I am trying to talk myself out of selling my '08 Tundra and finding a lightly used '10 or newer Tacoma. I started driving Toyota trucks in '01 with a '95 4x4 22RE 5 spd single cab pickup (that was unstoppable), and then an '03 TRD SR5 Tacoma that I bought new and had for five years before the Tundra. I absolutely loved both trucks.

I bought the Tundra mainly because I was at the dealership for a warranty issue on the Tacoma, was killing time on the dealership floor, and was told by the sales dude that Toyota was giving $5000 off Tundras and Sequoias that weekend, and the dealership was throwing in an additional $3000...that weekend only. My Tacoma was paid off, and after some haggling, they agreed to give me full Bluebook private retail value ($15,500 at the time) on my Tacoma. I couldn't pass it up, and got the Tundra - as loaded as it could be minus the Limited options - with the TRD supercharger for about $23,000 out the door.

It is an extremely entertaining daily driver, but I don't really need a big truck except for when I need to tow my 3500 lb. '65 Dodge Coronet to the drag strip (100 miles one way), or when I move every four years (military). The Tundra gas mileage doesn't really bother me and is not a factor - I don't know that the 4x4 Tacomas do a whole lot better than the Tundra anyway. A Tacoma is more than sufficient for anything else I need a truck for, and I liked having a smaller truck.

And finally, there are some things that constantly bug me about the Tundra, such as materials quality in the dash board and interior, mirrors and fog lights that shake when you go over bumps, numerous quality problems with things like the gas pedal (which was really a BS problem in the first place), driveshaft, transmission, and electrical issues (all dash warning lights coming on randomly when the weather is extremely cold, the absolutely ridiculous Air Injection Pump problems, stereo randomly not working once in awhile) -- I'm not confident in this Toyota for the longterm like I have been in all other Toyotas.

Can anybody talk me out of a Tacoma? The Tundra is quite the Super Truck - can easily tow and haul anything I will ever need it to and having such a power surplus is awesome when you really want to pass an 18 wheeler on an uphill two lane road and can do it in about four seconds. Finances are squared away enough to allow this, no problem.

I'd like to hear what anyone has to say, especially if you've owned both. Do you think the Tacoma is a higher quality truck than the Tundra?

I say do it if that is what you want. But, take the charger off and sell it to me for cheap first :lol: Seriously though, if you want a smaller truck, why not???

I'd dump it. You don't need it or especially want it if you are making this thread in the first place :). Plus, if you could willingly go back to a V6 after having a supercharged 5.7, then you probably don't "need" that either. Might as well get rid of the Tundra if you're not wild about what makes it a fun vehicle.

Honestly, I think the Tundra's interior is much nicer than the Taco's interior, and I'm not even particularly smitten about the Tundra's cabin! I think they really cut some corners. But it sure does sound like you got your truck from the bottom of the pile...I've had an 07 Tundra, 08 Sequoia, and now 10 Tundra and I haven't had any of those things you listed. Yikes.

Lastly, I certainly wouldn't trade in something you bought new for a used truck. If you're going to trade in a vehicle after 2 years, just do it right and buy new.

My insurance was going to be higher if I got a V6 Tacoma over a V8 Tundra.

Honestly, I think the Tundra's interior is much nicer than the Taco's interior, and I'm not even particularly smitten about the Tundra's cabin! I think they really cut some corners. But it sure does sound like you got your truck from the bottom of the pile...I've had an 07 Tundra, 08 Sequoia, and now 10 Tundra and I haven't had any of those things you listed. Yikes.

Lastly, I certainly wouldn't trade in something you bought new for a used truck. If you're going to trade in a vehicle after 2 years, just do it right and buy new.

I haven't seen the new Tacoma interior up close, but I'd be willing to bet that the quality is probably better. A lot of stuff you read about the Tundra talks about the low quality of the interior. When I can make the top of the dashboard in my Tundra (any Tundra) move just by pressing on the top of it with my hand - that is crap. I go over a series of short bumps and look at the clock and the whole thing is shaking. That kind of stuff bothers me. The seats are comfortable and are nice enough material. The other concerns, I should clarify, have not realized yet (except for the random electrical issues) - but the transmission, driveshaft, and AIP problems are all stuff that others have had big issues with and part of this whole idea is based on wanting to avoid that stuff. Otherwise, I am a diehard Toyota fan and don't want any other truck. I just want something I can trust for the long haul (the way you should be able to trust any Toyota) - not totally convinced of that with the Tundra after 2+ years of ownership.

I'm currently gone and won't be back for awhile yet, so I have plenty of time to think about all this and I go back and forth all the time on it. I see newer Hiluxes where I am all the time, some really decked out, and I think how awesome it would be to have a new Tacoma. So that's where this is really coming from.

One issue I have is whether I can safely tow my car that far when I want to.

Thanks for the replies and great input.

My Tacoma works like a charm in -40 degree weather. None of the dash light shows you mentioned. HOWEVER, I do miss heated mirrors My god, do I miss heated mirrors.

This is something I have been thinking over for the last few months myself.
I have a 06 DC Limited tundra which has been a great truck just a couple small issues fixed without question under warranty.

I just dont need a truck this size! I sold my camper and right now have no plans to purchase another anytime soon so my towing needs are nil at this point.

The tundra is like a land barge it becomes a real pain to park this pig at work and around town I also own a 93 Jeep YJ which I have been driving a bunch recently just to take a break.

I figured out if I sold my tundra and put a couple thousand cash down I could get into a new access cab tacoma 4x4. I actually would like a regular cab, 4cyl 5 speed tacoma but the wife wont go for it and I see her point with a young kid its totally impractical. :rolleyes:

As far as towing goes I believe the V6 tacoma with tow package is good for around 6500lb? that should be ample for towing your car around from time to time.

Good luck with the choice you make I am still on the fence myself I have always had compact trucks and have been somewhat spoiled I guess with my huge tundra...:)

I just went the other way, I traded in an 08 double cab long bed Tacoma for an 11 Tundra double cab short bed. The interior is just as nice on the Tundra, it has way better power (I have the 4.6), and is just more solid feeling. My Tacoma was a nice truck, but it was small, even with the double cab. You said gas mileage isn't a factor, and there really isn't a huge difference. The Tacoma still feels kind of "tinny" like the old Toyota trucks used to feel, I used to have an 88 4x4. It was much better and more refined than that truck, but it still had that "tinny" small truck feel to it, the Tundra feels so much more solid!

Both are nice trucks. It depends on what you want. It will be costly to change , way more than any repair would. I bought my 08 with the discount and it turned out way cheaper than a Taco would. The GF would have drove a Taco but has never the Tundra since I got it. Too big for her. But she loves riding in it way more. The bed is so much bigger. But maybe you don't haul anything. Gas mileage is about the same even though power isn't especially with the SC.
The Tundra is like all full size trucks, they are made to stand up as work trucks so there is more plastic and oversized knobs. Just like the $80k Hummers, they are still trucks so they have that look. Taco's are passenger vehicles for the most part so they are more car like as to appearance.

I am just now switching from a 05 Tacoma to a 2011 Tundra myself. I signed all of the paperwork on Monday and I am just waiting for them to get the truck here from another dealership. I have reservations about the size of the Tundra, which is what has stopped me from getting one so far. But I worked for many years as a landscaper, driving dump trucks and 1 ton flatbeds, so I think that I will adapt to that.

My reasons for moving from a Tacoma relate to what equipment you can get compared to the Tundra. My 05 TRD Sport 4x4 4.0L V-6 is pretty much the top of the heap Tacoma wise, and although I really have enjoyed it over the 5.5 years I have had it, I have also gotten tired of how basic it is. Some things like no heated mirrors, non-lighted 4x4 control, no nice sound system or navigation options and no leather seating make it just a bit more basic than my ideal truck. If I could get a 4.6L V-8, Limited Tacoma, I would be in love, but for now a maxed out double cab, 4x4, 5.7L Limited Tundra is heading my way. With the new 4Runner just losing the V-8 option I expect the next Tacoma might be a 4 cylinder only vehicle. I don't tow all that often, but when I do I want something that handles it well, and not just gets by.

Stay tuned for me to say in a few months that the Tundra is too huge to live with and that I am buying something else, but right now there is no looking back for me.

Another thing is towing. My ductwork guy has a Taco and his boss bought a new 8 x 16 trailer. And for him to tow it, it is scary. There are no tow mirrors made for the taco. You do add ons or modify ones for chevy as he did or go dodge but they don't fit great. With the chevy the buttons are backwards
Your trailer may not be that big but I'd bring it along to the dealer and hook it up and see how bad it will be.

Just my $.02, I just traded my 07 Tacoma quad cab 4x4 for an 06 Tundra Quad cab 4x4. I mow during the summer pulling a 12' trailer with a walk behind and a sit down zero turn. The Tacoma, hp-wise, towed it easily. However, pulling on winding roads and hitting any bumps at regular speeds and the Tacoma felt like it was bouncing down the road or felt like it was going to be pulled over the enbankment. Its just not heavy enough for my liking pulling that kind of weight. The 4.0L V6 had plenty of balls for it though no question.

I am trying to talk myself out of selling my '08 Tundra and finding a lightly used '10 or newer Tacoma. I started driving Toyota trucks in '01 with a '95 4x4 22RE 5 spd single cab pickup (that was unstoppable), and then an '03 TRD SR5 Tacoma that I bought new and had for five years before the Tundra. I absolutely loved both trucks.

I bought the Tundra mainly because I was at the dealership for a warranty issue on the Tacoma, was killing time on the dealership floor, and was told by the sales dude that Toyota was giving $5000 off Tundras and Sequoias that weekend, and the dealership was throwing in an additional $3000...that weekend only. My Tacoma was paid off, and after some haggling, they agreed to give me full Bluebook private retail value ($15,500 at the time) on my Tacoma. I couldn't pass it up, and got the Tundra - as loaded as it could be minus the Limited options - with the TRD supercharger for about $23,000 out the door.

It is an extremely entertaining daily driver, but I don't really need a big truck except for when I need to tow my 3500 lb. '65 Dodge Coronet to the drag strip (100 miles one way), or when I move every four years (military). The Tundra gas mileage doesn't really bother me and is not a factor - I don't know that the 4x4 Tacomas do a whole lot better than the Tundra anyway. A Tacoma is more than sufficient for anything else I need a truck for, and I liked having a smaller truck.

And finally, there are some things that constantly bug me about the Tundra, such as materials quality in the dash board and interior, mirrors and fog lights that shake when you go over bumps, numerous quality problems with things like the gas pedal (which was really a BS problem in the first place), driveshaft, transmission, and electrical issues (all dash warning lights coming on randomly when the weather is extremely cold, the absolutely ridiculous Air Injection Pump problems, stereo randomly not working once in awhile) -- I'm not confident in this Toyota for the longterm like I have been in all other Toyotas.

Can anybody talk me out of a Tacoma? The Tundra is quite the Super Truck - can easily tow and haul anything I will ever need it to and having such a power surplus is awesome when you really want to pass an 18 wheeler on an uphill two lane road and can do it in about four seconds. Finances are squared away enough to allow this, no problem.

I'd like to hear what anyone has to say, especially if you've owned both. Do you think the Tacoma is a higher quality truck than the Tundra?

Don't think twice about it... sell the Tundra. You'll get better gas mileage and better parking with the Tacoma.

Dont do it,i went from a 05 titan king cab to a 06 frontier.I hated the midsize truck feel,gas milage was about the same.I got the tundra and never looked back.

For what its worth - I picked up my new Tundra last Friday and I absolutely love it. Although quite a bit larger than my Tacoma, it does not really feel all that much bigger on the road and the quiet and comfort are a world beyond my 05 Tacoma. That was a great truck, don't get me wrong, and I enjoyed it for 5 and 1/2 years - but the Tundra is amazing and the 5.7 L engine is like a drug!

I went the other way last August, trading my 06 tacoma for a Tundra DC 5.7. The first thing I noticied was that the Tundra was more quieter driving at highway speeds and smoother ride. Also was roomier which I liked as well. My wife really likes it compared to the tacoma. have two Golden retrievers and the added sapce behind the front seats is great. I really like the bigger truck.

The only drwback to the tundra is on old wood roads where the bushes are closng in, the Tacoma was much better there, other than that, the Tundra has it beat everywhere elase.

For fuel consumption, the Tundra does burn more but not that much to make me want the tacoma back.

I'd take some long test drives if i was you before you make the switch as you may regret it after a while.

I've rented three 2WD Tundras, but the punishingly rough ride on anything but a glass smooth road was a deal breaker for me. My '93 2WD compact Toyota pickup rides smoother overall than the Tundra. Unlike either a Tundra or Tacoma, my '93 has fully padded door panels and dash. So I'll keep driving my '93 oldie because of it's car like ride and interior. Nowadays the only Toyotas without a hard plastic interiors are the Lexus's.

After reading all your problems it appears you have, I would shed myself of it..But on that same note, maybe that is why they gave you all those $$ off! j/k :D

I traded my '05 4x4 V-6 TRD Sport Tacoma Access Cab in on a 2011 5.7L 4x4 TRD Off Road Limited Tundra Double Cab right before Christmas. I was thinking that it would feel a lot bigger on the road than the Tacoma, but it really does not. Where it kicks the Tacoma's butt is in a much more solid feel, quiet and smooth ride and of course the power and luxury features. Back when I was trying to talk myself out of trading in the Tacoma I would read the posts about the 5.7L engine and think, I really don't need that much motor. Well, I might not need it, but I sure do have a lot of fun playing with it! The Tundra obviously uses more gas than the Tacoma but not really all that much more. The Tacoma was able to tow a double axle trailer loaded almost to the 7000 lb max, but man did it work at it and it really sucked gas.

I guess it is just a matter of how you use your truck in determining which one works best for you. I really liked that Tacoma - it was a really nice truck, but the Tundra is so much nicer in every way that I don't find myself missing it a bit.

Good thread. I went from the 05 taco loaded to a 07 tundra 5.7 2wd. Since mpg was not an issue for me, I wanted to try out the tundra. Lots of little things on the Tundra are nice: tailgate assist, can tow anything easily & truck doesn't move around, large ctr console, stronger tailgate, & I can't think of the others now. I think the Taco's are stripped of features I've found on the Tundra. The taco was nice as a daily driver, great mpg (if not towing & at hwy), & very easy to get in/out, easy to park & get around, & the bed is about the same size. I will eventually go back to the taco since 90% is using as a daily driver. The Tundra is just too big for my specific needs but the 5.7 is addicting as hell.
Buddy of mine did the same switch as me. his taco was a short bed so it was very rough riding compared to the long bed.
Also sounds like your Tundra has reliability issues. I would switch after you've tested the taco by towing your trailer/car. That is the only negative I can see in your situation.

I have an '06 Tundra, DC, 4x4 w/ TRD Off Road Package, that I love. Not that I am ready to get rid of it, but I keep toying with getting a Taco Double Cab, 4x4 w/ T/X Pro or Tundra Crew Max, Limited w/ Platinum package, and 4x4. I LOVE everything about my '06. And with a dog, leather is a MUST. I also LOVE the power sliding rear window w/ defrost. It is a tough decision. But, I am in no hurry to get rid of my truck.

I have an '06 Tundra, DC, 4x4 w/ TRD Off Road Package, that I love. Not that I am ready to get rid of it, but I keep toying with getting a Taco Double Cab, 4x4 w/ T/X Pro or Tundra Crew Max, Limited w/ Platinum package, and 4x4. I LOVE everything about my '06. And with a dog, leather is a MUST. I also LOVE the power sliding rear window w/ defrost. It is a tough decision. But, I am in no hurry to get rid of my truck.

Most of the stuff you mention liking about your Tundra is not available in any package on the Tacoma, which was what motivated me to trade my '05 Tacoma AC V-6 4x4 TRD Sport in on a Tundra 5.7L 4x4 double cab Limited. The Tacoma was a really nice truck and it made a decent daily driver like you suggest, but I wanted the toys that you just can't get in a Tacoma. I have been driving the Tundra for about 6 weeks now and I absolutely love it. I like the roomy back seat that real people can sit in, the luxury stuff like heated leather seats, power sliding heated rear window, in dash voice activated navigation, dual zone climate control, etc, etc. Since I commute 50+ miles each day to work the much smoother and quieter ride of Tundra is also a nice plus. And then there is the power of that 5.7L V-8 - WOW, what a rush. The 4.0L V-6 in the Tacoma is a perfectly adequate engine, but the engine in my Tundra is like driving a muscle car - and having the TRD stainless dual exhaust just adds to the fun. I was a bit worried that the Tundra would just seem too large after driving the Tacoma for almost 6 years, but honestly I don't notice all that much difference on the road. The Tacoma would have a definite edge in tight off road situations, but in most normal driving the Tundra does not seem as much larger than it is. Obviously that giant V-8 uses more gas than my V-6 did, but considering the power the loss of fuel economy is not really all that great - in the range of 2-3 mpg.

So they are both good choices, but they are also really different vehicles. I said for years that the Tacoma was perfect for me and that I did not need a Tundra, but now that I have it I would never go back.

I know that what I have in my current Tundra isn't available in the new Taco's. I think when push comes to shove, I WILL probably get a Tundra, as I LOVE having heated seats, heated rear window & power...........

My $.02: I've had several different full-size trucks (F-150, Silverado) now my 07 Tundra CM 4x4, hands down the Tundra takes the cake in all areas. I have never had any of the problems you've mentioned, not even the bouncing dash and mine sees more dirt than asphalt. Sounds to me like you're questioning having a full size truck not a Tundra, also being a Soldier remember that the good ol U.S.A. supports owning a larger vehicle so I would suggest getting back in your big truck for awhile when you get home before you decide. Also, I would like to request that you post what plant your Tundra was assembled at (its in the VIN code or on the Door Jam sticker) so the rest of us know to never buy any Toyota assembled there, cuz the problems you've mentioned are straight BS. Maybe you should consider trading your Tundra for a Tundra??? LOL

I know that what I have in my current Tundra isn't available in the new Taco's. I think when push comes to shove, I WILL probably get a Tundra, as I LOVE having heated seats, heated rear window & power...........

Which brings me back to a question that I have had for a long time. Why doesn't Toyota offer a Limited trim level on the Tacoma? The larger bed is nice on the Tundra for when I haul stuff and I like the greater towing capacity - but it was the luxury toys that sealed the deal for me. And now they have upgraded the 4.0L for other applications but not the Tacoma. It seems like they really are not trying all that hard to optimize the Tacoma, which is a shame because it is basically a very nice truck. I would think that there would be a market for a 4.6L Limited Taco, but Toyota obviously does not agree.

If they offered the 4.6, they could offer the 5.7 since it is the same block. Maybe all that power would mean a nose heavy, stiff framed vehicle that would be different than what the Taco is known for. Maybe the next gen taco will be v8 capable

I had a 2010 TRD Tacoma as a loaner for a few days this past summer, while the dealership installed some items on my 2010 Tundra. The Taco was brand new...7 miles on the odometer, I think. While it was fun to drive for a few days, I couldn't help thinking that I wanted to get back in my Tundra as soon as possible. I think it would be very difficult for me to drop down to a mid-size after having the Tundra...especially when it comes to cab space. As far as the interior, I thought the Tundra's was nicer...

If they offered the 4.6, they could offer the 5.7 since it is the same block. Maybe all that power would mean a nose heavy, stiff framed vehicle that would be different than what the Taco is known for. Maybe the next gen taco will be v8 capable

Good point about the larger engine - I suppose that it could upset the balance of the Taco. It would be interesting to see how much more the 4.6L weighs than the 4.0L. The Tacoma platform could definitely handle the larger engine though. The Taco shares its platform with the last generation 4Runner which offered the 4.6L V-8 as well as with the Land Cruiser Prado which is sold in the US as the Lexus LX470. I know a lot of people have been hoping for a V-8 in the next generation Taco, but the newest 4Runner has lost the V-8 so I really doubt that the Tacoma will get one. I have even wondered if the next gen Taco might come with only 4 cylinder engines. I have read rumors that the next generation Tundra might lose the 5.7L in favor of an upgraded 4.6L engine. There are some really tough new fuel economy standards coming from the feds here in a few more years and engines will definitely be shrinking.

But those are boxes, they are not suppose to flex. Part of the allure of offroading is you will want some frame flex and not too heavy a nose.

I too thought a v8 was a natural but things like ford with their ecoboost means why not a turbo taco? Thought it does sound like a limited time special from taco bell

That is really the issue I guess - my truck is my offroad toy but also my daily commuter vehicle - so one way or the other one of those will get compromised.

I am guessing that smaller turbo engines like the Ford EcoBoost will be the way things will end up going in the future. That Ford setup certainly does look interesting - 2.2 liters smaller than the engine in my truck and almost as much HP and more torque if I remember correctly and all with much better fuel mileage. So there should possiblities to keep the front end of the Taco light and still give it some more power. Too bad Toyota is so slow to bring out updates right now, it could be years until they have something that competes with the EcoBoost engine from Ford.

Yea unfortunately for us Toy lovers they are behind :( I think the whole recall fiasco set them back some serious $$$ that they could be putting to way better use like R&D for new vehicles and TRD parts :)

Back in 2008 when gas prices were above $4 /gal, everybody was in panic, they ran to the dealer traded in their full size gas guzzler pickups and got a compact car, then the dealers were stuck with an overstock of almost new late model used full size 4x4 trucks that they couldn't sell, in 2008 I seen 1 year old 4x4's with 5000 miles going for less than $10K.
Why am I telling everybody this?
Cause I believe the same thing is going to happen again, history is going to repeat itself.
As gas prices increase your full size pickup's resale value is going down, when gas again goes past $4, the dealers won't want them as a trade in, or offer you almost nothing.
I suggest to get out while the getting is good, trade in your Tundra while it still has good resale value and get the better gas mileage Tacoma, cause all the full size truck owners will be running to the Toyota Dealer wanting the Tacoma and the dealer will ask the top price for the Tacoma and the lowest price for their trade in.
(Thats what I did)

@ Wifebeater..... but then you're stuck with a Tacoma?!?!

Back in 2008 when gas prices were above $4 /gal, everybody was in panic, they ran to the dealer traded in their full size gas guzzler pickups and got a compact car, then the dealers were stuck with an overstock of almost new late model used full size 4x4 trucks that they couldn't sell, in 2008 I seen 1 year old 4x4's with 5000 miles going for less than $10K.
Why am I telling everybody this?
Cause I believe the same thing is going to happen again, history is going to repeat itself.
As gas prices increase your full size pickup's resale value is going down, when gas again goes past $4, the dealers won't want them as a trade in, or offer you almost nothing.
I suggest to get out while the getting is good, trade in your Tundra while it still has good resale value and get the better gas mileage Tacoma, cause all the full size truck owners will be running to the Toyota Dealer wanting the Tacoma and the dealer will ask the top price for the Tacoma and the lowest price for their trade in.
(Thats what I did)

And did you fall asleep in history class? Because history will also tell you that prices will drop and people will want the big vehicles.
And only idiots trade in and take that kind of loss, it cost more to trade in than pay for gas. And $4 gas was not the reason for the vehicles, anybody who know anything about economics will tell you that as well as if you want to save on gas, you don't get a tacoma, you get a yaris.

Bottom line is to get what you want! You can't run from a situation everytime it goes South. Steer the course and live life to its fullest! 'nuff said! :D

@ Wifebeater..... but then you're stuck with a Tacoma?!?!
I need a truck for hauling and towing, I have a wood-coal furnace, I haul wood and coal, yes, I won't haul as much, will have to make more trips, but I also use my Tacoma as a commuter, and the savings in gas mileage will be much better. I also have a dual axle trailer.
P-L-E-A-S-E don't tell me there are full size pickups that get 20 mpg, I have owned all those full size pickups and the BEST mpg I ever got was 14 mpg
The full size pickup truck owners that tell you they are getting 20 mpg are liars!

Never would tell such a lie! I get about 400 miles a tank of gas when I'm not heavy footing it. But I own my Tundra because its what I want. If I had to commute alot I would drive the 02 civic thats been rotting in my driveway... or switch the wifey and take her 4runner. Point is I would buy a crappy $1000 4 banger before I would trade in my Tundra because of gas prices, but "to each his own" I just never could own a midsize/compact pickup... not my thing. I do have a couple of midsize/compact SUV's though the wifeys 07 4runner and my 86.5 pathfinder

And did you fall asleep in history class? Because history will also tell you that prices will drop and people will want the big vehicles.
And only idiots trade in and take that kind of loss, it cost more to trade in than pay for gas. And $4 gas was not the reason for the vehicles, anybody who know anything about economics will tell you that as well as if you want to save on gas, you don't get a tacoma, you get a yaris.
Prices won't drop this time , I expect gas prices to be somewhere between $5 to $7 a gallon by the end of 2012
yes, prices did drop after the 2008,, $4 /gal, but demand went down and an over supply of oil flooded the market, there isn't an over supply now, they learned their lesson, there is no domestic oil drilling going on, China and India are using more and more oil.
A Yaris won't haul 1300 lbs, and won't tow 6500 lbs
In 2008 I owned a 2005 F150 and I waited out the truck market when it crashed and kept my truck and suffered thru the high gas prices, in 2009 I got a new 09 Ford F150 cause I believed it would get close to 20 mpg, the best it ever got was 14 mpg, I got rid of it, got an excellent trade in price for it and got my new Tacoma for almost nothing, I am very happy!

Gas has dropped here about .15 a gallon in the last 2 weeks..I have never seen it fall so quickly..Only rise that quickly!

Never would tell such a lie! I get about 400 miles a tank of gas when I'm not heavy footing it. But I own my Tundra because its what I want. If I had to commute alot I would drive the 02 civic thats been rotting in my driveway... or switch the wifey and take her 4runner. Point is I would buy a crappy $1000 4 banger before I would trade in my Tundra because of gas prices, but "to each his own" I just never could own a midsize/compact pickup... not my thing. I do have a couple of midsize/compact SUV's though the wifeys 07 4runner and my 86.5 pathfinder
The near future is going to force everybody to own compact pickup trucks, and when you still own your full size, its going to be considered worthless, and maybe illegal to own.
Its basic, the engine needs more power, and more power needs more fuel to move around a 6000 lb full size pickup where a 4000 lb compact pickup needs less engine power and less fuel.

We here are all glad that others are so disillusioned that big trucks are the way to go. Or else the prices would be so high.
And to use a taco as a saving vehicles is sooo funnnny.
Some who was thinking economics would have the stuff delivered that did not fit in their yaris the few times a year that they could use a truck, or they could get a cheap trailer to haul that stuff. I know I hauled 50 tons of dirt and rock with my car before I got the truck a bit at a time.
Or by a beater truck if it was a regular occurrence.
And if you know gas prices will only rise, drive an old economy car and put all your money in gas futures.
And for me, the rub is it is far cheaper for me to drive the Tundra each year than a taco.

Ok wifebeater you've made it quite clear that you're crystal ball says gas will skyrocket... Now if I do recall correctly this is the section of the forum for TUNDRA owners, so go ahead and kick rocks..... Im sure they will love you hear your opinions in the Taco forum

Hey - there are good arguments for both trucks - no need for anyone to get mad over this. They are very different trucks and each is better at some things than the other. I have owned and liked both the current generation Tacoma and Tundra.

As far as gas mileage goes though, the difference is less than you would think. Over 60,000 miles of use my 4.0L '05 Tacoma averaged just slightly over 20 mpg. I have 1700 miles on my 5.7L Tundra and according to the truck's computer it has gotten just under 16 mpg so far. The first 500-600 miles it averaged 13.5, so removing that probably means my current average is about 17. This was with a new engine, mixed driving and all done in the cold with winter gas. In the winter my Tacoma averaged 19 mpg or less, so the difference appears to be about 2-3 mpg. I agree that gas probably won't be going down a lot again, but industry predictions are for $4/gallon within two years, not $6-$7. If you don't really need or want the bigger truck drive the Tacoma - it is a nice vehicle and it will definitely save you money on gas. But if you want or need the Tundra it is also a very nice truck and it will not cost all that much in added fuel cost and it provides lots of features not available on the Taco. Trade-in value have and probably will continue to favor the Taco, but that doesn't matter as much if you keep your vehicles for a long time like I tend to do.

I have no reason to lie about this stuff - I am just trying to report what I have observed driving both trucks so that people can compare. One size does not fit all - and either truck can be an excellent choice depending on what you need and how you use it.

@Dickinsonj lol I was definitely very polite until he said the "it's very basic" comment like I'm an idiot. I understand his perspective which is why I said "to each his own" in the previous post, but when people talk down to me over a "future of gas prices" debate I will be forced to retaliate lol. But seriously, he's probably right anyways and I'll end up in jail for refusing to give up my V8! Guess I better go price a chevy volt :(

Yeah - I agree gijoe - anyone that claims to know for sure where the price of gas is going is obviously kidding themselves - and none of us like to be lectured to like we are idiots. Since I can't know what gas prices will actually do or control them I just ignored that when I made my choice.

As far as full sized trucks becoming illegal, that is just plain crazy talk. I do think we will see smaller engines in trucks in the future due to higher gas mileage standards. But that was one reason I got my truck with the 5.7L engine now - before I don't have that choice anymore. They will have to pry my V-8 out of my cold, dead hands :devil:

And I just noticed that your location is deployed - it is thanks to people like you that are willing to fight for our country that we will continue to be able to make choices like this for ourselves in the future.

Hey no problem man, thank you for appreciating that I sacrifice valuable tinkering and off-roading time LOL. I also bought mine now before they get too regulated (as if emissions and electronic restrictions aren't bad enough already). I got a little under 5 months left on this tour and about $3000 in parts and electronics stacked in the garage waiting for my return to get added to my baby! Can't wait to get to it, and get it on a dyno. I'm not trying to win drag races or anything I'm just curious how much I'm really gonna get out of my intake and headers and such. Anyways I'll make sure I post plenty of write up picks when I throw the 24" lcd screen and all the other crazy stuff in. I think the coolest thing is gonna be the iphone cubby. I bought a single din pocket with a door from a subaru forester and Im gonna add a slide out/in iPhone dock and a USB hub inside with a blue LED voltage gauge on the outside. You gotta get out there nowadays to make you stuff "custom" ya know LOL.

Cool - smart move - using your deployment to stack up the next round of upgrades to your truck!

I will be looking forward to seeing all of your new stuff getting installed. I have been trying to decide what to do to allow my iPod to be hidden and to still be connected all the time - your Forester idea sounds just about perfect - be sure to post pictures when you do all of those upgrades.

Yeah - our trucks are regulated plenty for my taste as it is. I have had mine for less than two months and I have just done basic stuff like weather tech floor liners, bed mat and tonneau so far. Mine came with the TRD dual exhaust from the factory and it sounds really nice. I have been trying to decide what other performance mods I might do. I thing the TRD CAI seems like a no brainer. For now I might just stop there because IMO that V-8 is really sweet just the way it is. Of course one of these days the supercharger might be hard to pass up. :devil:

Nice! Yea the supercharger is definitely on my list of goodies but around $6000 plus tuning and install is pretty steep that'll probably come in a few years if ever. Have you thought about the urd maf calibrator? It's only 200 instead of 600 for the unichip, and you won't really be able to get much out of your intake and exhaust upgrades without fine tuning the factory fuel map. I didn't think it was that important to change your map until I put I power commander on my zx10. After that one I realized you're not really getting what you're paying for with upgrades until you can program your engine to understand the changed dynamics your performance parts have created. Well that and it kinda made me miss carburetors lol

Same here on the supercharger - long time or never on that one, mostly due to the cost.

I have read a little bit about the URD MAF calibrator but haven't had the time to seriously check that out yet. The price sounds right though and I will have to look into it more closely - thanks for the tip.

We here are all glad that others are so disillusioned that big trucks are the way to go. Or else the prices would be so high.
And to use a taco as a saving vehicles is sooo funnnny.
Some who was thinking economics would have the stuff delivered that did not fit in their yaris the few times a year that they could use a truck, or they could get a cheap trailer to haul that stuff. I know I hauled 50 tons of dirt and rock with my car before I got the truck a bit at a time.
Or by a beater truck if it was a regular occurrence.
And if you know gas prices will only rise, drive an old economy car and put all your money in gas futures.
And for me, the rub is it is far cheaper for me to drive the Tundra each year than a taco.
Prices on everything are going up, food, electric bill, cable tv, and so on!
My former full size pickup was getting 11 mpg with a payment of $650 per month, my new Toyota Tacoma gets 17 mpg with a payment of $400 per month, I am saving money so I can afford food, electricity, and pay my cable bill.
Yea, I can go out and buy a beater car, but owning another car is an added expense such as license, registration, insurance, tires and so on, plus I am all out of parking spaces at home.
We all have to tighten our belts and downsize cause I believe bad times are coming and its best to be prepared.
If you tell me its less expensive to drive a Tundra than a Tacoma then I call you a liar!

I just went from an 07 Tundra 5.7 to a 2009 TRD Sport Tacoma. The only time I have missed my Tundra is when Im getting on the freeway and I want to blast by people. I really like the Tacoma. The only thing I haul around is a dirtbike. I love the solid feel of the Tacoma. I bought it with 13k miles and paid 4k UNDER KBB. I do have to admit I am a bit disappointed with the JBL sound although for some reason it does sound better when I have my Ipod hooked up. I dont think your going to be bummed out with the Tacoma unless you expect it to perform like your Tundra...which it doesnt sound like you are. Have fun with whatever you choose.
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