Trade my Chevy for a Tacoma?

[Tnc]

Thinking about trading my 2014 Chevy 1500 in and getting a Tacoma. I’ve always been a Chevy guy. Never owned a different brand.
Downsizing and maybe better fuel mileage going from the 5.3 V8 to the V6 Tacoma.
Anybody done the same or have any advice/warnings on the Tacoma? Any year models to steer clear of? I’ve read the 2017s have issues with the 6 speed tranny.
Let me know your thoughts
Thanks

 

[Heretoimproveforhunting]

i wish i could have my 95 single cab back to trick out for ranches. thing was ultra reliable. served me well for about 100k and then my brother and sister for another 75k.

hard to get stuck. could pull light weights, but for serious hauling youd want something bigger.

modern day 6 should be pretty respectable for pulling.

 

[FS1]

I drive a 2015 the last of that engine series. Love it. Have another that my son drives a 2018, he likes it but says it shifts strange (revs high before shifts).

 

[Biggie1976]

You won’t save gas going to a newer Tacoma

 

[Tnc]

FS1 that’s kinda what I’ve read on the newer tranny

Biggie I average 15mpg in the Chevy. Best I’ve averaged for a tank was 17. You saying a newer V6 won’t beat that?

 

[RyanScott]

Tacoma’s are not fuel efficient.

 

[Northfl]

And the ride like shit. Least the one i test drive did

 

[backsideof45]

I've got a 2018. I can confirm the strange high rev before shifting annoyance. I've had 4 dating back to 2008. Current one has 36k already, no problems yet. Good resale value too.

I also get 23.5 mpg avg highway, 22 in the city.

 

[DanGroves]

I've got a 2018. I can confirm the strange high rev before shifting annoyance. I've had 4 dating back to 2008. Current one has 36k already, no problems yet. Good resale value too.

I also get 23.5 mpg avg highway, 22 in the city.

Is your's the 3.5L or 2.7L, my 3.5L tops out at 21 MPG on the highway. Of course, it usually has some payload and our freeway speed limit is 75-80 MPH.

 

[fdkay]

Tacomas and Tundras are probably the best built, most reliable trucks.
I did a lot of research before buying a truck and found that none of the mid-size trucks got better fuel economy than a full size.
The RAM eco-diesel is probably king when it comes to MPG's and towing for 1500 size trucks.
I ended up just buying a well used Tundra. It is a great truck.
If you aren't looking to use serious truck abilities, the Honda is a pretty neat piece of kit.

 

[Chips26]

I drive a 2015 the last of that engine series. Love it. Have another that my son drives a 2018, he likes it but says it shifts strange (revs high before shifts).

There's been a tranny reflash out for awhile now that fixes this issue. Long story short Toyota tuned the shift points super conservatively for some reason.

 

[Jgunner]

I like older toyotas better, 95-98 are the sweet spot across the board(for me), but you’ll never want a gm pos ever again. I have one last gm, once it goes, im done. Toyota is leaps and bounds better than anything else on the planet. I am not a fan of the new 3.5 and its rev, i would but a few year old 4.0 truck. No, you won’t pay much less than it was new, get over it, it won’t be a pile of shit unless seriously neglected.

 

[Jgunner]

I am actually looking for a t-100 to add to my stable, 3.4, manual, 4x4 extended cab. Prob supercharge it, toss a locker in the back and some long travel suspension. The t100 is my favorite of all the trucks they ever produced, with the great frame/suspension of the 80-90’s mini trucks, coupled with the first great v6 they made. Im more excited about it than guns right now. Need to find one now.... miles on it mean nothing, for the most part.

 

[backsideof45]

Is your's the 3.5L or 2.7L, my 3.5L tops out at 21 MPG on the highway. Of course, it usually has some payload and our freeway speed limit is 75-80 MPH.

3.5 V6. Its a 4 door, and I've got a hard shell bed cover on it. I average 3-600 miles a week in it not going any faster than 75.

 

[zeroz]

2006 V-6 TRD 4 door "long bed". 331k 19MPG avg. Haven't done shit but basic maintenance 3 sets of brakes and shocks once. Does not love pulling "heavy" loads. Its done everything I've ever asked it to without really bitching at all. As long as you are willing to have a smaller truck and treat it as such it'll do well.

 

[SnowMan]

Have a 2017 V6(3.5L) / 24-25 mpg. When I first got it, it was around 20-22. After @15k or so, it got better.

 

[Maggot]

Tacomas and Tundras are probably the best built, most reliable trucks.
I did a lot of research before buying a truck and found that none of the mid-size trucks got better fuel economy than a full size.
The RAM eco-diesel is probably king when it comes to MPG's and towing for 1500 size trucks.
I ended up just buying a well used Tundra. It is a great truck.
If you aren't looking to use serious truck abilities, the Honda is a pretty neat piece of kit.

Reliability?

My Chevy 3500 Express van has 260,000 on it, started every time Ive turned the key, and the only repairs aside from basic maintenance (oil, grease, tranny fluid etc) was a fuel pump at 190K and alternator at 225K. It onl gets 17 hiway but the 5.7 fully loaded has pulled heavy loads all over the country. Do that with your v6 and it will tear the guts out of it.

 

[Jscb1b]

02 taco with 257,000 on it. One battery, 2 sets of front brakes and a right side half shaft.

 

[fdkay]

Well, my

Reliability?

My Chevy 3500 Express van has 260,000 on it, started every time Ive turned the key, and the only repairs aside from basic maintenance (oil, grease, tranny fluid etc) was a fuel pump at 190K and alternator at 225K. It onl gets 17 hiway but the 5.7 fully loaded has pulled heavy loads all over the country. Do that with your v6 and it will tear the guts out of it.

truck has a v8, as I plainly stated I have a tundra.
I've driven more than 1 GM truck type product. Many things wrong with them.
Sorry, but chevy in the last few years has really gone downhill.

 

[SD Carpenter]

My 06' Tacoma has the v6, but once I put the 35's on it I'm lucky if I can squeeze out 18 mpg on the highway

 

[Biggie1976]

FS1 that’s kinda what I’ve read on the newer tranny

Biggie I average 15mpg in the Chevy. Best I’ve averaged for a tank was 17. You saying a newer V6 won’t beat that?

My best friend here in SC did the same thing. He sold his 2017 1500 Silverado which he was getting 14-16 MPG. He has a 2018 Tacoma v6 completely stock and hes getitng 18-20 so not much better in my opinion. He did save money in payment etc but the gas mileage he thought he would get it never materialized. Others may have a different experience but this is my first hand knowledge as we talk every day on our commute.

 

[264win]

The 4.0 that Toyota put in the Tacoma wasn’t very good on gas, lots of guys getting 16-18mpg, (4x4 ex cab w aggressive tires)
That said it had plenty of power and seemed pretty bulletproof.
The newer, smaller v6 seems to do better on mpg.
If I didn’t need a big truck for work I would go back to driving a Tacoma.

 

[SD Carpenter]

if there is any silver lining, a Tacoma just won't die lol

 

[MarineRabbit]

I owned a 2012 Tacoma access cab 4.0 6spd standard. It got 13-14mpg with 31" bfg all terrains no lift or anything. Then I owned a 07 FJ cruiser same exact 4.0 v6 and 6spd stick combo, it got 8mpg in town 13 on highway with cruise set at 55. Fj had long travel and 35"s so that's why it was so bad. Before the lift and tires it was about 10-14.

The toyota v6's get the same or worse fuel economy than most half ton trucks with v8's. My 99 dodge 2500 diesel gets 24mpg on the highway with 4" lift 33" mud tires and the tuner maxed out.

 

[101stinfantry]

I have a '13 Tacoma, the fuel mileage may be a tad better than the Chevy 5.3, but not by much. That said the Toyota will have better resale, and IMO have fewer mechanical issues.

 

[TxWelder35]

Why not a Colorado with the little Duramax in it?

 

[CuTm]

Both reliable . If what you have is working out for you keep it. You know what you got .

 

[SD Carpenter]

Hell the new 2020 jeep is coming with the ecodiesel lol

 

[Campguy308]

I've always wanted a Tacoma. But I have a camper trailer, and I need something bigger to pull it. If I didn't have the trailer, I'd have a Tacoma in a heartbeat instead of my 2019 Silverado.

 

[BoilerUP]

Biggie I average 15mpg in the Chevy. Best I’ve averaged for a tank was 17.

Stock wheels/tires/suspension? 87 octane? Mostly city, mostly highway, or solid mix? Much terrain? Towing?

I get a solid 20mpg average in my 2017 Silverado 5.3, but 70% of that is urban highway at 60-70mph.

If fuel economy is your biggest priority, seriously consider a 15+ Colorado...I had a 2016 3.6L prior to my Silverado and the thing got 25mpg easy, did much better in town on fuel, and frankly had a better cab and ride than that generation Tacoma. The little 3.6L also did pretty fair towing near its max.

 

[fdkay]

Stock wheels/tires/suspension? 87 octane? Mostly city, mostly highway, or solid mix? Much terrain? Towing?

I get a solid 20mpg average in my 2017 Silverado 5.3, but 70% of that is urban highway at 60-70mph.

If fuel economy is your biggest priority, seriously consider a 15+ Colorado...I had a 2016 3.6L prior to my Silverado and the thing got 25mpg easy, did much better in town on fuel, and frankly had a better cab and ride than that generation Tacoma. The little 3.6L also did pretty fair towing near its max.

The Colorado is available with a small diesel that is quite capable of towing.

 

[MarineRabbit]

I have a '13 Tacoma, the fuel mileage may be a tad better than the Chevy 5.3, but not by much. That said the Toyota will have better resale, and IMO have fewer mechanical issues.

Best part or Toyotas is the resale. Well and they're bad ass haha. I got 15k for my fj that had dents and scratches with 120k miles on it

 

[SD Carpenter]

The new ecodiesel Dodge is getting 32 mpg and you can get a 33 gallon tank and fill up every 1k+ miles.

 

[101stinfantry]

OK, guys this is just my opinion, I have both gas burners, and diesel burners, duramax, International, and cummins. The gas burners are always gonna be cheaper to work on, if you don't need a diesel for pulling, stick with gas. Unless you like $2X parts, and $2X labor. But hey Idk what I'm talking about so get you some.