Would a 2003 Tacoma be a bad daily driver? I’m looking for a smaller truck because I’ll be moving soon and it would really help with my job after I graduate. I was thinking of a Ranger at first, but I’ve struggled to find one in decent condition within my budget. I recently found a 2003 Tacoma and realized I hadn’t really looked into its MPG and reliability. The only thing holding me back is hearing it’s not great for daily driving. I’ll mainly use it for commuting. Any advice or tips? 
Do you actually need a truck? If you live in a city, don’t own a house, and won’t use the truck bed or go camping or off-roading, then it might not be the best fit. A small car might make more sense for daily driving. But if you do need a truck, the Tacoma is a solid option even if the gas mileage isn’t great. Its reliability will probably outweigh the fuel economy.
I’m in a suburban area like Naperville/Aurora, so no off-roading for me, but I’ll definitely use the truck bed a lot. Glad to hear it’s a good option for daily driving. Thanks for that!
I’ve used a Tacoma as my daily driver for most of the time I’ve had it. I did switch to a JK for about a year and also had a Nissan Leaf as a second car for a bit. Whether it’s a good daily driver really depends on what you’re looking for.
That said, for a 2003, you’re sacrificing a lot in terms of safety. I love my 2000 Tacoma, but it’s not the safest choice. No ABS, traction control, side airbags, or modern crash zones. But it drives fine for daily use! The clutch is great if you’re going manual, and the steering is solid if you maintain it well. Road manners are average, but good considering its off-road capabilities. Just remember, it’s not a car and it’s not new.
I appreciate the honesty. I knew safety wouldn’t be a strong point, but I wasn’t aware of how much I’d be giving up. Thanks for the heads-up.
A little old, don’t you think? 
How can you call it old? Tacomas don’t die. If the frame’s not rusted, you’re good. Just keep up with the maintenance and you’ll have no issues.
I’m looking for a cheap beater, so I’m okay with that. 
If it’s a cheap first-gen Tacoma, it’s probably either beaten up, rusted, or a scam. A good 2003 4x4 should run you around $12k today. A 2WD with 6 lugs might be $8k, and a 2WD with 5 lugs, $4-6k.
Tacomas are great daily drivers. But like someone else mentioned, think about whether you’re really going to use it for truck stuff. Maybe a small car or SUV would work better.
Yeah, I’ll need to give that some thought. Thanks for the input.
If you decide against a truck, you should check out Toyota’s RAV4. It’s an excellent small SUV. If I didn’t need my truck bed, I’d probably own one by now.
I’ll add that to my list, thanks!