2004 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD 4x4 3.4L V6 from North America

Summary:

Simply the best compact truck in America

Faults:

No major problems at all.

Slight rattling sound from the dashboard during cold days.

MPG is on the low side for a compact truck.

Automatic tranny is only an available option in the double cabs.

General Comments:

The truck is quick and handling is responsive.

4x4 system works flawless with 4H and 4L.

Climbs like a billy goat with the rear lockers on.

3.4L V6 is bullet proof! And I love the wide powerband.

Tough, stiff chassis add to the truck-like ride, BUT it is a truck! Duh.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th March, 2010

2004 Toyota Tacoma Base 2.4L V4 from North America

Summary:

Good truck that tries to do too many things

Faults:

I was in an accident within the first month of ownership where I was rear-ended at about 30MPH and pushed into a car in front. Front and back of the Tacoma crumpled, but there was no damage to the car in front even though my hood, grill, bumper, and radiator were smashed in. Airbags failed to deploy as the bumper of the car in front when right above the frame sensors and below the grille sensor. They should have gone off over 5 MPH I was told.

General Comments:

Very base model, but this was expected. I just wish it had a clock (can add one for about $100)

Great on gas (20mpg city, 28 highway by my own calculations).

2.4L I4 isn't very powerful, and acceleration is meager, especially merging on a highway.

Suspension isn't stiff at all, and any weight (200lbs) will make the bed sag.

Car is light enough to pick up with 4 people. I haven't used in winter yet, but it's going to need some serious weight back there.

Overall a good little pick-up that is more of a transporter than a hauler. Saves gas over any other comparable model. However, I'd rather have gotten either a car for nimbleness and passenger carrying, or a full size pick-up for carrying cargo, as this tries to do both but excels at neither.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th September, 2009

2004 Toyota Tacoma Base 2.4 Gas from North America

Summary:

Toyota quality isn't as good as it use to be

Faults:

Shocks from when first purchased truck

New battery needed at 18,000, luckily was free because of warranty

New tires at 30,000

Transmission service at 35,000 when dealer says it requires it at 60,000.

General Comments:

The truck is OK for shorter people, it is very unstable at highway speeds, slow acceleration, falls flat on its face from first to second even with overdrive off, very stiff suspension our Chevy Astro handles better, bad gas mileage for being a 4 cylinder about 21 highway our Astro averages that with a 4.3 V-6 and a lot more weight and power, transmission doesn't shift very smooth.

Interior is very uncomfortable for long trips, placement of driver controls could be better, needs more options for the money, base Chevy's include more for the price.

Its also a magnet for bad drivers, it almost rolled because of a trucker, rear ended, has a cracked windshield, poor quality bumpers with plastic faded and paint chipped.

Our old 87' Toyota pickup felt more powerful than the new one, and the old one had no problems for the more than 200,000 miles we put on it, compared to the new one already having many.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th October, 2006

16th Oct 2006, 11:03

Having tried out a Tacoma I knew there was no way I could live with the rough ride, poor handling and very cheap interior. It was also priced 5 grand higher than the much smoother riding, more powerful and far better equipped Ford Ranger Sport (which now comes with a 100,000 mile warranty). I opted to get the better equipped Ranger and use the extra money I saved for a nice vacation. Toyota is a very over rated vehicle. Paying more for less makes ZERO sense. As for the bogus claim that Toyota offers more in the way of reliability, I could care less. I never keep a vehicle for 100,000 miles anyway.

2nd Feb 2007, 16:00

I test drove a Tacoma last year and nothing about it impressed me in the least. Since then I've read a lot of comments and news about the decline in Toyota build quality. I'm glad I bought a Ford. I couldn't ask for a better truck.