4R and a Taco?

Guys

So I have a new 4R I bought for fishing and towing my boat. I have an itch to maybe get a truck and replace my Accord (crazy with only 67k)

I will look in the forums but if I was looking at Tacoma TRD sport 4x4 what should are biggest Tacoma concerns? Frame I am sure again to get fluid filmed.

This is a first world problem I know but I am single dude with no kids and just have an itch for a truck. I figure maybe I should get one before they outlaw gas vehicles maybe too.

 

The 2nd gen is better than the 3rd in my opinion. I still liked my 3rd gen, but the 2nd gen 4 cylinder Access cab was more enjoyable to drive, than the 6 cylinder 3rd gen sport.

 

Towing capacity....is what I would make sure you get right. I have a taco 3rd gen as well and I think it struggles but maybe I just put too much crap on it when I am towing.

 

Is a 2022 a 3rd Gen I assume? I am only towing around 3k pounds. I think I’d use the 4R for that also since I know my gear is more secure locked up. Who knows.

I just get these crazy ideas to get something new. I thought why not try a pickup as an everyday car instead of the accord.

I saw this one on the lot last week. I am suprised it’s still there tonight.

The paint However on the plastic trim looks a little more dull versus on the sheet metal which weird. I just went by twice and think it looks sharp.

 

Good looking truck. Yes a 2022 on taco is 3rd Gen. I have the 2017 TRD Pro, same color, Barcelona red. It is a good truck but the 4R is much more comfortable IMO. Good luck.

 

Nice pic Chessguy thanks for sharing. Looks like you have a tight garage like myself. I think mine is slightly wider called 2.5 garage detached from my house. I’d definitely try it with my 4R and see how it looks before buying. I like to see how lawn mower/snow blower etal fits in there.

 

I have both. I am close to 6' tall, I fit better in the 4Runner. We take it on most trips.

I wool wax the Taco and 4Runner twice per year. Well only once so far on the Taco as it was purchased in Jan 22. They fit in my garage just fine, but it's 45 feet wide.

 

Yeah I got fluid film on my 4R but it never saw winter or rain. Doing again in few weeks just because.

45ft wide garage good for you bud. That is every man’s dream. I could get my boat and all my cars in there. That’s awesome

 

I had 3rd gen Taco. I liked the truck but I couldn’t get over the way the transmission was programmed to lug the snot out of the engine. Manual mode helped but it still lugged, it just couldn’t shift to overdrive at 30 mph. The Tow selection or whatever was just a tad to far the opposite for my taste.
NEVER in the right gear and if it was you could bet that was about to change in a second.
I’m happier with a 4Runner.

 

I have owned all 3 generations of tacos. I loved everything about the 3rd gen except the way it drove. Looks and tech were great but the transmission killed it for me. I love my 2020 runner and the 4.0/5 speed combo so if I were to get another taco it would be a 2012-15 model.

 

My 2nd gen regular cab 4 cylinder 4x4 5speed manual with rear locker



As others said look at a 2nd gen or 1st gen. I've owned a 3rd gen tacoma nothing wrong with them but they're expensive obviously. I'd also consider a used tundra

 

Before ordering my 4Runner, I read blogs, forums and watched YouTube a ton as I considered the Jeep Rubicon and Tacoma. In all things came across for Tacoma, re-gearing seemed to be the top improvement for drivability, especially when adding on weight or increasing tire size. Then of course seat raiser mounts,

 

Thanks guys for the feedback. I only drove one once in a test drive and it was brief.

I don’t really need a Tacoma and love my 4R I just thought maybe it would be cool to have both. I ponder getting something else gasoline while I can and part of me always wanted to try a truck.

It may sound stupid but sometimes I think if I allow myself to think if have xyz it would make me happier but rarely it does. When you’re single with no kids and help out aging parents sometimes you think about vehicles too often perhaps. I should just count my current blessings perhaps.

 

Yeah, I definitely agree with counting your blessings. Personally, if your 4Runner suits your needs, I think buying a Tacoma just to have one is pretty crazy. Unless you're swimming in cash, there's a lot better things you could do with that money.

Or, if you absolutely must buy another vehicle, why a Tacoma? Too much overlap in function, IMO. If you're concerned about ICE cars being banned, get something cool with a V8. Why have TWO vehicle with whiny little V6s, lol. Get a V8 mustang, Camaro, Challenger, etc instead. While I don't think material possessions can make one truly happy, that V8 rumble goes a long way.

 

It's not stupid to make this comment. In fact, most people never analyze themselves enough to even peek behind the curtains to realize this won't make you happier. Keep digging, there are answers. I started this journey about 10 years ago, it takes a while...but my perspective changed toward things that really did bring me joy.

Spoiler alert, see if you can find a group of people to share a hobby/sport/passion. That distracted me from doing this exact thing.

(Don't mean this to be preachy, please don't take it as such....it's a common issue many deal with, you are not alone in this matter).

 

Nothing wrong with your every day accord. My 21 LunaRock Tundra Pro spends most of the time in my garage. I bought a 22 Camry XSE to drive back and fourth to work. 31-32 miles to the gallon. I drove my 2003 Acura CL sport for years and sold it when my Camry came in. I don’t need to spend all that gas money on my truck. But being a home owner you really need a truck. Keep what you got. I loved my 2020 4runner Pro. But did not need it because wife has SUV. But your single and only live once. Lol. I thought about it also but don’t make sense for me to have 2 trucks.

 

My Dad has an 03 TL with 21k miles---retired guy and boy that car is mint and is still fun to drive this many years later.

Yeah probably no need for two trucks for me.

 

[Single with no kids = motorcycle]

 

I have both a 2020 Tacoma V6 and a 2022 4R Off Road I owned a 2007 Tacoma the 4R is much more comfortable I think but yet again both are wayyyyy more comfortable than my 87 Toyota lol

 

I had a '21 Taco but traded it in for a 4R since I live on a dirt road and even with a tonneau cover, everything in the bed would get dusty. I probably would have bought a new Mustang for a second car but because of the potholed dirt roads, I ended up with an OBW. For the same reason, I recently got rid of my '69 Mach 1 that I had for 40 years. The 4R and the OBW are just great for my situation.

 

Its ironic you mention dust in the bed of the truck; this new one I looked at last night had a tonneau, I opened the tailgate and could not believe the dust in the bed of the truck. I think the dealer just ran it through the external wash; man was it filthy inside.

Yeah I used to want a Mustang bad also, but in my area (suburbs of Detroit) most do not want to park a car like that out; most get stolen or broken into. Most people that have muscle cars just go cruising which is fun; but many do not go out to dinner and park them unattended.

 

Personally I'd go larger for a pickup. I miss my 2nd gen DCSB Tacoma but the bed was basically useless.

 

Good point. Plus pretty much any full size is going to have a lot more power and get the same if not better economy than the taco. I have a co-worker with a late model 5.3 L Silverado that gets better fuel economy than I do driving like a granny in my 4R.

I think the only real limitation is if you physically cannot fit a full size pickup where you need to park.

 

This right here is why I didn't get a F150. My GTO is right behind it and would barely fit in the driveway and can't block the door because there's a car in there.

 

i'm also a single person with no human children, just dogs the real thing you need to ask yourself before buying a pickup truck is what do you really need the truck for that the 4 runner can't do? Are you needing to load a bunch of dirt/rocks for landscaping projects? towing something bigger than the 4r can handle? if you say yes to both of those, i'd personally be looking at a bigger truck like a tundra. But if you just need the back of a pickup from time to time, you could always rent one from budget or lowes for like 20$. I've been able to get lumber, plants and pickup desks and what not with the 4 runner and haven't felt the need for the back bed of a pickup with the exception of one time, and I was able to borrow my friends pickup for the low cost of taking him out for dinner and buying a few drinks.

I've also been a multi vehicle household for a very long time, having 2 or 3 vehicles at any given time. and I try to buy vehicles which serve a purpose or fit a need. Before I got my 4r, I had a 91 toyota pickup single cab (22re with a 5spd and 4x4) for camping and taking my dog hiking. I had a 2012 Boss 302 as my track/impractical car and a Golf R which I've had since new as my fun daily. Eventually I got a second dog and needed something bigger than the pickup so I got rid of it and the boss which I never drove for the 4R. I kept the golf as it is the perfect fun daily driver to scratch my itch for having a fun sporty car, which can also be used to carpool to things with friends. And the 4r has been the perfect dog hauler and camping rig for any and all adventures we want to go on. And also has the added bonus of being great for taking several hockey players to games comfortably

 

My 200 series is a 5.7 v8 that's 2" wider and 3" longer than my 4Runner, so it's still easy to park in garages and in the city but can tow 8100 lbs.

 

Yeah I don’t really need a truck. The 4R will pull my boat and for recreation is great. For mulch I can rent a utility trailer or get delivered for $30.

The 4R only goes out in nice weather also. That Tacoma frame would have to see salt and snow etal so probably another reason to just keep the Accord.

The Accord is ok in small doses of snow and if it’s super bad no worries since I work from home. Plus no “frame” to worry about rusting just wash.

The full size trucks are cool but as noted parking is issue. I cannot fit nicely in the garage. I hate to leave that expensive of a vehicle outside also.

Thanks guys for the insight. This all raised good discussion and thought topics.

 

If I did not have garages for my vehicles I probably would not have my 19 C7 Z06. The only way I take it to dinner if I can still see it parked. I even do google earth when going somewhere to see how the parking is. I love my beast. 650 HP Supercharged. Took it to NC 2 years ago.

 

I am like that also Russ. I don’t just park anywhere I check it out ahead of time. It seems everyone likes to make spaces tighter these days and I like the back of the lot.

 

I remember years ago in a popular nightlife area near me someone had a 67 Shelby Mustang GT 350 that looked just like Eleanor from the movie. There were two guys that the owner paid to sit on a stool to watch the car while the owner and his wife had dinner and drinks. Sharp car obviously sweet but I would not want to worry to that level even if I had money to pay someone to watch my car.