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I am in the market for a new vehicle, to get rid of a very old Chevy Tahoe. We have a fairly new Accord as the family sedan and I want to replace the Tahoe with something that is utilitarian and can haul stuff. The one I am looking at is a Tacoma Forerunner, 2-wheel-drive, loaded, with a 5 speed and all the bells and whistles. Has the extended cab with rear door (not a 4 door). Mileage should be close to 30 mpg and will haul a small trailer when need be. Very comfortable, and right at $20K cash price. Would be my first Toyota. After about 20 GM cars and trucks.
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Any opinions? Thinking of buying a Toyota Tacoma
- Thread starter TR6BILL
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Bill -
I have one - '05 Tacoma four door, 4WD. It's been a great workhorse, and is my daily driver.
I do think the 30mpg is a "bit" optimistic, though...
Overall, you'll like it.
I have one - '05 Tacoma four door, 4WD. It's been a great workhorse, and is my daily driver.
I do think the 30mpg is a "bit" optimistic, though...
Overall, you'll like it.
DaveatMoon
Jedi Hopeful
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The Toyota Tacoma pickup comes in three trim levels, base, <span style="font-style: italic">Prerunner</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic">Xrunner</span>.
The Toyota 4runner is an SUV that has only only come in 4-door form for about the last 20 years.
I'm assuming from your description that you're talking about buying one of the the upper trim levels of the Tacoma. These trucks have a base price new of about $25,000.00, so the $20K vehicle you're looking at must be fairly new. (<span style="font-style: italic">I would assume at least around a 2006 or newer with less than 30K miles for that price</span>, see NADA used car price guide .)
These are among the most reliable vehicles you can buy, and with a 4 cylinder 5 speed they are rated 20/26 mpg (22 combined, see fueleconomy.gov comparison page). 30 mpg may be too much to ask for any truck, they're just too high and geared to low for that to happen. However other than a Ford Ranger (21/26 mpg) I don't think there's a true truck on the market that'll match the Toyota for fuel economy.
The Toyota 4runner is an SUV that has only only come in 4-door form for about the last 20 years.
I'm assuming from your description that you're talking about buying one of the the upper trim levels of the Tacoma. These trucks have a base price new of about $25,000.00, so the $20K vehicle you're looking at must be fairly new. (<span style="font-style: italic">I would assume at least around a 2006 or newer with less than 30K miles for that price</span>, see NADA used car price guide .)
These are among the most reliable vehicles you can buy, and with a 4 cylinder 5 speed they are rated 20/26 mpg (22 combined, see fueleconomy.gov comparison page). 30 mpg may be too much to ask for any truck, they're just too high and geared to low for that to happen. However other than a Ford Ranger (21/26 mpg) I don't think there's a true truck on the market that'll match the Toyota for fuel economy.
DaveatMoon said:
The truck is an 09, new (had 5 miles on the odometer) and the dealer wants to sell it badly. A burgundy color, stick shift and the 4-banger makes it less than ideal for sale. Seems everyone wants the V6 and an auto. I like the color and was impressed with the decent power. The shifter works smooth as glass. I have had 2 S10 pickups and there is no comparison.
On both S10s, the infamous radiator sludge (Dexcool) has been a major problem. Chevy would never recognize the problem until a nationwide class action lawsuit was filed. This will make the third radiator replaced between the 2. I have had enough. I keep cars or trucks at least 10 years and maintain them to the max. It is just time to try something different.
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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You might also want to look at the Chevy Colorado with the inline 5 cylinder. Nice vehicle and nothing like like S10.
I've been looking at new, full size vans and I saw plenty of Colorados for well under $18K. I'm not a pickup fan or I'd consider one.
Also, our local Ford dealers seem to have plenty of Ford F150s with very good discounts.....also around $18K
-HERE- is some info on the Colorado.
The Tacoma is a good truck but even with the four, the fuel mileage will be similar to the Colorado.
I've been looking at new, full size vans and I saw plenty of Colorados for well under $18K. I'm not a pickup fan or I'd consider one.
Also, our local Ford dealers seem to have plenty of Ford F150s with very good discounts.....also around $18K
-HERE- is some info on the Colorado.
The Tacoma is a good truck but even with the four, the fuel mileage will be similar to the Colorado.
pjsmetana
Jedi Warrior
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Toyota makes the best non-diesel trucks on earth IMHO. Get it, you'll love it forever.
I'll give one of the hundreds of examples of why;
About 6 years ago or so, I was doing car detailing as a side job. I would take my car to their house, leave my car, and take theirs to my house to clean it. A nice old woman who lived in the woods was one of my customers. She had an old Toyota truck. It was covered from rubber to roof with tree sap, dents, and dirt and was used 90% of the time as an offroad only firewood get'r. Before I got into this truck I really had no idea how old it was or miles... just that it was used hard. When I got the truck on the highway, I noticed how smooth it was... the steering was perfect... it didn't rattle... I thought to myself "wow this must be a pretty new truck"... then I looked at the odometer... 460000 miles.
Thats only my 1st example. Other than a Jeep, I've never seen anything able to take the abuse that these Toyota trucks can take, and I've not seen a Jeep with that many miles. Although I would totally American one if I was getting a diesel for sure.
I'll give one of the hundreds of examples of why;
About 6 years ago or so, I was doing car detailing as a side job. I would take my car to their house, leave my car, and take theirs to my house to clean it. A nice old woman who lived in the woods was one of my customers. She had an old Toyota truck. It was covered from rubber to roof with tree sap, dents, and dirt and was used 90% of the time as an offroad only firewood get'r. Before I got into this truck I really had no idea how old it was or miles... just that it was used hard. When I got the truck on the highway, I noticed how smooth it was... the steering was perfect... it didn't rattle... I thought to myself "wow this must be a pretty new truck"... then I looked at the odometer... 460000 miles.
AngliaGT said:
Thats only my 1st example. Other than a Jeep, I've never seen anything able to take the abuse that these Toyota trucks can take, and I've not seen a Jeep with that many miles. Although I would totally American one if I was getting a diesel for sure.
Online
When I was at LSU, I worked part time at the old Howard Johnson's Restaurant on Airline Hwy. The manager of the restaurant bought a brand new Corona, just like this one.
That was in '69. Being the know-it-all that I was, I scoffed when he said that Toyota would eventually rule the automotive roost. :blush:
Our first new car was a '73 Celica, and we've had several Toyotas since!
That was in '69. Being the know-it-all that I was, I scoffed when he said that Toyota would eventually rule the automotive roost. :blush:
Our first new car was a '73 Celica, and we've had several Toyotas since!
TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
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AngliaGT said:
... and you ask that question on a British car forum?
bgbassplyr
Darth Vader
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Mickey,
I had one of those Coronas, too. Hated it, but previous wife wanted it and her dad was the dealer. Sometimes you do what you gotta do. Another reason she is the previous wife.
I had one of those Coronas, too. Hated it, but previous wife wanted it and her dad was the dealer. Sometimes you do what you gotta do. Another reason she is the previous wife.
DaveatMoon
Jedi Hopeful
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]You might also want to look at the Chevy Colorado with the inline 5 cylinder. Nice vehicle and nothing like like S10.[/QUOTE]
The Colorado gets the same gas mileage rating for both a 4 or 5 cylinder, 18/24 mpg w/ 20 mpg combined. It's the worst in class. It's also one of the very worst vehicles (of <span style="text-decoration: underline">any</span> kind) in both <span style="font-style: italic">Consumer Reports</span> and <span style="font-style: italic">J.D. Powers</span> surveys for reliability and customer satisfaction. Overall it's been one of the biggest disappointments from GM this decade.
The Colorado gets the same gas mileage rating for both a 4 or 5 cylinder, 18/24 mpg w/ 20 mpg combined. It's the worst in class. It's also one of the very worst vehicles (of <span style="text-decoration: underline">any</span> kind) in both <span style="font-style: italic">Consumer Reports</span> and <span style="font-style: italic">J.D. Powers</span> surveys for reliability and customer satisfaction. Overall it's been one of the biggest disappointments from GM this decade.
DaveatMoon
Jedi Hopeful
Offline
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]The truck is an 09, new (had 5 miles on the odometer) and the dealer wants to sell it badly. A burgundy color, stick shift and the 4-banger makes it less than ideal for sale. [/QUOTE]
This sounds like a great buy!
I bought my '96 Ranger off the lot the same way. It's a 4 cyl. 5 speed, and I still get about 22/26 mpg out of it 13 years later. It stickered for $16,500 and I got it out the door for well under $13K. If it's enough beef to do the hauling you need to do, you'd be crazy to pay for more.
The current Ranger is a very good truck, but it's an 11 year old design in every sense, in some areas much older than that. The Toyota is a relatively new design and dead reliable. My Ranger has been dead reliable as well.
I owned a 4 door V6 '03 Nissan Frontier from '03 until '05 when I dumped it to buy a Prius. (The V6 was a huge gas hog {16 mpg w/ a 5 speed and 2WD} and a dog for power to boot.) The new Frontier is a nice truck as well, but it's a little bigger and less efficient (19/23 mpg).
This sounds like a great buy!
I bought my '96 Ranger off the lot the same way. It's a 4 cyl. 5 speed, and I still get about 22/26 mpg out of it 13 years later. It stickered for $16,500 and I got it out the door for well under $13K. If it's enough beef to do the hauling you need to do, you'd be crazy to pay for more.
The current Ranger is a very good truck, but it's an 11 year old design in every sense, in some areas much older than that. The Toyota is a relatively new design and dead reliable. My Ranger has been dead reliable as well.
I owned a 4 door V6 '03 Nissan Frontier from '03 until '05 when I dumped it to buy a Prius. (The V6 was a huge gas hog {16 mpg w/ a 5 speed and 2WD} and a dog for power to boot.) The new Frontier is a nice truck as well, but it's a little bigger and less efficient (19/23 mpg).
DART
Darth Vader
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Bought my 1st Toyo in 06 (used 06), 4-runner, bought to pull the trailer and the SP. Great vehicle, but I would have reservations about pulling much weight with a fourbanger. I get about 23 on the highway, drops to 18 if towing. 5-speed auto & 6 cyl. I believe they are on the Tacoma chassis. FWIW
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I need to explain myself - I hate to see people
by Japenese vehicles without ever looking at American
ones.I have a 1994 Dodge Dakota,which has turned out
to be a reliable,useful truck.It's between a small &
large truck,with a decent towing capacity.
If I was looking,I'd at least look at the local
Dodge dealers (some of them are closing down - Great-
- deals to be had),& ford dealers.
If,after looking at ALL of the options,the Toyota
is the best buy,go for it.I would like to see people at
least try to support American owned companies.
- Doug
by Japenese vehicles without ever looking at American
ones.I have a 1994 Dodge Dakota,which has turned out
to be a reliable,useful truck.It's between a small &
large truck,with a decent towing capacity.
If I was looking,I'd at least look at the local
Dodge dealers (some of them are closing down - Great-
- deals to be had),& ford dealers.
If,after looking at ALL of the options,the Toyota
is the best buy,go for it.I would like to see people at
least try to support American owned companies.
- Doug
R
RonMacPherson
Guest
Guest
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Okay, perhaps a vin explanation may be helpful.
Any vehicle that starts with a 1 is assembled(not made, assembled) in the United States. A 2 is Canada, a 3 is Mexico, a 4 is supposedly Brazil, but I need to research that more as I have seen 4 vin vehicles with made in Alabama decals. A 5 is also USA.
S is england, J is Japan, K is Korea, W is Germany....
Honda, Toyota, Nissan have been building cars in the United States for a couple of decades now. They use American employees, who pay American Taxes...
Someone did a research a couple of years ago and found that a certain model of GM, with a 1 had more parts made in other countries than a Honda Accord made in Ohio..
Any vehicle that starts with a 1 is assembled(not made, assembled) in the United States. A 2 is Canada, a 3 is Mexico, a 4 is supposedly Brazil, but I need to research that more as I have seen 4 vin vehicles with made in Alabama decals. A 5 is also USA.
S is england, J is Japan, K is Korea, W is Germany....
Honda, Toyota, Nissan have been building cars in the United States for a couple of decades now. They use American employees, who pay American Taxes...
Someone did a research a couple of years ago and found that a certain model of GM, with a 1 had more parts made in other countries than a Honda Accord made in Ohio..
TR6BILL said:
Dumb me, it is a Toyota Tacoma PRE-runner extended cab with short second doors. What do i know! Anyway, it is fairly loaded, with power everything inside (except seats) and lists for $24,900 and he wants to sell it to me for $21,500. I think I will bite. I am selling my old Tahoe at the giveaway price of $2000 cash. I mentioned it around town and had 4 people begging to buy it. Now, it has been rode hard and put up wet, but everything works. I think whichever person buys it will get a good deal. Besides, the paint is starting to flake off in large areas and it is showing its age.