GREAT LOOKING TRUCK!!!!! GAS MILAGE IS GREAT. THIS IS A TRUCK THAT WILL TAKE A BEATING AND KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE. THE GROUND CLEARENCE IS INCREDIBLE FOR A MID-SIZE TRUCK.

A LITTLE UNDER POWERED GOING UP HILLS. IT HELPS TO HAVE A MANUAL TRANMISSION ON THAT ASPECT. HAD A TICKING IN THE ENGINE THE FIRST WINTER THAT I OWNED IT TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE OIL FILTERS THAT VALVOLINE WAS USING. IT NEEDS TOYOTA BRAND OIL FILTERS, THE TICKING IS GONE NOW! ONE LAST THING THE SEATS AFTER A LONG RIDE ARE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

THIS TRUCK IS AWESOME. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TRUCK TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE, LONG LASTING, GOOD LOOKING TRUCK. IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A TRUCK THAT THEY WANT TO FIX EVERY OTHER TIME THEY DRIVE IT THEN BUY A FORD.
THIS IS MY FIRST TOYOTA BUT MY FRIENDS HAVE OWNED MANY AND SO WILL I.

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COMPARED TO 1985 FORD BRONCO AND A 1990 CHEVY STEPSIDE, THIS TOYOTA BLOWS THE DOORS OFF BOTH OF THOSE TRUCKS. NEITHER ONE OF THOSE TRUCKS COULD GET OUT OF A WET PAPER BAG.

What is not to like about this truck? The V-6 has tons of power, the 5-speed tranny is smooth, and it unstoppable off-road. Toyota did a great job with design on this truck, inside and out. This is my third Toyota 4x4 and I would never consider another make of 4x4 unless I absolutely had to have a heavy duty full size, and I mean ABSOLUTELY!! These fun to drive little trucks are amazing, whether you modify them or leave them stock. I must say, there is nothing more beautiful than a tacoma on a set of 33s, 35s, or even 38s! Hopefully my budget will allow for something like that in the near future, but because I'm currently a student, I guess I'll just have to wait.

I have only one problem, and that is the bucket seats. They aren't very comfortable or supportive, and I've had this really annoying squeak coming from the driver's side seat since the truck had about 1000 miles on it. I haven't had time to remedy this problem yet, but I'm sure that the dealer will take care of it for me.

I would recommend this truck to anyone who is looking for something that they don't have to replace in a couple of years. It is an all around performer and it is not as expensive to purchase as some make it seem. The only reason that some get away with saying that they can buy a loaded Ranger or S-10 for less, is because a loaded Tacoma has more equipment than a "loaded" Chevy or Ford. Don't forget, it is a little bit more expensive in the factory to build something that lasts, using higher quality materials, and more heavy duty drivetrain than the others mentioned.

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I have ridden in and driven many domestic trucks: Ford, Chevy, and Dodge.
Just ask yourself this question. Do you really want to spend $30k+ for a rattle basket, that is only going to be trouble free for maybe 2 years, if you're lucky? I didn't think so. The only exception to that statement in my opinion would be a Dodge Cummins Diesel. I suppose I could put up with a few squeaks and rattles in exchange for a 300k-800k mile engine. But even with that said, the Tacoma is still going to out perform all of these other trucks straight off the showroom floor. The only way you might be able to come close to keeping up with the Toyota is by spending several thousand dollars on lift kits, tires, gears, and lockers.

Usual Toyota-quality interior, reliability & dependability is high, good looks

high speed freeway handling is not confidence inspiring, seats are uncomfortable for > 1 hour drives.

off-road handling is extremely difficult (4x2 is not the way to go, if you have to use the locking diff, you are already in trouble). Basically, the prerunner tacoma has a very limited set of terrain it can handle, albeit, it can handle it at speeds faster than any other stock off-roader car. Wheel travel is poor.

I also would recommend getting stiffer shocks for city& highway travel, the bilsteins are too mushy for higher speed cornering. 30mph 90degree turns are downright scary with the Bilsteins, i recommend doetsch tech shocks
or rancho's


Overall a great city truck, needs modification for off-road use IMO

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None

IT HAS JUST ENOUGH PEP TO GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO, AND DOG GONE IT -- IT SURE WILL TOW ITS WEIGHT-- I TOOK IT OFF ROAD THE FIRST DAY I GOT IT -- AND THE SHIFT ON THE FLY IS BAD ASS -- MIKE

WELL IT IS A LITTLE WOBBLY AT TOP SPEEDS -- IT DOES HAVE THE TENDENCIES TO WANT TO ROLL ON A SHARP TURN -- MORE SWAY BARS WOULD HELP OUT ALOT

WELL IT IS AN ALL AROUND GREAT TRUCK -- IT IS STYLISH AND SOPHISTICATED, YET RUGGED AND TOUGH -- I WOULD RECOMEND IT TO ANY ONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE SPICE TO THEIR LIFE --

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IT IS NOT QUITE THE SAME AS MY OLD 99 TACHOMA -- THAT BABY HAD THE GEN 1 TRD SUPER CHARGER, ALONG WITH THE CATBACK AND HEADERS THIS PUSHES THIS BABY CLOSE TO 300 BHP -- WOW! YEAH BUT WITH SOMETHING THAT FAST YOU ARTE BOUND TO HURT YOUR SELF --

Strong V6, good looks, plenty of options for what I consider a low price.

Interior isn't designed very well, have to lean forward to reach the stereo or climate controls. No power side mirrors were offered with this model, and I hate adjusting side mirrors.

I'll start by saying that I don't understand the fuss about the Tacoma's high price. I ordered mine for $200 over invoice and my dealer passed on the $1500 factory-to-dealer incentive (which was available the entire '99 model year). I've got every option available on the SR5 V6 PreRunner extended cab and I paid under $20k (before tax). For a truck that I believe will outlast any other truck in it's class I'd say that's a bargain. Power locks/windows, auto tranny, 4-wheel ABS, locking rear differential, sunroof, sliding rear window, CD, nice sound system (for a small truck). I didn't take the factory wheel/tire upgrade, instead buying aftermarket wheels and going to Firestone for a set of 265/75 tires just like what the Toyota would have sold me (I included that in the under-$20k price that I mentioned).

The engine is STRONG, probably the best feature of this truck. I didn't notice any sluggish acceleration even with the bed completely loaded with firewood. There is some wind noise on the highway, but it's not too bad. Obviously the rear seat area isn't big enough for adults but it does fine for storage and it's big enough for my Husky. It did take me a few months to get used to the seats, but now I often make the two-hour drive to my hometown with no discomfort. I do have a clock, and I don't look at it so often that moving my hand from the 2 o'clock position to the 3 o'clock position is a big deal. (ok, I shouldn't slam on other people's comments, but that's a pretty silly reason to rip on a truck)

I do wish I'd gone with the 4x4, but that's more of a "want" than a "need" in my case. There are only rare occasions when there is a lot of snow on the roads AND I actually need to drive somewhere, so mainly I'd just like to have it for playing in the snow. The 4x2 PreRunner cost me around $2000 less than a similarly-optioned 4x4, and I've yet to get stuck anywhere but my own un-shoveled sloped driveway (locking the rear differential took care of that). Not too shabby considering that we had 13" of snow in 10 days this month (hey, that's a lot for Central Illinois).

I've had the truck for about 20 months now and the only problem I've had was a squeaking driver's seat. The squeak actually went away before the dealer received the replacement parts. Beyond that it's been a great truck, my daily driver, looks good, runs great, and if history is any indication then it will last many years longer than I need it to. (friend of mine calls his 170,000 mile Toyota truck the best purchase of any kind that he has ever made.)

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'85 Toyota 4x4 pickup, '82 CJ-7

-Fine handling
-Toyota reliability
-Styling (very nicely proportioned)
-Generous rear seats w/4 doors
-Locker

-No manual transmission
-Little bit of wind noise on the highway

Purchased the vehicle around $2,500 under MSRP plus $570 discount or $200 over dealer invoice. I got mediocre quotes from various on-line auto sites that couldn't even come close to what I got from just old-fashioned haggling at the dealership. I'm sure many people could do even better.

Anyway the truck came with TRD off-road package which makes it easier for me to get around my 23-acres weekend property in rural, north-east Pennsylvania. Couple of weekends ago I drove around the muddy and snow-slushed land without any problems. It rides well off-road but has a stiff ride when back on the street.

The cab can handle four adults easily and the seats are comfortable. The bed is short (5-feet in length) but can be extended to six feet when the back is opened. You can purchase a bed extender as an option but I opted not to get one. I recently carried a twin-bed and strapped it down with couple of belt clamps I got from a woodworking catalog.

Acceleration is adequate and handling spectacular (for a truck) but I wouldn't recommend the TRD unless you plan on getting off the road. I'm not a blue collar type nor am I a mechanical buff/four-wheeler person who would be happiers with an F-350 or a Scout. I chose the Tacoma double-cab based on these criterias: reliablity, occasional hauling of things, decent gas mileage, ability to hold four adults minimum and great handling in poor weather and environment. In conclusion, I can highly recommend this truck to anyone who wants a compact pickup that emulates an SUV. It's a tradeoff. You lose some bed but gain a whole lot of cabin space.


P.S.
If you don't want people stealing things from your truck bed, get a Tounneau cover or just buy an SUV. But try hauling cow manure in an suv and you'll see why there's a glass between the cab and the bed of a pickup truck.

Godd luck

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Drove an older Ford F-150 for my summer job during college - nice looking truck. Test drove the Frontier Crew-cab(weak engine, shorter bed and overly-styled exterior) and the Tundra (nice v8, uncomfortable rear seats ).
Our other vehicle is a 1991 Acura Integra with 148,000 miles. Still running without any problems.

Very powerful engine, good gas mileage, I am a 21 year old male. I like to beat on my trucks. This truck is my 4th truck after a full size Bronco, Chevy S-10, Isuzu pick-up. I like off-road racing, mostly in the mud!!! In Arizona there is a lot of it and lots of places to go. I have taken my Tacoma out twice. The only upgrades ive done is rancho shocks, BFG Mud tires, centerforce duel friction clutch. I have seriously covered my truck top to botom with mud. It cost me $30 to get it cleaned at the car wash the first time, second time was $11 but it was still dirty. Anyway everything ive put it through it's allways comes back just like when i first bought it and still drives the same and keep in mind this truck has 110k miles on it. This truck is probably going to be the last one i own. It would be very hard for me to get rid of my Tacoma.

The only weekness ive encountered was that both times I took my truck out when im done the alignment is off and the tires are shaking. But that is a small price to pay when compared to what I put my truck through.

Why would I recomend this turck. I could come up with a million reasons. But I will give you the most important one. If your a parent or anyone loking for a very dependable truck this is the ideal truck for the person that likes to travel the road less traveled and have there truck still run strong. The up-keep on the truck is great no major repaires since ive had it and i change my oil every 2k miles, and my differential and transfer case every two weeks. Belive me when i say it this truck is built like a rock. To the people that will never use this truck for what its worth dont even waste your time and money and just buy a car!!!! this is a serious TRUCK

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Only other 4x4 ive owned was a 83 Ford Bronco. Granted having a V8 is a plus and the fact that its a full-size. But that bronco could not take what i was dishing out. I got it stuck in mud and I was out from 10:00pm til 6:00am trying to dig it out only giving up and calling a tow truck and paying $60 dollars to get it out. Then suffering the pain of all of the little things that went wrong with it after that. At first chance I got rid of it, for an Isuzu

Reliability, handling (on and off-road), ergonomics, longevity, build quality, eye-catching and practical styling.

No clock, and the cupholder is too shallow. My only gripes.

The Tacoma has lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations, and is living proof of Toyota's well-deserved reputation for quality vehicles. In just under 3 years of ownership I have put OVER 180,000 MILES on this truck. Three cross country trips, extensive 4-wheeling in Utah, Colorado, Montana, and California, boat (4000 lbs. w/trailer) towing, and commuting.
Partly due to the substantial highway mileage, I replaced the OEM tires (Goodyear Wrangler GSAs) at 152,450 miles, still have 68% of the original brake pads left, and am still on the original clutch. Nothing has broken or gone wrong with the truck. I love it, and would recommend that anyone in the market for a 4-wheel drive pick-up buy one.

Regardless of the weather or road conditions, I love knowing that the Tacoma will get me where I want to go without fuss, rattles, or breakdowns. Gas mileage tends to average between 21 and 23 MPG on the highway, depending on the terrain. I try to avoid too much city driving, so I don't have a good idea of what the city mileage numbers are. Towing mileage, at least with my sailboat, is in the 12-14 MPG range. Off-road tends to be in the 16-19 MPG range.

On extended trips, I have found the stock bucket seats to be very comfortable. No sore back, butt, or legs after 20+ hours of driving. When you do get tired, the drivers seat tilts back (I have the extended cab) far enough that you can get a pretty good nap. I have nothing but good things to say about the Tacoma.

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Ford Ranger, Chevy S-10, Nissan p/u. The Tacoma blows them all away. Less body roll, better ground clearance, better reliability, better re-sale value, no squeaks or rattles.

Toyota quality, can handle heavy loads for size of pu
2.7l 4 cyl provides good power

legroom ( I,m 6 foot)
windnoise
stock tires

I bought new 5 years ago and have 50000 on it. I have never had it in the shop other than for oil changes. Replaced tires with BF. I simply cannot say enough about Toyota reliability, I also have a 97 4 runner and 92 Tercel no problems with them. I will be a Toyota person for life!! So if you want quality and a good little pu get a Tacoma!
Would recommend to anyone who wants a pu that will have a long trouble free life and can take a beating and take it!

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Ford ranger Please..... never again

Comfortable, quiet, powerful; noticed that stereo has been upgraded this year (has: CD/tape/FM stereo unit) and speakers even come with tweeters, too. V6 motor pulls well. Body structure is very solid.

Service dept. of selling dealer didn't repair it properly the first time. Had a problem with steering wheel being off-center; they told me alignment was OK but neglected to center the steering wheel. Need to find a "good" dealer in my area. Options are expensive compared to base models. Shocks are too soft but I realize that most people want their trucks to ride like cars. If I want a car-like ride, I'll drive my new Accord Coupe!

Pricey for what you get, but you're paying for the promise of reliability.
My GMC was falling apart after 130,000 miles; I'm confident that this truck will last much longer.

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Overall quality appears much better than my 1995 GMC pickup. Body seams and paintwork are much better on Toyotas; however metal is thinner, too.