points in the third gen to start with but it has definitely improved.
The transmission will “learn” the way you drive. The same old advice applies today as it always has with vehicles, drive it like you want it to drive.
The third gens are more than capable. If you are worried about it they come with a good warranty and you can get an extended bumper to bumper warranty from the dealer for a little bit of nothing.
The good thing about a Tacoma is that even if you hate it you can go trade it off and you won’t get hurt too bad because they hold their value ridiculously well.
 
Bogunn said:
I have to disagree @kp.taco
The second gen had its own issues at the onset, as does any new line up of a vehicle.
While the third gen has had its issues it’s still a lot better than it was.
I can tell a huge difference in the shifting of the 2019 as opposed to the 2017 I owned.



There were quite a few issues with rear diff leakage and transmission shift points in the third gen to start with but it has definitely improved.
The transmission will “learn” the way you drive. The same old advice applies today as it always has with vehicles, drive it like you want it to drive.
The third gens are more than capable. If you are worried about it they come with a good warranty and you can get an extended bumper to bumper warranty from the dealer for a little bit of nothing.
The good thing about a Tacoma is that even if you hate it you can go trade it off and you won’t get hurt too bad because they hold their value ridiculously well.
Click to expand...
I have a friend that's a master tech at Toyota. He says it's gotten better but still complaints on trans shifting, leaky rear diff, rear end whine.. but yes it has gotten better
 
thanks for all the replies thus far. If I were to go the Tacoma route it would be an automatic. as you can see in my initial post I'm a guy who goes by the buy and hold strategy, 22 years & 280k on the Jeep. In my research there is plenty of things written about the tranny shifting. that is my main concern but like one or many of ya said sometimes you get a turd. I hope to do a test drive soon and will bring up these points with the sale/service group.
 
I had a 16 TRD Off Road . I put 85k on it. At 80k the rear cab light started leaking. It was recalled for a timing cover leak. That was the only 2 issues I had. Now that being said.... pretty much anyone that buys a pickup (most brands) complain about every transmission. I've seen Fords go at 40k I have friends complain about the Colorado and Canyon trannys, and the way they shift. I have driven the new ranger at work. I personally can't make myself buy one. I'm in a 2019 TRD Off Road now. It drives and feels nothing like my 16. Much more reformed. It is OV tuned. If i totaled it today i would buy a third. EPA regulations and milage mandates have pretty much fd up the way every truck drives. None are perfect and none will drive like trucks of the past. One of my friends hated his Tacoma so much he bought a Canyon......after the Canyon experience he's learned the Tacoma is pretty awesome and is driving one again. Just sayin there will be people that whine and bitch about every brand. Make yourself happy f every elses opinion. [emoji16]
 
slammer6 said:
I had a 16 TRD Off Road . I put 85k on it. At 80k the rear cab light started leaking. It was recalled for a timing cover leak. That was the only 2 issues I had. Now that being said.... pretty much anyone that buys a pickup (most brands) complain about every transmission. I've seen Fords go at 40k I have friends complain about the Colorado and Canyon trannys, and the way they shift. I have driven the new ranger at work. I personally can't make myself buy one. I'm in a 2019 TRD Off Road now. It drives and feels nothing like my 16. Much more reformed. It is OV tuned. If i totaled it today i would buy a third. EPA regulations and milage mandates have pretty much fd up the way every truck drives. None are perfect and none will drive like trucks of the past. One of my friends hated his Tacoma so much he bought a Canyon......after the Canyon experience he's learned the Tacoma is pretty awesome and is driving one again. Just sayin there will be people that whine and bitch about every brand. Make yourself happy f every elses opinion. [emoji16]
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I agree . I like my taco. I would buy another one. All new truck have like 6 or gears in the transmission and will use every one of them. Buy what makes you happy
 
slammer6 said:
I had a 16 TRD Off Road . I put 85k on it. At 80k the rear cab light started leaking. It was recalled for a timing cover leak. That was the only 2 issues I had. Now that being said.... pretty much anyone that buys a pickup (most brands) complain about every transmission. I've seen Fords go at 40k I have friends complain about the Colorado and Canyon trannys, and the way they shift. I have driven the new ranger at work. I personally can't make myself buy one. I'm in a 2019 TRD Off Road now. It drives and feels nothing like my 16. Much more reformed. It is OV tuned. If i totaled it today i would buy a third. EPA regulations and milage mandates have pretty much fd up the way every truck drives. None are perfect and none will drive like trucks of the past. One of my friends hated his Tacoma so much he bought a Canyon......after the Canyon experience he's learned the Tacoma is pretty awesome and is driving one again. Just sayin there will be people that whine and bitch about every brand. Make yourself happy f every elses opinion. [emoji16]
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Dang, how in the heck did you put 85k on your 16. That’s a lot of miles in a small amount of time!
 
fratt said:
wow! looks like you found yourself going back in years.
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Yeah! Loved the looks of the ‘16. It was a bucket of problems from the get go. The ‘17 was a lot better, but I really like my ‘10. I would probably get a recently built third gen if I decided to sell my ‘10, but that won’t happen anytime soon.
 
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