CMB1998
11-12-2005, 03:15 PM
Well I have had my tundra for about 3 months now, and I have been meaning to post what I thought about it for quite a while. So here goes. This is just for information, and I am hoping someone will find this before the ask the questions.
My previous truck was a 96 Tacoma (V6 5spd) that I drove until Sep 05. GREAT TRUCK. Put 150K on it, and the only problem I ever had was a starter. I replaced the clutch at 125K and you couldnt tell the difference from the old clutch disk to the new one if you held them side by side.
I bought a boat in 02 (4200lbs loaded) and often used the Taco to pull the boat. I did several trips of 1000 miles+ pulling the boat where I was at the tow limit for the truck and it alwyas did great. Granted I was doing 45 in 3rd gear up hills sometimes, it never left me stranded. My taco would get 17-19 on the highway loaded, and 13-15 pulling the boat.
It was time to replace my Taco, and I wanted somthing with 4 doors. Personally I think the pre-05 D-Cab tacos are the best looking trucks ever designed, but I needed somthing with more tow-rating so they were out.
I knew I was going to go Toyota so I looked at the new Taco's and the Tundras. I really like the new Taco's and a budy of mine bought one when they first came out. I spent some time behind the wheel of his. My impressions was that the new taco's were far more refined than the old taco's, but personlly what I like about my old taco was that it was a down to basics truck. The new taco's had good power, but with a boat behind it you could tell it was still a V6. They were louder than the Tundra's, and the drivetrain wasn't as refined. Don't get wrong, personally I think the Taco's look slightly better than the Tundra's, but that wasn't enough for me to pick one over a tundra.
What ended up making the deceision for me was I got the tundra for less than I could have gotten a taco for. My budy bought his for $29K (D-CAB, 4x4 V6, 6spd). I paid a little less than 29K and I got a D-CAB SR5 V8 auto, 4x4 lmt slip, sunroof (wich you cant get in a taco), JBL, and a bunch of crap i didnt care about (ie 17in wheels, compass and temp, ect.).
To me i got much more truck for less money. Immmeditaly after buying my truck I drove from Portland to Anchorage (3000 miles). The truck did great.
No problems. I get 17-19 mpg on the freeway, so I am getting about the same MPG as my Taco with the 3.4. It rides much better (its like a freaking caddie on the open road, I love it) and can tow far more with ease. However, it gets much worse MPG in town. Usually around 14-15, where my taco was 16-17. There is no question that this truck is much less capable off road than my taco. I didnt get it for that. One note though is it does MUCH better in the snow than my taco ever did.
Overall I am very happy with it. My only complaint is the dash rattle that the dealer has been unable to locate after 3 trips and the cruise control is really egan to downshift on slight hills.
Later,
Chris
My previous truck was a 96 Tacoma (V6 5spd) that I drove until Sep 05. GREAT TRUCK. Put 150K on it, and the only problem I ever had was a starter. I replaced the clutch at 125K and you couldnt tell the difference from the old clutch disk to the new one if you held them side by side.
I bought a boat in 02 (4200lbs loaded) and often used the Taco to pull the boat. I did several trips of 1000 miles+ pulling the boat where I was at the tow limit for the truck and it alwyas did great. Granted I was doing 45 in 3rd gear up hills sometimes, it never left me stranded. My taco would get 17-19 on the highway loaded, and 13-15 pulling the boat.
It was time to replace my Taco, and I wanted somthing with 4 doors. Personally I think the pre-05 D-Cab tacos are the best looking trucks ever designed, but I needed somthing with more tow-rating so they were out.
I knew I was going to go Toyota so I looked at the new Taco's and the Tundras. I really like the new Taco's and a budy of mine bought one when they first came out. I spent some time behind the wheel of his. My impressions was that the new taco's were far more refined than the old taco's, but personlly what I like about my old taco was that it was a down to basics truck. The new taco's had good power, but with a boat behind it you could tell it was still a V6. They were louder than the Tundra's, and the drivetrain wasn't as refined. Don't get wrong, personally I think the Taco's look slightly better than the Tundra's, but that wasn't enough for me to pick one over a tundra.
What ended up making the deceision for me was I got the tundra for less than I could have gotten a taco for. My budy bought his for $29K (D-CAB, 4x4 V6, 6spd). I paid a little less than 29K and I got a D-CAB SR5 V8 auto, 4x4 lmt slip, sunroof (wich you cant get in a taco), JBL, and a bunch of crap i didnt care about (ie 17in wheels, compass and temp, ect.).
To me i got much more truck for less money. Immmeditaly after buying my truck I drove from Portland to Anchorage (3000 miles). The truck did great.
No problems. I get 17-19 mpg on the freeway, so I am getting about the same MPG as my Taco with the 3.4. It rides much better (its like a freaking caddie on the open road, I love it) and can tow far more with ease. However, it gets much worse MPG in town. Usually around 14-15, where my taco was 16-17. There is no question that this truck is much less capable off road than my taco. I didnt get it for that. One note though is it does MUCH better in the snow than my taco ever did.
Overall I am very happy with it. My only complaint is the dash rattle that the dealer has been unable to locate after 3 trips and the cruise control is really egan to downshift on slight hills.
Later,
Chris