I already have a 3/4 ton truck for towing so i really want a small truck also. Around here a 2015 to 2020 under 100,000 miles tacoma is $30,000. 4x4 full cab. Everything is backwards with tacomas. I also want a manual tranny but they run an extra $4 or $5,000. I dont get it. I can get a brand new one SR trim for $36,000. I dont care for the 2024 though

It seems the Tundras are cheaper than tacoma here. Are there older tundras that are close in size to tacomas just slightly bigger?

Buy new always, they retain value very well.

2000-2006 Tundra was smaller, I had a double cab 4wd with the 4.7L V8 that got better mileage and out pulled my friends Tacomas. Traded in with 217,000 on it running good but needed wheel bearings and suspension redone. Wanted a twin turbo Tundra but they had the price jacked up waaay over sticker so I bought a used twin turbo F150 off of their lot. Very happy with it, runs like a scalded ape and pulls great and gets good mileage. Prices have come down on the Tundras but they would have to make an awesome deal to get me out of this truck...

4X4 Tacoma’s hold their value so well I’d just buy a new one.

We currently have two Tacomas. My wife had a ‘98 when we met until we bought my 2014 TRD Off Road used and we bought a 2022 TRD OR new. All are or were stick shifts. Outside of the recommended maintenance, we have not had to do anything on the 2014 or 2022 that we own. The ‘98 was totaled twice and wrecked a third time, repaired every time, and other than that, never had any issues outside of recommended maintenance. It was an absolute tank and we probably should’ve held on to it and not traded it in. It had over 200,000 miles on it.

My 2014 has ~130,000 miles on it and is also a tank. The ‘22 has almost 30,000 miles on it and has way more bells and whistles than mine does, but is really nice, smooth and quiet. My father in law had a 2005 TRD Sport that was totaled when a drunk driver hit him and it was doing great with nothing more than recommended maintenance. He is now in a 2019 TRD Sport and same story.

Long story short, but a quality used one or buy new. They last long, hold their value and I can personally vouch for five across three generations of Tacomas that have been trouble free.

Just sold a 2017 Taco for $29k, we only paid $34k new.

If you want something that's better on gas, get a new Tacoma with the 2.4 L turbo 4-cyclinder engine. I have a 2010 model that isn't turbocharged with just over 210,000 miles. Other than the usual maintenance items (brake pads and shoes, spark plugs, filters, starter (lasted just over 200,000 miles) and two rear shocks, everything is original. I keep checking the front wheel bearings and still haven't found any play in them. Oops, forgot a couple of items. Replaced the front crank seal at just over 209,000 and the valve cover gasket around 200,000.

My first Toyota was an '85 model before they came out with the Tacoma. I replaced it with a 98 Tacoma, which I would later sell for $1500 over the asking price when the phone never stopped ringing from people making better offers.

But Dave Ramsey says buying a new vehicle is dumb….

you believe him? he has input but.......

Tundras are much bigger than Tacoma, price has to do w the V8 and poir gas mileage. I never pick a vechile based on gas mileage!!

It depends on your income.

He can buy the unknown if he wants to but I’ll never do it again.

I’ll say this now having owned both. We just got my son an 05 tundra limited 4wd and it sucks some fuel. He is still learning to drive and I’m sure he’s heavy on the skinny pedal but I’d be surprised if it’s getting anything over 12-13 mpg. And I sold my 20 Tacoma that I paid 31k for for 29k with 80k miles on it. Fuel wasn’t that great in it either. About 20 mpg most of the time. I had a 20 f150 twin turbo that consistently got 24-25. If you could find a deal in a used one got for it but more than likely a new one will be within a couple grand

We love Dave, but things are a bit different these days.

1. People don't take care of their vehicles like they used to, but there are still a few fairly reliable models in spite of their owners.
2. With all the electronics these days, it's a bigger risk to own one out of warranty. Just ask the diesel guys who've been tagged with a fuel pump or emissions failures...
3. There comes a time when buying used just doesn't make good financial sense, like when the used price is at or near the new price.
4. I have personally heard Dave tell an auto factory worker (Nissan in Tennessee) to buy new due to the deep discounts auto manufacturer employees get on vehicles.

However, income is still important and to be sure, there are those who will never have a pot to pee in because they always have to have the latest and greatest vehicle.

If going Tacoma buy new. There isn't any savings in buying used. Tundra totally opposite.

I am a diehard tundra guy but I wouldn't buy one of their 22+ twin turbo jobs right now. They were not ready to come to market with it imo.
Not to mention it doesn't get much better mpgs than my 2020 5.7.

as someone mentioned above....the 07-21 tundra isnt comparable to the tacoma when it comes to size. Way bigger.

I'm looking at buying a new TRD. 2024 has gone to 4 cylinder which I'm not too crazy about, looking at Toyota website does not look like 6 cylinder is an option any more.

I wanted a new tundra (22 or 23) but have seen way too many reports involving serious engine issues. Bad crank bearing and guys with brand new trucks in the shop for 6+ months. No thanks. My 99 Taco TRD 5spd is at about 345k and has never let me down. It's crazy to me how much some folks are asking for low mileage tacomas from 99-2003. I guess somebody will pay.

That is too bad. That v6 has been around since the 90's and is virtually indestructible.

The 3.4L in the mid 90's Tacoma's had a recall to replace head gaskets but other than that you are correct, it is a very stout motor. I have owned 2 Tacoma's and a Tundra. 96 Tacoma was the last new vehicle I purchased until 2022. From 94 until 2022 all we had owned were Toyota/Lexus. They are very well built vehicles.

Early 80's I had a 4x4 four bang'er, it was slow, but it would go anywhere.

One of the more stoopid things I ever did was sell my 2002 Tacoma in 2011. Later that year, I "politely asked" the guy to sell it back to me.

You can't go wrong with a Tacoma. They have a cult like following. I had a 2019 never needed anything but normal maintenance and never left me stranded.

Same with the 2wds. When I bought a new 2009 TRD Tacoma I looked at a used one. 22k miles, not a TRD, and while it had a hitch it did not have a factory tow package. When I started negotiating the price they whined about how much they had in it. I said "your problem not mine" and they whined some more. Picked up the new one for $1500 more.

Toyota trucks hold their value as long as you didn't overpay at the dealer. Just about all of the dealers were at sticker price and adding a $5-$7k "market adjustment" fee the last few years.