Tacoma's are the best compact trucks available, anyone who knows their crap will tell you that. Yes, their fit and finish is not perfect, but I'd rather put my money toward functionality and durability, not leather and a quiet ride. Sold my last one at 100k - it ran as good as new, all I replaced was the battery, starter (think I got it wet too many times), and brakes at 90k. I thrashed the crud out of it, too.
My current truck, a '00, has given me zero problems except the passenger seat rattled. I took it to Karl Malone Toyota, they said it was "normal wear and tear", and could not be fixed under warranty. I then took it to Mark Miller Toyota. Their mechanic came right out, tightened 2 bolts, and sent me happily on my way with the problem fixed. So, I think the service can vary by which dealer you go to, and poor service is not necessarily Toyota's fault.
Toys are more reliable, last longer, and have better resale value than anything else out there. They cost a little more, but it's money well spent.