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Comments: 1-15, 16-21
Nothing.
This truck is attractive, has ample power, transmission shifts nice, has a good ride for a 4x4, handles nice, console has a nice assortment of cup holders and storage. My off-road use for this truck is beach fishing in Texas. I have had no problem tracking through sand, some of it deep, to get to my favorite spots. The seats in this truck are at times bothersome to downright uncomfortable on somewhat extended journeys. I am 6'1" and 205 lbs., so I am not too big for the truck. Judging from my experience and some other reviews I have read, it might behoove Toyota to have extended comfort in mind for their next generation Tacoma that is due next year. The oil filter is difficult to access, but not impossible. At times when I have reduced the stereo volume, I have noticed squeaking where the top of the dashboard makes contact with the windshield. If you can handle the seats, take a long test drive, and deal with the occasional minor squeak in the dash, then I highly recommend this truck to anyone. This will probably not be my last Toyota truck. I am confident that they will remedy the comfort issue with the seats. However, if they don't, it will be my last. Anybody at Toyota reading?
I have a 1999 Tacoma and I agree about the seats. If they don't improve them this will be my last also. Too bad, because otherwise it's a nice truck.
I have a 2002 Tacoma double cab 4X4 Limited. dealership has taken care of all defects under warranty. squeaking dashboard, front brake fade, throttle problem (tps). noisy front passenger seat, and also front driver seat, material came apart from lumbar support switch on side of seat. Dealership also replace rear bumper, rust was forming near license plate after 6 month of ownership.
Gas mileage is as stated, travel 1k miles in a week and got 20 miles to a gallon on average speed of 85 miles per hour. This is my 3rd Toyota Tacoma truck. 96 tacoma ext cab, 99 prerunner ext cab and my current 02 tacoma double cab 4X4 limited. maybe that's why I had no problems in repairs of my truck. Next truck will be a full size (toyt)
I wish that Toyota will improve the seats comfort and solve the squeaking dashboard.
Purchased new Tacoma Xcab 4wd V6 this week and am finding the ride to be overly firm to the point of being uncomfortably jarring. The seats are proving to be uncomfortable as well due to combination of odd lumbar placement and over-firmness. This is really a shame because the truck as a whole oozes quality in fit, finish, and material. It is obviously a really stout small truck, but I'm thinking that this truck is going to pound me to a pulp.
Of course you are going to get poor fuel mileage when you are traveling 85 freaking miles per hour, you are insane if you drive that fast to begin with. You can't stop in time for anything going 85+ much less 70 on the highway. I NEVER go past 65 mph (in my Econoline 150, 22.77mpg average). Toyotas get awesome fuel mileage, it just depends on how you drive them people. If you floor the dang thing everywhere you go, yeah its gonna suck. Like I said, my 300 cubic inch straight 6 (high torque low speed) engine in my Econoline gets 22.77 mpg, so your Toyota should be getting AT LEAST 27. Just SLOW DOWN.
Did you ever take it back to the dealer for adjustment?
I sat in an '04 extended cab last August and thought, "kind of tiny." Even compared to a Ranger. Would have bought one if they had one with the traction control.
Glad I waited. Drove a '05 Double Cab TRD, 5 sp Auto last week and was impressed. Big, comfortable and powerful. Expensive.
I test drove the Tacoma when I was looking at small trucks. It was the most uncomfortable and poorest riding of the 5 trucks I drove. It was also slower than anything else I drove (even the 4 cylinder Ranger). I can't see paying 5 grand more for these things than a well equipped F-150 full size truck.
The 5 grand "extra" is worth it because then you will not be driving a piece of junk Ford with typical Ford motor trouble.
It is strange that people are willing to pay more for a tiny, rough-riding, underpowered truck like a Tacoma than for the F-150, which even the VERY BIASED Car and Driver magazine rates as the best truck on the planet for several DECADES now. Not only that, but if Toyota quality is so superior, why does Toyota not have the confidence in their products to offer the 100,000 mile warranty like Ford and GM do instead of their limited 36,000 mile warranty? That does NOT sound like "superior quality" to me. Paying the same for a Tacoma as for a real truck is not rational.
If you need a full size pickup without compromises, buy a Tundra. You guys that argue against Toyota, you just don't get it; I almost feel sorry for you. They ARE the best cars AND truck available, you can talk about recalls if you like, but whatever other make you drive or support has had far more recalls percentage wise than Toyota. Buy one, drive it for awhile, and then you will begin to see the light of day. Yeah, I agree, if you're going to haul the world on your back every day, then buy a Cummins diesel, or an F-350; you need it. But even that is not even close to being up to par to Toyota quality. That is a fact, so get used to it. For the average daily driver, and even the average work truck, the Tacoma and the Tundra are by far the best choice. Their quality is MUCH better, and if you disagree, then you are wrong. Plain and simple.
I drove a Tundra and did not like it. Don't feel sorry for me. If you have the financial resources you have the oppy to test them all. Maybe you haven't been out this year to do so.
Reading isn't driving them and thoroughly testing them one by one is the only way. If I hate the ride and the performance what good is a review? You end up hating it til you sell it. The closest import I actually did like however was Nissans full size truck, but I bought a loaded GM with the standard 100,000 mile warranty.
How can you say that the Tundra is the best truck availible, they've only been making it for like 7 years! If it ends up being the best selling truck for decades like the F150 has been, then maybe I'll reconsider my doubt. I knew someone that owned a Tundra, and it was OK, but definitely not better then Ford or Chevy! The interior sucked and it was not very powerful, I mean come on, 4.7L engine? That's weak! They got smart and bought a new Suburban which was 10x better.
What I mean is that the longevity of a Toyota motor and drivetrain in general make it the better truck.
Up until recent years, you had no choice but to buy from the Big 3 if you wanted a full size truck, but now there are better options.
Have you seen the new Ford commercial where they claim that they have more trucks on the road with over 250,000 miles than any other make? That's complete b.s.; maybe because of their diesels, but surely not because of their gasoline engines. There's a mentality in this country left over from World War 2 that prevents some people from seeing that Toyota's are the better trucks, because their grandpa grew up driving Fords, and so did their dads. Well guess what, the times have changed, and Ford has not evolved enough along the way. Toyota has. Honda has. Nissan is close, but not quite there yet. Chevrolet is a sad joke, they are not even in competition.
Now, I don't want to start another boring discussion about the Honda Ridgeline here either. I agree, it is not a real truck, but it is a Honda, which means it will run longer than all of the "real trucks" out there. But the Tundra is the perfect package; Toyota engineering in a full size truck that can handle anything you throw at it. No, it can't tow as much as an F-350 or some other monster Ford truck. But comparing apples to apples, the Tundra is a much better truck than the F-150.
But is it comfortable?
If it was, it'd be too heavy to off-road. Oh, and you're saying a 4.7 l engine is bad? What do you need, to haul 10000 pounds or something? Come on!
I own the 00 Tacoma 4x4, and I love it. I drove a Ford F150 once, and when I got it, it needed a front wheel alignment. Then, a month later and 1000 miles, a new battery, brakes and tranny. Now, it's sitting in my driveway, collecting rust cause the gas tank rotted through. But all of these are just maintenance, I'm not saying this truck sucks because it was in horrible shape when I GOT IT> But it didn't last, it's going to be in the junkyard soon and if that was my Toyota it might be running, just barely, but running. That's why Toyotas are more exensive - you're paying for quality. Fords smaller trucks may be good; my Dad had a Ranger with no problems up to 300 k, but I'd still prefer a Toyota.
Chevy isn't included because, well, what can I say -- GM's vehicles are more like luxury, gas guzzling vehicles that aren't doing what trucks are meant to do, 4x4ing, etc etc. It's too heavy, too big and too difficult to drive, IMO. It may be comfy, buy a Buick or Cadillac if you want comfort. I go off roading with my Tacoma behind our house, and it hasn't gotten stuck. My friend's chevy Silverado went and it got about a foot before he got stuck. It was in 4x4 full. He redlined it, the stupid guy, and now that truck's engine is blown.