Gen 2.5 to 3rd gen, any regrets?

Hey all,

I have 2019 limited crewmax that I love, but seeing the new tech and creature comforts in the newer tundras seem really nice. I do plan some modifications ie suspension, bumper, supercharger (maybe, it sounds fun), for some weekend jaunts into the mountains. I’m in CO.

my question is: to those that have made the switch, do you have any regrets? I like the idea of being the only owner on a truck and it being ready to go on some trips right out of the box.

 

Until Toyota can get the motor issues straight, ide have a hard time giving up my paid for reliable truck. 24 and 25s are still having engine failures and other electronic issues.

 

Family member made the switch and it’s been a nightmare. The engine gets the same gas mileage, cabin feels smaller, and the he hates the truck bed with the plastic liner now. Mentions the bed has less depth for items. Overall built quality feels much cheaper, he is planning on selling and going back to his older truck. New isn’t always mean better unfortunately.

 

If you keep the third gen long term it reliability is questionable at best right now and if you keep it short term the resell value is horrendous since it has such a bad reputation it will take years and years for the third gen to get rid of its tarnished image

 

Most of the tech found in the 3rd gen can be added to your current '19 with aftermarket items. Some of it would actually be better than what the 3rd gen may offer. Same with exterior mods. The aftermarket or even OEM mods are endless.

I'd keep the '19 and mod the hell out of it.

 

I think you asking how others are "feeling" does not necessary validates your feelings, per se.
I would recommend going to a dealership and test drive one, sit in it for a few minutes and really get a feel of said vehicle/trim, and see if you like it.

Like others have said, to give up a paid off, or close to paid off vehicle for a new truck that may have payment, doesn't sound like a very good financial decision, but your call.
As far as the 3rd gen issues, granted, there are quite a bit, but if you compare it to the total numbers of 3rd gens sold, that percentage is still relatively low, not gone, just low.

So, if you test drive and like the new 2025, and can afford the payment, go for it.
If you have any doubts, I would say hold on to your paid off vehicle and enjoy it.
Plus, you can always mod the old truck to your liking, but to mod a brand new truck sounds a little painful to the wallet/bank account.

 

yeah my 2019 is paid in full, so it would have to be a screaming deal on the newer gen’s if anything. But like others have mentioned I question the reliability and build quality of the 3rd gen

 

Yeah that’s what I’m reading! Definitely seems like Toyota leaned more towards profit versus building a great product.

 

Eventually im going to swap out the bumpers and put in a bigger screen that has apple car play.

 

The dealership sends me a postcard sometimes with an offer for a certain amount of money for a trade in. My 2014 DC SR5 is payed off. I’ve been doing mods here n there as I get the money. I got a set of rock lights to install. After that will be 37’s”. If I trade my truck, there would be no extra money for any mods due to the payments. So, I have no regrets keeping my truck.

 

Keep it, for now at least until Toyota gets some things figured out.

 

Keep your truck and use the 30 or 40 grand difference toward mods. Number one priority...keep the rust away!

 

Well looking through all these comments, I don’t see a single gen 2’er saying they’ve owned a 3rd gen. I owned a 2020 sr5 crewmax trd off-road 4x4, and the build quality on my 2025 limited seems better. Not as much wind noise, and interior fit and finish is solid. I used to be a nay sayer and just talked trash on the 3rd gen just to talk trash and listened to the peanut gallery of YouTube. Having owned a 3rd gen now, I can honestly say this platform is more suited for truck purposes. The iForce max has insane power down low and made the 5.7 seem like a sluggish dog. I’d say if you’re considering it and can reasonably do it, go for it! There’s insane deals to be had right now on all tundras and I would take advantage while you can!

 

Nobody is trash talking. But the statistics of motor failures don’t lie. Yes, Toyota is replacing them but it’s a long process of you without your vehicle. With the price of vehicles, it’s tough to justify getting into a $60-$70k truck just to be worried when a problem will arise. My neighbor just got rid of his 22’ because of problems. Dealership gave him a good deal on a 24’, but he’s still not happy as it’s been back at the dealership numerous times for random electrical issues. I also personally know somebody that just lost their motor at 33k miles on their 23’.

All of these occurrences make it hard to justify getting rid of a 2.5 gen truck that 99% of us have only had to change the oil and general maintenance over the years. I’m at 96k miles myself and have just done oil changes and other fluid changes. And it’s paid for. None of this is trash talking. Could I go buy a 25’? Sure. But I’m not gluttonous and I rather have something reliable and no note vs a potential ticking time bomb.

 

I just got my used 2.5 gen last year. I am hoping I run that till Toyota comes out with Gen 4

 

I'm sure it's a great truck. I viewed it through a financial lens. A paid off truck is more valuable to some, especially one in good condition and suits their needs. I just briefly looked up some price points for my area of the IForce Max, $70k+ isn't for me, not to say it isn't for others.

 

We paid our $70k for V8 Sequoia, last year of production. Coming down from Volvo, Toyota has nothing to write home about in Gen 3 for untrucky things. Trucky things are better in Gen 2/2.5.

 

I think you are over-reacting, we are not even trash talking about the 3rd gen, even though I don't own one, and not because of the engine and stuff, more so the look, but that's also subjective....
OP has a paid off 2.5G truck, that plays a very big part in this conversation. Sure, if you are still on payment plan and wants to jump on a newer truck, sure, by all means.
But having a paid off truck is hard to justify when newer trucks would cost you $65K+, financially just doesn't make sense, at least to me.
Yes, all trucks have issues, even my 2.5G is now having weird issues, I tracked it down to possible two things, just need time to get to the dealership and have it replaced under extended warranty.

Now, if OP has no truck, or comes from Big 3 and want to make the jump, I think most people would say get the 2025 (or 2024 in some places I guess with leftover inventory that would mark down a lot to move), but this case is just different, and most of the discussion is over the fact of another car payment when the original vehicle is paid and clear.

 

If you’re looking to make a bad financial decision to the tune of many thousands, the supercharger is pretty fun. All depends what you want out of the truck I guess.

 

Literally the third post in this thread was actually this.

 

Sounds like to me that if the truck is paid off it'll be hard to justify even without the issues of the 3rd gens. You either see the upgrade and debt as worth it or you dont. To me, the issues aren't the driving force for the lack of wanting a 3rd gen, the new additional debt is. Add a carplay headunit to your 2.5 gen as thats really the only creature you're missing and enjoy it. To me, an Na V8 is more appealing above all else. I however, do not feel the way most here do about the 3rd gen. Good friend has one thats been flawless and it looks great with his mods. The lack of V8 is it for me

 

I'm with Silver17. I'm not a hater on the 3rd gen. Stock for stock the newer trucks feel way more torquey. Now throw the supercharger on the 5.7 and it's a whole different ball game. Join the dark side in the general supercharger thread. We will give you plenty of reason to keep your 2.5 gen!

 

I had a 3rd gen for a week as a loaner and I am so glad I did. I absolutely hated that fecker. So I decided to purchase another 2.5 instead and save me over $30K+ which I used for some sensitive upgrades e.g. supercharger, etc, etc

 

Family member owning and owning first hand are two different things

 

I've had a 2017 TRD OR, 2019 TRD OR, 2021 TRD PRO, 2023 GMC AT4, 2023 TRD PRO, 2024 TRD OR - Do whatever you want, fuck the noise - except when you think you might like a GMC...

 

Have 2014 sequoia and a 23 Tundra. The tundra has been in the shop more then the sequoia. Mostly for stupid interior rattles or seat panel cracks. Annoying as hell honestly but not a reliability issue. The biggest non-rattle issue was the front active spoiler and the comfort of the front seat. They fixed the spoiler and i am working to see if i can fix the comfort of the front seat.

There are still rattles that just randomly pop up and i am working those one at a time.

Compared to the sequoia, the finish is nicer in the tundra but the fit of the interior panels is worse. The paint is still thin on both and scratches easily . Thr exterior panels line up nicely.

 

Keep your paid off truck and get a new radio. If that still doesn’t satisfy you save your money and wait until the 26 model year.

 

Correct.

In other news, the sky is blue.

@Tundrav82019 provided the experience you said was lacking from the thread. Are you suggesting he's lying about it?

 

I follow a lot of the Tundra FB pages, you can find countless posts of examples of both scenarios. Some go from the 2/2.5 to the 3rd gen and say they would never go back. Others own the 3rd gen for a while and end up selling it at a loss and getting back into a 2.5 cause they liked and/or trusted it more.

 

Little touchy aren’t you? Not suggesting he’s lying. Just pointing out the fact that his family member has more time in the truck than he does and his experience is going to be different than the actual owner’s. I just find it funny how people like you are quarterbacking off other people but you yourself aren’t contributing to answering the OP’s original question because you don’t have first hand experience owning both, or do you?