All Good Things Must End

"BoulderZ" (BoulderZ) 02/21/2018 at 01:04 • Filed to: None

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Update: First thing first, thanks to Oppo for the great feedback. Your thoughtful responses, whether or not I agreed in the end, made me think hard about what I really needed this vehicle to do. I pulled the trigger last Friday, 23 Feb. I drove my new 2018 Golf AllTrack SE home in the midst of a some-inches snow storm and loved every moment. In the end, I couldn’t respect the extreme premium Toyota demanded for a nice truck they couldn’t really get (orders were 3 months out if at all) with a truly disappointing engine and drivetrain in terms of price, efficiency, quality, and performance (it was a dog, I can’t gild it). The truck just couldn’t compare in any category, even though I really wanted it to win.

The only real thing the Taco offered was larger capacity towing, which doesn’t mean anything unless we buy a new house in town (race trailer for the Z), and that means I get a cool tow vehicle anyway, be it used Taco, or used F-2(3?)50 diesel whatever, or used Cayenne, or pre-1950-COE project to build with my son (oh my, there are some great options here...). TL;DR I got a new AllTrack now, there may be a new house while we keep this one as a rental during elementary school years at least (sounds like work, but I’m open...), and I could get a great hauler for track and property tasks.

Original post:

I’m cross-shopping the 2018 VW Golf AllTrack (SE) and the 2018 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab (premium package TRD Sport). Why? See below, if you want.

Discarded options for a variety of reasons include but are not limited to: Rapide, Panamera, F-type, V10 TDI Touareg, restored FJ-55 or FJ-45, Allroad, 1500 and Colorado, full-size pickups, XC-60, 3-whatever-x series, all SUVs/”crossovers”, and any Subaru ever.

Context: We already have an ‘04 Jetta 1.8T we love w/ 60,000 miles and has been flawless (only non-routine maintenance in 14 years was a coolant level sensor) and a restored Datsun 280 Z (track and fun toy). The purpose of this new car is kind of the second driver, ‘my car’ to replace my ‘89 Toyota pickup, and has functions for camping, trailhead access, road trips to remote places, winter ski/snowshoe outings, deep snow drives, hauling bulky and home improvement crap, bike trips, etc. Our commutes are both less than 2 miles, and our kid’s school is even less. We’d all just bike or bus, but that’d be about 30 mins/day less to see each other. So, this car/truck will see less than about 2500 miles/year and history indicates I’ll probably keep it for the next 20 or 30 years. The discerning differences for me are down to:

The Tacoma has towing capability (280Z to the track, instead of “run what you brung”, maybe a future camping mini trailer, cargo, etc.), true off road 4wd capability and clearance for camping and trailhead access, ability to easily haul messy crap/engines, etc. The test drive left me impressed with the ride and quality and space, and underwhelmed with the NA V6 and very disappointed in the AT (what they had on the lot, I’d only buy the MT for this truck). It is way bigger than my truck and would be a PITA in city driving and parking. But, our other main car is the Jetta, which is usually the “city car” now. The Tacoma has a huge aftermarket following and will likely have great support for decades.

The AllTrack has as much off road capability as I’d realistically need or want (more than that and I’d rather hike or bike anyway), is at least $5k less expensive at purchase, costs 15% less to register, less to insure, gets 25% better gas mileage (by EPA combined, anyway), has a turbo to ensure real power at our altitudes, has a much nicer and more comfortable interior, handles better on road, and has better power (for weight), acceleration, and response. I might get the MT, but the AT would allow for driver-swaps on long road trips, so that’s a consideration. VW has a big base of cult-like support, but this is kind of a niche model and may lack support in the truly long term (like parts for a Syncro Vanagon).

What do you think? I may or may not agree, but I’m having trouble making a truly final decision between the two, so I figure why not see what Oppo thinks? Some good insights come out of here on occasion. Thanks, and good night!

Why am I in the market for a new vehicle?

I’ve pushed my luck with my modified ‘89 Toyota 2WD “Xtra Cab Deluxe” pickup as far as it can realistically go. The turbo system, lacking a few items like the Pulse Air Injection system, and most especially the non-CARB-certified SDS fuel injection system is now most definitely illegal in the CO Front Range emissions testing region. Short of spending $1k-$2k (fine) and a bunch of time I don’t have (really not fine), it will never be compliant.

In some ways it’s hard to let it go. It’s my first car, I’m the second owner, the first owner was my Dad, I got it because I got a bunch of merit scholarships, I went to prom in it with my then-girlfriend-now-wife (20 years married), my son has loved rides in it, innumerable camping and backcountry and road trips, my son got me WeatherTech mats for it for my birthday when he was 2 and we installed them together, it is a lot of fun with the rebuild, turbo, EFI conversion, it is paid for and cheap to register and insure, and so on.

On the other hand, it is 28 years old and has some very real downsides and just is not a practical daily option. The locks only work if you hold the key just right. I still needed to build a new rear bumper. I was never happy with the cold start tuning. Or the hot start tuning, at least when it’s over 90F out. The left headlight is out, and I’m still not sure if it’s the lamp or the wiring harness. The HVAC fan only works on some settings, intermittently. There has been no functioning stereo in probably 8 years. I have all the parts but didn’t get around to reconnecting the A/C (differences between EFI and carburetor). I added a limited slip diff and 29" TA K/Os, but in the end it is still a 2WD truck. The complete lack of any safety features whatsoever beyond 3-point belts is striking, even for someone who races a ‘78 280Z. I would like to have more certainty in turning the key to get to the airport for business trips, or getting back out of the backcountry from camping or sub-zero winter recreation.

Sad as it may be, I do know it’s time to replace it. The question is, with what?

duurtlang > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 02:40

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From what you wrote the truck has towing as an advantage and the VW almost everything else. So the question would be: how important is towing (with your own car, not with a rental) to you? Very important: Toyota. Not that important: VW.

Steve in Manhattan > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 02:54

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At this point in your life, get the safest vehicle you can that does everything you need.

You owe it to yourself.

AestheticsInMotion > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 03:19

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I love the VW, but would pick the Tacoma here. Sounds like you’ll be using this car for adventures in all sorts of conditions. Realistically, which one would you rely on more to function properly during every trip, every cold morning start at a campsite, over every forest service road, etc. The VW? Or the Tacoma? Toyota trucks have their reputation for a reason. And Volkswagen... Despite the good history you’ve had with the Passat... Is known for the exact opposite (although getting better). Another way to put it... You said you expect to keep the vehicle for 20-30 years. Take a sample of 20-30 year old VW sedans and compare to a sample of 20-30 Toyota trucks.

I don’t know much about the aftermarket for the Volkswagen, but upgrading the Tacoma is simple enough, and certainly not something that has to strain your wallet. Spaced out over time, suspension upgrade, bed cap, better tires and little things like rain rails, extra lighting, and gear storage go a long way towards making the vehicle into whatever kind of rig you want. Bonus points if you enjoy the process of building a truck. Being somewhat old and simple is actually a HUGE advantage in terms of aftermarket support. There is quite literally everything you could ever dream of out there for sale from various vendors, and plenty of fabricators familiar with the platform for making anything more exotic.

pip bip - choose Corrour > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 04:01

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i’d go for the Toyota (i hate VW group products)

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 05:27

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For something that is used so little... neither. I’d be looking used or finding another way. But that’s me.

In this instance, the Tacoma but why you’d want the bells and whistles version for the purposes you claim is an utter mystery to me. Unless you really want to pay extra Toyota Tax.

random001 > Steve in Manhattan 02/21/2018 at 06:31

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Yeah, like a Subaru, right?

Right!?

shop-teacher > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 07:02

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I think the Taco makes more sense. You’re much more likely to get 20-30 years of trouble free use out of it, you can tow your race car, and as someone who DDs an even bigger truck, you’ll get used to parking it. Extra fuel costs compared to the VW, at the kind of mileage you’re talking about putting on, it will be almost zero. The extra purchase cost will be offset and then some, by the crazy resale value. In 20-30 years, a low mileage double cab 4x4 Taco with a stick, Taco fanboys will be tripping over themselves to buy it from you. Hell, you could probably presell it to the space crab now. He’s a tightwad though, you should hold out for more money :)

Roundbadge > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 08:45

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I’m entrenched firmly in the Tacoma camp. I drive one though...so...

I will acknowledge that Tacomas have had a rust issue with their frames. My current truck has a hole in the frame, but I’ll also say that Toyota is in the process of replacing it at their cost. This is on a 13-year-old truck that I’ve owned for just about 4 years. I expect to have this truck for at least another 100k miles.

vicali > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 09:44

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Sell your pickup to another Toyota head and get the Tacoma..

What was the other option?

nermal > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 10:16

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Based on the length of your commute, you are a perfect candidate for an EV.

Buy a Nissan Frontier for $5-$10k cheaper than a Tacoma, or just lease a full size 1500 for doing truck stuff.

Use the leftover cash to buy a used Leaf. Doesn’t matter how worn out the battery is if you’re driving less than 5 miles / day.

Steve in Manhattan > random001 02/21/2018 at 13:56

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Sounds perfect.

BoulderZ > BoulderZ 02/21/2018 at 23:40

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Thanks for the many great replies! Lots of good opinions, some more on than others, or on in different ways, but *all* of it was helpful, thoughtful, and made me think hard about what I’m really looking for and what I need it to do. Think I’m going to get some quotes tomorrow, make the decision, and then make the buy. As always, Oppo’s good people.

Nothing > BoulderZ 10/02/2018 at 16:51

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Old post, I know, but how are you liking the Alltrack? I’m debating trading in my ‘15 Tacoma on one.

BoulderZ > Nothing 12/03/2018 at 01:55

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I absolutely love the AllTrack so far. I hav been thinking I’ll do a one-year-in post in 2019 as a follow up. I only have about 6k miles on it so far (we don’t put a lot of miles on our cars, we’re lucky), but here’s where we’re at. The short story is: For soft roads on up through all pavement applications is that the AllTrack beats the pants off the Tacoma in every category except Big Messy Hauling (think mulch delivery or towing a race trailer) for about $10k less up front and much less in ongoing costs as well .

I bought it and drove it home in a driving CO Front Range snow storm. The AWD system is astonishingly good for snow and ice. I’ve soft-roaded it a number of times and it has behaved remarkably well. We (family of 3) have tent camped with it a few times and fit all our gear in the back (more interior space than the impreza/outback whatever Subaru is calling it this week) with no problem. The clearance is fine for anything I want to drive rather than hike or bike .

The interior is far nicer than the new Tacoma . A similarly appointed Tacoma was about $8k more, purchase price, and much more for insurance, registration, tires, maintenance, and so forth . We have driven the AllTrack to Yellowstone and back, and TX and back and really enjoyed it. The turbo affords much better power (we have altitude issues here) and better mileage than the Tacoma. Toyota’s NA V6 really struggles in CO. Combined with the infinitely better road manners of a wagon over a truck, an admittedly unfair comparison, the performance of the AllTrack outclasses the truck handily in all categories (acceleration, braking, handling, road noise, cross-winds, and so on).

Key points of comparison. The AllTrack will cruise all day at high speeds without your really knowing it. I just paid my first speeding ticket in 23 years for it. T he 10 over in TX got me pulled over, the CO plate and Boulder address got me the ticket, fair enough, I’ll own that. It is roomy, and luxurious to the point of near Audi-ness, albeit for $10k+ less. I am amazed at how much crap fits in that car. I have hauled six-foot lumber (fence pickets), only folding down the back seats (convenient release in the hatch bay), without doing the “over the arm rest” thing. They really fit in the back. I haven’t tried 8-foot-plus lumber yet, but it looks like one could do the tie-the-hatch, or over-the-arm-rest, or just use the roof rack (I have Yakima cross bars for bikes, but lumber or drywall would work). Irritating things: the USB port is devilishly hard to use (buy an extra cable and leave it plugged in) . Some folks may not like the manual rear hatch (use your hand to open/close it, versus electric/auto). Some may miss the wireless phone charging. Holy crap the heated seats get hot on anything other than the lowest setting. The tire size is really weird. There are about 3 non-winter “all season” tires available, and a handful of snow tires (albeit excellent choices). Why is there not a “Baja” package with 30 " tires (fine, I’m immature, whatever)?

I m ight eventually buy a used, high-mileage F-whatever- 50 diesel or some 4x4 rig for property maintenance and towing my Z to the track; but, right now the AllTrack is a dream to drive and flawlessly does everything I want for at least $10k less than the Tacoma option. I really wanted the Tacoma to win, but in the end it wasn’t even close. I’m really glad I chose the AllTrack.

Happy shopping, and good luck!