Best truck of 2005

I recently traded my 2004 Nissan 350Z for a 2005 Tacoma Pre-Runner V6 with the SR5#3 package. This package comes with all the basics that I was looking for, power windows, power locks, keyless entry, cruise control, and fog lamps. It has a few other small trim options, but those are pretty much the selling points for me. My last truck was a 2000 GMC Sierra which was a pretty good one.

So I'll get right too it.

Exterior-

The new Tacoma is larger and restyled in pretty much every way over last year. Styling will always be subject personal preference so I won't dwell on that too long. The one concern that I have about the exterior is the paint. I've read that some new Tacomas are experiencing paint chipping/peeling issues. My brother's silver one is chipping where the bug shield used to be. Once he saw the paint beginning to wrinkle he removed the shield. I got the dealer to throw in one on top of the deal. So I guess I'll be watching it carefully. The way the factory bug shield attaches causes it to press into the paint on the edge of the hood. They put a few protective strips of tape-like material on the contact points, and I'm hoping that will save it. I personally like the bug shield on, so I'm giving it a try.

As with any truck with a sliding rear window, there is the possibility that a thief may enter through it. Most latches on these windows are very poor, and all it takes is a moderate hit by the hand and the latch will open. I'm combatting this by dropping in a small dowel rod in the window's track. That way the window is jammed shut and can only be opened by removing the rod.

I like the higher stance of the pre-runner over the other versions of the Tacoma. Some people may not like the higher step that it requires to enter the truck, but you'll know that as soon as you get in for the first time.

Interior-

The front seats are comfortable and the driver's seat comes with an adjustable lumbar support. I have a little bit of a back problem, so the extra support is well used. The radio is easily reachable without having to stretch. This truck has 9 cup/bottle holders. So there's always room to store an extra 20oz bottle of coke. The a/c is quick to cool, and the fan speeds are strong. I live in Mississippi, and a good a/c is a must for our summers. The quality of the interior is very nice for this price range. It is of much higher quality than my $30,000 350Z.

My complaints about the interior are few. I would have liked to see more interior color options. I have the "Ash" interior, which is basically two tone gray. I would liked to see a darker charcoal color available. The other option is Taupe. I'm not into tans so I went with Ash. The instrument panel is easy to read, but it lacks a voltage and oil pressure gauge. I won't miss them too much, but I was a little surprised to not see those on a truck when you may be running several things off the interior power plugs.

I have the 6 speaker radio system. I wanted the $200 6 disc changer option that came with steering wheel controls, but we couldnt find one nearby without getting a TRD model. I think it would be well worth the 200 bucks for the wheel controls, but the radio is close enough to driver so it's not really necessary.

The passengers seat will register if someone is sitting in it. You'll get a seatbelt light if the person does not buckle up, and the airbag will turn itself on. Kind of interesting and could save you a big repair bill for the dash, and a new passenger airbag, if you get in a wreck by yourself.

I have the access cab model, mainly for the extra interior storage room. The rear seats would be suitable for a short drive here and there, but I wouldnt want to spend a long amount of time in them. I dont plan on taxing around a lot of people, so the comfort in the rear seats wasnt a big factor for me. There is a nice little storage pocket found under each rear seat though.

Driving Impressions-

The 4.0 liter V6 is said to have about 245 horsepower and 282 pounds of torque. It feels very strong around town and on the highway and will have no problem planting you in the back of your seat. It benefits even more from the extra gear found in either the 5 speed automatic or the 6 speed manual.
It's rated between 18 and 22 miles per gallon. Mine is still under the 1000 mile breakin, and I'm getting around 20mpg on 87 octane with mostly city driving so far. So the mpg range appears to be accurate.

It rides smooth and handles well with not too much wind noise. I havent noticed any creaks or strange rattles. The brakes are adequate, but going from a car to a truck can be dangerous if you dont prepare for the extra stopping time that you're going to need. The truck also is pretty long. You'll have to keep an eye out to make sure that you're not sticking out beyond your parking space. It turns well and overall is a great truck to drive. I'd definately call this truck a mid-size rather than a compact.

Overall -

The sticker price for these V6 Pre-Runner access cabs is in the low 20k range. You can deal down a little on that, but not too much. These trucks appear to not have a big void between invoice and sticker price. For this price there is nothing else out that interests me. I've always heard very good things about Toyota reliability, so I'm going to find out first hand.

I highly recommend anyone looking for a new truck to give this one a test run.