Which should you buy, 2017 or 2018? The 2017, unless the standard safety tech package is a selling point for you; the price increases are significant in some cases, while slight in others.

@PUTC

Crack me up! You could say the same thing about any Tacoma built during the last 10 years. It's the same truck.

Just because it rides the same chassis doesn't make it the same truck, papajim. Suspension changes, drivetrain changes, interior and exterior changes, all have some effect on making the new product different and usually better than the old. And from such people as are commonly found here complaining about how all new trucks are such junk, I'm surprised you even bothered to make that statement. Old trucks are better than new trucks, right?

This truck owns the segment for good reason.

@vulpine

Is your arthritis acting up again?

Normally you'd need about 3000 words to say that. A virus, maybe?

Look at the lower of the two photos in the story and you see EVERY Tacoma built since Bush was president.

Great truck, competitions is zilch.

It's a decent looking truck that rules the segment. Why mess with success? I do think it will start to slip in sales some more once Ford's Ranger arrives, and the Ford vs Chevy commercials take over. Then Toyota will have competition pushing the latest technologies and class ratings. But until then they can sit back and enjoy the ride with few changes and high profits.

Yawn.
How about the Tesla truck image on TFLtruck.com.
Now that's what I call a cab forward design (more so cab over design). Can have it all with that design: Bigger bed, bigger cabin (front and crew), and fit in the garage (easy to park).
That's what we need is a Tesla truck to shake things up. The big three + 1 designs all seem to be the same in many respects. Tesla is the only one who is willing to change the design so drastically. No loyal customer base to worry about when one leads in a totally new product segment.
But when will it ever come to market? Funny how the picture literally conforms to Musk's comment that it will "carry a truck". Well maybe a truck no bigger than a regular cab Toyota I hope is what Musk was implying, otherwise it'll be too wide. And to the nay sayers who believe a cab forward or cab over market doesn't exist: I remember Ford saying 5 years ago that a midsize truck segment didn't exist.

On another note: I saw the Ridgeline review, and I'm really tired of the journalists saying it is a 5'3" bed. I wonder how many of them have actually measured it like me and found it to be 4' 11.5" at the top of the bed with tailgate closed. I ran by one today in someone's driveway, and it is REALLY a short bed! But to each there own.

my thoughts on the Tacoma:

the 4x4 system is the best, good engine, transmission but the rest of the truck is a collection of cheap and generic parts, rear axle issues with leaking axle seals, front wheel bearing failures, rusted frames that crack and pose safety issues, heater blower motor failures cause of continuing problem of outside water getting inside the air box, plastic bed bottom cracks under severe cold weather, cheap chrome bumpers that rust after one year,,,,,,,should I go on?

buy a new F-150 Eco-Boost instead of the Tacoma, not only can it tow and haul more but the Eco-Boost gets better gas mileage

Man much better looking than the crap GM puts out. I bet it almost gets as good a mileage as the new Ford coming out. I know it will never beat my 6.2l at 45MPG, I am the only one who gets good mileage in a 6.2 BTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fake TNTGMC

Get a life....

my thoughts on the Tacoma:

the 4x4 system is the best, good engine, transmission but the rest of the truck is a collection of cheap and generic parts, rear axle issues with leaking axle seals, front wheel bearing failures, rusted frames that crack and pose safety issues, heater blower motor failures cause of continuing problem of outside water getting inside the air box, plastic bed bottom cracks under severe cold weather, cheap chrome bumpers that rust after one year,,,,,,,should I go on?

buy a new F-150 Eco-Boost instead of the Tacoma, not only can it tow and haul more but the Eco-Boost gets better gas mileage
Posted by: Ecoboost Rules | Jun 27, 2018 2:39:09 PM

I didn't know you used to own a tacoma?

Man much better looking than the crap GM puts out. I bet it almost gets as good a mileage as the new Ford coming out. I know it will never beat my 6.2l at 45MPG, I am the only one who gets good mileage in a 6.2 BTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: TNTGMC | Jun 27, 2018 3:00:44 PM

yep the other day i was doing 20 MPH and i was getting 85 MPG in overrated 6.2 i just love my Gay Man's Chariot

Fake and still GUTLESS!!

Did I mention how amazing my Ecoboost is??
It NEVER will depreciate like any other truck. In fact mine is worth MORE now than when I bought it.
It hauls and tows MORE than any truck, even the HDs. I can't haul too much though without worrying about my FRAGILE aluminum bed. The V8 sound pumping through my speakers is great, CLASS LEADING.
It off-roads way BETTER than a Tacoma
Ohh and the gas mileage is AMAZING, 18 mpg and even MORE when I'm towing.

LOL, funny, watching the clown get pissy.

LOL, funny, watching the clown get pissy.

Drum brakes?

Disc brakes have been around for over 65 years. Which is better (disc or drum?

Quick thoughts.

When was the last time a car ran in the Indy 500 with drums? When was the last time Toyota built a Lexus with drums? When was the last time a car with drums won the Daytona 500?

Answers my questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Okue72DTA
LMBO! Ford sucks!

One thing (I believe it's important) that nobody talks about is an "All Weather Truck"

The Tacoma has some advantages with great engine, tranny BUT the heater and air conditioning, lack or insulation and super thin windshields fail big time.

The full size American trucks, Ford, Chevy, Ram have strong heaters in the winter and powerful AC in the summer keeping the driver comfortable. The full size trucks with the big engine the heater is blowing heat soon after start up.
The Tacoma you'll have to drive 10 miles before the heater starts blowing hot air and the AC in the summer isn't cold enough, the thin glass fogs or ice up too easy and without proper insulation my feet are cold driving a Tacoma in the cold weather.

It's a nice secure feeling driving a pickup with a strong climate control system keeping you warm and cozy or cool in hot weather.
The Tacoma falls short doing that.

When was the last time a car ran in the Indy 500 with drums? When was the last time Toyota built a Lexus with drums? When was the last time a car with drums won the Daytona 500?

Answers my questions.
Posted by: papajim | Jun 27, 2018 5:33:21 PM

You're right on the drums. It's inexcusable that a truck has drum brakes in 2018. Especially a midsize truck that can easily climb into the high $30k's. I can't help but think that if the 2018 Colorado had rear drum brakes and the Tacoma had rear disc brakes, the drum brake defenders would suddenly be the most vocal critics of drum brakes.

--------------------------------------
Just because it rides the same chassis doesn't make it the same truck, papajim. Suspension changes, drivetrain changes, interior and exterior changes, all have some effect on making the new product different and usually better than the old. And from such people as are commonly found here complaining about how all new trucks are such junk, I'm surprised you even bothered to make that statement. Old trucks are better than new trucks, right?
Posted by: Vulpine | Jun 27, 2018 12:51:31 PM

The chassis was very lightly changed in HSS composition but otherwise it's almost completely the same as a 2nd gen Tacoma frame. Parts designed to attach to a 2nd gen Tacoma frame will attached to a 3rd gen Tacoma frame. 2nd gen Tacoma suspension parts will fit a 3rd gen Tacoma. The lower control arm was reinforced due to strength issues. The knuckle is identical, the sway bar is identical, the upper control arm is identical, the rear suspension is nearly identical and 2nd gen parts fit the 3rd gen. The drivetrain changed but not enough. The rear axle is still a weak high pinion axle with reverse cut gears. They increased the ring gear size ever so slightly but it's not enough to compensate for the issue of the pinion deflecting away from the ring gear. Old trucks are great, but you would have thought Toyota would focus some effort on correcting the issue with the front diff vibration. From what I understand, Toyota did nothing to address this 2nd gen issue. East Coast Gear Supply to the rescue with that bushing... again. The squeaky clutch pedal from the 2nd gen got carried over to the 3rd gen. The low-slung, poorly protect transfer case was left unchanged. I'm guessing throwout bearing will still live a short life like the 2nd gen was known for.

The 3rd gen was a rush job to try to keep the truck relevant, but it's obvious they were on a time/budget crunch. Even the big openings by the body mounts that were the biggest root cause of frame corrosion are still there, capturing mud/rocks/salt/water and trapping them inside the boxed section of the frame. Hopefully Toyota truly did begin to use a better corrosion protection coating on the frame, because the design/construction of the frame that helped create the problem is still there.

They also didn't fix the terrible seating position that makes you feel like you're sitting in a lifted Camry instead of a truck.

Another article about a truck with no real changes for this year. Just the standard "added nanny tech/upped price 500 to 1500".

It would be something if the Taco FINALLY got modern rear brakes.

Nice that you can still get a manual transmission with the V6 and on higher trim levels.

This truck has easily held onto its dominance in the pretend truck category and has only known 2nd to the Ranger in overall sales. While things will never again be as good for it as they were when almost everyone abandoned the pretend truck segment I don't see Toyota losing its title here even with obsolete brakes, a long in the tooth frame and not offering any really exciting engine options while going up against much more modern designs from multiple competitors.

Looking forward to articles about real changes. I hear chevy and fiat are about have new contenders in the battle for 2nd place in real trucks and Ford and Chevy will be offering some new engines. Would like to hear more about that.

Drum brakes?

Disc brakes have been around for over 65 years. Which is better (disc or drum?

Quick thoughts.

When was the last time a car ran in the Indy 500 with drums? When was the last time Toyota built a Lexus with drums? When was the last time a car with drums won the Daytona 500?

Answers my questions.

Posted by: papajim | Jun 27, 2018 5:33:21 PM

i'll bet your '09 had drum brakes on it

Another fun fact: 2004 and earlier the Ranger was the best selling mid-size pickup. With Ford bringing back the Ranger, the mid-size market will change :)

@ Clint,

Stop being such a l iberal.

Drum brakes work, no issues in any of my Toyota's the last 25 years, so why the heck should they change to appease your l iberal views?

By you pointing at the drums shows you to be biased and hateful of Toyota, thus not credible. Stop with your l iberal hate speak please!

And 'real' trucks? The Tacoma is defined as a 'real' truck, so again stop with your sexist and racist l iberal hate speak please!

@ Brick and other dumb l iberal Toyota haters,

Please stop with your nonsense and l iberal double speak!

You never owned a Toyota long enough to even qualify to speak of one. Stop following your biased l iberal media and talk to REAL owners, and you will find out why they outsell the GM 'f emale' (GM CEO and CFO are both f emale) junk by almost 2 to 1 to this day. Their is a reason why sales reflect the truth, and your l iberal views do not!

Just like the immigration issue, you lefties say nothing about O bama's 8 years but target T rump because somebody told you to do such. Same applies here with your blind hatred of Toyota.

Because of Toyota's success as the best seller, you have to attack them for dumb reasons that show a bias and hate speak.

You l iberals are all the same.

@ Oxi

I think u need to understand that if someone doesn't view your Toyota truck as the best, that doesn't qualify them as a liberal! Come in man! Drum brakes is a complete joke! If the Colorado or new ranger had them and the Tacoma had disc brakes, u would never stop bashing them

No more manual transmission for any 4 cylinder or 2WD V6' not even the base model has manual transmission anymore you will Ned the TRD off road package with 4x4 to get manual transmission

i'll bet your '09 had drum brakes on it
Posted by: DLE | Jun 28, 2018

It does. they are a sorry substitute for the real thing.

Now that we settled that. What kind of brakes does your boyfriend's truck have?

@ Oxi

I think u need to understand that if someone doesn't view your Toyota truck as the best, that doesn't qualify them as a liberal! Come in man! Drum brakes is a complete joke! If the Colorado or new ranger had them and the Tacoma had disc brakes, u would never stop bashing them

Posted by: TNTGMC | Jun 28, 2018 8:17:29 AM

look at you trying to give advise to Oxi about not liking the same brand as soon as someone doesn't agree with you on GM the world ends and name calling starts, what are you saying about drum brakes "they are junk" then why did GM use them so long after the competition switched to Disc brakes

Lmfao...still fake TNTGMC

You should really start by giving yourself advice instead of anyone else.

This is comical...by all means keep posting under others bc it really shows your insecurity!! Lol

@ Fake TNT
quit posting under my name

LMFAO...

Keep it up.... You Spineless man you!! Love it!

@ TNTGMC,

The way you haters of Toyota conduct yourself with your fabrications, fake news and so forth is the same way l iberals conduct themselves with regards to issues like immigration. That is pack full of lies and cover for Obama while attacking T rump.

You guys have no credibility as with l iberals.

Now run along to your next pro-socialist, Marxist rally and leave capitalism and progress to those that love trucks!

The Prius forum is calling you types...

i'm sorry guys the fake TNT is calling people names again

Leave oxi alone, he's probably busy "off-roading" at the tracks lol with Jay Leno and John Stamos.

"buy a new F-150 Eco-Boost instead of the Tacoma, not only can it tow and haul more but the Eco-Boost gets better gas mileage
---- Posted by: Ecoboost Rules

And takes up 20% more space, right?

They also didn't fix the terrible seating position that makes you feel like you're sitting in a lifted Camry instead of a truck.
---- Posted by: Brick

That's probably the LEAST concerning thing about it. It's not that you sit low (doesn't bother me a bit) but the track isn't long enough for my wife's long legs under the wheel. The wheel rubs her thighs because she has to bend her knees just to fit. Even the Fiat 500 fits her better than most modern mid-sized trucks, and they're 3x as large!

Another fun fact: 2004 and earlier the Ranger was the best selling mid-size pickup. With Ford bringing back the Ranger, the mid-size market will change :)---- Posted by: NoQDRTundra

--- It was also smaller than any current mid-sized truck, too.

Tacoma’s are solid trucks! That’s why they have the best resale value of any truck.

My son is still driving my old 2001 Tacoma xtra cab 4x4 today with over 326K miles on it with minimal maintenance cost.

Little rust spots on the frame, rear drum brakes still work great, original engine and transmission. The seats are comfortable to me and now my son. You all are too bias and need to have an open mind.

The new Ranger will be offered here in the US but has been available in Mexico and overseas for years now. I was in Southeast Asia and most recently vacationing in Mexico and saw way fewer Rangers than Tacoma/Hilux and the new Nissan Navarro/Frontier in both places. I’m glad the Ranger will be available here again. Competition is good.

The Tacoma has proven itself to be a solid truck with little modifications and still competes with the latest offerings from the competition. That is the truth.

45 mpg from a 6 2? I have read it all!

Be nice if the double or crew cabs had another 3 or 400 pounds of payload.

They ask almost as much for a fancied up Tacoma like that as GM wants for the midside twins with diesel crew 4x4 Z-71.

Too bad neither of them cares to stock a long bed.

@Ecoboost rules: I have seen 20.5 or so so far with my 2.7 crew 4x4 FX4 2.7 3.55 geared. On 87 octane.

However, that is at less than 3,000 miles on it, still on Fords blend oil, and in hilly Northwest Arkansas.

People often think the downhills make-up for the uphills, but not even close.

That is with the 275/65 18s, 17s will get put on at some point.

I wouldn't doubt I get as much mileage in town @ 19 mpg as a Tacoma v-6 4x4 longbed crew, without people being crowded!

Towed about 7,000 so far, handled it fine, less than 3200 rpm needed to go 55 in the hills.

^Meant to say, in vehicle gas mileage read 6% over real mileage, the 20.5 said 21.9 or so.

But hauling 3 full size kayaks in the back and stiking up at the back for 150 miles had something to do with it.

Forget the Tacoma, unless you can get a great deal on a used truck. If you're shopping a new truck, the current base model regular cab F150 with the 3.3 V6 is a way better choice. Compare prices.

The reg cab has not back seat, sure, but the back seat in either of cab configurations in the Tacoma is worthless anyway. Did you ever try to sit in the back of a Tacoma crew cab? Grim. Sitting in the front is bad enough. Seriously, if you're over 5 ft 7 inches tall you'll hate the seating in a Tacoma.

The Ford has great payload, a competent drive train---and disc brakes on all four corners!

I am an idiot folks, please excuse my stupidity. I will stop posting under other names now.

ZR2 > TRD

@ fake TNTGMC

Poor guy, still using others names, one day u will grow up or maybe not?!?

@ DB
I agree ZR2 is much better than the current TRD. Toyota will go hack to drawing board and bring out a better truck "hopefully" when the redesign is up... Pretty soon I would imagine..

"The reg cab has not back seat, sure, but the back seat in either of cab configurations in the Tacoma is worthless anyway. Did you ever try to sit in the back of a Tacoma crew cab? Grim. Sitting in the front is bad enough. Seriously, if you're over 5 ft 7 inches tall you'll hate the seating in a Tacoma." ---- posted by papajim

--- Well, you got the reg cab part right... ain't no room at all behind the seat. That said, the Tacoma offers a perfect back seat area for my needs as I want the flat rear floor for carrying things like my tool boxes or bowling bags and not seating for passengers that will maybe be used once in any given year. The F-150 is simply too big AND too expensive (before incentives) to even consider at the trim levels I want (with Lariat at the top.) A narrower body, shorter roofline and overall shorter length is much more useful for me, but I gotta have that extended cab with a flat floor, not one cluttered up with a holey plinth supporting an unused seat.

I got all of it right.

Just get a base truck. Why do you want a Lariat? You're adding thousands of dollars in dealer-profit "bling" to your new truck.

These items depreciate like crazy. Maybe you can afford. i can't.

Tacoma is built for off-road plain and simple.
The new TV commercial with girl jumping out in boots and Daisy Dukes even says so. This is why it never has appealed to me Ridgeline is way better on-road and handling ride comfort this is a difference.