28th Mar 2017, 16:34
"I guess really it comes down to sentimentality. I bought the truck the year I graduated high school. And so it's been with me to college, my first job, girlfriends, getting married, buying a house and settling down into middle age. Yes, it is starting to have issues such as the paint is now rapidly fading and some of the suspension components are getting worn out with age. But at this point I see no reason to sell it."
Hello, I'm the original poster of this 2003 Tacoma review. I'm quoting your post because it literally reflects my exact same position with my truck, literally, got it in high school, shipped off to college, shipped off to grad school, moved back home for first career position in town I grew up in, moved into my first house, got married, 100% same scenario. It has been extremely reliable. The most unreliable it has ever been is when the battery ground would not allow the car to start. Some Coca Cola and a brush and I was back on the road.
I have noticed a common trend of "Tacomas are over priced"... Gone are the days when you could buy a bare bones 4 cylinder small truck for under 15K. You can't any more, unless you go used. I tried to configure my exact truck from Toyota new and I can only get an extended cab, they don't make single cabs any more. My truck was actually a fleet vehicle before being sold used to us at 13,500 on the odometer. I learned to drive manual on this truck, towed things way too heavy with it, and it runs fine today. This 2003 model is extremely similar to a Hilux and shares the same 22RZ fe that a Hilux could come with for the same vintage. They are so close to each other in terms of design and parts I'm 75-80% sure they are exact same platform. The three British yobs that used to run Top Gear gave it their seal of approval; I'd like to think their opinion is pretty valid.
This truck should not be even remotely compared to a full size truck. It simply is not. It is a small truck, nothing more or less. It is now a relic in the marketplace due to its size. I understand that this truck cannot and should not tow a 22' boat, or a 32' motor home, etc etc. If you are needing the ability to do that, this vehicle is not for you. This vehicle fits and accomplishes what it was designed for. It is reliable. Much like anything, if you take care of it, it will last a long time. I will say that I have not been the nicest to this truck (towing things too heavy for it as well as extended oil change intervals beyond what Toyota recommends) and I have little to no issues. I had to change the front brakes twice... and that's it. My Subaru requires 10x the amount of attention than the Tacoma. That to me embodies value to the Tacoma worth of more than a Ford or Chevy. Could Ford or Chevy meet or beat that on their original small trucks, yeah potentially, but there is a longer established track record of Tacoma and t100s / original Hiluxs being very good at this. Also I can't drive two trucks at once over 12 years, so there's that as well.
In so far as small truck price vs full size truck price, buy what you need out of a vehicle. If you need a V8, this truck isn't for you, if you need infotainment, this vehicle is not for you, if you need heads up display and navigation, this ain't for you. I will say that yeah, your money will go a lot further in other truck manufacturers at a full size truck segment, but it's not a Toyota Tacoma. Also a Ford Ranger wound up being a rebadged Mazda B2300 any ways.
25th Mar 2017, 03:34
Sentimentality and driving cars sometimes exceed our way of thinking. Here's an example of mine. I have a Delaware low digit active tag on one of my cars that belonged to my grandfather. The tag has been continuously active in the family since 1938. If you want to see sentimentality to the very extreme, read this... http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-675000-license-plate/
My tag, although a different low number, is worth more than my car! The key is it is a very small state here and people buy or sell low tags for the right to display legally on the rear of our vehicles. The tag must be active, not a wall hanger tag. The lower the number, the higher the value! Many tag numbers are 6 figures here. This is unique to Delaware. People do wild things over sentiment. I have cars that cost a lot to buy and maintain. I could drive one new, plainer daily driver and have reliability, take it anywhere. Paint good, more features etc. But sentimentality is either a good thing or gets in the way. Depends on your point of view. I could sell my low digit Delaware active tag for a large sum. But both my grandfather and dad had it on the rear of their cars. So I keep it.