So we are a 2015 Extended cab 4x4 and a 2016 Fusion family. 6 weeks of relentless snow and I'm beginning to regret the FWD sedan decision. So question is do I add another F-150 or go with a Taco? Anyone miss their Taco? I don't need two trucks that'll tow 11k and most of the time it'll probably just be me so a smaller truck is probably ok.

 

I don't know anything about tacos but they seem to be nice looking and there are some sporty ones I've seen. I would imagine they do better on fuel than the tundra of course they are smaller

 

A Tacoma? Um...

Son and D-I-L ordered one in 2009, an extended cab with 4 doors, not the 4 door crew cab style with almost no bed. Was it reliable? Yes. Was it a nice truck, and reasonable space? No.

With an infant carrier in the back seat (facing rearward), the passenger front seat had to be moved WAY up. I sat in the pass. seat, my knees were up against the top front of the dashboard, legs folded up like a grasshopper! Luckily, we only had to go a few miles.

I think the Tacoma is basically the fancier version of the small pickup (Hi-Lux) that Toyota has sold for many generations in 3rd world countries.

2016 was a "new" body style, but seems to have all the ills of it's predecessor, just a warmed-over change.

Get this - - Even Consumer Reports, who for a long time never saw a Japanese vehicle they didn't like, doesn't like the Tacoma!

Since you have a real truck for truck use, what about an AWD crossover for the second car? There are plenty of sizes, makes, models, price ranges to choose from. Some of them are real popular in New England, especially for snow use out in the boonies of Vermont and New Hampshire.

 

Have owned a tacoma or it's predecessor since 1984. Currently have a 2011 Tundra shop truck, my 2008 F 250 and my wife's 2016 Tacoma. Like them all for there intended application. Haul boats with the Tundra, my Kubota L3400 and the U25 excavator with the F250 and the grandson and dog with tacoma. Wife hates the F250, will drive the Tundra but loves the size and options of the Tacoma.

 

Great. That's the kinda of information I was looking for.
My last "little" truck was '92 Toyota I bought new, then as the family grew on to T-100-, F-150s, 250s and 350s. I think I want a double cab short bed auto (I really want a stick but My wife won't drive it). I hear lots of complaints about the nervous automatic, but no big deal if you can just use the select-shift feature on the auto to make it hold a gear if that's what you want?
Is the manual 6 speed that much better? How is this truck for 4 people on an all day trip? I love the F-150 and the Fusion, however, Fusion depreciation is atrocious and wife has been having to take me to work in he F150 like I'm 14.
I need my man-cards back!

 

Oh, I almost forgot a,couple of Tundras too, but the lemon 2007 has ruined that truck for me, forever.

 

FYI if you buy an older used Tacoma be sure to carefully inspect the frame for rot and corrosion. There have been issues with their boxed frames eating themselves from the inside out.

 

My wife bought an 06 Taco 4x4 new. She drives very easy and it now has just over 100K on it. To date repairs: Both upstream cats dealer only $2500 (thanks cal), front wheel bearing units $220 each I installd. TPS monitors dead, mud flaps laid to rest on the highway...somewhere. New rear leaf spring packs (toyota recall) Paint on flares 20% gone, make a right turn and the interior light comes on as I gently lean on the door thru the corner, plastic headlight lenses look like yellow opaque non transparent plastic. Its a 6 speed stick and I absolutely despise driving this thing. 1st way to low, 2nd to high to start out, shift,shift,shift. It actually works out pretty good to start in 1st then hit 2nd, then 4th then 6th. Lemme me say this, Ive had more Toyota 4x4's, jeeps, 4x4 trucks and bombers than I can recall. The last Toy was a 98 4runner with 238000 miles and 0 failed parts with the exception of a TPS, I wish I still had it but a 80 mile a day commuter it wasent. Do parts fail and things break, you bet, but when their priced like Gold, forget it.They just dont make them like the used to ya know, Id look for a 4x4 Ranger or Colorado If it was me.

 

Looking at newer Toyotas and have some experience with newer Toyotas I would say try to find an older one. The newer Toyotas are okay but, man they are expensive and I don't think quality is what it used to be. From what I gathered lurking on the forums, I was told the V6 is the way to go in a heavier Tacoma. The 4 cylinder in the larger trucks isn't really much more economical than the V6.

 

I've owned Toyota pickups ranging from the earlier pickups through the newer Tacomas - both with the 4 cyl and v6's. Just recently sold my Tundra - all were great trucks and were problem free. This past Feb I purchased a new 17 Tacoma SR AC 4x4 6' bed with the 2.7L & 5 spd manual transmission. Plenty of power for a 4 cyl which does great for driving back and forth to work. Dependability kept me with the tried and true 4 cyl instead of the new 3.5L V6.