Recent 3rd gen years... Are you happy?

I've been driving my 2006 two-wheel drive Tacoma for about 7 years now and absolutely love it. But I'm ready to start getting out and exploring even more than I already do. We use this truck for camping and occasional overland trips. I've installed the Detroit Truetrac and it has been great. I love having the long bed so I can sleep back there with one of my kids and relax back there on my lunch breaks at work since we don't have proper break rooms. Just been bugging me for years not having four wheel drive. Hesitant to go out on longer and more remote trips solo and don't like being the two-wheel drive guy when I'm with a group. Even though my truck is done great and never really slowed us down.

I love having a paid off truck. And an older truck that I don't mind scratching up or getting dinged. But I feel like if I hold on to it, the value is just going to slowly creep down. And then when I'm ready to get something four-wheel drive I'm going to regret holding on to this so long.

So I'm starting to play with the idea of buying a brand new truck for the first time ever. How are you guys liking the third gens? I know they've had some issues in the first few years but those seem to be ironed out. I wanted to wait for the 4th gen Tacoma, but I don't want to Wait that long or break my rule of never buying a first year generation vehicle. So I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on something else. My dad has a really nice Nissan Titan pro 4X. But the bed is not 6ft. And I don't think they're 6 foot bed options come with a locker. Don't really like the new tundra at all. Definitely want to stay with Toyota or Nissan. I really love that Toyota offers the TRD off-road in a long bed. That seems to be where other manufacturers are missing the mark. Also, I love the 4.0 engine paired with 4.10 gears and 255/80/17 tires. I feel like I hit the sweet spot.

What are your thoughts?

 

Love my third gen after I tuned it.
That being said, if you're paid off I would just keep socking away money and save for the second or third year of the 4th gen if you find you still want a newer truck, whenever it comes out. If the rumors are true it will make use of the same powerplant as the new tundra which would be awesome.
Other than some creature comforts I see no reason to pay the insane dealer markups for a 3rd gen. Not that I expect the 4th gen to be any cheaper, but at this point you would be paying full price for what in all practicality is a 7 year old vehicle in design and powertrain.
IMO just enjoy no car payment and low insurance premiums! Drive it 'till the wheels fall off and honestly it probably isn't going to depreciate much more. You're talking maybe a couple thousand dollars

 

I bought my 2019 brand new in cash for the same reasons. I hate loans on depreciating liabilities.

I wouldn’t buy a third gen again, though, personally. The transmission sucks, the engine is underpowered, the seating position is uncomfortable, they smoke on inclines due to PCV flooding, and there have been some really alarming failures popping up pretty regularly on these forums.

Yes, you can do regear and OVTune (which I’ve done) and they do help, but not enough.

 

Love mine.

Don't plan on getting anything different for the next 20+ years.

 

I'm very happy with my 2021, but yeah probably keep it. Maybe invest in a winch, traction boards, or new tires if you're worried about holding your 4wd buds back on the trail, but sounds like that's not much of an issue currently. If you're really worried about that, you could always adopt the role of "the guy that brings snacks/drinks" or whatever, to offset any guilt from needing more winching or pulling than others.

 

Love mine. Even after all the research I did and hearing all the complaining on forums.

More tech on its way to newer iterations of the Taco. I wanted less tech, if it could be helped.

 

If I had to do it over again, instead of my fully loaded 4drOR short bed, I would simplify things. I would get an AC SR5, probably 4wd but definitely NO tech pkg, sun roof, leather. I would splurge on aftermarket leather seat covers.

Everyone seems to think the next Gen will have a 4cyl turbo…. I personally would not buy that.

I had a 2005 AC PreRunner…. I miss that truck. I don’t think you will regret keeping yours.

 

I know 2017 is not recent, but I love my DCSB Sport MT. A long bed would be nice, but could not get the Dbl cab in MT with a long bed. Overall, this truck has been awesome and very reliable truck for ~77K. I own it and plan to keep it a very long time.

 

I love mine too. (2018 SR5)
Is it perfect? No.
But no vehicle will be.
Overall I have no complaints and have had a ton of fun with it.

 

i have both like and dislike feelings towards mine. i purchased it mainly for the MT and improved (not great) fuel mileage over what i was driving. other than some functional things like a canopy and better tires, i keep my vehicles stock and do not mod them.

i would not buy again unless they improved the quality of materials and assembly. i would be OK paying more for these. i am somewhat worried about the reliability to the extent that i may purchase an extended warranty which is something i never did before for any vehicle.

if i had to replace it today i would look at a 1/2 ton full size, and not the tundra.

in 5-10 years i think it will be more apparent that the 3rd gen did not improve the overall brand. if toyota hits it out of the park with the 4th gen, the value of used 3rd gens will drop dramatically.

 

I've had my 2022 for about 10 months now. I'm very happy with it so far. I've gotten decent gas mileage and the build quality of my Tacoma is top notch. I've upgraded intake, exhaust, and several items in the cabin so far. I'm glad I have the v6 and although there's times I'd like a little more power, I'm happy with this drivetrain and glad I got the last Gen before the 4 banger Turbos are coming. My biggest regret/thing I would change is that I would have gotten the premium package with the leather seats. The cloth seats are not comfortable to me, at all. I plan on fixing this by having a local shop install Katzkin leather seats this year. I have younger kids so at some point in the next 5-8 years I'll probably upgrade to a full size to accomdate them. For now, both my kinds and the wife all fit fine in my Double Cab.

 

Traded in my 2019 jeep Cherokee altitude for a 2023 SR5 SX edition a few months ago and I am loving it so far. Upgrading would depend on YOUR use for the truck. Everyone will have different opinions on the matter. Good luck!

 

I absolutely love my 2021 4x4 SR5. I plan on putting hundreds of thousands of miles on it. I bought it new and I just hit 26K miles last week, so I drive it alot. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned. It has everything I need and nothing I don’t need; no frills, no fancy stuff.

I got the KDMax tune early on and that fixed the sluggish driving. I’ve been in love ever since.

 

After tune, and proper AT tires, I'm liking my truck (with exception of the pitiful gas mileage). And yeah, I know it's a truck and would get lower gas mileage. But, it would be great if it got maybe 4-5 mpg better than it does...

 

100% super wicked happy with my first Toyota and my first Tacoma.

 

got my 2022 last year in Sep. Beforehand, I drove 2 @ the local car max, the Bronco, and a new Jeep as well so I knew what I was going to get with the OR.

sounds like you're happy with your '06 so this probably isn't an issue but the only thing I wish was better with the Tac is the interior space. I wish it was bigger. Can't really stretch out and my head will touch the headliner now and then, but having the sunroof doesn't help. if there was a MT Tundra? in a heartbeat.

 

Oh, forgot to mention, cruise control doesn’t really work on these trucks. It’s constantly downshifting and revving the snot out of the engine on every incline. I just pretend it isn’t there. It’s bad.

 

Bought a used 2016 MT Off Road with over 100,000 miles and couldn't be happier.

 

I have been very happy with my 2021 /TRDOR access cab. No complaints whatsoever (OK, not a fan of all the tech but can't avoid it), and the long bed is perfect for sleeping and hauling. I haven't made any substantial modifications other than minor creature comforty things and things to protect from wear and tear. I would still take Toyota's quality and reliability any day over any other small truck manufacturer. But I don't ask much of my vehicles except #1 reliability and #2 allowing me to go where I want to go when I want to go...and return!

 

Couple of things I don't like on my '21 3rd gen compared to the old 07 2nd gen.
- less interior storage, the door pockets are smaller, behind the rear seats is also smaller.
- power is at the top end of the rev range
- only one small cubbie in the bedside

I do like
- heated front seats
- side mirror defrost

Otherwise, pretty much the same