If you do not need to tow, get a long bed TRD Sport Tacoma with access cab and manual transmission and no extras for $37K. Get a Valley Runner Sport tune. Enjoy it.I have more vehicles than shoes. All are pretty serviceable. But all are old and only partially reliable. I am over 50. I will retire in under two years. In my 50+ years I have purchased ONE new vehicle. I am simply not a vehicle diva. I despise it really. Can I appreciate nice trucks? Sure. I say I am Cheap. My other half says I am Frugal. I have tons of cool rifles, bows, target bows, great optics, and my urn will not be big enough to melt me with all my Sitka, Kifaru packs and Filson wool.
But Dave Ramsey and my cheap ass simply cannot get over the price of a new truck. A pretty lame F-150 is $55,000. I have built a bunch of Taccomas and Chevy Colorados online. They're the cheapest at $40-$44,000. And even with grown kids and no friends (meaning I dont ever see needing more than a passenger seat) I am not certain I want to ride into old age in a Micro Truck.
For $80,000 I would rather buy and extra acre in Montana or Idaho.
But at some point I need something newer and reliable.
All these threads (I've read most every Tacoma thread) turn into a "Well my XXXXx kicks major ass". I guess I am kinda asking for that opinion here.
I suffer terribly from both being Cheap and Analysis Paralysis. Watched a ton of Tacoma vids on the YouTubes. Read a bunch. What I read other than phenomenal resale and longevity is gutless, drum brakes, 20 year old technology. Wait for a 2024 Gen 4??? I don't need a truck today. Or this hunting season.
I'm pissed that truck beds keep getting smaller. Why? I slept in my '99 Tacoma bed (6ftish) all over Washington and Idaho this fall. Solo ramble. Had a blast. I really don't want a 5 ft bed.
My opinion of modern society is very poor, as is my opinion of the current generation. But am I the only one who wants a manual lever on a transfer case? Could roll my own window down if need be too.
I've crossed paths with a few of the diesel Colorado owners. They are in love. I've searched a 300 mile radius and I can not find a Colorado, long bed, diesel. And I am not 100% I'd chunk down the money today, but it's the closest I've found to possibly Happy.
I've been overwhelmed with lithium, chips, Supply and Demand, interest rates, the apocolypse.....will vehicle prices ever subside? Very poor time to purchase? And is there a short list of "clear winners"?
This is an option to think of. There is a company out of Spokane that will completely rebuild a truck and upgrade it as well. So you could send them a 2005 dodge 3/4 ton with the 5.9 and it gets a complete rebuild. Motor transmission everything. They will add heated seats big touch screen in the dash ect. I almost went that route. So if you have a truck you love, well they make it pretty brand new.I have more vehicles than shoes. All are pretty serviceable. But all are old and only partially reliable. I am over 50. I will retire in under two years. In my 50+ years I have purchased ONE new vehicle. I am simply not a vehicle diva. I despise it really. Can I appreciate nice trucks? Sure. I say I am Cheap. My other half says I am Frugal. I have tons of cool rifles, bows, target bows, great optics, and my urn will not be big enough to melt me with all my Sitka, Kifaru packs and Filson wool.
But Dave Ramsey and my cheap ass simply cannot get over the price of a new truck. A pretty lame F-150 is $55,000. I have built a bunch of Taccomas and Chevy Colorados online. They're the cheapest at $40-$44,000. And even with grown kids and no friends (meaning I dont ever see needing more than a passenger seat) I am not certain I want to ride into old age in a Micro Truck.
For $80,000 I would rather buy and extra acre in Montana or Idaho.
But at some point I need something newer and reliable.
All these threads (I've read most every Tacoma thread) turn into a "Well my XXXXx kicks major ass". I guess I am kinda asking for that opinion here.
I suffer terribly from both being Cheap and Analysis Paralysis. Watched a ton of Tacoma vids on the YouTubes. Read a bunch. What I read other than phenomenal resale and longevity is gutless, drum brakes, 20 year old technology. Wait for a 2024 Gen 4??? I don't need a truck today. Or this hunting season.
I'm pissed that truck beds keep getting smaller. Why? I slept in my '99 Tacoma bed (6ftish) all over Washington and Idaho this fall. Solo ramble. Had a blast. I really don't want a 5 ft bed.
My opinion of modern society is very poor, as is my opinion of the current generation. But am I the only one who wants a manual lever on a transfer case? Could roll my own window down if need be too.
I've crossed paths with a few of the diesel Colorado owners. They are in love. I've searched a 300 mile radius and I can not find a Colorado, long bed, diesel. And I am not 100% I'd chunk down the money today, but it's the closest I've found to possibly Happy.
I've been overwhelmed with lithium, chips, Supply and Demand, interest rates, the apocolypse.....will vehicle prices ever subside? Very poor time to purchase? And is there a short list of "clear winners"?
My $0.02 (I have an F350, for towing, full disclosure).
If you're gonna keep it for a long time/drive the wheels off, you have two options -
1) Keep the easy to self diagnose and work on current lineup you have, or
2) Get something new and drive it "forever". Since you're gonna drive it until it dies, the warranty doesn't really matter because you'll own it outside of warranty anyway. If it makes you feel better, get the extended plan to cover major items in the first 5-7 years (I do on newer vehicles with a lot of tech in them and shop around for the best deal).
WTF did ego come into it? My '99 Taco is a micro truck. With a 87 pound duck dog in the extended cab....he is still essentially in my lap. Laying a rifle and a backpack on the platform I built over "rear seat" is rather difficult and completely fills the rear area. Battling your passenger for the arm rest console like Southwest airlines is just fact, not ego.If you do not need to tow, get a long bed TRD Sport Tacoma with access cab and manual transmission and no extras for $37K. Get a Valley Runner Sport tune. Enjoy it.
The manual gets you a real key.
Tacomas are midsized. I wish they where smaller.
If a "microtruck" is too tough on your ego, drop the money on an F-250. Or, take your time and find a used truck you like.
Don't worry though, the "gutless" opinion of the Tacoma and disliking drum brakes makes you very modern, so regardless of your opinion of modern society, you are solidly part of it if you need a big truck that handles like a sports car to be happy in retirement.
The Tacoma just works. My 2021 has more tech than I like, but less than most new trucks. Whish my 1997 was a double cab and did not need an engine rebuild as I like the simplicity.
Good recommendation, fantastic warranty. The new Frontier is a looker, and the Titan is a fine ride too--a bit more thirsty at the pump.Check out Nissan, either the Titan or the Frontier. IMO more reliable than the Toyota. Yeah resale value is not what the Toyota is, but its up there and will beat out the Colorado for sure. I have guys at work with Tacomas and Tundras and they are not satisfied with the reliability. Injector issues, fuel pumps, EVAP system is a piece of work, etc. Luckily they all bought the extended warranty or they would likely be upside on the maintenance. I've owned 2 Titans and a Frontier, Titans have 100k factory warranty that you dont have to pay for and I have used it once. Mileage is about the same. And this is not a pavement princess, as you know living in Boundary county, we have some mighty fine woods roads.
I’ve hated Chevy since my 2005 Duramax experience. The truck was bad, GM’s attempts to avoid fixing it were worse. That said my company just sent me a 2023 Silverado 1500 and it’s pretty nice. I don’t know what we paid, but the sticker was higher than the OP sounded like he was looking for.No Chevy guys?
I like my Silverado enough to trade it in for a new one of the same, every 3 years.
What am I missing?