I'm glad I have my Lightning....

[MaintGrl]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha

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[MountainAlive]

Not to mention that unfortunately Toyota trucks have been having some serious quality issues lately which is extremely unlike Toyota.

 

[MaintGrl]

Not to mention that unfortunately Toyota trucks have been having some serious quality issues lately which is extremely unlike Toyota.

Ya, I'm sure there will be bugs to work out, BUT . . . they have been building Prius's for years now...

 

[Firn]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha

I ditched my 21 Tacoma OR for the lightning. $10k more quite literally got what feels like twice as much truck. I miss the stick shift but darn, the Taco is waaay overrated.

 

[MaintGrl]

I ditched my 21 Tacoma OR for the lightning. $10k more quite literally got what feels like twice as much truck. I miss the stick shift but darn, the Taco is waaay overrated.

I had the V-6 Auto w/ electronic transfer 4x4. I loved that Truck. Didn't look to hot on the outside, didn't wash it nearly enough and the clear coat was failing but I felt I could literally go anywhere in it (Many back country fire roads/trails). The lightning I hand wash it Once a month religiously. That being said, I have NOT had the opportunity to take the Back country fire roads/trails that I did in my taco to see what the Lightning can do...(but I have seen video's)

 

[MaintGrl]

I ditched my 21 Tacoma OR for the lightning. $10k more quite literally got what feels like twice as much truck. I miss the stick shift but darn, the Taco is waaay overrated.

Speaking of missing the stick shift, I still reflexively try to down shift the Lightning

 

[WaterboyNorCal]

Speaking of missing the stick shift, I still reflexively try to down shift the Lightning

Omg, I thought I was the only one who does this…

 

[BSEE SPARKY]

Omg, I thought I was the only one who does this…

It the first automatic transmission vehicle I have ever bought. I don’t remember ever trying to clutch the lightning yet.

 

[WaterboyNorCal]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha

Is that $76k Canadian? US MSRP for a 2025 Taco Hybrid is $54k; if you upgrade to the “Trailhunter” version with a 6ft bed, goes to $65k. Am I missing something? Btw, totally agree that the Lightning is a better value overall; the Tacoma is a smaller truck but to each their own…

 

[K6CCC]

I have not owned a stick shift car since I retired my 86 Toyota 4x4 in 2003 so out of that habit. However I get into my wife's 2017 Corolla and reach for the start button, then once I remember that I have to turn a key, I am reminded how noisy it is.

 

[Vulnox]

I feel similar to you but with a hybrid F-150. I had a PowerBoost before the Lightning. I liked the PB, A LOT, but I liked driving my wife's Mach-e and I found myself constantly trying to keep the PB in electric drive as long as I could.

Add to that I was usually taking the kids to school in the morning and in winter it was a lot of wasted gas heating up the truck just to drive a couple miles.

I got an out-of-this-world deal on my Lightning that actually made it less expensive than my 2023 PB Lariat F-150 and now I have a Platinum Lightning that has almost all the advantages of the Mach-e (MME still corners better) and no oil changes or gas station stops.

You mentioned trying to down shift, it's funny I still expect the gas engine to kick on at certain times, like when I first pull out of my driveway, because with the PowerBoost when you first start the truck it wouldn't kick on the engine (unless it's really cold) and if you were light on the accelerator you could start to drive from the driveway without the engine kicking in. I got so used to it I knew exactly where and when the engine would kick on.

Now with my Lightning I feel myself prepare for the engine to kick on in the same spots, but it of course never does. Funny the things you don't even realize you get used to.

 

[MaintGrl]

Is that $76k Canadian? US MSRP for a 2025 Taco Hybrid is $54k; if you upgrade to the “Trailhunter” version with a 6ft bed, goes to $65k. Am I missing something? Btw, totally agree that the Lightning is a better value overall; the Tacoma is a smaller truck but to each their own…

It was US dollars, and it was the full blown Tacoma, I think the base price for the std. 2wd smaller engine is like $32K, almost what I paid for my 4x4 access cab back then.
Here's the article:

 

[HOTAS]

Glad I have mine too. Best truck on the road, nothing else like it !

and despite its beauty and charm, I get equally positive curiosity and negative remarks. Why are EV’s so polarizing? It’s just a dang car or (truck) !

 

[HOTAS]

I feel similar to you but with a hybrid F-150. I had a PowerBoost before the Lightning. I liked the PB, A LOT, but I liked driving my wife's Mach-e and I found myself constantly trying to keep the PB in electric drive as long as I could.

i tell everyone that considers a plug in hybrid, or even a hybrid, that if they hate it when the engine turns on, OR doing everything possible to delay it, they’re ready for an EV. !

 

[flyct]

I feel similar to you but with a hybrid F-150. …………

Add to that I was usually taking the kids to school in the morning and in winter it was a lot of wasted gas heating up the truck just to drive a couple miles.

I got an out-of-this-world deal on my Lightning that actually made it less expensive than my 2023 PB Lariat………………

The advantage of a Hybrid is totally lost with short trips. As you experienced, the gas engine has to run constantly every time at the beginning of a trip to get it up to operating temperature. My wife had a Prius that got great efficiency when she was commuting on local roads 30 miles to work. When her work location changed to 3 miles from home the efficiency gain was gone because the gas engine ran the whole trip.

We have the same 2024 White Platinum Lightning. i also got the killer deal that was offered for plan buyers in Q1, 4 months ago.

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