I've owned Toyotas for well over 35yrs.
All the bitching about Tacomas is overblown. With a few mods the 3rd Gen Tacoma leaves the Ranger sucking dust.
Tacoma power? Just have someone tune the ECU for $250 with OV tune, plenty of folks doing it. The Atkinson 3.5l V6 is a proven engine with Lexus technology.
The Tacoma auto transmission shift issue has been updated/resolved.
Ground clearance, it's decent stock. Plenty of aftermarket options.
Seats, mine is fine. However a $5 cushion works wonders.
The Rangers Eco Boost runs hot, has a poor record. Turbos suck on a 4 wheeler. Heat and dust eats longevity.
Tacomas may not be perfect as is but can certainly be a great ride with a few mods.
Someone mentioned bad paint, I see far more Ford paint jobs peeling than Toyotas. It has more to due with EPA friendly paints being required on all makes.
