07-11 Toyota Tacoma owners - Chime in

[ez bake]

I'm looking for a 4-door (double-cab) short bed 4x4 (prefer TRD) and I'm doing a butt-load of research on them.

It seems like the 05 (and possibly 06) models had a few issues, but they seem to be everything I want in a truck and 07-on seem to be flawless.

I test-drove one with the family and it will fit all 3 of my teenagers in the back, and I like all the features they seem to have, but I've found a couple of good 07s that are old enough that they don't have a few of the features I want in them... are they worth it or should I spring for an 08/09/10 model?

Tell me your experiences with these trucks.

 

[ripnbst]

I've not much to add other than I was also looking at these and they were more than I was looking to spend for the mileage I wanted. REALLY nice trucks and I'd take one any day though. Keep in mind that most TRD package ones are only 2WD IIRC.

A buddy of mine is looking at getting basically the same thing you are as soon as he sells his truck he has now.

 

[montesa]

I have had several tacomas. Regular cab 07 2wd, Extended cab pre-runner 08, and 4x4 2003 model. Haven't had a single car problem since I started buying Tacomas. Really, zero repairs. I think you'll be happy with just about any of them, it just comes down to how much you want to spend. I prefer the 1st generation Tacomas because they are smaller.

 

[RidgeHunter]

I've had two second gens - an incapacitated old lady totaled my first. Driving an '07 4WD V6 Auto now. I drove it off the lot with 11 miles on it and it now has over 150,000. I beat the thing like Lieutenant Dan would beat a cheap whore for making fun of his slowpoke southern soldier on New Year's eve. It's just about as tight as the day I bought it and it's been flawless mechanically. I will own it until its basic elements return to the earth.

Really the only thing that OMG THIS SUCKS on these trucks are the back leaf springs. They are for yuppie pusssies who don't use their trucks like trucks. Old Man Emu solved this problem for me. Of course if you do the back, you may as well do the front. And while you're at it, you need some 33s. And take your key as scratch the side just a bit. There, now the next ones won't hurt. Now go drive it stupid places.

 

[ez bake]

Well, I started out looking at 1st gens in an attempt to find a good one for $15k, but they're small enough that they don't fit the family (and I'm basically giving up a 3rd row seat now that my daughter is going to be driving soon and can cart her brothers back and forth to school, so I will basically have the "family hauler"). Also, I end up in the $20k range and then I'm like WTF, I might as well look at the 2nd gens

I was hoping to find a used 2nd Gen without absurdly high miles for just north of $20k and that seems like a pipe-dream when you add the words "Double-Cab" and "4x4" to the criteria. When you add "TRD" to it, the price get's to around $25k and at that point, I'm staring over at the new ones for just north of $30k (but again, I started out with the goal of finding a $15k truck and made the leap to $20k, so these little $5k hops in price are starting to get pretty expensive).

 

[Hobbes]

You might check here if you haven't already to see what complaints are common:

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Tacoma/

Click on the year you are thinking of buying and see what complaints have been filed. Looks like 2007 and 2009 had some problems.

 

[ez bake]

You might check here if you haven't already to see what complaints are common:

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Tacoma/

Click on the year you are thinking of buying and see what complaints have been filed. Looks like 2007 and 2009 had some problems.

Appreciate that man - been there (and autos.msn.com, and the Tacoma Wikipedia page, and fueleconomy.gov , and been on some of the forums, etc.).

I'm all about researching the car before I buy - any of the complaints after 07 are stuff I can live with for the most part.

 

[RidgeHunter]

Internet complaints are a terrible way to judge a vehicle. Find several people, who are not waterheaded, who have owned the vehicle you are interested in and put at least 100K on it. Talk to mechanics, and look at resale value. Good cars are expensive on the used market.

caromplaints.com? "Radio goes off without warning"? Gee, this helps steer me in the right direction. The problem with the internet is your weirdo effeminate Uncle Bob can become an automotive journalist and write a treatise about his radio going off without warning by turning on his laptop while he eats Cheetoes and watches Laverne and Shirley reruns.

 

[ez bake]

Internet complaints are a terrible way to judge a vehicle. Find several people, who are not waterheaded, who have owned the vehicle you are interested in and put at least 100K on it. Talk to mechanics, and look at resale value. Good cars are expensive on the used market.

caromplaints.com? "Radio goes off without warning"? Gee, this helps steer me in the right direction. The problem with the internet is your weirdo effeminate Uncle Bob can become an automotive journalist and write a treatise about his radio going off without warning by turning on his laptop while he eats Cheetoes and watches Laverne and Shirley reruns.

Yeah, but for every 20 idiots, there is 1 valid complaint and I look for trending, TSBs from Toyota (and recalls), major design changes (or production plant moves - like they had in 07/08/09). I've talked to a few mechanics as well (both to find common problems and to see how expensive typical stuff that breaks is to fix).

I've learned my lesson over the years (some of it the hard way), and while there are plenty of wind-bags out there, some of them can be used as a cog in the machine of informed purchases (and I'm using the crap out of them).

 

[montesa]

Well, I started out looking at 1st gens in an attempt to find a good one for $15k, but they're small enough that they don't fit the family (and I'm basically giving up a 3rd row seat now that my daughter is going to be driving soon and can cart her brothers back and forth to school, so I will basically have the "family hauler"). Also, I end up in the $20k range and then I'm like WTF, I might as well look at the 2nd gens

I was hoping to find a used 2nd Gen without absurdly high miles for just north of $20k and that seems like a pipe-dream when you add the words "Double-Cab" and "4x4" to the criteria. When you add "TRD" to it, the price get's to around $25k and at that point, I'm staring over at the new ones for just north of $30k (but again, I started out with the goal of finding a $15k truck and made the leap to $20k, so these little $5k hops in price are starting to get pretty expensive).

Yes, they are expensive used but when you go to sell it you'll be pleasantly surprised at what people are willing to pay. They don't lose much value.