Toyota knows what compact truck buyers want, and its Tacoma pickup delivers the goods. Toyota Tacoma boasts a heritage of solid service as a work truck along with a hard-earned reputation as a winning off-road race truck.
Tough as Nails and Built to Last, but Bring Your Own Seatcushion: 2003 Tacoma
Rating
Written By scmrak
Date Written Nov 17 2002
Summary
My '99 Tacoma has a birthday looming on the horizon -- 60,000 miles; "Just getting broken in," the service manager says -- and so I though I'd blow an entire Saturday sitting at the dealer since he's (Artie, for Red Truck) still under the...
Strength
reliability, ruggedness, off-road capability, power, construction quality
Weakness
ride and passenger comfort
Bottom Line
There aren't many trucks out there that are better-made and more reliable; unfortunately it's not a particularly comfortable vehicle
In my last review, I described how I narrowed my recent new vehicle hunt down to two choices: a Nissan Frontier or a Toyota Tacoma. After spending half a day between two car dealerships, I ended up going with the Toyota. My last review describes why I...
Strength
Great looks, powerful motor, handling, etc.
Weakness
Shallow bed, hard to see clock
Bottom Line
If you are in the market for a mid-size pickup, the Tacoma is the best truck for the money.
For as long as I have known my husband, and that's 15 years, he has been a loyal and faithful Toyota driver. He has had 3 cars in the time that I have known them, they were all Toyota Celica's. He has a definite love for the Celica, no matter what year...
This is a review on my sister’s red Toyota Tacoma double cab, which I have driven on numerous occasions. The Tacoma has been around for a while, first introduced in 1995. The Double cab went on sale in 2000 as a 2001 model. In other parts of the...
Strength
looks, transmission, versatility
Weakness
price, ride, cramped interior, bed size, gas tank
Bottom Line
Overall, it’s a nice and useful truck for a small family.
I bought a 2003 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 because I wanted more seating capacity than my old S-10 two seater had. I also needed a truck bed for hauling items that are too big and, more often, too messy to put inside a SUV, so a crew cab pickup was...
Strength
Rugged, dependible, stylish, ground clearance
Weakness
Low Torque motor, low towing capacity.
Bottom Line
You should buy the 2003 Toyota Tacoma if you are looking for a reliable compact truck that seats 5 adults comfortably and does not sacrifice performance.
I purchased a 2003 Tacoma to replace my poor, aging Chevy S10 Blazer. The configuration I purchased is extended cab, 2wd, 4cyl, manual trans. SR5 package, power windows, locks, cruise, A/C, CD player. The truck really is nice to look at. The SR5...
Strength
Good engine, fit and finish, nice ride, lots of stuff for the price, Toyota dependability
Weakness
Clock in a bad place, could use more power
Bottom Line
A small truck that can get a lot done without busting the bank. If you need to tow or haul with it, get the V6.
2003 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner Stepside 4x2 regular cab
Rating
Written By blueveil99
Date Written Sep 17 2003
Summary
Best truck I've seen out there. I just bought a home and needed a Home Depot Hauler. I didn't need a giant truck, and thought I would check out the smaller "mini trucks" as they were called when I was in High school. I went in thinking I was going to get...
Strength
looks great, good ride, great paint, fun to drive.
Weakness
limited accs, options can add up fast.
Bottom Line
If you need a truck for getting to work, hauling from home depot, and looking great, this is it.
Let me start off by saying I have never owned a vehicle other than a Toyota. That said there are other cars and trucks out there I like and I have considered other truck car makes.I bought a lightly used 2003 Double-Cab Tacoma 4x4 TRD...
Strength
Great offroad performer Good looks Fun to drive Toyota reliability Seats 4-5
Weakness
Expensive! No option for manual transmission for Double Cab model Smaller bed with the Double Cab
Bottom Line
Great reliability and offroad performance make for a sturdy truck.
The transmission is sure and the engine is strong. However, mileage is poor. I have found that to get the rated highway mileage of 25 mpg you must drive under 68 mph. Driving 70 mph will drop the mileage to 23.5. City driving is even worse. I get...
Strength
Excellent handling, adequate power and tight construction
Weakness
Poorly designed interior, terrible seat back, poor mileage
Bottom Line
A poor choice. Mechanical quality seems good, but very uncomfortable, poor mileage and substandard interior construction.
