Will hold off for 2015

Had decided to get a 2014 in March when I retire after 45 years with a dealership. TRD Off-Road DC 2wd as that is what I drive 80% of the time in a demo (drive 4X4's the rest and no reason for me to own one). Thought it was settled and wife would get what she wanted and fade into retirement. Today a 2002 DC TRD 2wd with 128k showed up that I sold friends new. They had covered the seats the first week and we we replaced belt & water pump at 100k. Also all services done in shop and new Michelins 2k miles ago.
With this I now get to wait and get a new designed 2015 (no way I would buy the 2014 and take the hit on a 2015).
Expecting the new motor and 6 speed transmission for better mpg. And god I hope they fix the damn locks so all doors unlock when you put it in park.
I have no inside info. Just a few friends like me who have spent way more of their life with Toyota than not.

 

Any idea if Toyota will replace the transmissions in the 2013 tacos that are under warranty? Just curious

 

What? have not heard anything about the transmission

 

A 5 speed auto is 'dated'. Ram has been running an 8 speed auto which was the biggest part of their equation to get 25 MPG. GM and Ford are working on equivalent transmissions. 18 MPG Tacomas just isn't getting it done.

 

Did you work the same dealer all those years?

Hope you have a happy retirement and congratulations on the new truck.

 

What happens when it doesn't happen until 2016? It took me a loong time to come around to the "Michelin Man" marshmallowy look of the Gen2's, now I like them a lot. Still not into the chiseled 4Runner look... and you know that's where this is heading. Oh, that and the requisite price bump.

 

There's nothing wrong with it but if they put a 6 speed tranny in wouldn't that be better on gas?

 

I think everyone that starts a thread about the new Colorado or 2015 tacoma should be banned for at least a few months minimum.

 

Cool MJR, enjoy your 2015

 

Most of the clunky, harsh shifting issues are due to axle wrap, not the transmission itself. High-torque engine + low axle ratio + squishy soccer-mom leaf springs = lots of axle wrap. Address the axle wrap issue with one of the cheap mods and you'll be amazed how much smoother your truck will shift.

 

Not really true in my experience. Running Allpro leaf packs and new shocks. Tossed the old suspension and the 6 speed MT still shifts like crap. It's just the nature of the transmission. It's noisy, rough, unrefined and is the major contributing factor to horrid mpg in manual tacomas. But, at 116,000 miles the tranny still works, you just have be patient when shifting it. Line up the gears perfectly before each shift and ease it into gear; half your clunky issues will go away.

 

Better yet, ban those that post on these threads with nothing to add....

 

I was only asking.

 

Ram's 25 mpg is the highway milage. Taco gets 21 mpg on the highway. In the city, the Ram's 5000+ lb weight still begets 16 mpg.

With an extra-tall 6th gear (like already done for the Tundra and GX460), the Taco might be able to eck out another 1 mpg on the highway.

The existing 5 ratios on the V6 auto are spaced pretty well. It's the reason the auto is faster than the 6-speed manual on the dragstrip - one fewer shift to get to highway speeds.

 

Good example...

 

^^^Case in point^^^

Wait... Shit! Now I've got to ban myself.

 

also banned

 

Actually according to fueleconomy.gov:

2014 Tacoma V6 Auto 2WD: 17/21 (19)
2014 Ram 1500 V6 Auto 2WD: 17/25 (20)

City/Hwy (Combined)

A virtual tie in city driving (ignoring the Ram's larger size capacity) and a decided advantage to the Ram on the highway.

Automatics shift faster and typically (think 2 speed or 3 speed autos) have fewer shifts and thus have been favored by drag racers for years. For my needs in a trick - splitting hairs over 1/4 times is something I could not care less about.

I have no complaints about my 5 speed auto itself. But I do wish I got better than 19 Hwy (stock DCSB prerunner) and I recognize the other manufacturers have moved on in both transmissions and mileage while maintaining acceptable performance.

 

All but 6 years. Quick war story: the first trucks I sold were HiLux and priced at $1500 in 1969. No a/c, no rear bumper, no radio etc. roll up windows. Only problem was squeaky brakes.

 

Nothing in stone but at the National Dealer Show in Atlanta this year they talked and sounded ( to me) that next changes Tacos, 4Runner and Sienna for 2015 (one of the could hit 2016) but most 2015. If it went to hell and 2016 is the magic number this pu will bring what I paid for it in two years and still be running fine.