Tacoma vs Tundra

"valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv) 10/12/2016 at 01:25 • Filed to: None

1

30

For some reason I am looking at trucks to haul around my imaginary dirtbike. And then I decided to have a look at Toyota’s offerings and... at least in CAD the Tacoma and Tundra base models are separated by less than $1000. The Tacoma comes with a 2.7 L 4-cyl and the Tundra has a 5.7 L V8. 160 vs 380 HP, and 180 vs 400 torque!

Would anyone spring for the Tacoma in stock form, and why? I’m not trolling, just trying to figure out its place in the lineup given Toyota’s pricing.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 01:32

1

I have a base 2014 Taco for work. It carries some cumbersome stuff and reliably covers 30,000 miles per year.

I actually drove a 2012 Tundra with the 5.7 for almost a year for work. Awesome, but overkill for what I needed.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 01:35

2

If you buy the Tundra, you’ll be paying $1000 more for a wider parking space.

Also, from some quick searching, the V6 Tacoma can be had with a 6-speed manual? Sounds sick

Alfalfa > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 04:08

1

One can be colloquially referred to as a Taco. I feel that makes the choice pretty obvious.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 05:51

1

I’m glad I’m not the only one who looks at new trucks to haul a few things like a dirt bike.

I ended up buying a 44,000km ‘01 Silverado from Crown Assets (if you are in Canada) for just $2k. Hauls all the junk things. Low km U-body vans like Uplander that are in like new condition sell for next to nothing these days too, and those can haul a lot of shiz, plus a trailer too. Makes you, no FORCES you to spend more money on a decent car instead.

marshknute > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 06:58

1

I’d buy the Taco because it is available in a manual (and with a V6). It’s also a manageable size so I can actually get into parking spaces. And I think it looks better.

adamftw > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/12/2016 at 07:54

0

Good luck finding a V6 manual one though.

Dru > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 08:22

1

I’d go Tundra. Only because I’ve heard one too many horror stories of new gen Tacos having issues.

loki03xlh > Alfalfa 10/12/2016 at 09:21

0

That’s cool, as long as the frame doesn’t “taco” like the old ones did.

loki03xlh > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 09:25

0

It’s amazing that the Taco and the Tundra are only a grand diffent in base price. I hate 4-bangers, so I’d go for the Tundra.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > loki03xlh 10/12/2016 at 09:46

0

Once you start ticking options boxes the difference between the two does grow since the Tundra can be spec’ed out to be pretty nice inside. But at the base price... unless parking is a major concern and you’re super environmentally friendly (but why are you looking at trucks in the first place?) then the Tundra is the way to go.

Except for the Jalop argument of manual, only available in the Taco.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/12/2016 at 09:50

0

Also, the V6 manual costs a pretty penny. In Canuck bucks there’s a $6.5k difference between the base 4x4 4-cyl 5-speed and the V6 6-speed.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > marshknute 10/12/2016 at 09:52

0

V6 manual is cool, but V6 manual costs a lot . $38.5k CAD which is well into the territory of a nicely-spec’ed Tundra.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. 10/12/2016 at 09:55

0

Ugh it’s dark times for me. Tried dirt biking this past weekend and fell in love. I live in downtown Toronto so parking is at a premium and in my spot I currently cram my car (G35x), and two bikes. My G isn’t meant for towing although it can fit a custom hitch. But then I don’t have room for a trailer! So I started looking at trucks. But then I remembered how much I love my G and I can never get rid of it until it just craps out on me.

marshknute > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 10:05

0

Wow, CAD prices are crazy. We can get a Tacoma TRD Sport (V6 manual) for the same price as a stripper Tundra.

But regardless, its smaller size is still the appeal of the Tacoma.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 10:05

2

I guess it’s really a matter of size. The Tacoma isn’t really small anymore but new Tundras are HUGE. So the Taco would be easier to maneuver in small spaces, either in the city or in the woods. Also for a fleet(where most base model trucks end up) gas mileage is a big deal. If the taco gets 3-5 MPG better, and it should, that could be a huge savings over the life of the vehicle. Especially since Tundras get terrible fuel economy like 15 mpg combined.

Moves-Like-Senna > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 10:07

0

I’d go with the Taco solely for resale value. In Canada resale on Taco drops in the 20%-25% range after 3 years. Yes you read that right, 3 years...that’s basically nothing and the reason you should always buy a new taco over used .

The Tundra actually has one of the, if not the worst resale value for a truck in Canada.

Nothing > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 10:42

0

Do you need to haul people too? Tundra, will probably fit all your stuff better. I had a 2012 Crewmax, pretty base SR5 with the convenience and towing package. I now have a fairly loaded 2015 Tacoma Doublecab TRD Sport. Size wise, I prefer the Tacoma. The Crewmax looked and felt huge, although it was the more comfortable vehicle.

For the Taco, a longbed would serve you best for hauling a bike in the bed. My Tacoma preference, had it not been for hauling people in the back as well, would’ve been an Access Cab, for the longer bed. I can haul a bike now, just not with the tailgate up.

I have also been dirt bike searching lately!

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Nothing 10/12/2016 at 10:48

1

I checked the dimensions and even with the Access cab the Taco can’t accommodate the full length of a 250 Yamaha bike. Unless you put it in on an angle and turn the wheel, maybe. But what if you want to put 2 bikes back there, or an ATV? They do sell an extender for when the tailgate is dropped. Pricy piece of metal.

Nothing > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 11:09

1

Yep, it’d have to be angled. A bed extender would work on an Access cab, not so much on a double cab. The bed extenders pop up on Craigslist a lot, or there’s the net style Motogate as well.

If you ever plan on having people in the back seat, an AC won’t work. The jump seats are laughable. In a Tundra, the extended cab version, I can sit in the back comfortably.

I probably haven’t helped much. A Tundra DoubleCab (the extended cab version...Toyota really should make their naming standards match across their truck lines) would be great at doing what you need. A Tacoma can make it work too, it’s just a tighter fit.

Having had both, I wouldn’t trade my Tacoma (right now) for a Tundra. I really like the full size, but just really prefer the size of the Taco.

Pistol Whipped Cream > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 11:18

0

Tundra. The extra space would be nice.

vicali > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 11:45

0

Or a closer comparison;

Tacoma DCLB SR5 $38,405 vs. Tundra Doublecab SR 4.6L $38,255

Although if you have ever tried to drive a Tundra around a parking lot or fit it into a garage you would choose the Tacoma every time.

We could have gone either way, I daily drive our Tacoma, but we haul a 5000lb trailer around in the summer. I chose the best for 350 days of the year and make do the rest.

DynamicWeight > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 12:22

0

F-150s and 1500s outsell the Tundra like crazy. For small trucks the Taco outsells everything by a wide margin. Going with what’s popular is always a good choice if you don’t know much about the segment. I bought a 2016 Tacoma recently. I freaking love it. I put a camper shell on it so if I was going to haul a dirt bike I’d get the hitch carrier or a trailer.

OPPOsaurus WRX > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 12:54

0

i dunno where you got your pricing, but its more like $6k difference in price. I’m guessing the Taco gets better MPG, and not everyone needs the massive size of the Tundra. I’ve sat in the back of my father’s tacoma and its fine.

nlzmo400r > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 13:30

0

Tacomas feel tiny inside compared to a Tundra. The floor to ceiling height feels like it’s 1/2 the size and doesn’t lend itself to a spacious feeling. I’d buy a Tundra over a Tacoma in almost any situation - but the fuel economy is dismal. Even on the highway they barely manage 18-19mpg.

The issue there is the lowest numerical axle you can get is a 4.10 and a 4.30 with the tow package. Domestic full sizes (Chevy specifically here) offer a 3.08 final drive with similar gearbox ratios resulting in 23mpg highway for similar money. Granted that’s with a 5.3 which gives up 30hp/25tq to the Tundra.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/12/2016 at 13:50

0

$29,560 vs $30,425 for the base models. Upping to 4x4 still has a similar price gap.

OPPOsaurus WRX > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 13:59

0

again, not sure where your get5ting that from

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/12/2016 at 14:09

0

Right, in my haste I forgot to include a link. www.toyota.ca

OPPOsaurus WRX > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 14:19

0

odd that they are so close in price up there and US pricing has a larger gap

so i guess we were both right

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/12/2016 at 14:48

1

Even more weird is how the Tundra starts at around 30k in USD and CAD... doesn’t Toyota know the loonie is only worth 75 cents USD?

OPPOsaurus WRX > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 10/12/2016 at 14:56

0

my first thought was maybe the tundra was built up there so we get an imprt tax, but they are both from Texas