Learn me 2014ish tacoma

So, my brother has kinda decided on a 2014ish tacoma to replace the dead sonata.

I know jack about them.

We live in North Carolina. No snow to speak of. If it snows, he stays put.

Hes a realtor. This will be his daily. 300k hopefully with proper maintenance.

The questions are:

What is long term reliability?

What's maintenance like?

Normal life expectancy?

Normal failures?

Any package or options to get/stay away from?

Benefits/drawbacks of 2wd vs 4wd? (My 4wd experience, and his, is 70s/80s full size domestic trucks, which rode worse, got much worse gas mileage, and ate a lot more parts)

So, pretty much a standard learn me thread for a 30k investment that needs made by the beginning of next week.

The trucks fine. Buy it. You don't need to ask these questions about a taco.

Im sure i don't, but he asked me for my knowledge and advice. Since I ain't got none on this one, i come to the hive for what he needs to know.

It is, after all, the encyclopedia brittanica of cars on the Internet.

Great trucks, hard to go wrong with one. My buddy has a '14 that's spent the last two years in Alaska (drove it there too btw, from PA by way of Georgia) taking him out hunting in the wilderness and has needed nothing but oil changes to date. My uncle, the family car killer, has managed to put over 300k on his '96 2wd with only basic maintenance (he even got like 295k on the original clutch.) Resale is 2nd to none as well.

TRD Sport package gets you an LSD and Bilsteins on the 4wd trucks, while the TRD Offroad buys you the Billies, a rear selectable locker, and some skid plates. Both are desirable.

So, is my outdated knowledge of 4wd vs 2wd still relevant? Or have things changed to the better?

Do not take resale into account. When hes done, there will be no value except as crusher run weight.

My experience with Toyota trucks of the past couple generations is that they all ride pretty well relative to the competition. I can't say I recall my uncle's truck being noticeably better than others of that generation I've driven or ridden in. Of course if he truly doesn't need or want 4wd I don't see why he should feel compelled to purchase a 4wd truck, especially if resale isn't a consideration.

But seriously though, have you seen some of the heaps passing as Tacomas that people still want $4k for on Craigslist?

My 13 Access cab SR5 package Tacoma 4x4 has 32000 and has needed only normal maintenance. The sales consultant talks to me about trading up every time he sees me. Great resale value. If you don't require 4x4, go without. There is a Prerunner package available with 2wd.

Searching Google for common problems came up with essentially nothing. It also seems that 18mpg is the average no matter which drivetrain or number of drive wheels.

Anybody seeing something different?

The only problem you're going to run into with a 2014 is the resale price is so high, its worth the 1500-2000 additional to buy new (probably with better financing).

Hes a cheap bastard. It'll be a one payment plan. So financing doesn't apply. (Must be nice. But hes much better at financial stuff thaan me. He doesn't own 9 cars that are junk).

So pretty much, find one he likes and don't look back is what I am hearing.

Another thing to consider- Tacoma's hold some of the highest resale values of any vehicle ever produced, so long as it's not beat to snot... and even then they still garner a premium sometimes.

But yes, as other have said, they're Toyota reliable, and maintenance is very simple. Typical Toyota- Does nothing perfectly, doesn't stand out, but does everything capably, stays together, and won't ever leave you stranded if you don't abuse it.

Front lower ball joints seem to wear fairly quick. That's the only thing I know to look for

In reply to Run_Away:

2wd, 4wd, or both?

Don't know about 2wd, not many of them here in Manitoba. Changed a set on a 2013 4wd with less than 60k mi a couple weeks ago

Run_Away wrote: Don't know about 2wd, not many of them here in Manitoba. Changed a set on a 2013 4wd with less than 60k mi a couple weeks ago

Did it have oversized wheels/tires. I see a lot of 4x4s(Ford, Chevy, Dodge) here needing ball joints because of increased unsprung weight/abuse.

In reply to outasite:

Stock wheels and what looked like stock size winter tires.

I think the 2014s are exactly the same as the 2005s. They didn't get a redesign until 2016, and that was more of a refresh. What I'm saying is buy more on condition than year. Could maybe save some money.

I'd also get a 2wd. No reason to pay extra for 4x4 if he'll never use it.

I'd suggest trying out both the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma and going with what feels best. I find the ergonomics on the Frontier much better for me than the newer Tacomas (which I can't stand). Loved the ergonomics on my 98 Tacoma, with a Recaro seat installed - had much better heel/toe pedal position than my FR-S did stock.

A used Nissan Frontier will also get you more truck for the money, with a beefier fully boxed frame and the most powerful torque motor in its class (V6). The Tacoma will have better resale and will be the lightest 'small' truck. Quality wise they are about the same.

I'm trying to remember what issues my Tacoma had...but all I can remember replacing on it (because of issues) was the battery... And I was not that easy on that truck - autocrossed it for 4 years, tracked it once, yanked bushes out of the front yard with it, made many trips to the landfill with an 8' trailer, towed broken down family vehicles with it (mostly the Subarus...LOL), and hauled a palette of sod in the bed once.

I like how it sounded with a modified Gibson exhaust and K&N intake...

https://youtu.be/-Kg61mN_pHU

Well, to update, my brother bought a brand new 2016 4 door long bed, 2wd tacoma today for 2k LESS that the used 15s he was looking at.

Id post pictures, but he didn't send me any.

Heres to hoping that he has the same anvil experience that yall have had. This thread was what pushed him over the edge to his first brand new vehicle ever.