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As someone in the market for a truck, why specifically USA and not somewhere else? I’m looking at the Toyota Tacoma as my number one choice, but this is not a

As someone in the market for a truck, why specifically USA and not somewhere else? I’m looking at the Toyota Tacoma as my number one choice, but this is not a strongly held desire if there is something better.

track_me_now 7y ago
Well first a Tacoma is actually a truck; even Honda states the ridgeline is not intended to compete with traditional trucks, is not built for towing and uses a unibody construction. Tacomas are expensive, the dealers don't deal and they hold their resale value. The new (2019) Tacoma trades heavily on it's reputation IMO, without really adding much new over the past 3-4 years. It's a real off-road vehicle though, if that's important to you. In this format/size I'd suggest you take a look at the new Ranger. It's nothing fancy but much more affordable. It's pretty much the polar opposite of the Ridgeline.
- lotsofpulp 7y ago
  I like that Toyota hasn’t touched Tacoma/4Runner. It’s already perfect as is, no additional bells and whistles were needed other than CarPlay.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
bitexploder 7y ago
I’m a fan of Ford trucks myself, drive a F150 for off-roading. Tacoma and Jeep Wrangler out here in CO are extremely popular and have great reputations. The build quality on Ford stuff is fine. I think the recommendation for Ranger is solid, but I am not sure if it is better. If you are really serious about off-roading full sized trucks are not ideal (too wide/long).
- cr0sh 7y ago
  From what I can gather - and this is mere speculation on my part - the new Ranger is merely a version of the 1990s F150 dressed up. Compare the size of an early 90s F150 with that of today's new Ranger, and you'll see what I mean (while you're at it, compare the sizes of an early 90s F250 with today's F150). I honestly think (I have no proof) that what Ford did was kill off the Ranger (ie - stop rebadging them from Mazda), because of CAFE rule changes, but then they found that even the F150 was too small, too. So they moved the F250 down a notch (it became the 150), and maybe the 350 too (it became the 250). I'm not sure about higher numbers; most people never bought anything bigger than the 350, at least on the consumer end (I have seen some "consumer" 450s and 750s on the road - but they are very rare). Then people clamor for the Ranger (have you ever tried to find an original Ford Ranger that is in normal condition, in good repair, and hasn't been "pre-runnered"? Not easy - and when you do, it ain't cheap, either - wish I never gave up my 94) - so they dig out the old F150 - which is smaller than today's F150, dress it up and tada: "new Ranger!" Again - this is just my impression; I'm not sure of the truth or facts or anything. I'll tell you where Ford also made a mistake: They announced a "mini-Raptor" - but afaik, it was only released in Australia (and I think it had a diesel engine option to boot!). Gah!
sh-run 7y ago
I absolutely love my Tacoma. It's a 2009 4dr TRD Sport with 164,000 miles. I have no desire to 'upgrade' to something newer. My only regret is getting the short bed, I sleep in the back a few times a year and it'd be nice to not need to sleep in the diagonal. The people I know who own the 3rd gen Tacomas seem to like them just as much as I like mine.
- sharkweek 7y ago
  I’ve got a 2000 4Runner that is still running great, but looking to switch to a truck in the next couple of years. My thought, years ago, was to wait for the 4Runner to break down then upgrade, but I’m now starting to wonder if that’s still a few years (decades?!) off.
  - frankharv 7y ago
    Wow I have the 2000 RAV4 and the same opinion. 5 years ago I started thinking of buying something new but the RAV4 keeps purring. 240,xxx miles and you would never know it.
  - lotsofpulp 7y ago
    I’m in the same boat, so I installed a Sony CarPlay unit in, and accepted that I won’t be able to get a new car for a while. I don’t think you can go wrong with Tacoma/4Runner/Landcruiser 70 series.
- cr0sh 7y ago
  > My only regret is getting the short bed This is exactly opposite for me - I want a pickup that is "short bed, standard cab" - I want a small pickup - like the original Ranger/Mazda B3000. Sadly, due to CAFE rules I can't get that any more. Now - what I (and many others) lusted after was something Jeep showed off as a concept vehicle: It was a short-bed version of their new Gladiator pickup. Probably the only way that I might - might - give up my TJ. Damn, that thing looked so sweet. But again, they probably couldn't build it because of CAFE rules. So if you want the Gladiator, you have to get the 4-door. I don't like 4-door vehicles, I have no need for one. I want a 2-door pickup, standard cab, short bed - nothing less. Either that, or give me one of these - another vehicle I can't own: http://oxgvt.com/ http://oxgvt.com/
tonyedgecombe 7y ago
As someone in the market for a truck, why specifically USA and not somewhere else? I'm always a bit bemused by this. We were urged to buy British in the late seventies and early eighties. My dad lapped it up and the reward for his loyalty was a string of really crap cars.
dsfyu404ed 7y ago
>I’m looking at the Toyota Tacoma as my number one choice, but this is not a strongly held desire if there is something better. Something better for what? A Dodge Dakota or an old Ranger (the ones not based on the global platform) are far superior if your goal is to overload the piss out of them without hurting the truck. You'd probably enjoy your time in a new truck far more though.

track_me_now 7y ago

Well first a Tacoma is actually a truck; even Honda states the ridgeline is not intended to compete with traditional trucks, is not built for towing and uses a unibody construction. Tacomas are expensive, the dealers don't deal and they hold their resale value. The new (2019) Tacoma trades heavily on it's reputation IMO, without really adding much new over the past 3-4 years. It's a real off-road vehicle though, if that's important to you. In this format/size I'd suggest you take a look at the new Ranger. It's nothing fancy but much more affordable. It's pretty much the polar opposite of the Ridgeline.

lotsofpulp 7y ago
I like that Toyota hasn’t touched Tacoma/4Runner. It’s already perfect as is, no additional bells and whistles were needed other than CarPlay.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

bitexploder 7y ago

I’m a fan of Ford trucks myself, drive a F150 for off-roading. Tacoma and Jeep Wrangler out here in CO are extremely popular and have great reputations. The build quality on Ford stuff is fine. I think the recommendation for Ranger is solid, but I am not sure if it is better. If you are really serious about off-roading full sized trucks are not ideal (too wide/long).

cr0sh 7y ago
From what I can gather - and this is mere speculation on my part - the new Ranger is merely a version of the 1990s F150 dressed up. Compare the size of an early 90s F150 with that of today's new Ranger, and you'll see what I mean (while you're at it, compare the sizes of an early 90s F250 with today's F150). I honestly think (I have no proof) that what Ford did was kill off the Ranger (ie - stop rebadging them from Mazda), because of CAFE rule changes, but then they found that even the F150 was too small, too. So they moved the F250 down a notch (it became the 150), and maybe the 350 too (it became the 250). I'm not sure about higher numbers; most people never bought anything bigger than the 350, at least on the consumer end (I have seen some "consumer" 450s and 750s on the road - but they are very rare). Then people clamor for the Ranger (have you ever tried to find an original Ford Ranger that is in normal condition, in good repair, and hasn't been "pre-runnered"? Not easy - and when you do, it ain't cheap, either - wish I never gave up my 94) - so they dig out the old F150 - which is smaller than today's F150, dress it up and tada: "new Ranger!" Again - this is just my impression; I'm not sure of the truth or facts or anything. I'll tell you where Ford also made a mistake: They announced a "mini-Raptor" - but afaik, it was only released in Australia (and I think it had a diesel engine option to boot!). Gah!

sh-run 7y ago

I absolutely love my Tacoma. It's a 2009 4dr TRD Sport with 164,000 miles. I have no desire to 'upgrade' to something newer. My only regret is getting the short bed, I sleep in the back a few times a year and it'd be nice to not need to sleep in the diagonal. The people I know who own the 3rd gen Tacomas seem to like them just as much as I like mine.

sharkweek 7y ago
I’ve got a 2000 4Runner that is still running great, but looking to switch to a truck in the next couple of years. My thought, years ago, was to wait for the 4Runner to break down then upgrade, but I’m now starting to wonder if that’s still a few years (decades?!) off.
- frankharv 7y ago
  Wow I have the 2000 RAV4 and the same opinion. 5 years ago I started thinking of buying something new but the RAV4 keeps purring. 240,xxx miles and you would never know it.
- lotsofpulp 7y ago
  I’m in the same boat, so I installed a Sony CarPlay unit in, and accepted that I won’t be able to get a new car for a while. I don’t think you can go wrong with Tacoma/4Runner/Landcruiser 70 series.
cr0sh 7y ago
> My only regret is getting the short bed This is exactly opposite for me - I want a pickup that is "short bed, standard cab" - I want a small pickup - like the original Ranger/Mazda B3000. Sadly, due to CAFE rules I can't get that any more. Now - what I (and many others) lusted after was something Jeep showed off as a concept vehicle: It was a short-bed version of their new Gladiator pickup. Probably the only way that I might - might - give up my TJ. Damn, that thing looked so sweet. But again, they probably couldn't build it because of CAFE rules. So if you want the Gladiator, you have to get the 4-door. I don't like 4-door vehicles, I have no need for one. I want a 2-door pickup, standard cab, short bed - nothing less. Either that, or give me one of these - another vehicle I can't own: http://oxgvt.com/ http://oxgvt.com/

tonyedgecombe 7y ago

As someone in the market for a truck, why specifically USA and not somewhere else? I'm always a bit bemused by this. We were urged to buy British in the late seventies and early eighties. My dad lapped it up and the reward for his loyalty was a string of really crap cars.

dsfyu404ed 7y ago

>I’m looking at the Toyota Tacoma as my number one choice, but this is not a strongly held desire if there is something better. Something better for what? A Dodge Dakota or an old Ranger (the ones not based on the global platform) are far superior if your goal is to overload the piss out of them without hurting the truck. You'd probably enjoy your time in a new truck far more though.