You're buying Toyota's reputation tax with the current Tacoma, and whether that's worth it depends entirely on the generation. The 1996-2023 trucks earned their cult status honestly, owners routinely clock 300k, 500k, even 988k miles on original engines with nothing but oil changes, and resale stays absurdly strong even after a decade of use. The 2024 redesign modernized everything (better ride, nicer interior, hybrid option) but lost the value plot: $65k for a TRD Pro when a Ranger Raptor costs $10k less and tows more. If you're shopping used and can find a rust-free 2016-2023, you're buying a truck that'll outlive your mortgage. If you're paying new-truck money in 2025, you're funding nostalgia, not current value.
The Tundra is a tale of two engines: the 2007-2021 models with the 5.7L V8 are legitimately bulletproof workhorses that justify every ounce of Toyota's reputation, while the 2022+ twin-turbo V6 has suffered catastrophic bearing failures requiring full engine replacements on over 130,000 trucks, some grenading at highway speed. Toyota is replacing engines under warranty and extending coverage, but you're paying F-150 Platinum money for a truck currently in the shop longer than competitors and delivering worse real-world fuel economy than promised. Buy a late second-gen V8 if you want the Tundra everyone actually recommends, or wait a model year to see if the third-gen sorts itself out.