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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Trading the 2005 for a 2010 Tacoma! (Photos added)
I am almost as surprised as you...
As some of you know, I was encouraged to get a 4WD Toyota Tacoma by several Baja amigos back in 2000: Neal Johns, Bajaboy, 4baja, etc. etc. It seemed
like it was the far and away #1 Baja light truck of choice!
Since the truck is used primarily of business, and lacking piles of money... I lease my trucks. The 2001 2 door xtra cab Tacoma was obtained in
November of 2000... I had it until August 2005, put 136,000 some miles on it... and it was nearly flawless with no breakdowns and only a water pump
replaced at 90,000 miles when a drip was noticed during routene service. There was no question that I was going to get another Tacoma... No mileage
penalty with Toyota leases at my Totota dealer, when trading for another!
The 2005 Tacoma is bigger than the previous years... almost the size of the old Tundra and I went with a four door so my growing kids and other adults
could comfortably ride in the back... The truck bed on the 4 door is a foot shorter, but the bigger '05 truck's bed is wider and deeper and so fits
the same amount of cargo as the 2001's 6 ft. bed.
From August '05 to December 2009 I put 102,000 miles on it, while it never broke down and is very comfortatble to drive, it wasn't as perfect as my
'01:
The first set of brakes made an intermittent clicking noise at 8,000 miles that ended when new pads were installed, a few thousand miles later... and
never made noise again. The only 'failure' was the wiring harness (behind the dash) that had to be replaced when the air bag warning light came on...
for no good reason. The mud flaps also tore off from the weight of Laguna Salada mud!
The only modification the truck needed was in the rear suspension, which was too soft and bottomed-out when there was a load in the back, driven at
'my' speed over bumps. I had off road warehouse install Ride-Rite Air Springs ('air bags') that could be adjusted to increase rear height and
firmness... worked like a charm. The stock Bilstein shocks were upgraded to Bilstein 5100s as well.
Since there is less than a year on my lease, and my Toyota dealer was inviting us Tacoma owners to come in for possible upgrading, we went last night
and I now have a 2010 Tacoma with just 10 miles on the odometer! It is pretty much identicle to my '05... a silver, 4 door TRD 4WD...only with some
new stuff... like a back up camera with a screen that appears in you rear view mirror... fancy stereo (JVC) with satellite radio... some ABS off road
button and enhanced traction device I still need to read up on... Still have the locking rear differential (for Mision Santa Maria)!
I am picking up the new truck today, that's why I don't have the full details on the gizmos yet. I had to keep my truck last night so I could remove
the Hella lights and wiring harness/ switch. They are removing the light bar and air bags today...
Sweet deal is that Toyota is exchanging the '05 with 102,000 miles for the '10 with no money down and only $20/ mo. more on my lease... That is the
only way I could afford it, at this time of year!
So, I am back to BFG Rugged Trail tires (same that came on my '05) that lasted 25,000 miles...
The tires on my '05 now are the Cooper Discoverer ATRs purchased in November 2008 and have 16,000 miles on them. They appear to be just over half
worn... so I put them at 30,000 miles... The same life my Toyos gave me... The Cooper Discoverer STTs gave 35-40,000 miles (the second set on my
truck), but were too noisey with that aggressive tread... but looked cool!
So, starting over with my third new Tacoma today... as always, I will share with you the good and the bad so you can make an informed choice in light
trucks, when your time has come! I posting this also to finalize the tire wear report.
See you on the highway!
PS u2u me if you would like my salesman's name/ number... he has been great for all 3 of my Tacomas and Baja Angel's new Corolla!
[Edited on 12-8-2009 by David K]
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
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Mood: y Blues
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Sweet deal is that Toyota is exchanging the '05 with 102,000 miles for the '10 with no money down and only $20/ mo. more on my lease... That is the
only way I could afford it, at this time of year!
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Sounds like a good deal, David, but I'm curious what your new monthly for insurance and registration breaks down to. California just majorly upped
registration.
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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Great David now you should be set for the Santa Maria or Matomi trip, I want so much to get me the new Power Wagon but work is low for me right now I
have a few payments left on the ram and then will be a diferent story. Enjoy your TACO....TOYOTA RULES RIGHT AFTER DODGE JAJJA
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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Nice DK!
With only 10 miles on it, that new Taco smell should last a long time!
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3288
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Congratulations DK, hope you enjoy many Baja adventures in your new truck....dt
"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by El Camote
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Sweet deal is that Toyota is exchanging the '05 with 102,000 miles for the '10 with no money down and only $20/ mo. more on my lease... That is the
only way I could afford it, at this time of year!
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Sounds like a good deal, David, but I'm curious what your new monthly for insurance and registration breaks down to. California just majorly upped
registration. |
Hi Mike,
It keeps getting sweeter and sweeter... first off, the new registration and paperwork costs are in the lease payment, so no money 'extra' until a year
from now when I renew the truck's registration (the '05 was about $250 last August). I just called my insurance agent to give them the news... my
insurance increased $8.00 every 6 months... ie. about $1.34/ month... State Farm.
David
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJACAT
Great David now you should be set for the Santa Maria or Matomi trip, I want so much to get me the new Power Wagon but work is low for me right now I
have a few payments left on the ram and then will be a diferent story. Enjoy your TACO....TOYOTA RULES RIGHT AFTER DODGE JAJJA
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Just as soon as the economy allows for growth so we in the outdoor construction or home improvemnet business can get bact to work... then the truck
needs a good Baja break-in!
If you recall, my '05 went to Baja the very day I got it! Was four wheeling on the beach and arroyo near El Rosario the next day!
The next month, we went from the beach at Cielito Lindo to Mikes Sky Rancho and on to San Felipoe and Shell Island Photos: http://vivabaja.com/905
[Edited on 12-7-2009 by David K]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGeoff
Nice DK!
With only 10 miles on it, that new Taco smell should last a long time! |
Yah... it's great... no smokers in the new truck to keep it that way!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Congratulations DK, hope you enjoy many Baja adventures in your new truck....dt |
Thanks David!
Let's all pray for some real change to this economy to get America working again... I need some trickle down!
Not much irrigation requests with this rain, either! That's trickle-on!
[Edited on 12-29-2009 by David K]
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
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Good deal DK. I'll be getting a new truck in late summer with another baby on the way. The access cab has been perfect for our family of three but
will be a bit tight with another baby. I will probably get the double cab but am also going to look at the FJs as well.
zac
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaboy
Good deal DK. I'll be getting a new truck in late summer with another baby on the way. The access cab has been perfect for our family of three but
will be a bit tight with another baby. I will probably get the double cab but am also going to look at the FJs as well.
zac |
Yah, they are great... The bed offers cargo hauling if you ever need that, otherwise the FJ or 4Runner gives you nice clean interior for gear and
people. The 4 door Tacoma has very comfortable full size back seats with the '05 or newer models.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18385
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaboy
Good deal DK. I'll be getting a new truck in late summer with another baby on the way. The access cab has been perfect for our family of three but
will be a bit tight with another baby. I will probably get the double cab but am also going to look at the FJs as well.
zac |
4runner beats FJ. FJ is kind of a juvenile design, sort of a faux offroad sheetmetal and dashboard design, and is hard to get in/out of backseat of
FJ relative to 4runner. better luggage room in 4runner. guts of machines are about the same.
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DianaT
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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Thought about trading for a 2010 Tacoma, but the mileage is TERRIBLE. So we keep the Tundra for another year or so (it is paid for) and then if
Toyota gets there act together we will look at the Tacoma. They can improve the mileage, if they want----and with the competition breathing down
their necks, we hope they do.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 9-27-2006
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If it matters, Zac, I read recently that the FJ was on Toyota's short list of being discontinued. They didn't state a reason, see lots of them so I
would question poor sales being the cause.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
Thought about trading for a 2010 Tacoma, but the mileage is TERRIBLE. So we keep the Tundra for another year or so (it is paid for) and then if
Toyota gets there act together we will look at the Tacoma. They can improve the mileage, if they want----and with the competition breathing down
their necks, we hope they do. |
My '05 got 16-19 mpg city/ hwy. driving the way I do (which isn't slow)... for a heavy/ strong truck with a 4.0 V-6/ automatic, is that really so
terrible? If you drove more conservativly than I, I am sure the numbers would be better. Also, there is an optional TRD cold air intake system...
supposed to improve things? The motor has way enough power... I will start watching my consumption close, after the 1,000 mile break-in period... and
let you know.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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I have to chime in with goat on this. FJs seemed by and large to be driving around town show off vehicles. I really don't think they have the
engineering necessary for heavy duty. And they have terrible driver visibility issues. Apologies to any FJ owners out there.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Udowinkler will chime in when he sees this, me thinks!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
Thought about trading for a 2010 Tacoma, but the mileage is TERRIBLE. So we keep the Tundra for another year or so (it is paid for) and then if
Toyota gets there act together we will look at the Tacoma. They can improve the mileage, if they want----and with the competition breathing down
their necks, we hope they do. |
My '05 got 16-19 mpg city/ hwy. driving the way I do (which isn't slow)... for a heavy/ strong truck with a 4.0 V-6/ automatic, is that really so
terrible? If you drove more conservativly than I, I am sure the numbers would be better. Also, there is an optional TRD cold air intake system...
supposed to improve things? The motor has way enough power... I will start watching my consumption close, after the 1,000 mile break-in period... and
let you know. |
The stated, MPG which is always optimal was 16/20 and that way too low---they will need to do way better than that, and we believe the competition
will force the issue. Our old Tundra without the camper gets close to the same mileage.
We also looked at the Rav and decided against it for the same reason. The Chevy similar to the RAV has a far superior MPG rating for 2010----not that
we would buy a Chevy, but we believe it will force Toyota to do what they can and improve the MPG.
If they don't we move on to another make----Toyota are not perfect as ours has demonstrated as of late. And there have been some major issues in the
last few years with both the Tundras and Tacomas-----used to trust them totally, not so much anymore.
[Edited on 12-7-2009 by DianaT]
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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whaaaat??!!
you didn't buy an American Chevy Sierra from O'Bama?? 
hey - my Ford Explorer gets 20 mpg all day long city HW combined.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Can he text while driving around town?
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Udowinkler will chime in when he sees this, me thinks!
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