Tundra vs Tacoma

As far as off road the Tacoma will be far superior. Get him an 05-15 Tacoma trd off road with a 6 speed manual.

 

I was waiting for someone to make this point. Been Jeeping for years. The Tacoma and it's predecessors always did well off-road and even in Iraq and Afghanistan. Durable, nimble, and light enough to go just about anywhere. Gear it appropriately and it's a done deal. I love my Tundra but she's a big b*tch, way to heavy, and has a turning radius of an aircraft carrier.

 

I'm 6'2 240lbs and my first gen Tacoma is fine from a comfort perspective.
If he's going to do any wheeling a Tacoma is a better choice. If he's going to be towing then the Tundra would be better.
Daily driving is subjective which is better.

For his first vehicle I'd go Tacoma.

 

I'm not 100% sure on that... more likely if Taco is 2015 or older. I think (not sure) the 3rd gen Taco is on a different platform than the current (ha ha!) 5th gen 4Runner.

 

you answered your own question and it is gas related (for me anyway)
it's his first ride, he is going to enjoy the hell out of it and have a heavy foot.
Save many pennies in gas, and use the savings to put toward a newer tundra down the road
if he wants to wheel, the taco is clearly slimmer
an older boxy 4 runner might catch his eye

 

I’ve had a 2nd gen Tundra, 3rd gen Tundra and a 2015 Tacoma in that order.

I’m 6’ 4” and 265. I never felt cramped in the Tacoma it was a crew cab. But really no one could fit behind me but they are young so they can make it work lol. It would be a no go on the access cab.

For what you’re saying a 6ft bed crew cab 2nd gen Tacoma would the ultimate find. Gives him time to get up his driving skills and not have to worry about a big truck getting places. I loved the plug in the bed. He’ll be the envy of his friends with that.

 

everyone is throwing out solid options so i'll leave them to that but i will add this.
my first vehicle was an 87 toyota 4x4 that i bought with my own money. it was small, cheap and not the nicest vehicle out there but it was mine. every vehicle after that was incrementally better until 25 years later i drive a tundra. i think the biggest disservice you can do for a kid these days is give them something new that leaves no room to improve or something they had no hand in purchasing.

 

Myself; I would let him buy his own truck, and go to the casino

 

I've had:
'87 Toyota Pick-up MT, 4 cyl., 4X4 non-ext cab
'89 Toyota Pick-up MT, V6, 4X4 DLX Ext. cab (still own)
'97 4Runner SR5, AT, V6, 4X4
'98 Tacoma SR5, AT, V6, 4X4 Ext. cab
'00 Tundra SR5, AT, 4.7L V8, 4X4 Ext. cab
'01 Sequoia Limited, AT, 4.7L V8, 2WD
'02 4Runner Red Sport, AT, V6, 4X4
'02 4Runner Gray Sport, AT, V6, 4X4
'06 Sequoia Limited, AT, 4.7L V8, 2WD
'06 Tundra Limited, AT, 4.7L V8, 4X4
'07 4Runner Limited AT, 4.7L V8, AWD
'16 Tundra 1794, AT, 5.7L V8, 4X4
Being the first vehicle, I wouldn't spoil him. He can only go up! I gave my son my '89 as a first truck to limit the number of friends he could haul around and minimize possible damage costs. If you want an affordable used Toyota for power, safety, comfort, and maneuverability, the '03-'09 4Runners are hard to beat.

The first gen Tundras also do a nice job of bridging the small to large pick-up gap:

 

I agree with this statement. If he’s a hard working man that would appreciate what his parents are affording him. I could see the the responsibility to pay for modding and maintenance.

I mean there is always room for improvement. I went backwards and am loving every minute of my restore. Well most every minute

 

I'm also of the opinion that a vehicle is a luxury and thus something kids should buy with their own money. I rode the bus to my first summer job until I saved up enough to buy an old Civic.

 

I had to share a '75 VW Bug with my brother!...sorry rascal never put gas in it either.

 

My sister has a 2018 4Runner, calls it her mom-mobile. I rode in it a couple times, felt slightly roomier than my ‘15 Tacoma but as far as being useful goes.. not my cup of tea. She has 3 kids, 3 dogs, does zero offroading, and has access to her husband’s 3/4 ton pickup for hauling and towing.

 

Highlander is more of a mom-mobile. If I were seriously off roading, I would at least look at a 4R since no other reliable manufacturer has anything as good (that I can think of right now).

 

I mean, shes a mom and calls it that. I have no kids so I cannot confirm nor deny that statement. The highlander has turned into a puddle-jumper, the two older kids are over 6’ already. You arent cramming em in one of those along with the barking dogs and groceries. Im actually surprised she didnt go for a sequoia. I suggested it, she said theyre ‘fuck-ugly’ and didnt want to drive one.

 

Theres no accounting for taste. We’re polar opposites..

 

Maybe the earlier gens, but the current 3rd gen Tacoma and 5th gen 4Runner are nothing alike. I think this was at least part of my disappointment when sitting in the Taco. In the 4Runner, you are sitting up in a chair with your knees more level with your hips. The interior has a completely different, more open feel than the Taco.

4Runner feels much more solid to me as well. Maybe part of that is that it’s still built in Japan, I don’t know. I get the appeal of the Tacoma for many, but I was expecting it to be a 4Runner with a bed. But it seemed to me to be a more of a Camry with a bed. The interior felt so cramped, and the seats are on the floor.

I do agree with others that the 4Runner is an off-roading beast. Best angles and stock options (KDSS, suspension, locker) for around $40k.

 

I'm not going to fault a woman for choosing a body on frame truck as her choice for a mom-mobile! The 4R is a very versatile machine. She may not have to drive the kids over the river and through the woods to get them to Grandma's house, but she might do it simply because she can.

 

One of my off-road buddies from 2000 or so. That toyota was geared 5.38 with a 4-1TC... Bullet proof. I'm waiting at the bottom.

 

Shortages sure have taken over our area. There are 2 Toyota dealerships in my area, one of which I normally do business with. We finally decided to get a Tacoma for the Son but neither dealership has _any_ trucks. (Tacoma or Tundra) This is crazy. My dealership had one of the trims we wanted (TRD Off Road) scheduled for a June 14 build start with a delivery at the end of July. Ended up putting a deposit on that one just to secure it. It's also sad that all the trucks are going at full sticker. Our salesman has sold us 4 vehicles over the years and said that management has absolutely no discounting right now. As with us, he said almost all trucks being received are already sold before they even get off the truck.

 

I'm 6'8" and 285lbs on the internet
I find the first gen Tundra much more comfortable than 2nd gen Taco. Cheaper to buy, comparable on gas, kills the Taco on grunt and bed size is right.

That said, my buddies and I destroyed many trucks off reading when we were young. I would go with the cheapest option possible if thats the intent, but something modern enough to have airbags and such is smart money.

 

2nd gen tacoma

 

Im 6'1" was 175 lbs when I owned my Tacomas. 1st gens were doable and I loved my 2nd gen. Ive been in a 3rd gen and they seem pretty comparable to a 2nd gen for interior comfort.

As much as I love my tundra, id still be in a tacoma if it werent for needing more interior room for a car seat.

As far as fuel economy goes... my 13 taco with bumpers, sliders, winch and 35s got the same gas mileage as my tundra with bumpers, sliders, winch and also on 35s.

Just my opinion.

 

That is a thought process that many go by, however not me. Being a young driver I want him to have the most current safety features and such Also don’t want the possibility of used one breaking down. When discussing this with my slightly older daughter, she admitted to me that the safety features have saved her in the past.

 

Nothing wrong with wanting safety for your kids at all. I wish my parents cared that much. My first car was a baja bug and mom's biggest concern was don't leak oil in her driveway.

 

i grew up the same way. My first car was a POS that should not have been on the road. Can’t tell you how many time I broke down and needed help. I think that plays a factor on how I view this now.

 

I am going to catch some crap for this...BUT the Highlander is an excellent vehicle. Additionally if you aren’t going to go wheeling than the Highlander is typically a better choice. I enjoyed my 4Runner but never really loved it (mostly because it was an SUV). My wife’s Highlander is much more comfortable, gets better mpg’s, and can tow the same amount as the 4R. The Highlander is no “mom mobile” again until the tires hit dirt...

 

So far, having a Corolla for my wife's daily/our around town needs and the Tundra for my daily and our hauling/towing/camping needs is working for us but we'll see if my wife eventually wants something bigger if we have another kid.