4Runner/Tacoma alternatives?

Bought mine when it was 10yrs old. Head gasket yes were done as soon as the warrantee became available way before I had it. I did some bearings, ball joints and brakes rad myself. 1000/yr included purchase price of $7900 Canadian. Talked to a lot of people with over 500k and some with much more. Sold mine at 300k. It's still going. If it didn't have as much rust as it had when I sold it I'd probably still have it. Rangers are popular around here too . I see people buy them then get another 5 yrs later. Cheap to get into those. I'm not into new. My current 08 tundra I picked up a couple yrs ago. Thing has some get up and go. 380hp compared to 145hp of the old v6 3.slow but it's also going to bump me up to 2g/yr range. Still chafed on that

Ive got a 2011 xterra pro4x I really like. bought a year ago with 85k, put on 10 this year. its got a gas lovin 4L engine, locking rear, rockford fostgate sound, tie downs and multiple storage compartments well placed. Made in tennessee. http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/...de-in-america/ the highway drive on brand new bfg allterrains is nice, pretty quiet, and I bought her with a set of studs for 16k. I only tow rafts and thats ez breezy over passes in montucky. time will tell the true value of this rig

How about a X5?

This is a great reply. Thanks! Ended up having to table the truck purchasing for a few weeks, but now have it narrowed down to doublcab long bed (maybe short for the right deal) tacoma.

Test drove a bunch of options today...and it was a good reminder to follow my gut instinct!

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Originally Posted by bagtagley

The "opinions are like assholes" saying goes double for trucks. There's some great experience to pull from, but there's a lot of brand and other bias to weed through. Every single "what truck" thread ever posted in the world has somebody saying that, if you're gonna buy mid-size, you might as well go full-size.

All I can say is, go drive them. Drive everything that interests you. Hell, I test drive cars when I have no intention of buying cause it's fun. It's a huge financial commitment, and to me, too important to rest on opinions and a quick look-over of a vehicle or two.

I test drove about everything that could be considered a truck, including some SUVs, fully intending to get an F150. I ended up with a CCLB Tacoma. For me, the "might as well go full-size" didn't pan out. The Tacoma feels appreciably smaller than full-size counterparts, I prefer the way it drives, and ultimately, it just excels at different things. For my needs, the bed is plenty big, it tows more than enough, and has more than enough power. And, there's plenty of room in the back for my kids. Obviously, YMMV.

As far as SUV vs Truck, for me, it was an easy decision. Despite liking the 4Runner the most out of the stuff I drove, it just didn't fit. I hate shit piled on the roof of my car and I don't want to rely on a trailer for hauling and I need to be able to tow a raft and/or a camper. With a topper, I have secure(ish) enclosed storage that I don't care about trashing. I have a place to keep bikes and skis, haul stuff, sleep, and to escape the prying eyes of my in-laws and their neighbors while I'm visiting them and want to burn one.

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Bump just to say that I came across a 2010 Tundra with 69,000 miles for $21,000. Plus, they gave me as much for my trade in as I was (unsuccessfully) selling on private party.

TRD and lots of bells and whistles. For that price and that mileage I couldn't pass it up. And now I have enough left over for a nice camper...and a truck that can pull it!

Stoked!

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Originally Posted by Tech Tonics

Bump just to say that I came across a 2010 Tundra with 69,000 miles for $21,000. Plus, they gave me as much for my trade in as I was (unsuccessfully) selling on private party.

TRD and lots of bells and whistles. For that price and that mileage I couldn't pass it up. And now I have enough left over for a nice camper...and a truck that can pull it!

Stoked!

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Wow, good deal, that's what I've been kinda looking for. You're stoked. Only problem is my old ass Tacoma just won't die.

Reviving this thread to ask: I'm currently debating between a crew cab Tacoma and a crew cab Chevy Colorado. Lots of Tacoma love out there; anybody have one of the new Colorados and like it?

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Originally Posted by Cravenmorhead

Reviving this thread to ask: I'm currently debating between a crew cab Tacoma and a crew cab Chevy Colorado. Lots of Tacoma love out there; anybody have one of the new Colorados and like it?

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Im in the same boat. Debating between V6 tacoma and diesel colorado / canyon.

sprinter van or a lesbaru

I have a 2016 Colorado z71 V6 and highly recommend it. I have the extended (not crew) cab and it's fine for gear or a child under 5 but you are not getting 2 adults back there.

I have the 6'+ bed and recommend it if you really need a pickup truck. Get a spray liner.

The only other thing is the air damn below the front bumper. It apparently adds 1-2 mpg but lowers the clearance. If you don't care about mileage have the dealer remove it (it's apparently a pita to get off). I'm getting 21-22 mpg with the dam.

Can you get a kid's carseat in the back of the extended (not crew) cab?

Seems like the 6' bed is the answer; 5' looks tiny.

Sprinter sounds great aside from the fact that I'm stuck parallel parking for the foreseeable future. Subaru could work in a pinch, but I'd like to setup a sleeping platform.

I like the diesel Colorado on paper, but it's been hard to find one to test drive. I'm also on the fence about whether its worth the extra money. The other big factor seems to be resale value; the resale market on Tacomas out here (Denver) is nuts, and I'd be surprised if the Chevys hold their value the same way.

Buy the Tacoma.

It's been a long time since I had to slide a car seat in so I don't know the current set up for them baybeez.

I plan on driving my Colorado until it is essentially valueless so resale matters not to me. Keep in mind that the Taco is around $5k more than the 'rado so that effects re-sale as well.

The diesel 'rado is damn near impossible to find, so I gave up.

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Originally Posted by neufox47

Im in the same boat. Debating between V6 tacoma and diesel colorado / canyon.

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Do you tow?

I loved my V8 4R. But when it was time to replace it, the V6 just wouldn't cut it, pulling stuff in the mountains.

Don't do any towing at the moment, but might down the road. Going to try and get some test drives in in the next couple weeks.

What you really want is an 80 series land cruiser. If only you could find a good one for sale....

Escalade

Attachment 211936

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Originally Posted by basinbeater

What you really want is an 80 series land cruiser. If only you could find a good one for sale....

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Actually, I really want your LC80. However, the 2016 Trail Premium 4Runner sitting on 34x10.5R17 BFG's in the driveway has a monthly payment and the whole newer car thing going for it. Wish I could drive the LC.

In the spirit of this thread, I was torn between a pickup and the 4Runner I ended up with. I was looking at 1/2 ton trucks though, not something like a Taco. I occasionally ponder whether a truck would have made more sense for me, but without also investing in a shell, a truck would have been pretty useless to me. I also don't think I would have been quite as inclined to spend a week 4 wheeling in the San Juans this summer if I had an F-150 instead of a 4Runner.

I hardly ever have more than 1 passenger, so I completely removed the back seats from my 4Runner. The cargo space is pretty cavernous that way, and the rear seats weigh around 100 pounds. There are plenty of tie downs, but I would love to find a headache rack/cargo divider, such as what you see in cargo cans that I could install in my truck. Those side impact airbags complicate it substantially.

I think those newer 4runners are pretty close cargo wise to the 80s. I like the 4runners.

Oh, and the internet is worthless without pics... Post up.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/201...-and-info-news

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the SVX is essentially a lifted Disco stuffed with JLR’s supercharged, 518-hp 5.0-liter V-8 for additional roost-throwing mayhem.
The 461-lb-ft monster engine, however, seems like excessive icing on a tasty cake; the real work went into the suspension. Land Rover’s Hydraulic Active Roll Control makes its Discovery debut on the SVX, offering increased wheel articulation. The company also claims that H-ARC improves body control both on and off road, increasing traction in the rough stuff and minimizing body roll on the highway. The lifted air suspension improves approach, departure, and breakover angles, making use of long-travel dampers and new knuckles.

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Originally Posted by basinbeater

What you really want is an 80 series land cruiser. If only you could find a good one for sale....

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at this point aren't these things older than dirt?

Yeah, just as reliable too.

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Originally Posted by Shredhead

Do you tow?

I loved my V8 4R. But when it was time to replace it, the V6 just wouldn't cut it, pulling stuff in the mountains.

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I plan on towing a camper (or hauling a truck camper) or snowmobile trailer. Currently own neither.

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Originally Posted by basinbeater

Yeah, just as reliable too.

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But does dirt wear out ?

Bumping this. Test driving a couple Tacomas this week. The local dealer has an '09 and a few '14s. How are the '09s in overall reliability and day to day use vs. the '14s? I'm willing to spend more on the '14 if it's worth it. Thanks.

My sense is that within those model years, mileage and maintenance is going to have more to do with reliability than model year.

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Originally Posted by HankScorpio

Bumping this. Test driving a couple Tacomas this week. The local dealer has an '09 and a few '14s. How are the '09s in overall reliability and day to day use vs. the '14s? I'm willing to spend more on the '14 if it's worth it. Thanks.

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Love my 14

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Originally Posted by glademaster

Actually, I really want your LC80. However, the 2016 Trail Premium 4Runner sitting on 34x10.5R17 BFG's in the driveway has a monthly payment and the whole newer car thing going for it. Wish I could drive the LC.

In the spirit of this thread, I was torn between a pickup and the 4Runner I ended up with. I was looking at 1/2 ton trucks though, not something like a Taco. I occasionally ponder whether a truck would have made more sense for me, but without also investing in a shell, a truck would have been pretty useless to me. I also don't think I would have been quite as inclined to spend a week 4 wheeling in the San Juans this summer if I had an F-150 instead of a 4Runner.

I hardly ever have more than 1 passenger, so I completely removed the back seats from my 4Runner. The cargo space is pretty cavernous that way, and the rear seats weigh around 100 pounds. There are plenty of tie downs, but I would love to find a headache rack/cargo divider, such as what you see in cargo cans that I could install in my truck. Those side impact airbags complicate it substantially.

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Sweet truck congrats. Pictures please. I was looking at a low mileage black 2015 Trail at the local stealership last weekend on a Sunday. It was gone by Monday. They had it stickered more than a brand new one though. No idea what it might have sold for.

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Originally Posted by Cravenmorhead

My sense is that within those model years, mileage and maintenance is going to have more to do with reliability than model year.

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this^^ a 09 is now 8 yrs old while a 14 is only 3 yrs old and you didnt mention the milage

I take exception to that " its a toyota " mantra ... IME shit still wears out on a Toyota

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Originally Posted by XXX-er

I take exception to that " its a toyota " mantra ... IME shit still rusts out on a Toyota

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FIFY.
One would have hoped that the steel quality would have improved with moving production from Japan to the Americas. Unfortunately we also lost the continuous improvement assembly line.

Toyota's looking at an aluminum body for the taco/4R.

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Originally Posted by Shredhead

Toyota's looking at an aluminum body for the taco/4R.

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Interesting. Do you remember where you read that by chance? It is the frames that rust though and they would still be steel but an alum 4R would be pretty cool.

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Originally Posted by uglymoney

Interesting. Do you remember where you read that by chance? It is the frames that rust though and they would still be steel but an alum 4R would be pretty cool.

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It's not published. I'm a supplier to the Aluminum industry and my biggest customers supply Ford. Toyota is qualifying them and negotiating contracts.

^Nice!

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2017 ford Expeditions are clearing out for the 18s

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Originally Posted by VTeton

2017 ford Expeditions are clearing out for the 18s

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Or you could buy a 2012 and basically get the same rig.

2002 Taco

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/a...pswjwnaqsn.jpg

Bump. Looking at the Tacoma as a second car. SR or SR5 with Double Cab and 6' bed. Wasn't considering manual, but test drove one and it was surprisingly smooth. We own a 7 seater / mid-size SUV so long trips with gear are sorted.
Never buy new cars but lately I can't find any used inventory. Some dealers listing 3 year old cars with 60,000 miles for more than new. Yes, the used cars are more tricked out than the SR5, but I don't care about the bells and whistles. Want heated seats which I can get (I think) after market and need decent awd. Want the bed for skis and bikes.
Family of four. Tall. 6 and 8 year olds are growing. 6 year old will be a 3 in the NBA. I get that the backseat will be really tight really soon. I looked at the other small trucks and you can find a bit more room, but not enough to make it comfortable. We are aware of the Tundra. This thread claims the price is close. In my research it is not.
1. Is this too much to ask of the truck given our family size? It will be frequently driven with only one kid, so the empty front passenger seat could move all the way forward. Plenty of legroom.
2. I looked at Honda, Chevy, Ford. Eh. Am I missing something obvious?
3. Should I just buy a station wagon and bike rack?
We wouldn't mind the pickup for dump runs, house projects etc, but admit it is a bit of a vanity purchase. We do a lot of camping, and, by this thread's FS road standards, "off-roading" but I'm not planning on overlanding with this. Need it to handle rough, washed out roads and snow. Not much more. See this as a good purchase to hold some value. Wrong?

You can get a full sized half ton ram with eco diesel that would be better than the Tacoma. A crew cab Colorado/Canyon with baby duramax would be better too.


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