Long time lurker, first time poster. Lots of great information on this board, and as I search I've found similar topics to this one posted, but I would like to add another I currently own a 1996 Toyota tacoma, 6" lift, 33x12.50 Trxus M/T, armored all around, 4.88s, yada yada. I will be getting a new DD come next fall, so I have some time to think yet, but I really can't decide between and 06 or older tundra or a 2006+ Tacoma. I know this has been beaten to death and you need to weigh your options but it doesn't seem like one has big pluses over the other to make the decision any easier. Here's a breakdown to my pro's and con's of this decision.
Tacoma Pros:
Great size
Decent mileage (although a lot of reports are down in the Tundra range)
Good solid power
Looks
Available locker
6500lb tow capacity (I woulld possibly use this to tow an 18' bass boat and maybe my truck once it becomes a trail rig)
Cons: Price...yikes! These are pricey. Plus I would probably want a Double Cab LB, so therefore the price goes up much higher once you add in the tow package, locker, etc.
Road noise/engine noise is more noticeable than the tundra
Ride isn't quite as nice as the tundra
Plastic bed (doesn't bother me as much as the weak tailgate)
Tundra Pros:
Can get a used one for a pretty good price (often under $21K)
Nice strong bed, steel
Great riding truck
Access cab has a shorter wheelbase than a Double Cab LB tacoma, and more room than an AC tacoma...swing out doors is a plus as well.
Lexus derived V8 that seems to get som wide range of mileage reports (18mpg all the way to 12mpg)
Cons: Gas mileage
A little larger than the tacoma
Interior isn't as nice as the tacoma
Although looks pretty nice, still not as nice as the current gen tacomas
No locker
Now, here's what I would use my truck for. I'm not a big tower, I don't tow daily, which is why I wouldn't even consider the 07 tundras. They're just too big for my needs (although they are nice). I will however, use the bed a lot, hauling all sorts of stuff, from firewood, to lumber, to tools (recreationally, I'm not a contractor, so this would occur maybe once a week). Eventually I will probably tow my tacoma occasionally (once a month), and a boat.
I already have an offroad toy, so the natural tendency is to progress to a fullsize truck. I love driving trucks this size, though so I have to take that into consideration. I'm shopping used, so Tundra used prices are lower than 06 tacoma used prices. I also would hate to get a tacoma and be getting similar gas mileage as the V8 tundra...I mean why not go with the V8 if you're going to get similar mileage? On the other hand, I would hate to buy a Tundra expecting the average 16-17mpg people report, and then get 13-14mpg average.
Sorry for the long winded post...I know this is a tacoma forum, so there may be some bias, but what do you guys think? What made up your mind when you purchased yours? Any opinons on the matter? Thoughts? Thanks a lot!
We drove both, and bought a new '05 Tacoma, because we liked the size better, and fuel economy is better if you drive them both the same. If you plan on using the back seat for passengers, Tacoma's is better than Tundra's, whose seatback is too vertical.
Tacoma locker only comes with TRD Off Road, and double cab Off Road only comes with a short bed. Long bed DC Tacos are Sport (and maybe SR5) and come with LSD instead of locker (LSD is optional on SR5).
Personally, if I wanted a larger truck and didn't mind lower fuel mileage, I would have bought a Tundra in a heartbeat. They are soooooo nice -- sweet engine, smoother ride & as you say, quieter.
I was in the exact same situation. Wanted to buy the 06 taco, but the prices are through the roof. I found a leftover 06 tundra access cab with the v6 and a 6spd manual tranny and got +$4K rebate and purchased for 21K new! It does ride better than the taco and can surely hold more in the bed. Plus, the interior is like a full size truck. With the 6spd, I'm averaging 17 mpg in the city where I drive each day. I assume with the taco, I'd be getting around 20. It was a tough tough decision.
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2006 black Toyota Tundra Access Cab SR5 with 6 speed manual. K&N drop-in filter, RF Power coaxials, upgraded hitch, cargo net, and wrap around tint.
Well you obviously know the pros and cons of both very well. Drive both and see what will serve you best for the majority of what you'll use it for. Spec each exactly how you would buy, and compare the bottom line $.
Btw, my 05 Dcab 4x4 Tacoma averages 2.5 -3 mpg better than my neighbor with the 05 Dcab 4x4 Tundra. Similar commutes outta the hill country into town and back.
I was in the same boat. I went down to the dealership to buy a limited crew cab Tundra, but I ended up special ordering a Tacoma. The deciding factor for me was that fact that even on the limited edition model, the interior was underwhelming compared to the Tacoma. Yes the tundra had the fake burl wood, leather etc, but the knobs felt cheap and didn't work nearly as well as the Tacoma, etc. Also, driving the Tacoma just felt better (I was coming from a sports car, so take that with a grain of salt). The Tundra definitely felt like a big truck. Also, the towing capacity was almost the same between the two.
When all was said and done, I got the long bed double cab sports edition Tacoma for a bit more than I could have gotten the Tundra for, but I'm very happy with the truck and I definitely think I made the right decision.
To address your points above, I didn't drive the Tundra enough to compare the road noise, but I will say that I am happy with the road noise on the Tacoma. It's a lot quiter than my WRX on the freeway. Also, I would have preferred to put a spray in bedliner in instead of the bed liner that comes standard, but it's not bad, and seems to be pretty tough. I had to haul a bathtub, and broken tile etc to the dump. It didn't scratch at all.
One more thing, the bed rails that come standard on the Tacoma are really nice for tieing down loads. Dont know if you can get something similar for the Tundra.
I was in the exact same situation. Wanted to buy the 06 taco, but the prices are through the roof. I found a leftover 06 tundra access cab with the v6 and a 6spd manual tranny and got +$4K rebate and purchased for 21K new! It does ride better than the taco and can surely hold more in the bed. Plus, the interior is like a full size truck. With the 6spd, I'm averaging 17 mpg in the city where I drive each day. I assume with the taco, I'd be getting around 20. It was a tough tough decision.
Yeah that's not too bad especially with the Manual, but it is a V6 and 2wd I'll definitly need 4wd, and most people in the Tundra MPG threads never state whether they have 2wd, 4wd, or the V6 or V8. I wonder what the average MPG is for the Tundra V8 4wd AC both with the VVti engine and the pre VVti engine is.
Btw, just curious, for anyone that reads this thread with a double cab LB, what did you pay out the door? I get around $30K MSRP for one with the towing package.
Yeah that's not too bad especially with the Manual, but it is a V6 and 2wd I'll definitly need 4wd, and most people in the Tundra MPG threads never state whether they have 2wd, 4wd, or the V6 or V8. I wonder what the average MPG is for the Tundra V8 4wd AC both with the VVti engine and the pre VVti engine is.
Definetly lower than 17mpg!
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2006 black Toyota Tundra Access Cab SR5 with 6 speed manual. K&N drop-in filter, RF Power coaxials, upgraded hitch, cargo net, and wrap around tint.
Btw, just curious, for anyone that reads this thread with a double cab LB, what did you pay out the door? I get around $30K MSRP for one with the towing package.
I paid $27535 out the door '06 DBL CAB LB tow pkg. Bypassed dealer F&I. Too much fru fru addl. sales pitches in there.
Btw, just curious, for anyone that reads this thread with a double cab LB, what did you pay out the door? I get around $30K MSRP for one with the towing package.
It's not really fair to compare out the door price since tax and license varies by locale. I paid $28,600 for a longbed sport edition crew cab with tow package and a couple of little add ons (side airbags, radio upgrade, etc). This was $900 above invoice.
I just traded an 05 Tundra for an 07 Tacoma. Traded because of gas mileage, size and turning radius. Tacoma lacks somewhat in cab room IMO, but overall glad I made the trade.
I bought a 07 DCLB with the TRD Sport package ,6 disc changer, and tow package for 26700 out the door.
Road noise is not an issue, as it is super quiet at highway speeds. Engine is a little harsh sounding at mid throttle positions, but at light throttle and full throttle it is fine. Ride is nice but a little soft, chassis flex is evident with the long bed that I didn't notice with the short bed DC. Overall a nice truck and much sportier driving than the Tundra. I would get the Taco, and if your not happy with it ditch it after a year, as it will still be worth more than the Tundra.
Neil
To address your points above, I didn't drive the Tundra enough to compare the road noise, but I will say that I am happy with the road noise on the Tacoma. It's a lot quiter than my WRX on the freeway. .
Nevermind, I'm retarded. Thought you said it was faster than your WRX on the freeway. lol
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2006 black Toyota Tundra Access Cab SR5 with 6 speed manual. K&N drop-in filter, RF Power coaxials, upgraded hitch, cargo net, and wrap around tint.
Decisions...weigh in on Tundra and Tacoma.
I currently own a 1996 Toyota tacoma, 6" lift, 33x12.50 Trxus M/T, armored all around, 4.88s, yada yada. I will be getting a new DD come next fall, so I have some time to think yet, but I really can't decide between and 06 or older tundra or a 2006+ Tacoma. I know this has been beaten to death and you need to weigh your options but it doesn't seem like one has big pluses over the other to make the decision any easier. Here's a breakdown to my pro's and con's of this decision.
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I'll definitly need 4wd, and most people in the Tundra MPG threads never state whether they have 2wd, 4wd, or the V6 or V8. I wonder what the average MPG is for the Tundra V8 4wd AC both with the VVti engine and the pre VVti engine is.
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