Going back to a Tacoma?

Has anyone on here gone back to a Tacoma after owning both a tundra and Tacoma?

I’ve been eyeing a long bed Tacoma and curious to others experiences.

Naturally the progression is the other way around (I already had one before buying a tundra) but considering going back…

 

Test drove a few tacomas and tried to talk myself out of the tundra
A Tacoma is plenty of work truck for my occupation & needs
but with a 2 in car seats and a big pup really can’t beat the crewmax size

 

@GODZILLA @LarryDangerfield

 

Met a guy that was a big Tundra fan. He had 5-6 Tundras - leases em every 2 yrs then switched to a Tacoma because he's waiting for his Cybertruck delivery.
He regretted getting a Tacoma. He said it can't tow $hit and would surrender it as soon as he get his hands on his cybertruck.

Also, saw a quote about the Tacoma engine - a V6 that drinks like a V8 but tow like a 4 cylinder.

 

Tacomas are neat little trucklets. If I traded my Tundra in on any other Toyota, it would be another 200 series. Hard to put a field dressed deer in the cargo area, though.

A crewmax Tundra has WAY too much utility for me.

 

I had a Tacoma for all of 4 months before trading up for a Tundra. I wanted to love it and build it out like a trophy truck because they look really awesome. The problem was it was extremely underpowered. After 2 road trips I didn't feel safe driving it on the expressway because the transmission and ECU is a complete dog. There was no way I was going to add more weight beefing it up and slowing it down even more. If it was just a "get around town" truck it would have been fine. But Florida highways are the thunderdome and that little truck couldn't keep up.

After my 2nd road trip I parked on the driveway and said outloud; "Fck this thing. I'm done". I had a Tundra 2 days later. I wish its circle-jerk community would slow down a bit and people would be more honest with it's serious power flaws.

you can probably tell I'm bitter

 

No. Keep your tundra. More room, better towing, ~same mpg, looks better.

I was looking at a new Tacoma before getting my used tundra. Once I sat inside I immediately changed my mind. Absolutely no room for me and my family in the Tacoma.

 

I had a long bed tacoma and loved it, but it was underpowered, really noticeable in the mountains, and the cockpit feels the same size as a Corolla, I have a crewmax now and would not go back, at all.

 

I had a Tacoma and loved it. Was fun to drive and looked good too. I got rid of it shortly after buying it because it ended up being too small for my families needs(car seats in the back were crammed). That being said in the future I will definitely buy one again... idk what it was about it I just miss owning one.. not sure if it will be my primary vehicle though. I actually just watched a video last night of a guy with a 2018 and 300,000mi. He tows a dump trailer with it working it hard and the only issue he has had was a code for bad cats.. ill try and find the video.

edit: here it is

https://youtu.be/4DKF3RR559E

 

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Really appreciate it.

I wouldn’t mind regearing from the beginning to address the transmission issues. Wonder if this would help with MPG as well?

Seems like families, car seats and power are the major drivers to keep the tundra.

While I’m married, we don’t have kids. The most I ever tow is a 16 ft duck boat and a 600lb four wheeler which I feel the Tacoma could handle just fine.

 

I'm considering it.

The Tacoma's just seem more truck-like than the new Tundra's.

I also think, since they are still somewhat old school, that they still have some of that legendary Toyota reliability.

I just haven't been impressed with what I've been reading about the new 3rd Generation Tundra's.

I hope I'm proven wrong.

 

Get a 2015 or prior if you are at all in tune with how your vehicle drives. The engine/transmission of the 2016+ is unbearable for anyone who pays attention to that or cares if something drives a certain way.

DCLB only comes in SR5 or TRD Sport packages for the last years they made a Tacoma (as far as I’m concerned 2015 was the last drivable model year).

Have owned Pickup, 1st Gen, two 2nd Gen Tacomas, 3rd and 4th Gen 4Runners, and 1st and 2nd Gen Tundras. Each have their use, but the 1st Gen Tundra was my favorite by far.

2015 Tacoma vs my 2016 Tundra is a case by case use in my opinion. Tundra is way more spacious if you care at all about that. The Tacoma does better on ice and back roads, etc (lighter/smaller obviously).

The wife may pick up a manual Tacoma next. I’m happier with the Tundra. If I could find a rust free 1st Gen I’d have that over the 2016 though. It’s the perfect middle between the Tacoma and newer Tundra.

Cheers

 

I would never go back to a Tacoma and I had 3 of them.

 

Sounds like the Tacoma wouldn't be a bad move for you... if you have the chance though try and rent one for a week. If you still love it after a week being in a smaller cab and sitting lower(feet more out infront of you than tundra) and are happy with the power then go for it!

 

After owning both, I definitely consider the Tacoma more of a toy and a fun truck. You can absolutely still work it hard when you keep realistic expectations. I had a 2018 Tacoma with a manual. It's geared much better for the 3.5L V6 than the automatic transmission, final drive ratio is also shorter than the auto. Towed small cargo trailers a lot with it too all over the Midwest. It's underpowered when compared to a Tundra, but honestly all is forgiven when you can get a manual in my eyes. If you've ever driven the old 3VZE 3.0L V6 trucks or even the 22R-E I4, your perspective for the current Tacoma might be a little more in line with what the typical Tacoma die-hard fan has these days. You buy the Tacoma because you know that's exactly what you want. Off-road and in snow the Tacoma is so much more enjoyable than the Tundra.

 

This is your 2nd Tundra and recently acquired, correct? I remember you swapped to do a more modest build to drive clients around for work or something like that. No judgement, but are you really thinking you need to downsize, or are you just looking for the next new thing?

If it’s the latter, sometimes just holding out until that “I want something new” feeling passes can save you a significant amount of money.

I’ve never wished I had less truck except maybe the fuel consumption would be nice. But a Taco for me has a lot less utility.

 

My wife wants a new Tacoma which is in our future. I have 2nd Gen Tundra and like the size. She has went from a 1994 Land Cruiser (why didn't I keep that one?), Lexus RX300, Lexus GX460 and now a Lexus LX470. I say why not look into the Nissan Frontier or Ridgeline and she says no way Toyota only. Both our kids drive 1st Gen Tundras so a Toyota family. Oh I also have a 1999 Tahoe last year of the 2 door and like the truck but not even near the quality of a Toyota product.

 

Tacomas are for people that want a Subaru with a bed

The fact they may be literally the slowest vehicle on the road is enough argument for me.

 

Have owned two Tacomas previously, never again. Would take a 4R over a Tacoma ANY DAY. Had a 2020 Pro 4R for a year or so, was a wildly better vehicle than my previous Tacomas outside of the random times I needed the entire bed length with something higher than the cab. Even then, the cargo room in the 4R was VERY impressive. If they would put the GX's V8/6spd/torsen into the current 4R, it would be about the perfect vehicle.

 

Setting inside a Tacoma versus setting inside a Tundra is a huge difference, and no pun intended! The Tacoma and all other trucks in that class are just small inside, I don't see how anybody over 6' could be comfortable in the front seats (not to mention the rear.)

I think Toyota use to put the 4.0 V6 in the Tacoma? I've got a 2012 Tundra RCLB 2WD with the 4.0, and the way it is tuned and geared, it's no dog. If you get on the gas, she will go! And we routinely haul 2,000+ pounds in the bed for my machine shop---all I've done is add SumoSprings and Powerstop upgraded brakes.

ToolCat

 

Full size is life. Can’t go back even though I loved my 99 and 08 tacos