Used 2003 Toyota Tacoma Consumer Reviews
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A Good Recomendation
I use this truck for everday use. This includes towing, hauling, and some off- road use. The truck has performed nicely with no problems.
Great truck
This is the first truck that I've owned and don't regret my decision to buy it. The double cab bed is a little small but adequate. I had a spray-in bed liner put in versus the drop-in shell that Toyota offers. I drove an Accord for several years and its taking me some time to get used to the difference in gas mileage.
- PreRunner Double CabMSRP: $12,975144 mi away
- V6 Double CabMSRP: $9,295222 mi away
- Base XtracabMSRP: $10,995281 mi away
love my truck
love my truck. looks great and fun to drive. smooth acceleration and lots of power to spare on merge and passing. lucky on getting truck below invoice... bit pricey.
One tough little truck.
I traded an 02 tundra 4x4 for this 03 tacoma dbl cab 4x4 w/trd and i couldn't be any happier with my decision. It fits me a little better than the tundra but i do miss the v8 pwr. The truck has plenty of room and my wife can drive it much easier than the tundra. I have always been a toyota truck person and will continue to be in the future. Only 1 issue i have with this truck is that it does need a bigger v6 with at least 225-250 h.p.
Toyota 4 door
I have always owned a Toyota and I know I am paying extra for this privilage! Tiyota will last for 150k to 200k miles with just an oil change! They are worth every penny!
A truck to last
Just a great truck that there is no need to worry about it lasting in the long haul
my truck
only have had great things with toyota. this new tacoma so far is the best yet.
Very Impressive after 6 months!!
Waited 6 months before writing my review and happily report that I have not had ANY problems. Build quality is great. Resale value is excellent. I get many compliments from strangers...."nice truck". Being very particular about my vehicles, I compared the Toyota with it's competition. Found the Totota to be a more attractive total package. My wife and I both love the room the 4 door model offers. I chose the 2.7 liter engine over the 3.4 due primarily to the 4 cylinder's established history for bullet proof reliability. I gladly traded off the performance for better fuel economy ( 23+ mpg around town!) Plan on keeping my truck many, many years!
03' prerunner double cab
Love it more every time I drive it!!!
S-Runner Tacoma
The S-Runner is a truck that is difficult to acquire. It took me almost a year to finally get mine. Speaking with other S-Runner owners on- line, they've had similar experiences. This truck is a real blast to drive, with it's 190 horsepower 24 valve V-6. Front and rear sway bars, Tekico gas shocks, and 5-spead transmission, make this truck a "real sleeper". Fuel mileage isn't bad for all the performance one gets in this S-Runner package. I personally have gotten 26 mpg on a trip. The reliability is typical Toyota, and that's a good thing. I am very happy with this truck.
eighties flashback
Its hard for all of us to believe the price they get for Toyota Tacomas. While relaible ,they are some of the lowest quality interiors next to Kia,s. The small back window,cheap plastic bits and door panels a 5 year old could rip to shreds.Tiny,tinny,and dated comes to mind .I can,t wait till the New Titan by Nissan comes out so I can flog this truck to them .Toyota better update soon ,people are getting on to them .
I'd take this offroad.
A solid truck with unbeatable reliability.
wouldnt buy another truck..no wy no how!
i have had three tacomas but bought the 4 door for and expanding family..always reliable no matter what i have worked at toyota for 7 years and wouldnt think about buying another vehicle if i were forced too
The Best
This is the first truck that I have ever owned that has met the durability and dependability that no other has been able to give to me.
2002 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner
Turned in a 4-runner to get this Tacoma prerunner Limited. I like the way it drives better than the 4-runner, more power! The 3.4 L V6 is a lot of fun to drive. A good looking truck at high price. Love the TRD off-road package.
Typical Toyota
This is my 9th Toyota purchase and the quality and appearance is second to none. I briefly owned a Honda Pilot and with less than a year ownership I was more than glad to rid myself of it. Regardless what others say about the Honda product Toyota is still head and shoulders above them. Attention to detail, reliability and resale value will keep me a Toyota customer for quite some time. Good job Toyota!
QUALITY TRUCK
VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE ON AND OFF THE ROAD. MY TACOMA HAS ONLY THE TRD OPTION AND IT DRIVES OFF-ROAD LIKE A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, BUT IT IS NOT. I WOULD RECOMMEND THE PRERUNNER, FOR IT'S HEIGHT AND EXTERIOR LOOKS.
looking good
Engine and performance better than my old Ford 150 V-8. Better everything, and reliability is why I bought this truck, as well as the fact that it is the best looking compact out there. Good to know it can tow up to 5000 lbs. when I'll need it this summer. Couldn't find the clock for the first few days - placed in awkward place. Interior could use an upgrade.
Wife wants one too, can't have mine
Had this truck a short time but so far I love it. Can't wait to use it to tow old boat instead of 1980 F-150. Handles great. Rides great. Looks fantastic. Well laid out and easy to use controls, such as 4WD High. And beleive it or not I can see the clock easily and like its placement because you are not always staring at it. Love the look of this truck in TRD SR5 trim, looks like its been to a custom shop. Dealer was very pleasant to work with (Arlington Toyota Illinois).
Third and last Toyota truck
This is my third Toyota truck, all different models, and I have been continually disappointed. It's a fun ride and I feel safe driving it. However, I've expererience the same problems with all three models. I think 6 years is long enough to work out the kinks. If all you're looking for is a safe, fun rugged vehicle than this is it, but I recommend not upgrading to get all the options as you'll be disappointed with quality vs. price tag.
Truck lover
I owned a 1986 standard bed Toyota 4x4 4cyl. 5sp for 9 years and had 125,000 miles on it before it was totaled. After that I purchased a 1995 Corrola which had 330,000 miles before tading it in on this 2003 Toyota Tacoma xtra cab, V6, 5 sp. I hope to enjoy this Toyata as much as the other 2. I loved the 86 truck and wanted to own another truck. I would only purchase Toyota because of its dependability. I purchased the truck Nov. 2003 and enjoy it except for the gas mileage.
2 Wheel drive Tacoma
This is the 5th Toyota Pickup I've owned. Excellent vehicle for just about everything. Gas mileage is reasonable, reliability is outstanding...typical Toyota workmanship. I'm considering purchasing my 6th Toyota pickup, with luck a Toyota Tacoma S-Runner. You can't go wrong with these Toyota trucks.
Not Bad at all
Just purchased 30 days ago. Had minor problems with dash installation. Biggest issue with automatic is the idle speed. Dealer says it can be adjusted slightly through computer chip. Overall, I am very happy with the build quality and performance for the price paid. Also have a 98 4Runner V6 with 104,000 miles.
after one year old report
From day one when i went looking for a small quality pick-up truck i knew it was going to be a toyota tacoma 4 - cly 5-spd man. with air and stereo power sterring & power brakes.i never even test drove it as i drove it from the parking lot to in front of the dealership they wrote up the paper work i signed it and left with the truck ,i miss not having a clock and trip-ometer but have learned to live without.tacoma A-OK in my book.
Toyota Best Buy
I sold my 89 Toyota after buying my 2oo3 Toyota not because I needed $2500, but because I would never drive it after driving my 2003. The 89 toyota had 125000 miles and never saw a repair or service shop. I performed all service myself, valves,brakes,fuel filters etc. In other words I thought the 89 was the best. The 2003 is 100% better. What more can I say. Toyota is Best!
Great Ride, Poor MPG
Almost new, but mileage far below sticker numbers. Ride is solid and comfortable (with exceptions below). No squeaks, rattles or wind noise. Exterior styling second to none, interior style flawed. Clock positioned so you have to lean forward to see it through steering wheel, and console so far back that it's not accessible while driving. Seat back is poorly designed for me (6'2"), but might improve with time. Driver's seat won't slide forward like the passenger seat for rear access. Engine performs well, but if you try to drive faster than a little old lady you can almost here it drinking gas. The anti-lock brakes are excellent on wet pavement.
Killer Truck
Just purchased my new truck, so far I love it. Took it on a lengthy road trip with 2 other adults, quite comfy for such an off road beast. Gas Mileage averages around 18.5. Can't wait to get it off road.
Good truck, a few problems
This truck has 2500 miles on it now, and I have noticed a few problems. The steering wheel is in the way of the clock, and I have to lean over to see it. About half the time, the truck takes two tries to start. I have no idea why a brand new vehicle would not start on the first try. Since I bought the truck, a few rattles have developed in the interior. One is the cover for the passenger side airbag on the dashboard rattling. I haven't tracked down the other rattle yet. The clutch petal just started squeaking every time I press it down.
Selling after 2-years
First Toyota I've ever owned. Was sick of my Ford Explorer and my Jeep with all the maintenance issues. Consumer Reports shows great reliability numbers so I purchased it. Over the two years I've not had one problem with the truck. I average 17 mpg. We've taken a couple long trips and the two kids (11 & 9) were very comfortable in the rear seats. However I did not enjoy the drivers seat on long trips. My right foot got cramped due to the angle I had to keep by foot at. I am 6-ft 1-in and just never felt at home in the seats. My wife is 5-8 and has no problems. We towed a pop-up camper at 70 mph and got 15.25 over 1200 mile trip thru the mountains of Az and Utah. 20 mpg on other trips.
2003 Toyota Tacoma V6 4 Dr SR5
Overall I really like my Toyota. I has a firm ride (which I like) and the V6 has plenty of power when you need it. I am a car care fanantic and so far, everything appears easy to maintain. Washing and drying is easy and is fun. Sitting in the vehicle affords a great view and surprising there are very few "blind spots" when driving.
Fast commuting truck
I decided the Tacoma double cab was right for my family.I got a good price from the dealer, the color I wanted and all the options we needed without any of the hassle. In the city I get 16/gal but I'm sure I can wring more once it's been broke in. It drives like a truck (bouncy at times) but overall not bad (without a load in the back). It scoots off the line and pulls nicely up steep grades and stops undramatically. Driven in heavy rain it has no problems even with a stiff cross wind or on a steep grade. The A/C cools fast and doesn't bog the engine. The stereo is nice with a cassette and/or CD design and the back seats tilt for extra storage which is an additional nice feature.
Gotta love your toyota
Great vehicle and gets great mileage for a truck. Toyotas will last forever. 4-door cab is great. My cab has more rear seat leg room than my boyfriend's big Dodge diesel truck. Not happy with lack of interior storage space. I bought a snugtop supersport truck shell to take care of that problem. Shell looks great on the truck. Little spendy, but worth it. Worried about the automatic transmission - getting a strange clunk sound when I am comming to a stop or when I first start accelerating. The fan power of the air system could have more power.
Another Toyota truck for me
I just sold a 1991 Toyota truck. I was the original owner. With 200,000 miles on it, it was still running great, but it didn't have enough cab room for me, my wife and our dog. So I got the Extended cab, SR5 stepside. The V6 is powerful and quiet. Steering is responsive and tight. The truck has the off-road suspension and it seems to help reduce speed bumps, etc. Toyota hasn't lost the touch. It's a great truck.
my toy truck
truk handles very well and runs great.i wish it got better gas mileage
Nice Truck
All in all it is a great truck. Everything works and it has a good feel.
great truck
fun to drive great styling lots of room
Solid and Funtional 4x4 D-Cab
I have had no major problems with this vehicle. It's a great truck to drive and hauls everything I need to carry, whether it be my ski gear to the slopes or my mountain bike to the trails it has been great. Enough room in the back for smaller adults with no complaints. I like the styling of the truck as well. It handles great on the roads(non-TRD) and also does well off-road.
Best Little Truck
In the small pickup category the base model Toyota Tacoma can't be beat. Reliability is 100%. I've had no trouble @ all. I live in the Nort East & over the winter made several trips throuout Northern New England & Quebec during a Winter of record cold & snowfall & never once had any problems (pretty remarkable for a 2Wheel Drive ). I do however recommend weight in the back (I used sandtubes) & SNOW!!! tires on all 4 tires. I'm looking forward to many, many miles & years with this base model Toyota Tacoma
It's good to be back with Toyota
The last toyota I owned, a 1983 pick up had over a quarter of a million miles on it when I sold it , and was in about the same shape as the 2000 nissan I bought to replace it with after only 60,000 miles. I strayed away for a cheaper price in 1999 and wound up payed the price in the long run. It's good to be back in a solid riding vehicle again that I can drive and drive with no worries.
dependablity
great value for your money and a great transportaion.
Good Looking Exterior
Purchased my 2003 in Sep 2002 off the lot. Leather package but in my excitement I didn't realize until the next day it had no cruise control. For what I paid cruise should not have been an option. Truck is very roomy and quite powerful.
A Recent Convert
First change from Ford in 17 years. Am impressed with the looks, performance and tightness of the suspension. Agile in handling and braking. Spartan in the interior design, but functional except for the clock. Am very impressed overall and happy with the purchase.
depenable
this was an economical buy. it gets me to work, kids to school, and good gas mileage. It seems like it is a solidly built truck and is definately holding it's value so far this year.
Originally a Chevy guy
Never thought I'd buy anything "foreign" but I'm glad I did. This is one great truck and can actually be used like one.
BAD GMC
just bought my 2003 tacoma, traded in a faulty 2000 cheverolet impala. (that was a bad car) so far the truck is simply great, my wife hugged it the other day. "She was happy about loosing the crappy impala too". seats a little too small, clock in wrong place. Seems very solid and well built so far.
Great Truck
Love my truck. Looks good and drives great. Hauls trailers and whatever else needed.
Great Design
I choose the DoubleCab so that I can carry more the one passenger. I has plenty of room for 5 people. The front leg room needs improvement. The ride is bumpy. I took a trip to Laughlin, NV, and it was a nice ride and good gas milage.
Great Non BETTER Excellent
Weve owned GM, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Honda, VW and Toyotas. Honda was Excl but can't beat a Toyota. Owned Trucks and Corollas. Now have a 94 Corolla Wagon, 2000 Tacoma SR5 and a 2004 SR5 Tacoma Double cab. Toyota wins, fuel economy, dependability, Reliability, performance, workmanship, and looks. ALL CARS DEPRECIATE a lot faster than any Toyota. Toyotas appear to hold their more than any other. Toyotas and Lexus are our ist choice and may consider an Acura or Honda as our 2nd. I do not work for Toyota but their product is so good that I wish I owned the company.
Great Truck
The best off-road/on-road stock truck money can buy. The truck handles great on the highway where I average 20mpg. Every time I have taken it off- road on either a beach or a trail, I am amazed how well it preforms. The size of the truck for me is perfect; fitting all my "stuff" in frequent trips to and from college is a huge help. With Toyota's reliability the Tacoma is a great truck.
Mr TACOMA
Great truck. The Handling is pretty nice and the engine is stronger. The V6 with 3100 pounds can really make this truck move.