4th Apr 2024, 00:55

As a Tacoma owner I have to say it was a joy to read about your truck and how meticulous you've been in keeping it in good condition. Not many people update the comments section as meticulously as you do or keep up and answer various threads that come up.

I have a 2000 with the V6 and a 5 speed approaching 400,000 KM.

Is it as comfortable as a new F150, Ram or Tundra? Not even close, but it still beats a Tesla for road noise, even though I think it came down to the tires. If I want comfort, I have my LeSabre, and if I want to go for a spirited drive, I have my Camaro, both of which were incredibly cheap similar to the Tacoma. Not everything has to be brand new to be fun.

It's also not at a starting price of $35,000 for a base Chevy Colorado here in Canada - want an F150 or Silverado, expect to pay nearly twice that. F250s and the like can easily hit $100,000 with the right trim.

My truck will happily tow my boat and has enough room in the bed for whatever I need. Not everyone needs a huge full size truck, even if I live outside a big city, an 8 foot bed or a V8, which are becoming less common now. Let alone a twin turbo V6 that adds far more complexity and chance for something to go catastrophically wrong. The base Tacoma has a turbo 4 cylinder, so you can't even get many things naturally aspirated anymore. Add to this more electronics in colder climates like where I reside means less reliability in the long term that is less user serviceable when they do inevitably fail.

I'm not interested in an iPad on wheels. Tesla and certain other manufacturers have taken the reliance on touch screens and internet connectivity far in excess of what I want out of a vehicle. If we could have an EV or modern vehicle in general brought back to basics with dials, knobs and button, I would buy it. Not at $40-80000.

For now I'll just stick with my Tacoma, 01 Buick and 84 Camaro, safe in the knowledge that I don't have to be brand loyal, or have a full size truck to feel good about myself. I wish this could be the same for others. OP should enjoy their Tacoma for as long as they can. These are dependable vehicles that will probably go for another 30 to 40 years with proper TLC. My truck is perfect for me.

I think people here fail to realize not everyone has the means and more importantly want to get a new vehicle when their warranty runs out. I predict that by 2052 there will be a lot less 2024 vehicles of any form in running shape than 1996 vehicles in 2024. I hope I'm wrong.

Like what you like and I will do the same.

6th Apr 2024, 16:28

No. I worked for AutoZone for years. Their Duralast brand calipers are all original calipers that have been remanufactured. Why do you think there is a core charge on every caliper they sell?

6th Apr 2024, 22:24

Sad but true, and it's not only the store brands. Popular names such as AC Delco, Moog, Wix and Napa are also being made in China.

7th Apr 2024, 16:46

No, it isn't and bringing up other parts like filters doesn't prove a thing.

7th Apr 2024, 21:06

I'm not doubting that you worked there, but every source you look up states that the Duralast brand parts are made in China, some even in Mexico.

Back to the original comment; the point was that most of your store brand or white box parts aren't all that great compared to OEM brands such as Motorcraft. How many Duralast starters and alternators were returned to your store because they were defective?

A friend of mine owns an Eldorado with a Northstar engine, went through 3 Duralast alternators in a year before I told him to bite the bullet and find a Delco. That's what we did and it's been 4 years since. No more defective alternators.

9th Apr 2024, 17:30

Since when does Moog make filters?

9th Apr 2024, 20:26

Really, the reviewer already responded to you in 14:48: he got a "dirt cheap" REMANUFACTURED Duralast caliper for $50 and it lasted 10 years. Maybe a new Delco caliper would have been better, maybe not, but it definitely would have cost more.

Next, you cloud the issue by bringing up ALL parts not just calipers. To explain: Duralast parts like calipers: remanufactured, usually in Mexico or India. Duralast NEW parts, yeah, mostly made in China or another Asian country. But next time you buy a Delco part, better check the box label before assuming it was made in US or Canada -- you may not like what you see.

And finally, to 17:30: "filters AND SUSPENSION PARTS" just for you.

10th Apr 2024, 13:14

Duralast is just the distributor, not the manufacturer. Where the parts are made depends on the contractor company Duralast is working with at the time. Most Duralast parts are made in: China, USA and Mexico, but yet the vast majority is made in China.

10th Apr 2024, 14:04

"As a Tacoma owner I have to say it was a joy to read about your truck and how meticulous you've been in keeping it in good condition."

Thanks! And it's interesting that you own a LeSabre. My Grandmother had one and it was absolutely reliable. Sometimes GM makes a dud. But when they get it right they really get it right. Those 3800 V6 engines are just as reliable as anything Toyota makes.

I too am disappointed in the new Tacoma. They cost a small fortune. And there are a few videos out there showing them breaking down when off-roading. Dare I say maybe Toyota is maybe slipping? Who knows. Maybe it's the first year model thing and the glitches need to be worked out. There was a recall on mine when it was new so we will see.

I too could have bought something new. But I really don't care. We did buy a new car for my wife - a Subaru. And it's just "meh". It's fine. But like most new cars it's sort of an appliance. At this point I've owned this truck since I was literally a kid and now a middle aged guy. You own something that long and it goes beyond just being a truck. It's like a companion and no new truck will manage to give me that same feeling. It's also getting old enough to where people actually give comments and look at it since there are getting to be less and less of these out there, and of those that remain, most are completely trashed since these small trucks are very popular with contractors around here who use them more or less like wheelbarrows.

With regard to aftermarket parts, it's a mixed bag really. When I changed the clutch on the truck I looked up how much a new flywheel was. OEM was going to be over $400. A Chinese made one was $75, which was about the same as having the original resurfaced. That was 75,000 miles ago and it's been fine. OTOH the original cast iron exhaust manifold cracked and I replaced it with a Chinese made one. It too cracked. So I found a small outfit in Arizona that made steel headers. They were not cheap, but they fit perfectly and I gained a few horsepower in the process. It seems like a lot of the stuff I get is made in Mexico. Other than the seized brake caliper and the cracked manifold, none of the parts have had issues. And keep in mind we're talking about a truck that is pushing 30 years old and many of the parts are getting up there in age. At one point I did go to a salvage yard, but ALL of the Tacomas there were stripped clean. A lot of people around here as mentioned beat the crap out of these and go to the yards for parts all the time.