"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/17/2018 at 16:49 • Filed to: None
6
14|
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/17/2018 at 16:49 • Filed to: None | 6
| 14 |
6 months ago I made one of the better decisions I’ve made in my life. That decision was to sell my perpetually broken 2016 Jetta and buy a truck. Of course, the entire time I owned the Jetta I was shopping for trucks to replace it with. But that is besides the point. 6 months later, I’ve put 14,000 miles on it. I started with 46,000 and now it’s at almost 60,000.
A week after buying it, the truck took us from my home in Virginia on a road trip that hit Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee and everything else in the way. It drove on the beach in Florida, took on the streets of New Orleans and served as a workbench for working on a family friends ‘86 Toyota truck in Mississippi. After returning to Virginia, it took my family and I down to south Georgia for Christmas where I got it absolutely plastered in red clay and it racked up highway miles.
It’s had its bed stacked with mulch, it’s taken me to the shooting range, been loaded with fishing gear after a stressful afternoon multiple times, had 5 people crammed into the bed. At points, it’s had Georgia clay, North Carolina mud and Virginia salt on it at the same time. Coming from someone who has only owned German cars in the past, this truck has made me realize what a great tool this thing is. It’s safe to say I’ve gotten my use out of it and I will continue to do so.
Engine 7/10
The 4.0 V6 may be old and unrefined for a 2014. But it gets the job perfectly. It’ll do 0-60 in 6 point something seconds. It has 236 HP and is supposed to get 16 city and 21 highway. If you keep it under 2k it’s easy to get that. The engine itself is pretty noisy and doesn’t sound all that great, but it gets the job done. My truck also has the towing package, which means a better battery and alternator amongst a few other things. It may be unrefined, but who the fuck cares it’s a truck.
Transmission 8/10
No complaints here. It shifts fine and responds fairly quickly.
Toys 8/ 10
For a truck, the sound system is pretty damn good. My truck has the slightly better entune system, but the audio quality is clear and everything is very functional. However, it does not have a trip computer or compass. I don’t particularly care about these things though.
Ride 7/10
It rides like a truck. It’s pretty harsh, again this is not a thing I care about.
Reliability 10/10
It’s a Toyota truck that’s been proven to be extremely reliable. My truck is CPO, but I highly doubt I will have any major problems regardless.
Happiness 10/10
I’ve got this one asshole who constantly asks me why I bought a truck and how inefficient and bad for the environment is. My answer is always “because I can, why the fuck do you care?” I bought a truck because I live a lifestyle that having a truck is very beneficial to and I like trucks. I don’t give a shit what other people think because I didn’t buy it for the environment, or for other people.
My plan is to get a lift, bigger wheels and tires, take the running boards, roof rack and the tonneau cover off and get a toolbox.
My Tacoma has been a great companion and vehicle. I love it for what it is and while it isn’t an Audi or Volkswagen, it’s allowed me to do things I can’t do in an Audi or Volkswagen and being able to do the things I love doing in a vehicle I love has made me feel closer to it than any vehicle I’ve ever owned. It’s parallel parked in Washington DC, down washboard dirt roads in the Florida panhandle and the alignment is still perfect and it still gets me where I need to go. I haven’t abused it, I’ve used it right.
Would I buy another Tacoma? Probably not. I don’t like the 3rd gen and the 3.5.
Nothing
> jkm7680
02/17/2018 at 17:32 |
|
Would you buy another 2nd gen though? I like mine, it’s not the magical vehicle I thought it would be, but that’s ok. Take me back when I initially bought, and I’d still buy it again. Like you said, it’s a truck. I expect this one to be durable and reliable.
|
jkm7680
> Nothing
02/17/2018 at 17:35 |
|
If my truck was totalled or stolen I’d probably buy an F-150 or Silverado.
I’d still probably buy it again or keep it as a backup truck though. It’s really good at just working properly.
My bird IS the word
> jkm7680
02/17/2018 at 17:54 |
|
I’m really liking the idea of a taco. I am not a “truck” guy but the TRD sport appeals to me, and I could use the towing capacity when I go on to get some dumb projects. also available in a stick, with 4x4 for PA winters.
I can’t think of anything (besides a similar 4runner) that I want as a DD. I want a SRT challenger but no way in hell is that happening.
Spaceball-Two
> jkm7680
02/17/2018 at 18:23 |
|
I’ve had my F150 a year now and I have zero complaints. Which is funny because I almost bought a Taco
vicali
> jkm7680
02/17/2018 at 18:50 |
|
I’m glad your enjoying your Tacoma, they do spoil you by doing everything well for almost eternity.
The third Gen doesn’t suck, after a week you won’t even notice the changes- except maybe getting better mileage.
|
jkm7680
> My bird IS the word
02/17/2018 at 19:01 |
|
It’s a great DD, it’s also very comfortable.
E92M3
> jkm7680
02/17/2018 at 19:54 |
|
I drove for 17 years without ever owning a truck, but I couldn’t imagine NOT having one now. I don’t think I would want to drive one every day, but definitely nice to have around when you need it.
random001
> jkm7680
02/17/2018 at 20:17 |
|
Cool truck!
|
random001
> Spaceball-Two
02/17/2018 at 20:18 |
|
What year?
|
Spaceball-Two
> random001
02/17/2018 at 20:35 |
|
2013 XLT
|
jkm7680
> E92M3
02/18/2018 at 03:14 |
|
Exactly. I never knew how much I love owning a truck till I bought one.
|
random001
> Spaceball-Two
02/18/2018 at 09:14 |
|
Thanks!
|
jkm7680
> random001
02/20/2018 at 13:46 |
|
Thanks!
BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
> jkm7680
02/21/2018 at 01:52 |
|
Wait, this isn’t a Jetta.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY JKM?