MY RIDE- Joe Phillips: 2003 Toyota Tacoma


His Toyota Tacoma truck is just fine with Joe Phillips, the perfect balance of form and function, "the best of both worlds," he says. 

He likes to do his own landscaping and odd jobs around the house, and his truck enables him to carry what he needs. Because the weightiest things he hauls are rocks and kayaks, he says, "I don't need a big heavy truck." 

Phillips touts the four-door design and spacious interior as handy when he's hauling kids instead of kayaks. But the way the truck functions is what he really loves. It's dependable and has "a good sound." He laments that "gas is a downside for everyone," but the bottom line for Phillips is simple: "It does everything I need it to do."