2008 Toyota Tacoma: Why I decided on a Nissan Xterra this time around

For the past several years, I've owned nothing but Toyota trucks. They're dependable, get fairly decent gas mileage, and you can haul stuff when you need to. I've put about 4 light-seconds on my first three Toyotas. So why did I decide to get a Nissan Xterra this time around?

My most recent Toyota is a 1998 4x4 with the extended cab. Here's my review of that vehicle:

http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-189C-5540D2C-3912736B-prod4

It's been pretty dependable, as I expected, but it has 230,000 miles on it, so I decided to shop around for a new vehicle. Toyota Tacoma was on my short list, as was the small SUV known as the Nissan Xterra. I haul more guitars than hay bales these days, and that's what led to my decision to consider a small SUV.

When all was said and done, I bought the Xterra and kept my old '98 Toyota as a "ranch" vehicle.

Here's why:

My 1998 Toyota Tacoma has served me well, but it wasn't quite as bullet proof as my previous two Toyota trucks. I backed a horse I was helping train into the bed of the truck (more accurately, he decided to back up, lost his forward gears and I couldn't turn him away from the truck in time) and it left a bigger dent than I had expected. Dent-pro took care of it, but I was surprised by how easily the truck yielded to the horse's butt.

I had to replace a power steering motor at about 65,000 miles, and had a valve job done at about 180,000 miles. Not too bad, but not as trouble-free as my first two Toyota trucks. Now, at 230,000 miles, the clutch is starting to go.

These aren't bad numbers, and when I consider what my yuppie friends spend on their BMWs and Ford Explorers, I consider myself blessed. The the reason I went with the Xterra wasn't the performance of my 1998 Toyota Tacoma. It was the test drive of the 2008 Toyota Tacoma that did it.

First, there's the cost. I'm not sure what a Toyota Tacoma would cost if you went through Cars Direct, or some other internet service, but the dealer quotes I was getting for a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with extended cab and a 6-cylinder engine were close to $30,000. That seems like a lot for a small pick-up.

And then there was the driving experience itself. The clutch (yes, I prefer sticks) was set really high, and I could never get comfortable with it. The Xterra's clutch, by contrast, was smooth and easy to get used to. The ride of the Toyota truck was decent, but acceleration wasn't as good as with the Xterra, and there was a slightly "swimmy" feeling I couldn't ignore. In this model (4x4, six cylinder, extended cab), the reverse gear was placed in a really strange place: where I'm accustomed to finding first gear! It was a strange driving experience overall.

The interior of the 2008 4x4 extended cab also disappointed me. The truck LOOKS bigger than my 1998, and I had expected a roomier interior than in the 1998. But my XX co-reviewer and I agreed that the inside of this vehicle was no more spacious than my '98. Same with the room behind the seat. I'd feel comfortable planting a couple of 9-year-olds back there, but not a well-fed adult. We both commented on how much roomier and more luxurious the Xterra felt.

And then there was the console where the stereo, heater/air conditioner, and so on are located. In my '98, it's understated and functional looking. In the 2008, it's made of a faux-chrome plastic material that reminds me somehow of boom boxes from another era. Not likely to be attractive to anyone over 18 or someone looking for a truck that exudes a feeling of functionality.

And the kicker was the attempted murder by seat adjustment. When I attempted to move the seat back a hair, the spring was so powerful it just about threw me into the back seat. After the initial jolt and recovery, I still had a hard time getting it back to where I wanted it. A minor quibble, but it didn't seem minor when I was fumbling for a lever while trying to find the clutch with my left foot just as a stoplight was turning green.

Overall, the feel of the 2008 Toyota Tacoma was not what I had hoped for.

Viewed from the outside, the Tacoma is one nice looking little truck. They change the lines a bit every few years and I'd say the current version has a high cool factor. I like the way it looks, especially the 4x4. The 4-door version is also nice looking and would provide the back seat room the Extended Cab version is still missing.

In conclusion, I wasn't impressed enough with the 2008 4x4 Toyota Tacoma to buy a new one. I went with the Nissan Xterra and have been very happy with it so far. The gas mileage of the Xterra has actually been about the same as with my old 4-cylinder Toyota Tacoma when it was new, in the 23mpg range on the freeway. The latest Toyota Tacoma is still probably a solid, dependable vehicle, and I'd recommend checking Tacomas out if you're looking for a small truck. I'd especially recommend looking for a used one if you're looking for an "urban ranch" vehicle or second vehicle for hauling stuff around. But for my main vehicle, I liked the 2008 Xterra better.