And left after the test drive. Seriously, I don't get it. I mean I understand Toyota's reputation for reliability (which really isn't that great as of late), but what a crappy mundane ride. And the road noise, what's up with that?

Do ya still sit on the floor in a Toyota?

I drove a friend’s new one the other day.
One of the worst driving and riding pickups I’ve ever been in.

What model?

I have a 17 that’s one of the best riding trucks I’ve ever been in. Just curious

No, it’s actually a little too high now.

Check back on value in 10 years.

I didn't buy my Toyota 4x4 pickup for the ride, I bought it for its offroad capability and that truck was great for over 20 years.

Trucks have become more sissified for more than 20 years. Now everyone expects their Tacoma to ride as nice as and be as quiet as their Camry. No truck that a working man can afford can be everything to everyone. Most people who buy a Tacoma buy it for its sportiness and off road capability. Don't like the Tacoma, try a Tundra.

Mixed emotions here about the Tacoma. Bought mine new a year ago, 4x4 with all the off road amenities. It's great off the pavement and has gone any where I needed to go. Rather than adding a jeep to our vehicle lineup a year ago, I traded in my 2013 2wd Tundra for the Tacoma, thus combining mega off road capabilities with still having a pickup. However, I do miss the comfort and ride of the Tundra, the extra room and the ability to tow a bigger trailer and heavier loads. Maybe I should have just gotten a 4x4 Tundra, still wonder about that. I will say that the Tacoma has gone some places that a 4 by 4 Tundra may have had trouble. One other factor too is that being a big guy, 6'3" , 250lbs, the Tacoma seems a little cramped in the inside, not as comfortable as the Tundra, and I'm usually looking through the top strip of the windshield when driving. Maybe I should trade it in but don't want to take the hit!

I don't like the current Tacoma, door seems smaller, roof lower, less leg room, hood higher which limits forward vision off road.
I really like my 2011 F150 FX4. Not bad off road. Wish it had an inch or two more clearance.

Tacomas aren't for everyone. Somebodies got to drive all those spacer lift Chevy 4X4s. Love my 2012 Tacoma, of course I bought the cheapest package and put better suspension on it than anything available factory.

The hood on mine ripples while on the hwy. I'm 6 1 and with the steering wheel full up my legs still rub across the bottom getting in and out. The nerd bars are a PITA running my left calf when stepping out. That will be heck on pants cuffs when dirty. Mine is always dirty. They will be covered in mud or dust a lot. A step side would keep most mess on the bottom side.

Whatever else, it is a nice looking truck.

No stock vehicle can touch a Tacoma off-road (sorry jeepers). Tundras don't ride that good either, compared to some trucks, but they're a good compromise if you want a vehicle that can tow and still get off the pavement.

Love mine!!

Steve

They aren’t what they used to be!

I've always been more comfortable in the Nissan Frontier. I'm on my fifth one now. I'm just not comfortable in the Tacoma. I've had nothing but good service out of the Frontiers.

I owned only 1 years ago. Horrible ride and felt like I was sitting on the floor. Slam the door and sounded like I was in a tin can.

When you own road trucks and off-road trucks, you can appreciate the differences.

I've got a friend who has a Tacoma, my Tundra has twice the power and towing capacity, not to mention the 8 ft. bed I have. If his Tacoma got twice the gas mileage that I get, I might be interested. It doesn't. I get around twenty unloaded at around 65/70 mph. He doesn't get that on a good day. Can you get a Tacoma with a manual transmission anymore? That might make a difference. He always has to have his foot buried in the throttle. That V-6 is anemic.

Hard to live with the poor mileage with such a small truck. I get much better mileage with my full sized V8 GMC Sierra than my cousin did with his Tacoma V6. Wife has owned several Toyota cars which all have lots of power and get good mileage. I wonder why the trucks don't.

I have a 12 year old Tacoma with 201,000 miles on it. It has been the best truck I've ever owned. In 12 years I've replaced the alternator. Other than that just normal stuff like brakes, battery, tires, and fluids. At the time I traded in a 2002 F-150 and have no doubts I made the right choice then.

Not sure I'd buy a new one. My Tacoma gets significantly better fuel mileage than my 2002 Ford while only giving up 300 lbs of towing capacity. The Tacoma only had 15 less HP, but weighed 1500 lbs less; it easily out performed the Ford.

Three years ago we reached the point where we needed a bigger truck and I'm back in a 2014 F150 crew cab 4X4 with the 5.0 V8. The Toyota only beats it by about 1 mpg. We kept the old Tacoma and my wife now drives it.

If long term reliability and resale value is important and you don't need the size they are still a good truck. But Toyota tweaked the design and changed the drivetrain in 2016 and it wasn't for the better. There are lots of complaints about lack of power and transmissions not shifting at the right time to match the engines power. Far fewer complaints about the ones with manual transmissions. Toyota is aware of the complaints and there are rumors of a complete redesign in 2021.

I had a 2011 and a 2015 as sales vehicles. Both were very reliable, as you would expect. Aside from that, they were both very uncomfortable vehicles on longer trips. Road noise was significant also. Any 1/2 ton on the market will prove to be a more comfortable vehicle. If you have a marginal lower back issue, the Toyota will very likely make it worse. As soon as we went to the Tacomas, in 2011, guys started to complain of back issues.

not to mention..what does a new 4dr 4wd tacoma go for these days, 40kish? crazy what they are asking for trucks. My buddy picked up an 4dr 4wd '07 about 2 years ago with only 30k miles. Old guy owned it, seat covers, etc. it was like new, paid 25k. Tacomas are just too small for me and I"m only 6ft...even the backseat of the 4dr is just too small for a grown man.Heck, my kids hardly back there when we all go hunting.

My first truck in highschool was an 87 sr5, still see it on the road every now and then...man those were some awesome trucks. We sold it in 1996 with 240k miles on it.

My POS just turned 276k

I have never really considered the ride of a truck to be honest, but I would never want a truck to be a daily driver. To me a truck is a work vehicle - I consider it a luxury to have A/C on a truck, I want reliability and low maintenance - something I want from every tool I own. What I don't want is to drive a full size pickup to the grocery store or parallel park it on a city street, or drive it 600 miles on vacation somewhere

I guess if you only get one choice, those things are important. Personally I'd hate for a truck to be my only option. I tried that once and it lasted about 6 months. I ended up buying my wife a new car so I could drive her old one and the truck sat parked for weekends. Still does

My own fear is that they will change em before I can buy one.

So many splendidly utilitarian vehicles have become soccer mom and old soft guy barcaloungers.

have two.....

left is my '14.....DC SB w/6 speed manual 83K miles..pd $25K ish in '17 (before my mods)

right..wife's daily driver...'05 DC SB auto...179K miles..pd $25K ish in '05 (IIRC)

great dependable trucks.......do not tow with either....

prob wouldn't buy a new '16 + 3rd generation.....

2nd gen has good & better years.......2005 through 2015...

I look at longevity......much higher resale value than other trucks..

Tikka, does your '05 have any frame issues?

I just bought a '10 with the access cab. It has a brand new frame under it, I was able to see that job in progress.

I really like my Tacoma, should've bought one of these years ago.

I have a Corvette, and that really stresses my lower back. So many people complained about the low seating position in the Tacoma, I decided to get a 4Runner. I know it is apples and oranges to a truck, but it is my hunting rig. The newer 3.5 engine is said to shift all the time, and needs rmps for get go. So I think I am happier with the 4.0 in the 4Runner.
I think next spring I am going to trade the Corvette on a late model used Tundra since MPG does not matter in a second vehicle. I had a first generation Tundra, and it was one of the best vehicles I ever owned.

Probably a good truck, but it is way too small and uncomfortable as hell for me. If i wanted to sit on the floorboard.......

I just can't get used to the lack of room on the inside and the low seat height. I get some need/want a smaller truck, but bang for the buck it aint.


Clyde

About 18 months ago I did the same thing. I went to buy a Tacoma 4 wheel drive. It didn't ride very well so I went looking for options. I found a Chevy Colorado ZR2 with a gasoline V-6 and I haven't looked back.

I take Dave Ramsey's advice on buying new. He says that if you want to waste money buying new, you need a net worth of about one million or more. Otherwise you are keeping yourself poor.

He explains how much value a vehicle loses the first 5 years. It makes sense. Wait til that $47,000 truck is worth 20,000 and then go buy it.

no frame issues.....lived its whole life in Utah...although they had a factory rear leaf recall

Had the rear springs replaced just 6 months ago....warranty......

This '05 also had a RF wheel bearing go out at 90K.....kind of early......?

Other than that truck has only had normal service......I change oil/filter @ 6K miles 5w30 synthetic

Three sets of tires......new Billy 5100's.......etc

These 4.0L Taco motors are simple to change oil/filter

Just like my 6 speed MT better than the auto.......

pic..'05 on way home from purchase w/7K miles on it...Oct '05

Get a Nissan Frontier. I have been driving these since 1989. Great trucks. I am 6-3 and 250 and it is plenty big.

my estimate......that would be 15 years later for the Tacoma......

Only 2000 miles on this 2019 so I can't comment on its reliability. As far as ride and getting in and out, I don't have a problem with it. Got tired of running for parts and so forth in a 3500 diesel pickup.

I have a 2015. Needed a new truck because my 98 Ranger was only a 2 wheel drive. Would have bought a Ranger, but Ford in its wisdom didn't sell them in the US anymore. Chevy Colorado was still brand new and an unknown commodity. Didn't consider any other brand. Bought my Tacoma in the last year of the production run. Didn't want to wait a couple years for the next generation Tacoma's bugs to be worked out.

I have a Sport model extended cab with the V6, manual transmission, and a 6 foot bed. Fits me just fine. So what if it rides like a truck? I bought a truck, not an Escalade.

I'd buy another...but from a different dealership. That's another issue altogether.

My wife loves her 2019 Tacoma Limited 4x4, my only complaint is the front seats sit so damn low.

They are without question crude, uncomfortable, noisy and rough riding trucks. I wanted to like the one I bought, I just couldn't. I spend most of my time on rough city streets and highways. It's horrible in those two environments.

Our Toyota (2009) has the Sport package, which is stiffer suspension, presumably for cornering. I hate the choppy nervous ride. Not relaxing at all. Most of you know my solution was to give that one to my wife for driving to work (she loves it) and build an old one (1992) for hunting. I still laugh when I remember alwaysoutdoors giving me a ration of schit for spending thousands of dollars on it. Some people got an azzhole, and some people are one. But I digress.

The 92 has it's drawbacks but off road ability isn't one of them. Just camped out in it (most newer Toyotas have 5' beds) and have tagged a bear and blacktail deer so far this season. I love hunting out of it. We won't buy another new one, just keep making the old ones work. If I wanted a street truck I'd buy one for street. If I wanted an off road vehicle I'd build one using the platform that suits me best, in my case the old Toyota. I don't think you can have a nice street truck and use it for serious offroading without damaging it. Who cares if you dent a 92?

I just drove to Montana, from North Carolina, in my 2010 Nissan Frontier 4WD, with my girlfriend along.
Girlfriend owns a Lexus and an Acura.

She went on and on, about how comfortable the ride was, and the seat was, in the little Jap pickup.
Plus, at home, it is a bad ass in 4WD, hauling gravel up the mountain etc.

The poor seating position, lack of power/towing capacity, and the fact that the mileage is no better/sometimes worse, than full-size V8 half-ton trucks, makes them unattractive to me.

Honestly, they’re not that much smaller than a fullsize, either. Resale seems to be the main “selling point” to some.

As for longevity, there are plenty of fullsize half-tons that do 250k, these days.This isn’t the 1990’s....

I'm not sure I'd buy the current generation Tacoma over a decently-priced used 4.0L model of the previous generation. I bought mine used for about $25k with 50k miles on it (4.0L 4wd 4-dr)and it works for what I do, but I spend a fair bit of time in the woods. If I didn't, I'd probably buy another F150 with a couple years on it. Will be curious to see what kind of mileage they get with the 10spd auto and the 5.0L. Probably better than my Tacoma on the highway.

Had a Silverado 1500 and a F150 both disasters one with 75K and the other with 6500(buyback from Ford) and a few months back traded a Tundra to get a smaller vehicle. Out of those three the Tundra was the only one going to go 300k. .

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/gallery/80/full/109283.jpg

Love mine. Ive got both a 4runner and a Tacoma both 2019s. They are both absolute beasts off road and great in the snow. We get over 200 inches a year so that's a serious concern.

My previous Tacoma went over 500,000 miles on the original powertrain.

The Tacos are loud, gas mileage isn't great, they don't tow much...but when it comes to the woods...they OWN it. They run forever which is why they resale is so high.

Bought this one because the last one treated me so well.



The last one.



Over 240k miles, and still going strong. And put up with a lot of abuse. Always got me out and back despite some good beatings. Oil changes, replaced a motor mount, alignments, other regular maintenance. Never failed to start, never failed to go. And still tight, solid, and rattle free.

That's why I bought the new one. Not because it was quiet, plush, or drove like a car. Because it is none of that. At least not by today's "standards". Feels like a Lexus compared to the roller skate that is my 2002 Tacoma, but certainly not the most refined compared to many of today's other offerings. And it bothers me not a bit.

I would of considered a Tundra, but still too large for off road and tight spot maneuvering for my tastes.

Horsecheit..... try to take a Tacoma through the Rubicon, it would be junk if it made it. Jeeps do it by the thousands , without damage.
But then again a Texans version of offroad is probably not really a challenge to a well set up vehicle....

I have a 2018 and feel the same way.

I'm not going to complain about mine. I sure don't like the higher hood line and squared off look of the new ones though. Why are they trying to make it look like an older over the road semi tractor? For the wanna be truckers out there?

I'm happy enough with my '01, 4 cyl, 4wd, "long" bed xtra cab. Just got done with an 800+ mi round trip to the coast on mostly 2 lane highways. Including the windy ass roads from Hwy 101 down to Ft Bragg/Mendocino. It normally carries a good 400 lbs in camper shell, lumber rack, truck box tools, set of chains etc. On the way I picked up a large vice on a stand and even heavier anvil (300lb?) and it had to work some coming back up the hill from the ocean and back from the coast to here. But, 23 mpg on the first leg "empty", and about 20 mpg overall. With over 250K miles on it.

I'll not complain about the ownership costs. Figuring the $10K I paid for it in 2010, and perhaps $2000 in repairs for fuel filter, wheel bearing, and a new cat converter and such, it works out to about $0.08 per mile I've put on it. Gas and oil changes not included.

It's getting an oil change this week, maybe a few other little maintenance items, then it's off to AZ for an elk hunt mid-month.

I figure I've got my money's worth.

As for comfort? After some of the beaters I've owned there's nothing wrong with this truck.

Geno

I’m with the OP, I’m unimpressed as much as I tried to like one. Just take a new F150 or Chevy, way more power, comfort and similar MPG. I see zero compelling reason for a small truck like the Taco, unless guys truly need to get into tighter spots which doesn’t apply to me I guess. Different strokes for different folks but Toyota doesn’t own the reliability category to themselves anymore. And furthermore their truck offerings are getting quite long in the tooth. Ergonomics are tough to like in a Taco and I guess I’m a wimp, I don’t mind to feel comfortable when I drive.

fub,

would that be stock jeeps making the Rubicon?

just asking, as I like Jeeps too.

Geno

Tacoma's are no good in the snow also..... stuck... notice winch control cable?

Oh and Powell I have owned both.....

I was a bit relieved to see that this was a negative thread (at least started that way). I have a Tacoma and I really like it. It has flaws but for me it is great. If too many people end up wanting Tacomas it might push the price up. I am happy to see people still buying other trucks.

My first Toyota was a 93 stripped out 4x4 pre-Tacoma with am/fm radio. I had to pay an extra $1,700 to get A/C installed. It even had hubs. I'd put that truck up against any jeep running for serious off road driving. Did an elk hunt with my boss one time and had to pull his big Chevy 4x4 out of a mud hole. Biggest mistake I ever made was selling it to my grandson. I bought a 2004 Tacoma 4 door 4x4 and it was a POS from the get go. Fully loaded slush box and no hubs. In the mountains the damn thing was always hunting for the proper gear to be in. Traded it off on a 2015 F-150 3.5 Ecoboost 4x4. Another thing that Taco did that scared the crap out of me is in the mountains it would downshift to a lower gear and then when it shifted back into a higher gear the clunk was so loud that it sounded like either the tranny or rear end was about to let go. Never in my life have I hated a truck as much as I did that 2004 Taco.
Paul B.

Good question.... back in my hardcore jeeping days .. no! we built them for the trail. Today the Rubicon model comes with lockers front and rear.. articulating suspension etc... add some bigger tires and it would be a fun cakewalk. So yes a new jeep with Rubicon package and stock tires driven by a skilled driver could do it and do it without damage.
That being said the old Forerunners and tacomas with the solid front axle I think it was a mid 1980's model? and many mods can an do do the hardcore trails.. but like the old jeeps needed extensive mods.
The IRS front axles don't cut it

Jeeps are low quality...like all Fiat products. Pretty capable though. I had a rubicon for a spell. Better than a Tacoma...not in my experience

Were dropped on your head too many times as a child? Hate to say it since I drive one now, but Toyotas appeal to a certain trash talk / no walk part of our population.

I drive a 2014 Tacoma TRD Off Road I bought new. Before that, I drove TJs for 10 years and a Nissan Frontier 4x4 Nismo for almost 8 years. You have it exactly, exactly backwards. The jeeps were head and shoulders better offroad than the Tacoma and the Nissan was better as well though by a much slimmer margin.

Tom

My Tacoma is on par with my tj rubicon imho

The Tacoma environmental mess


In the 1970s I would fish in Puget Sound a few miles North of Tacoma. There was a huge smelter chimney dominating the skyline. It was like Tacoma was giving everyone the finger.
Back then they called it "The Tacoma Aroma" when the pulp mill in Tacoma stunk up I5 when we drove near Tacoma.
That was enough for most people in WA to think that Tacoma was the worst part of WA state, but wait, there's more.
Tacoma's High Point neighborhood in the 1980s full of blacks, cocaine epidemic, and the shooting never stopped.

How someone could name a truck after that, is beyond me.

I was there 87-90, they still called it the Aroma of Tacoma.

I now have my 4th Frontier, I'm 6'4" and no problems with fit.
It rides and drives like a compact truck.

My comment about Jeeps being low quality was not meant to be offensive so i apologize if it came off that way.

Nissans have had a lot of problems of late since their marriage to Renault. Sad to see as they were once of the best.

Go get a honda ridgeline if you want a small "truck" with a nice ride. It will do most of what people want out of a truck unless you work out of it or routinely tow/haul large loads.

Jeep wins that contest, stock Jeep against stock Tacoma, I'll give Jeepers that. Best out of the box set up vehicle for that kind of fun. Lockers both ends, better approach, departure, break over angles. Solid axles both ends, and better clearance. And (like the Tacoma) a boat load of available aftermarket items to mod.

But here's why I don't own one. I don't trail ride. Rubicon, Moab, etc., is "wheelin' for the hell of it". You aren't wheeling to get somewhere, you're doing it for chits and giggles. And there are tens, if not hundreds of other folks close by to assist with spare axles, shafts, u-joints, tie rods, belts, hubs, etc., etc., or failing that, a lift out to civilization. Get a group together on the Rubicon, you could damn near build a jeep with a collection of the spare parts and tools (like welders and air tools) everyone carries or someone is bound to have.

But if I want to carry things (like a decent camp load, wood, dead animals, etc.) without towing a trailer, the Tacoma wins. As I'm out alone, often for weeks at a time, with minimal spare parts and tools, and far from civilization and help, the Tacoma wins. But I'm out and using the truck to get from point "a" to point "b". From camp to that glassing point 8 miles away. From canyon here to mountain over there. Not crawling along at 3mph on a 2 mile trail of the most difficult obstacles a vehicle can be put through just to see what it can do, when a perfectly acceptable bypass which might not ever require 4wd or lockers is a half mile (or yards) away. Nope, I'm haulin' azz, often over some pretty rough chit and need the vehicle to stay together while I do it.

If that's someone's thing...great. If it was mine, I might own a Jeep. Or even better an FJ40 Lancruiser. But it's not my thing. Going over vehicle defying obstacles with 10 vehicles ahead of me and another 20 stacked behind me, and nobody moving faster than they could get were they to walk, won't ever be a thing for me. What is a thing for me is getting way the hell out there where there are few if any people, for lots of miles, over a lot of chitty rough roads, for weeks at a time, and then getting back to pavement when the trip is up without assistance of others or tow vehicles. Hopefully with a dead elk or muley in the back. And that is where the Tacoma wins hands down.

The Tacoma will get me anywhere in the country that doesn't involve trail ride coordinators, spotters, clubs, trail markers, permits, and a tree cop around every turn to hassle about CARB compliance, green stickers, etc.,etc., that I could care to go. And will almost certainly get back in one piece (if history is any indicator).

Decent angles and clearance, locker in back, electronically limited slip (MTS) in front, reliable and tough as hell. This damn truck will go places. Take a stock Tacoma and throw a decent set of off road tires on it, and it will go anywhere most could ever want to go.

My current Frontier is an 02.

Good post^^^^^^^^^

Wife has a '14 Taco I do not like getting in and out of it but it suits her perfectly I-4 engine zero problems. 4 door cab hauls us and small loads as needed. Expecting a long life out of this one....We have two real pickups for real work

The new LC's are nice too. Pretty capable vehicle for being fancy. A tad too many electronic features for my taste. One day I might learn them all. But still won't use them all.

Get off my lawn.

I agree for the most part with DaveR's post. He knows what he is talking about. With that being said regarding Toyota reliability. They generally are until they aren't. What I mean by that is they are mechanical devices and can and do break..... even in the boonies.....

I use a 1999 Tacoma as my hunting boonie rig these days.... a couple of weeks ago in a remote spot close to home the lower ball joint on my Tacoma gave out!
Well it nose dived into the dirt. No way to put a strap on it and tow it out... dead in the water with an expensive tow truck bill.
Got home went online and found out it is a common problem.... a design flaw.....

Had that happen with a 1998 regular cab model a few years back. Just about the only real bad breakage problem I've seen in my experience with 6 Tacomas and 4Runners. That regular cab gets offroaded hard. The rest has been stuff that just wears out, like bearings, hubs, brakes, etc.

And I had a 98 model white X-tra Cab in white with that same ARB bumper and winch. I think the guy I sold it to is still driving it.

Very true. And it was a design flaw. New tacomas (2nd gen on) are BJ over spindle mount point configuration, but the gen1's were BJ under spindle. Instant and dead in the road failure possibility.

Only tacoma I ever recall being stuck off the side of the road out in the boonies fell to the same cause. Which is why spare ball joints are in my truck box! Along with a few other things that don't take up a lot of space or specialty tools.

Ball joints for UCA, LCA.
Tie Rod (steering rack) end (just one, can be run backwards on other side in a pinch).
U-joints.
Belts
Timing belt
Starter
Battery pack

And a few other things I don't recall off the top of my head.

Didn't have to pay for many of the parts...they were old ones kept when new ones went on as part of regular maintenance or changing out (upgrading to aftermarket) parts. Changed out parts make for good spares.

On the new one, a crank position sensor is in there as well. Some bad ones got in the system and are a known problem on 2016+ tacomas. Cheap and easy to replace though should it ever happen.

funny, I bought my Toyota and the guy I bought it off of gave me a ball joint he had as a spare. I wasn't aware it was a problem


Its around here somewhere

Thanks guys for the ball joint info.

When do the generations change? Mine is an '01.

I'll look into getting some of those spare parts, fortunately, most places I hunt are within a decent walk of help. As in 10 miles or so.

Geno

I think my brother has had maybe 10 of these things thru the years(construction business) all had massive mileage , used mostly for work in Florida heat and humidity and has had minimal issues .

Right...I wasn't talking about stunt driving and breaking stuff for the fun of it. Four other Continents agree with your post.

The Tacoma is not for everyone, and I can understand some of the criticism. But that resale...

I had a 2000, and now have a 2014. I'm a General Contractor so only need it to haul small loads (hauling chit is for other people). I wanted better fuel efficiency than a FS pickup, and don't like having my garage "crammed full of truck." I've got a subcontractor that works for me, and his 2001 Tacoma has 350,000 miles on it.

I do agree they're a bit noisy, and get mediocre fuel efficiency (I get 20 avg though the newer ones get better than mine), but I don't want or need a FS truck. I'm 5'10" / 150 lbs and it fits me great. Were I 6'3" / 220 I'd look elsewhere.

Head's up, the Tundra is reportedly going to get a major makeover in 2021 including a twin turbo v6, and significantly better fuel efficiency (the current Tundra is a fuel pig).

I have a 15 Taco access cab for sale if anyone is interested...122 thousand and 6 speed Manual....Everything works...

Geno,

I believe your 01 is vulnerable.
I would recommend checking them often. Another issue is the four bolts that hold them on tend to break, check for tightness.
In my research on Toyota ball joints everybody strongly recommends genuine Toyota ball joints with Moog in second place. The cheaper after market parts will fail.

I hadn't heard that Nissan merged with Renault. What year did that happen. My brother has the 2014, and mine is a 2010, we love 'em.

I just picked up, from pre hunting trip servicing, my 3 year old F-150 with 15k miles on it.

They tore apart my air cleaner and asked me where I had been with that truck.

I told them I hunt where gumbo mud turns to dust.

Nobody a bigger fan of the Tacoma for reliability...BUT why any Jap egghead design engineer would provide a reverse gear in the 6 speed that would do 75 miles an hour in reverse is beyond me. If you want to back up an incline, either slip the clutch or shift to 4 low. Worthless.

4x4 Camry

My 97 had the ball joint failure, but the good girl did it in front of my mechanic's shop door...! Loved that little truck, for 360K miles.

Can't stand my 09. Dang thing doesn't even have the decency to break down and give me a real reason to hate it. Then again, it's a truck, it's used as a truck, and it's stupid cheap to operate.

The new ones seem to be getting bigger, less reliable and still suck at fuel economy. Getting harder and harder to be a fan.

But then I have to take the Ford and the GMC into the shop, again, for stupid crap like ignition switches or whatever the bean counters figured they could make a little cheaper.....

Toyota still does not know how to make a proper PU Truck frame.Ford,GM or Ram do and any of them is twice the vehicle off road as any model Toyota.They just are not made for the upper Midwest.Maybe be fine for wanna be off roaders.

My elk hunting partner bought an 89 Tacoma and added an ARB to the rear and a Lock-Rite to the front with locking hubs with nothing else (factory tire size and suspension) and had zero issues with the Rubicon, multiple times. Were the Jeeps base models?

You girls buy a compact pickup truck and bitch about the ride and road noise? Lord help us if there really is another civil war.

I have a 2011 Tundra Rock Warrior and a 2017 Sequoia, both don’t have the creature comfort ride of a Chevy or GMC. But the Toyota’s have been excellent mechanically with no issues or wallet draining needs I experienced owning a Suburban and a F-350.

Wife has a 2017 Yukon Denali when I want to feel like driving my couch around town. 😎

My 1998 still kicking and just tuned up last week! Has a salvage title from deer collision but who cares! Get offers to buy all the time!

Give me an old Ranger any day...

Ed,
By chance was your partners Toyota a solid front axle? if so see my follow up post regarding them. As far as stock jeeps with out lockers oversize tires etc... no they would have a hell of a time on the Rubicon and only a very skilled driver would have a chance of getting through without breakage or serious damage.

I challenge the premise your friend had stock tires on his Toyota , gotta call bullcheit on that. Simply wont have the ground clearance.
Ed, have you been through the Rubicon? or are you pontificating from your couch?

The old Rangers were great small trucks. I had an old Dodge D50 I really liked as well. I think it was built by Misubishi

Over the years, the small trucks kept getting larger and nicer. That defeated the desirability of the compact truck in the first place; small and cheap.

I traded my '08 Tacoma for a slightly used '18 last year. This should suffice for the duration until I need a walker and a can of Boost.

Dad bought an 88 with the 22R engine new, put 160,000 miles on it, I drove through high school and college. Gave it back to him with 270,000 miles.

Then I went through some GM 1/2 tons, a Ford diesel 3/4 ton (still have), wife a Yukon and Tahoe. No big issues other than the damn active fuel management in a 2007. And now I just added a new Tundra. A month in and loving it so far. Was seriously looking at Tacomas. But decided for what they cost, the mileage and maneuverability wasn’t worth the loss in hauling, power, and roominess. Nothing against them or anybody that likes them.

Coworker has a 2010 Taco with 220,000 miles on it. He rebuilt the front end because he felt like he should do something to it.

A Tacoma isn't really compact anymore. The Frontier has shown us that we can have a mid size truck that can work and play hard and do it with a pleasantly quiet cab and a reasonably compliant ride. Toyota knows their reputation will continue to sell their schidtboxes, so they have no reason at all to improve them. You can thank yourself for that.

This is exactly why I drive one and my Jeep friend doesn't get it. I am trying to get somewhere to do something other than drive. They are driving just to drive. I love my 03 Taco.