Why is the taco engine so weak?

I worked with the guy that owned that Toureg, no kidding. He was a prick too... glad I don't work with him anymore.

 

Why are you guys comparing the tacoma vs x-terra?
It should be compared to the 4runner instead of the taco just saying

 

That was my point even if I didn't articulate it well, I was comparing the two with horsepower as a constant.

 

Weak is a relative term. With other competition out there, I can see where you are coming from. For the Tacoma, though, its a suitable motor.
Reasons why it feels weak,
- it is a cheap, mass produced engine
- it has a good flat torque curve
- it is meant to be a reliable engine, not a high horsepower one.
MOST of all, it can be run on regular unleaded. It doesn't require premium fuel like higher compression motors that make more power.

 

I think you're on to the primary issue here. Tests have shown its quick enough vs competition, but people don't drive with WOT. I think the mapping is flatter than some other vehicles, and as said before my suspicion would be that because Toyota is known for fit/refinement, they wrote their throttle mapping to make the truck drive very smoothly, if lethargically.

I've driven some other makes where the throttle take up was poorly done in the opposite direction (Mazda had a notorious habit of an overly aggressive throttle map what makes the car seem "faster" but ultimately makes it harder to drive smoothly and without a bit of jerkiness).

 

They did. Turned out to be a grounding problem.

 

I hadn't thought about it, but now that you mention it I do think the pedal spring is a bit stiffer. Now that you've got me thinking about it, I'll want to drive them back to back when I get home.

 

I apologize to the trolls. Reading and responding from my phone every few days while on vacation is proving to be problematic.

I'll try to indulge the better attempts when I get back.

 

Not back yet, still at Disney World. Glad to have you contributing something worth reading. I read the OP again and don't retract anything I said. Everyone is entitled to a little grousing when they are upset or frustrated. Here is probably the most salient statement from the first post:

My frustration clearly (from my point if view) resides in the effort required to extract the power that the engine _does_ have. If you run at WOT, it does have power - as pointed out by some responders. Who wants to drive that way?

My subsequent posts, as you point out, discuss why the engine "feels" weak despite reasonable dyno and acceleration tests. Throttle mapping, pedal pressure, etc. all relate to getting the engine to perform to its potential with normal driving habits. My comments and questions about add ons were seeking to get the engine to be more "drivable", not add power (see the discourse with owners having similar impressions).

Please point to where I attempt to discredit responders with legitimate counter statements. Please quote them - I'll just wait over here.

Meanwhile, comments like "go sell your truck, OP" and " shoulda bought a sports car" are the troll posts to which I refer. If you can't see that through the lens you view this whole conversation through, I can't help you at all. The one about buyers remorse due to financial woes was particularly amusing.



Look, you seem like a smart guy. And I would assume you have several and varied ideas worth discussing - I'd love to hear them. I just have no idea why you have responded in the way you have so far, lumping yourself in with the window lickers.

Meanwhile, back to vacation. The satoshi and CVT threads are depressing enough not to dwell here for long.

 

I'll stick with the I4 stick, sounds like the V6 mapping sucks?

 

Now you have me curious. I'm going to use the Torque app and do my own. 07 X (261hp) vs 08 Taco (236hp). It might take me a day or two, but I wanna try this. I'll post screenshots.

 

My other vehicle is a '09 4-door Jeep Wrangler on 1-tons, 37s, and a shit ton of steel armor. The Tacoma feels like a damn rocket compared to that so no complaints here

 

Spend 5 g's and get a blower!!!

 

I'm not sure why you think the 4.0 tacos is weak/slow. I am running 295/70r17s with a 6 inch lift and my truck seems to fly for a truck. I do have the 6 speed tho.

 

I checked out some Xterras and Frontiers when it was time for a new truck, and I can agree with the OP that the 4.0L Nissans "feel" faster than 4.0L Tacomas. They also have beefier upper and lower control arms and the 4wd engages RIGHT NOW, not when it feels like it after the dash light blinks about 20 times.

BUT, I was bummed on the Xterra's interior space. It is a large truck but there is less cargo space than my wife's "girly" Honda CR-V. The Frontier double-cab is cramped compared to the Tacoma. The Xterra/Frontier 6 speed manual feels like a wood stick in a coffee can full of rubber bands. People complain that the Tacoma 6 speed is stiff but to me it feels tight and precise. The Nissan 6 speed feels floppy, loose and cheap.

The real deal killer for me was resale value and reliability. Tacomas with 175,000+ miles routinely sell for more than Xterras and Frontiers with 100,000 miles. I also looked up reliability in Consumer Reports (which is not the word of God but it IS somewhat less biased than an internet forum) and the Tacoma scores much higher than the Nissan trucks.

So after I did my research and numerous test drives like a smart consumer, I bought a Tacoma and I'm happy with it. I still like Xterras and Frontiers better than Rangers, Dakotas and Canyons, though.

 

If Nissan would have left the Pathfinders alone they weren't bad off road.

As far as your 4x4 engaging I don't know. Mine blinks maybe twice and I'm good to go. You're correct about the resale value and I personally think you made the right choice (but I'm biased ).

 

I like punching the gas to get around someone, but when I get in my Camaro that's where I really like to punch it and go. But that is comparing apples to oranges..

I love my Tacoma, and have just as much fun in it as my Camaro, maybe even more!!!

I have actually thought about selling the Camaro, and modding the hell out of my off-road but when I get in the Camaro that feeling of more power is a wonderful thing...

 

engine is fine power wise. It's the transmission response that I hate. Fine on the highway, but likes to drag it's ass when coming off a rolling stop. I had the fluid checked and even had it changed with no effect. I don't believe it's malfunctioning, just a laggy trans under certain conditions. I wish I had a stick.

 

I accidentally backed into the Fire truck the other day and knocked it out of the station. My truck has too much power.

 

Believe me, I'm not expecting sports car performance, but there is certainly room for improvement.