2011 Tacoma test drive

T0Y0TA TAC0MA

T0Y0TA TAC0MA

Well-Known Member
As the title suggests I test drove a 2011 Tacoma 4x4 today. It was the Sport model, with a V6 and a leveling kit along with pretty big tires, I forgot to look at the sidewall but I would guess they were 33x12.50MT tires.
Since this was the first time I’ve ever driven a Tacoma I have to assume the large and very wide tires were the reason behind the truck having a lot of road noise at highway speeds. My wife and I both like the way it looks but we wouldn’t be able to stand that much road noise. This was at a small dealership that pretty much only sells lifted Toyotas.
The truck didn’t wander and it turned fine but we did notice the smell of rubber after driving around in a few circles in a large asphalt parking lot to check the alignment and turning radius.
Is this normal? Also, the truck had 140k miles which isn’t bad for a 2011 we thought, however, we also noticed a “burning oil” smell when we got out to check for leaks. There were none at that time but we only stopped in that parking lot for a few minutes. About 10 years ago I owned a 2006 4Runner (bone stock) and traded it in on a 2014 FJ that I lifted and put tires that size on but it road a lot better than this Taco so I’m wondering if there’s something wrong with the Taco’s suspension?
That being said... For the past 3 years I’ve only driven a Superduty diesel so it’s possible I just forgot how something that doesn’t weigh 4 tons rides and drives.
I would appreciate any advice on the aforementioned issues we found on our test drive (we didn’t buy it) and any other things to look for with a used high mileage Tacoma.

Thanks
 
Yikes, burning oil smell, and tires if not doing anything else with it like a smoke show, are bad signs.
Big mud tires are terrible at anything else but being in serious offroad situations.
So ask yourself if you want to go that route in a daily driver.
They handle badly, sap power, burn more gas, longer stopping distances, louder, and make the truck awkward to get into every time.
If you want to be a serious offroad couple, but a daily driver, and a separate very hardcore offroad beast. Then you also don't have to worry about banging it up.
 
B.C. said:
Yikes, burning oil smell, and tires if not doing anything else with it like a smoke show, are bad signs.
Big mud tires are terrible at anything else but being in serious offroad situations.
So ask yourself if you want to go that route in a daily driver.
They handle badly, sap power, burn more gas, longer stopping distances, louder, and make the truck awkward to get into every time.
If you want to be a serious offroad couple, but a daily driver, and a separate very hardcore offroad beast. Then you also don't have to worry about banging it up.
Click to expand...

Yea I was thinking the same thing.
Plus, I looked it up on KBB which says it’s worth (at the high end) up to $16k.
The dealer has it listed at $24k.

[emoji38]
 
Found a 2015 SR5 4x4 with 40k miles for $23k but it’s the i4. Seems like a good price.
Is there any reason NOT to get this motor?
Obviously it has less power (so probably better MPG) but is it just as reliable as the V6?
 
T0Y0TA TAC0MA said:
Found a 2015 SR5 4x4 with 40k miles for $23k but it’s the i4. Seems like a good price.
Is there any reason NOT to get this motor?
Obviously it has less power (so probably better MPG) but is it just as reliable as the V6?
Click to expand...
Take a test drive and see if you even like it. I have the same truck except I have the V6. Love it.
 
T0Y0TA TAC0MA said:
It’s an hour away so we’re doing that tomorrow morning. Let ya know.
Click to expand...
Perfect..........make sure it's the right truck for you. You may also want to test drive a V6 to compare. Not sure all that much difference but maybe since it's a 4X4 which will be heavier than 2 wheel drive and require some extra torque. Especially if you are going to put bigger tires than stock on it. They make a difference.
 
Well we’re definitely not getting the 4 banger!
That motor is a death [emoji88] trap trying to merge onto a highway! It’s too bad it’s so underwhelming, I was hoping to save a couple grand by getting a Tacoma with that motor but there’s just no way.
But overall the ride was just OK.
We probably shouldn’t have test driven the Subaru Ascent first. That thing rides like a friggin’ Cadillac and the steering is like butter!
But the only Subaru we like is the Ascent and they’re still too new so it’s not in our budget.
We’ll keep looking for the elusive 2015 V6 4x4 SR5 extra-cab! For $20k!
 
T0Y0TA TAC0MA said:
Well we’re definitely not getting the 4 banger!
That motor is a death [emoji88] trap trying to merge onto a highway! It’s too bad it’s so underwhelming, I was hoping to save a couple grand by getting a Tacoma with that motor but there’s just no way.
But overall the ride was just OK.
We probably shouldn’t have test driven the Subaru Ascent first. That thing rides like a friggin’ Cadillac and the steering is like butter!
But the only Subaru we like is the Ascent and they’re still too new so it’s not in our budget.
We’ll keep looking for the elusive 2015 V6 4x4 SR5 extra-cab! For $20k!
Click to expand...

Good luck getting a 2015 4X4 V6 double cab SR5 for $20K unless it has 100K miles on it.
 
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