I'm always a bit bemused by this. We were urged to buy British in the late seventies and early eighties. My dad lapped it up and the reward for his loyalty was a string of really crap cars.
Tacomas are expensive, the dealers don't deal and they hold their resale value. The new (2019) Tacoma trades heavily on it's reputation IMO, without really adding much new over the past 3-4 years. It's a real off-road vehicle though, if that's important to you.
In this format/size I'd suggest you take a look at the new Ranger. It's nothing fancy but much more affordable. It's pretty much the polar opposite of the Ridgeline.
The people I know who own the 3rd gen Tacomas seem to like them just as much as I like mine.
This is exactly opposite for me - I want a pickup that is "short bed, standard cab" - I want a small pickup - like the original Ranger/Mazda B3000.
Sadly, due to CAFE rules I can't get that any more.
Now - what I (and many others) lusted after was something Jeep showed off as a concept vehicle: It was a short-bed version of their new Gladiator pickup.
Probably the only way that I might - might - give up my TJ. Damn, that thing looked so sweet. But again, they probably couldn't build it because of CAFE rules. So if you want the Gladiator, you have to get the 4-door. I don't like 4-door vehicles, I have no need for one. I want a 2-door pickup, standard cab, short bed - nothing less.
Either that, or give me one of these - another vehicle I can't own:
My thought, years ago, was to wait for the 4Runner to break down then upgrade, but I’m now starting to wonder if that’s still a few years (decades?!) off.
I don’t think you can go wrong with Tacoma/4Runner/Landcruiser 70 series.
Compare the size of an early 90s F150 with that of today's new Ranger, and you'll see what I mean (while you're at it, compare the sizes of an early 90s F250 with today's F150).
I honestly think (I have no proof) that what Ford did was kill off the Ranger (ie - stop rebadging them from Mazda), because of CAFE rule changes, but then they found that even the F150 was too small, too. So they moved the F250 down a notch (it became the 150), and maybe the 350 too (it became the 250). I'm not sure about higher numbers; most people never bought anything bigger than the 350, at least on the consumer end (I have seen some "consumer" 450s and 750s on the road - but they are very rare).
Then people clamor for the Ranger (have you ever tried to find an original Ford Ranger that is in normal condition, in good repair, and hasn't been "pre-runnered"? Not easy - and when you do, it ain't cheap, either - wish I never gave up my 94) - so they dig out the old F150 - which is smaller than today's F150, dress it up and tada: "new Ranger!"
Again - this is just my impression; I'm not sure of the truth or facts or anything.
I'll tell you where Ford also made a mistake: They announced a "mini-Raptor" - but afaik, it was only released in Australia (and I think it had a diesel engine option to boot!). Gah!
Something better for what?
A Dodge Dakota or an old Ranger (the ones not based on the global platform) are far superior if your goal is to overload the piss out of them without hurting the truck.
You'd probably enjoy your time in a new truck far more though.
I’m looking at the Toyota Tacoma as my number one choice, but this is not a strongly held desire if there is something better.