[Yugo]

Have been thinking about pulling a trigger and purchasing a used truck for 2 duties:

1) Daily driving to work - total commute ~40miles, all highway. This duty is to be split with the M3.
2) Hauling stuff, lowes trips etc...

Budget is around $15k. 4x4 is a nice to have, but not a must as we hardly get any snow in VA. Due to the requirements stated, I would prefer to stick to the mid-size (MPG) and have been looking into tacoma and frontier.

Do any of you all have experience with either as far as reliability goes? I am open to other models feel free to suggest. Thanks

[Conissah]

Older Taco's have frame rust problems. While they're reliable, rust is not really a good thing.

Frontiers are good, more reliable Japanese stuff. New one is coming out though, so it'll depreciate fast. You could look at 1st gen Colorado's and Canyons. Reliable, American, can be had with a V8. Throw Rangers in there for good measure, they've been around forever.

All the older mid size will be reliable. You can opt for a 4 cyl in the Taco and Ranger, which would be best on MPG, and not so good if you have any weight in it or plan on pulling a decent trailer. The GM twins can be had with an inline 5, or the ole 5.3 LS. Rangers are my least favorite, but they sold an ass load of them.

[upstatedoc]

jeez for $19k you can get new nissan frontier 4x2 5 spd man

[charlie fairmont]

Stick to midsize if you like the size, not because of mileage. The v6s will get the same mileage as full size v8s. I was lucky to average 17mpg out of my '14 Tacoma. You might be able to eek out low 20mpg in a 4 banger but then have a significantly less useful truck. All of that aside and to answer your question, I had no issues whatsoever with my Tacoma.

[wpTXX5]

Originally Posted by charlie fairmont

Stick to midsize if you like the size, not because of mileage. The v6s will get the same mileage as full size v8s. I was lucky to average 17mpg out of my '14 Tacoma. You might be able to eek out low 20mpg in a 4 banger but then have a significantly less useful truck. All of that aside and to answer your question, I had no issues whatsoever with my Tacoma.

Plus 1 on a the Tacoma, you won't regret it. Personally I like the look of the 4x4 Tacoma better, but even used they fetch a high price because they hold their value.

Just my two cents

[infinitekidM2C]

Lower the budget to like $5k, rest in your bank and you can have a nice beater truck.

[E92 M Sport]

Originally Posted by charlie fairmont

Stick to midsize if you like the size, not because of mileage. The v6s will get the same mileage as full size v8s. I was lucky to average 17mpg out of my '14 Tacoma. You might be able to eek out low 20mpg in a 4 banger but then have a significantly less useful truck. All of that aside and to answer your question, I had no issues whatsoever with my Tacoma.

100% true. My friends V6 frontier which rides really nice btw gets same mileage as my f150 with a 4.6 V8, but it’s obviously much smaller inside and the bed also.

[kamaaina1]

You should be able to find a great running, rust-free Tacoma for under 10K.

[Yugo]

Thanks for great input everyone!

If I do drop the budget like some of you all have suggested, what mileage should I stick to w the Tacoma to avoid tons of repairs? Or what's too many miles for a tacoma?

[Suds]

Well, the $5k saved could be your repair fund if needed.
I have a 2010 Tundra, great truck.

[chassis]

+1 for the Tacoma. I ran a 2005 4Runner (cousin of the Taco) for 206k miles and it was very reliable. SR5 4WD 4.0L V6.

[Grip Addict]

Being performance oriented.

I can only suggest a Raptor, Chevy Colorado ZR2, TRD Pro Tundra.

[polychromatic]

Bought a 2008 Tacoma 4wd as an extra hauler. I liked the size and the functionality, however I hated the driving experience. The handling was poor, braking was meh, mileage was poor for such a small truck. It's nothing like a 4Runner, I had four over 15 years.

[Yugo]

Update - putting this on hold for a moment. We found a house we both like, so put our current house on the market and we will see. Once the new house is purchased, will resume search for the right truck.

[Yugo]

Update - so we closed on our new house. And as always you spend more than you planned, therefore my truck budget has decreased. I will try to find something for $10k or under. Have a couple local full size trucks to look at, and wanted to hear your opinion if you all have any experience with them:

- 2004 F-150 119k miles 5.4l
- 2009 Tundra 160k miles

[519.E82]

Man i am jealous of the people giving you these suggestions. Where i live a damn 2006 Tacoma with like 250k miles is still 8k usd. Been wanting to get a used truck as a daily and for towing but even rust buckets and as-is broken POS are expensive

[Yugo]

In US tacomas hold their value very well too, to the point that it almost always makes sense to buy a brand new one.

[Smgs1992]

personally i would go for a colorado. I had a 2002 nissan frontier that i sold with 190k on it. The truck had a good amount of rust despite being taken care of. The engine also took a noticeable decline in performance around the 170k mile mark. Interior wise was pretty spartan and the sound system was dreadful. Very hollow and tinny sound to it.
Now i understand what i had was a much older truck. However i recently had a loaner insurance provided me with that was a new frontier. Honestly it didnt seem like nissan had changed much of anything at all from the time i had mine. I was pretty disappointed and after a couple days with it called and asked if i could get something different. Ended up paying the difference for a F150 that i was much happier with.

I would highly suggest you do not get a frontier. The tacoma i have no experience with. Ive been in a colorado once and it wasnt bad. You could also opt to get a bigger truck and get a F150 with the ecoboost given your budget which i feel is a league above the trucks youre currently considering

[chassis]

I think the Ford V8 will guzzle it like it's going out of style.

Did you specify your towing and hauling requirements (size or weight of goods to be towed or hauled)?

Do you need a full size truck? Or do you want a full size truck?

[Suds]

11 years ago I bought a new Tundra Crewmax, at the time it was cheaper to buy new $28k than used. I would look at new base low option models, it may make more sense with warranty, new tires and you know how it has been treated.

Yes, I have 3 cars and 2 truck. I can afford this, I’m divorced and the kids are through college.

[Smgs1992]

Originally Posted by chassis

I think the Ford V8 will guzzle it like it's going out of style.

Did you specify your towing and hauling requirements (size or weight of goods to be towed or hauled)?

Do you need a full size truck? Or do you want a full size truck?

Given a budget of 15k he could afford to get the ecoboost twin turbo V6 and see 18-20mpg which isnt terrible.

[Yugo]

Originally Posted by chassis

I think the Ford V8 will guzzle it like it's going out of style.

Did you specify your towing and hauling requirements (size or weight of goods to be towed or hauled)?

Do you need a full size truck? Or do you want a full size truck?

Would be nice to have for more bed capacity for around house projects. Main reason I started looking at full size is the price. It's almost cheaper than getting a mid size.

Originally Posted by Suds

11 years ago I bought a new Tundra Crewmax, at the time it was cheaper to buy new $28k than used. I would look at new base low option models, it may make more sense with warranty, new tires and you know how it has been treated.

Yes, I have 3 cars and 2 truck. I can afford this, I’m divorced and the kids are through college.

New is unfortunately not in the budget at the moment. All 3 of mine are in pre-schoo or elementary school, lol