To ‘24, or not to ‘24…that is the question

I’ve been eyeing up the 3rd gen’s for quite some time. I have a ‘17 pro that I really love. It has turned into my work truck which consists of a lot of highway driving. My truck needs have kind of changed so I feel like the 6.5 bed as well as the creature comforts of the gen 3 would be worthwhile.

There have been a couple times I almost pulled the trigger on a gen 3 but I talked myself out of it everytime because each truck wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Well my exact truck popped up somewhat locally. With everything going on it is a smoking hot deal IMO.

My reservations/questions:

Does anyone feel there is less legroom in the driver seat? Specifically from side to side?

Has there been a lot of ‘24s with engine failure? I feel like they haven’t recalled ‘24s yet because they are still trying to sell them off lol

Do I wait for 25’s in case there is a design flaw with current engines?

I’m dumb, but am I a total moron for considering buying an engine that may or may not be a ticking time bomb?

Thanks!

 

I mean any truck can fail at any point. There is quite a bit of engine failures documented on the 3rd Gen Tacoma forum and most people consider that truck reliable. I had 2 3 rd Gen Tacomas and love both of them but like you my needs changed and needed a bigger truck and longer bed. Coming from the Tacoma I feel I have so much space inside the cab and my kid appreciates all the added space too. I only have this website to go by and so far I have only seen two documented cases posted on here for 2024. People are saying they are failing left and right but I don’t see that. But don’t have Facebook and that seems like where most the information is coming from. My 2024 has been solid but only have 5600 miles on it. Build date is 10/23 so if they did redesign the bearing and other parts my truck doesn’t have it. if you find that truck has a build day part 4/24 it should have the updated parts and hopefully is fixed. But really only you can determine if the risk is worth it. I’ve taken my truck on multiple trips so far and it drives so nice and haven’t had any issues. Good luck with your decision!

 

How have your truck needs changed?

The cab is definitely smaller feeling with reduced visibility. Yes, there are 24s (both hybrid and non) that have failed. Not a huge number of them. But it is continuing well outside the recall window.

That aside, the bottom line for me is that there is nothing I would do with a 3rd gen that I wouldn’t also do with my 2nd. Spending the money doesn’t make sense to me unless I went to an HD truck, which I may have to do if we outgrow the half ton world.

You drive a truck you can depend on for as long as you want. Don’t take that for granted. Shelling out $25-35k for one more foot of bed space doesn’t seem like a wise move to me.

 

Just wait till 2025s are out in a few months. Why roll the dice with 2024s if you're not in a hurry

 

Toyota field report has little to zilch findings on the 2024 involved with the engine failure. I had the recall on my transmission software update but that was it.

 

If it were me I would wait a few months for either '25 or get the very latest build date on a 24 possible and you will also get the incentives for model year end.

 

I wouldn’t buy right now. I’d wait it out, at least a few more months. I suspect 24’s will eventually be added to the recall. It’s hard to completely ignore this issue and just enjoy the truck. I’d hold on to what you’ve got.

 

If you absolutely need a 6.5’ bed, find a 2.5gen doublecab. They’re not figuring this out in a few months.

 

Test drive the 24 and see if you like it. Only you can decide. However, the deals are now, and more likely on 24 not 25. Doubt there will be any substantive changes to the 25.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. If my perfectly optioned truck didn’t pop up I probably wouldn’t consider it. I’ll likely just not pull the trigger fast enough and let someone else get the hot deal

 

Buy a trailer or a bigger trailer for the “extra foot of bed space.”

 

2.5 gen crewmax with a custom large hitch basket or even swingout hitch cargo box is like having two short beds. Trust me, I can haul a bunch of stuff with a shortbed truck and a strong suspension while still keeping the headlights focused. A 6.5' bed can't compare, not even close. It's like having a trailer without the storage, maintenance, registration, etc. For an idea, my basket is big and stout enough to haul my garden tractor around.

 

Or this.

I would reassess in the springtime if you really think you need the new tech and creature comforts.

There are at least a handful of 24MY engine failures.

 

No way I'd make that trade, not in a thousand years. For financial reasons as well as mechanical ones.

If I just HAD to trade a perfectly good truck "that I really love" (as you said) I would look at all the truck brands out there. There is no longer any reason to believe Toyota remains supreme.

But again. Trading in a perfectly good truck that you really love is just an absolutely terrible idea.

 

another thought, the 2025s are just about here and toyota production is rolling, you should be able to find the truck you want in the newer model, this would be well after the bearing part swap and down the road build from all this BS and they start to building those in sept (ish)

 

I always say Life is short. Do what you want to do. I wouldn’t be asking total strangers for purchase advice. For people to say I would not spend the money on a new one , they have no idea what your financial situation is. Maybe you’re able to buy one no sweat. Maybe not. Only you can make that choice. If you found a truck you love,go for it.
Good luck in your hunt.

 

no way dude, thats too rational for a truck website

 

Just got an ad today some Toyota dealerships are offering 0% financing up to 72 months

 

Leg room side to side is definitely less than my 2007. Left leg a-ok, but I have a harder time keeping my right leg truly comfortable. A little test drive will prove that out for your own legs though.

 

I’d agreed…. You can save $60k easily

 

https://www.theramprack.com/

 

The real plus to the 24's right now is the money off and the 1.99% rate. As stated above anything after 4/24 build date has the most current fix that you're gonna get with a 25. It's being said we may not see a facia redesign until 26

 

Do what makes you happy !! I waited 4mths for my 6.5’ cm Ltd . Still waiting for my Trd lift to be released and the 3k worth of wheels and tires to be installed . Truth is ,, Man I love driving this Truck !! I’ll wait for the goodies but this thing is light years ahead of the last 6 Tundras I’ve owned . Creature comforts , camera angles , turbo spool , better gas mileage , remote options from the app and not to mention the ability to track vehicles if you have a fleet of new Yotas in service . All free for the term of a 3 yr lease . It’s like havin a babysitter as overwatch on your investment ! Don’t worry about the bs ,, buy it , drive it , enjoy it and get rid of it before warranty expires , just like everything else these days. If it flys , floats or fks ,,,,, your better off renting it

That said, I’ve plowed snow with my Tundras since 2009 . I don’t think this new truck could handle the abuse . It will not get the plow treatment ‍♂️

 

Do It. No Ragrets

 

I may be completely wrong, but it seems that OP is itching for something new and looking to be hyped up into it. He’s probably hesitant to dive in because we’re heading into the 2025 model year next month—that’s the 4th model year—of the new Tundra, and still seeing unresolved issues.

That’s a great point. Brand new in every way—one of those ways being a loss of confidence, especially over the long term.

 

I wouldn’t buy a 3rd gen Tundra period. They took the cheap way out and it shows in multiple ways when you look at these new Tundras closely. The great Toyota QDR myth has been shattered. That was the only reason to buy a Toyota. If you really need a bigger truck look at the GM HD’s.

 

Heard much about the new Tacoma?

 

Obviously he’s taking about trucks, not all Toyotas (refer to his last sentence), and he’s also obviously not referring to the engine only (he said Toyota cheaped out in multiple ways).

People can express frustration with and/or disappointment in Toyota without (former) 3rd gen owners misrepresenting them.

 

I would wait for the 25s to roll out just to let the hive dissect it and see if there’s any substantial changes. Then there will still be 24s on the lot that need to be off-loaded for better deals. Just because the perfect truck is in front of you, don’t let it distract you from logic and reasoning. I originally came here when my eye was on the 3rd gen, but after driving a 2.5 I’ve shifted my focus to hunting down the perfect last gen. The 2.5 has noticeably more cabin space, better visibility, and a better turning radius. The 3rd gen has a better frame less susceptible to rot from some stuff they engineered in. I feel pretty confident Toyota will dial in the new engine to be as bullet proof as possible, but I personally feel like it will have a few more years to get there (likely by the 3.5 refresh). Regardless, I’m sure most people are happier in the 3rd gen than the forum leads us to believe.

 

Agree, am very happy with the new model but hard to argue the 2.5 strong points. The camera set-up in new models do make up for slightly less visibility.