Toyota Trucks: 4 seats now required

This is not an answer to your question but a comment. I have the extended cab
Tundra and the rear "seats" are worthless except for the smallest child. In
fact, I may take them out and gain the extra storage space. A small adult can
ride in the rear seats only if the front seats are knee bumping close to the
dash. What were they thinking in the design dept.? What was I thinking? GCS

Hey Eric-
Our family of five was considering a Tacoma 4 door as an addition to the
current 'fleet'. We've test driven them a few times and done a bit of
research as to whether we'd fit. Right now it's three child safety seats
across in a 4Runner, but by the time we would have been ready to purchase a
Taco, two of the child seats would be optional. All three of our child seats
fit fine in the Taco after all. I'd figure the kids would have enough leg
and 'mom! He's on my side!'
room well into their teen years. They were really disappointed we didn't
take it home with us. (They keep talking about 'when' we go back and pick up
'daddy's new truck'. So it was a quick sale with them!)

We also compared it with the Tundra access cab (this was back in early
summer 2003, and prior.) I didn't find the back seats in the Tundra to be as
comfortable as
the Taco. They were stiffer and more upright, and a turn off immediately.
You might compare the 4 door Tundra, I haven't been shopping for a while so
I've no idea what the seats are like.

Best bet for you is to take both for a test drive with your family. See how
you all fit (even if with the salesperson, one of the adults has to stay
behind at the dealer.) Then decide whether you NEED the bigger truck or if
it's just a want. My long-legged brothers and I grew up shoe-horned into a
little Honda station wagon and did numerous enjoyable family vacations in
it, so unless you're just big people, the smaller truck is probably enough
space. If cost is a factor now when looking at which to purchase, then it's
probably a factor when it comes to maintaining and operating the new ride.
Which gets the better mileage? Which is cheaper to service? (I always look
at long term costs, don't like to be sidelined by unexpected bills.)
If the reason(s) behind the new seating 'requirements' isn't arrived yet,
borrow a baby seat from a friend and see how it fits, or have a friend with
kids come with you to look at the vehicles, see how well they fit, including
diaper bags and other accessories. It's a major purchase, so treat it
like you're shopping for a house, not an entertainment system. Think of how
big your family might get, whether they'll have bigger toys later, etc.

I'd jump at the chance to own a truck, especially a 4 door Taco, but we
really have no need for one right now. The 4Runner covers our needs
perfectly. Cost for us was another factor, as was lack of anyplace to park
it here. We're searching for a certain classic show car to buy in the near
future and with that, hubby's hobby/daily driver, and my 4Runner, there
would be no room for a fourth vehicle. I urged him to decide between a new
truck and keeping his current car to mod out to his heart's desire and also
getting his hot-rod. He's still not 100% sure which he wants to do, but he's
started planning mods so I don't think the truck is in the picture anymore,
LOL.

Good luck deciding!
--
Dee
~Remove all preflight tags before replying by email.~

"Eric Sabine" <_ScPoAmM> wrote in message
news:3ffac838$0$40210$twtelecom.net... 
with 
also 

I went through the same thing. I owned a 97 4Runner that was starting to
have some transmission strangeness. I don't like the new 4Runners so I
decided that the Tacoma doublecab is the closest thing to the old Runners,
and eventually I would get a cap for the bed to finish it off.

I have a 2.5 year old and I test drove a Nissan Frontier with the carseat,
and looked at an access cab Tundra. Nope.
The Tacoma DC has almost the same legroom (minus about 1-2 inches) as the
old 4Runner and is pretty comfortable in the back. I've hauled myself, a
friend, our wives in the back (his is pregnant) and my daughter in a
carseat, and although maybe a little cramped, they were ok for a 50 mile
drive.

Bottom line to me is I really like the old 4Runner style and am not willing
to pay the $$ they want for a new one these days. The Tacoma doublecab is
the closest thing left, but I guess that will change next year.

YMMV,
Brian

Thanks Dee, these were good comments.

Eric

"Pookerz" <com> wrote in message
news:IOKKb.6458$q%news.prodigy.com... 
a 
seats 
up 
as 
so 
how 
it's 
with 
including 
how 
also 
he's 
anymore,