Used 2003 Toyota Tacoma Xtracab Consumer Reviews
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.
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!
The Perfect Truck
It has been an all around great truck. It is wonderful on the gas mileage, and since my previous truck was a Tahoe, that means a lot. Also, it has near perfect build quality that I have never seen in a truck before. I would give this truck with the TRD pkg a serious look.
Toyota Doesn't mean quality
I bought the truck because its looks good and because its a Toyota, but I have had problems with the breaks, the U-joints, and the thing rattles very bad. Also the doors feel like paper when you shut them and it is noisy when you drive and if the windows are rolled down you get blown out.
not what they used t o be
Bought this in late 2002. At 500 miles the motor started to knock/thud under light loads. One dealer said they thought the noise was injector related; imagine that knocking injectors. Another dealer, after telling me diagnosis may cost me said "we hear it but don't know what it is, these 2.7L engines are typically noisy, must be normal" They wrote it up as "no correctable condition found" sort of an oxymoron. So if you don't know what it is, how do you know it is not correctable. I have found a site at Automotive Forums.com where other have the same issue.