“Dude no one told me.”
A man says that ever since he picked up a first-generation Toyota Tacoma, middle-aged men keep approaching him. His account has people sharing their own stories of being hounded by envious strangers about their decades-old Toyotas.
Davis Owen (@daviso_yo) posted a TikTok about his truck experience that has since racked up over 9 million views. His story about what it’s like to own a 22-year-old Tacoma that older men lust after raised wider questions as to what makes these vehicles so popular, even when they have hundreds of thousands of miles on the odometer.
Owen’s video starts with a wry description of the attention he and his 2003 Toyota Tacoma have been getting.
“Dude, no one told me when I was buying this 2003 Toyota Tacoma that every middle-aged man in a five-mile radius was going to just, like, come out into the woods and try to talk to me about my truck,” he says.
The encounters can happen anywhere. “Like, I’m in the parking lot of Lowe’s, and dudes just be, like, coming up, making me roll down my window and be like, ‘Dude, your truck, I will kill my child for your truck,’” Owen says.
He expresses mock puzzlement at the sheer intensity of interest. “Like, I’m like, you want, you, this 2003 Toyota Tacoma with 200,000 miles on it, like, I don’t know what it is, dude,” he says.
He says that the relentless admiration from strangers has given him a window into the experience of a group in society that he is definitely not a part of.
“I feel like a hot girl right now,” he says. “Like, middle-aged men are hitting on me constantly, talking about my truck.”
Some of the compliments have a vaguely creepy edge. “Being like, oh, it’s such a good form factor. Such a good form factor,” Owen says, imitating the Tacoma fans he has met. “And I know, I know it’s a good [truck], but it’s like, stop, chill. I need, I just want to drive.”
Owen’s experience might seem baffling to some, but viewers understood exactly where the attention was coming from.
The first-generation Toyota Tacoma, produced from 1995 to 2004, has earned a legendary reputation for reliability. According to iSeeCars data, the Tacoma ranks as the most reliable midsize truck, with a 26.7% chance of reaching 250,000 miles—1.4 times the average for trucks. These trucks are known for running well past 300,000 miles with proper maintenance, and a 2003 model’s relatively simple mechanical design makes them easier to work on than modern vehicles.
Fans of the form factor are noticing a real difference between Tacomas of that era and modern trucks. The first-gen Tacoma was genuinely compact at a time when pickups hadn’t yet ballooned to today’s massive dimensions. MotorTrend’s Ed Loh told ABC News last November, “What we used to call a compact or small truck is now a midsize that absolutely dwarfs the new crop of compact trucks. People want smaller trucks.”
The Tacoma’s cult status extends even to Hollywood. According to Top Speed and Supercar Blondie, actor Christian Bale has been driving the same second-hand 2003 Toyota Tacoma since 2003, despite being worth an estimated $120 million. In a Ford v Ferrari press tour interview, Bale reportedly said: “It’s practical. My friends need it for moving stuff.”
This wasn’t lost on commenters. “Dude, Christian Bale drives his Tacoma till this day, he lives by it,” wrote one. “Think about that, a dude worth hundreds of millions of dollars is driving his early 2000s Toyota Tacoma.”
The comments section became a gathering place for the Toyota faithful, who immediately understood why Owen was getting noticed.
“Did you say 2003 Toyota Tacoma… OMG,” wrote Jay_B in the top comment, amassing 98,000 likes.
“I would love a 2003 Toyota Tacoma,” wrote Mari, while Viper4773 added, “2003 dude your truck is a masterpiece.”
When Owen mentioned his truck had 200,000 miles on it, viewers weren’t fazed. “200k is barely breaking that engine in,” commented WKDCEE. The Tacoma’s reputation for longevity is precisely why it has industry-leading resale values.
Roman summed up the general sentiment: “The 2003 Toyota Tacoma is universally loved by everyone.”
Owen’s “hot girl” comparison perfectly encapsulated the experiences of other viewers.
“‘I feel like a hot girl’ okayyy sis periodddd,” wrote a1virgoatbaddie in a comment that got more than 46,000 likes.
One commenter shared a similar experience with a different Toyota product. “I get bullied at work cuz I won’t sell the guys my 1997 4Runner which is in immaculate condition,” wrote not.easily.amused.
Ford Ranger owner robsherwood617 also identified with Owen’s experience: “I’ve owned my ‘97 Ford Ranger for 28 yrs now. I take very good care of it… Every time I drive it, someone makes a comment or asks to buy it. I love being the ’hot girl’ in my Ford [expletive] Ranger!”
While the video was very popular, viewers griped about him never showing the truck on camera.
“Why would you post this and not show us your truck,” wrote Dominic Como in a comment. Linda lipsky offered an explanation, quipping “He doesn’t want to be flooded with DMs.”
For now, Owen’s legion of viewers will have to use their imagination if they can’t run him down in the parking lot at Lowe’s.
Motor1 reached out to Owen via TikTok comment for further information. We’ll update this if he responds.
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