Why did you pick your Tacoma over another choice?

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IKnowEmbarassinglyLittle

New Member
I’m not a truck guy and in a tight spot at work (I work for an ad agency that works for Toyota but a newbie).

I’ve been assigned the task of explaining all the reasons why Tacoma owners picked a new Tacoma over other choices — especially in “truck countries” like Texas, and OK — although I'm thinking there isn't much difference where you live. As a New Yorker, don’t want to mess this up.

I’m responsible for the real reasons real people pick Tacoma and not the reasons corporate people think. I've got to share what I learned in a meeting and look like I know what I'm talking about. So I figured why not ask.

(Mods) Is this kind of think O.K. or is it not cool? Just trying to be smart, you know? Not selling anything. Apologies if this is out of line. I asked the same of Tundra owners and they were awesome helping out. Thx all!
 
I don’t think you’ll have any issues with the mods... welcome to the forum. Hope you find what you’re looking for.

I bought Tacoma vs ? I’ve been buying Toyota‘s for decades. Mostly 4runners, and pickups. I liked the look of the new Tacoma and the capabilities of the off-road. The advertised gas mileage was part of it. I never got what was advertised. The amount of modification that could be done and the aftermarket parts market is huge. The reputation Toyota had with the Tacoma for reliability and resale value helped.
 
For me: Great track record of quality and reliability. Also choices. Extended cab or double cab, short bed or long bed. Two engine choices and two transmission choices. No other truck manufacture offers as much.
 
I bought my first Tacoma in 2018. I chose it for the reliability of Toyota but I also love how the Tacoma looks vs. the competition. I don’t care about gas mileage, it’s a truck. I can take stuff to the dump, load things for camping. For me though, Toyota is reliable. My family has been buying Toyota since 1987. They have loved their Camry’s and Highlanders. My brother is on his third Tacoma.
 
Pretty much what the other's said here. I have owned other makes and some were good vehicles. In 2001 I bought a Tundra and loved it until they came in a double cab so with 200,000 miles in 2006 got a new Tundra and had that one until 2018 when I looked at the 2nd gen's they were just to big for my needs. I had a first gen taco as a beater and I could not kill it so started looking at new ones and ended with the one I have now 2017 offroad so far so good.
Also the wife has a 2010 Rave4 and won't give it up my daughter's have a Corolla and a Rave4 they love thim.
Will add more later.
 
Reputation for reliability.
I liked the inside design. Other center dashboards (head unit, A/C, etc) are designed vertically. I like the horizontal bezel. I found it to be a pleasing, new look.
They should have let GM go bankrupt.
In 2017 there was no Ranger, although I'm not impress with the new model.
Honda is NOT a truck
Datson is ready for Social Security.

Did I say welcome to the group?
 
One of the biggest reasons for me was a manual transmission. I don't know how to drive an automatic... Before this one, I had 3 other / older Tacomas and a couple of the mini trucks that were also manuals and they all impressed me with what they lived through with very little need for repair outside of my own stupidity.
I guess another thing would be the size...
I grew up riding in old F-100s and the early F150s. I built and drove a 70 through highschool and several years after... If you roll the windows halfway down and run a tape measure through both trucks, they're shockingly close to the 2nd and 3rd gens...
I'm 5'6", full size trucks in 2020 are just too dang big... lol
I had a couple of Ram full size trucks for a few years in-between Tacomas and I shall not lie... driving sucked back then... haha
Tacomas are far from perfect though!
I didn't even make it to 20k before getting an aftermarket tune. I was heavily considering getting rid of it before that.
Of course there's the suspension with more travel and a couple more inches of clearance and a few more hundred lbs spring rate for doing truck stuff.
4.88 gears and ARB air lockers for both axles were also ordered last week...
*1st time I've mentioned it here! Haha
The factory gear oil is also garbage. The truck came with no grease in the sealed carrier bearing. I can't believe that after 16 years the cab mount is still in the way of the front tires. Last complaint... lower control arms... c'mon, give us something sleeker and sexier!!!
Hope this helps!!!
Best of luck!
 
IKnowEmbarassinglyLittle said:
I’m not a truck guy and in a tight spot at work (I work for an ad agency that works for Toyota but a newbie).

I’ve been assigned the task of explaining all the reasons why Tacoma owners picked a new Tacoma over other choices — especially in “truck countries” like Texas, and OK — although I'm thinking there isn't much difference where you live. As a New Yorker, don’t want to mess this up.

I’m responsible for the real reasons real people pick Tacoma and not the reasons corporate people think. I've got to share what I learned in a meeting and look like I know what I'm talking about. So I figured why not ask.

(Mods) Is this kind of think O.K. or is it not cool? Just trying to be smart, you know? Not selling anything. Apologies if this is out of line. I asked the same of Tundra owners and they were awesome helping out. Thx all!
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I've driven Toyota trucks since the seventies...fairly decent mileage, tough as nails...I've never owned one that I didn't put at least a hundred and fifty thousand on and usually much more. I don't get rid of them because they wear out...I get rid of them simply to drive something newer. I currently own a 2010 and a 2018. The ten has almost a hundred and fifty on it and I bought the eighteen to see if I could have some fun around Moab with the crawl feature. I'm not looking to do any rock crawling because I'm too old to do trail repairs and I have to drive back to N.C. with the same truck. I'm really, REALLY ticked at toyota because of three things...they did away with the A pillar grab handle which I used all the time, the headlights are absolutely useless on low beam, and the transmission is constantly shifting which drives me batty. Those three things make me mad enough that the 18 may be my last toyota.
 
skylinefirepest said:
I've driven Toyota trucks since the seventies...fairly decent mileage, tough as nails...I've never owned one that I didn't put at least a hundred and fifty thousand on and usually much more. I don't get rid of them because they wear out...I get rid of them simply to drive something newer. I currently own a 2010 and a 2018. The ten has almost a hundred and fifty on it and I bought the eighteen to see if I could have some fun around Moab with the crawl feature. I'm not looking to do any rock crawling because I'm too old to do trail repairs and I have to drive back to N.C. with the same truck. I'm really, REALLY ticked at toyota because of three things...they did away with the A pillar grab handle which I used all the time, the headlights are absolutely useless on low beam, and the transmission is constantly shifting which drives me batty. Those three things make me mad enough that the 18 may be my last toyota.
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Same for me on the new ones, had a 2017 Tacoma. Probably won’t be getting another new Tacoma unless they change stuff up. I went back to the Tundra. I purchased a 2018 new and it’s had oil leak after oil leak and toyota won’t fix it until it’s pooling or dripping on the ground even though it’s got 15k miles and is under warranty. My thought is once it’s dripping, oil has already entered into the environment. Toyota is saying we won’t fix it until oil is introduced into the environment. They should be fixing new vehicles before this happens. Where is the EPA on this?
 
My Tacoma is not my first mid size truck, but it is by far my favorit. I looked at some of the brands and they felt cheap on the interior. I like the way the Tacoma looks inside and ou. MPG isnt an issue, if it was I would have kept my Honda Fit. I like the availability of aftermarket parts and of course, reliability and dependability.
 
Mine is my first Toyota. I was GM loyal for 27 years, and a series of less than pleasant events at my local Chevy dealer led to the phrase “sir, you leave or I can handcuff you and escort you from the property”. So there’s that, and we had a courier show up to the power station in a 2002 2wd Tacoma with almost 900,000 miles on it. Yes, 9 with five zeroes. So I bought two Toyotas and unloaded two Chevrolets three years ago and couldn’t be happier.
BTW- I picked the Toyota also because AMC/Jeep no longer builds a full size J10/ J20[emoji41]
 
Hey marketing guy- I have an idea for a Toyota ad-
Two good ol boys driving down the road yuckin it up over who’s got the ugliest wife, best coon dog, hottest sister with the most teeth or whatever, and approach a yet unidentifiable vehicle broke down along the road with a hit as balls chick staring aimlessly into an engine compartment. Ol bubba in the passenger seat is huffin and puffin like buck in rut as Bubba, Jr notices the Toyota badge on the rear, and mashes the gas, haulin ass as fast as he can to get away. Bubba starts slapping him with his John Deere hat wonderin what the hell he was thinking- cut to miss hot as balls throwing her bowie knife and rope down in disgust as yet another potential victim gets away- cut back to Bubba Jr explaining to his less than brainiac passenger- Toyota’s don’t leave nobody stranded- that had to be a trap!
 
OR17TRD said:
Same for me on the new ones, had a 2017 Tacoma. Probably won’t be getting another new Tacoma unless they change stuff up. I went back to the Tundra. I purchased a 2018 new and it’s had oil leak after oil leak and toyota won’t fix it until it’s pooling or dripping on the ground even though it’s got 15k miles and is under warranty. My thought is once it’s dripping, oil has already entered into the environment. Toyota is saying we won’t fix it until oil is introduced into the environment. They should be fixing new vehicles before this happens. Where is the EPA on this?
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It would be a shame if the oil drain plug was loose and leaked all the oil out and smoked the motor ? Just sayin';)
 
I initially wanted an extended cab not a 4 door. Definitely a long bed. Problem was when you fold down the seats you have an area that's worthless so reluctantly I went with a 4 door long bed.

Ended up with an SR5. Wanted leather and a sunroof but not all the other stuff that went with the higher packages.

Took all the plastic chrome side and rear trim the first night home. To the untrained eye it looks like a base model.

Too bad you can't pick and choose specific items. I understand the manufacturer's cost savings by packaging options but don't like it. It's the standard throughout the industry.
 
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Atomic Diesel said:
Hey marketing guy- I have an idea for a Toyota ad-
Two good ol boys driving down the road yuckin it up over who’s got the ugliest wife, best coon dog, hottest sister with the most teeth or whatever, and approach a yet unidentifiable vehicle broke down along the road with a hit as balls chick staring aimlessly into an engine compartment. Ol bubba in the passenger seat is huffin and puffin like buck in rut as Bubba, Jr notices the Toyota badge on the rear, and mashes the gas, haulin ass as fast as he can to get away. Bubba starts slapping him with his John Deere hat wonderin what the hell he was thinking- cut to miss hot as balls throwing her bowie knife and rope down in disgust as yet another potential victim gets away- cut back to Bubba Jr explaining to his less than brainiac passenger- Toyota’s don’t leave nobody stranded- that had to be a trap!
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Tape said:
Best resale value vehicle in the United States and damn good track record
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A new Taco retains about 73% of its original value after 5 yrs. vs a Colorado. about 52 % of its value after 5 yrs . is what I read on line , and everything u read online it true. Right ?
We've had 2 lexus Suv's and I had 135 k on my '03 tundra and nothing major ever happened to them . I do miss the torque of the 4.7 though.
 
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