The 2016 Tacoma IS the Gen 3 Tacoma

2.1 , 2.4, 2.5, 2.9, 3.0, to me is does not matter what Toyota or anyone else calls it because I like what I see!

I did not purchase a new 2015 TRD Premium because, in my opinion, the Mileage sucks, no Sun Roof, no Climate Control, no Power Seats, not even Out Side Temperature.

I was not even tuned into the 2016 version that is just around the corner when I decided not to buy but I am glad I decided to wait, funny thing is the Salesman did not say a peep about the 2016 when we were chatting...

So with the new engine (Better Mileage), the Transmission, and the new look of the 2016 Tacoma along with the creature comforts I think Toyota has nailed it and they know it, I will be purchasing one because I like what I see.

Granted, I am not going to mod the crap out of it so I cannot speak to the challenges on modding out a brand new truck, but I am putting a Leer Canopy on it and will convert all lighting to LED (that is not already LED) except the HID Headlights of course, along with Weather Tech Floor Mats, front Window Tinting, and probably/maybe some new rims and tires...

The only decision I have right now is whether to purchase the TRD Premium or the Limited.

 

So are you saying Bill Fay wasn,t sent out by Toyota to speak for Toyota to tell the world this was the next generation Tacoma. Your assumption is Bill Fay just went rogue and completely out on his own spinning this as the next generation Tacoma without the knowledge or consent of Toyota? Wow!

 

What is a TRD premium, not a package, TRD PRO, TRD Sport, TRD Off-road, Limited, Sr5, SR

 

That makes no sense how did you get that from what I said. The big wigs at Toyota including Bill are going to market it as a new truck to sell more even if internally they consider it an upgrade of the current gen. Not rocket science concept here.

 

I am from Canada and they have a TRD Premium, we do not have the same packages available in the US.

 

Gotcha. Feel for you guys, these trucks are a pretty penny up there.

 

I,m telling you and others that the parts codes don,t hold as much weight as what Toyota and their highest representatives say the truck is. And Toyota and its representatives say this is the next generation Tacoma. Your parts guy just said it. The 2014 Tundra has the old codes yet Toyota considers it the next generation Tundra. Sorry but it will stick with what Toyota says a vehicle is over people on the Internet.

 

Yeah they are expensive, and for what ever reason we don't get the same model choices you guys do... they are still the truck to have though!

 

The point we are trying to make is sure its branded as a new generation by Toyota, but even internally they consider it an update to the 2nd gen, a LARGE amount of the components, parts, dimensions, design cues are from the current gen. To myself and others many would not consider that a new generation. But sure no one is arguing they are marketing it as a new generation. But are you telling me your the kind of person that takes everything a company says about a product as the cat's meow? Surely your smarter than that. At its heart the truck is an updated 2nd generation pure and simple. Whatever its called or marketed as is just words. Characteristics, parts, etc are what the truck is not what its labeled as. I take it your not a wrencher or car guy.

 

The MANUFACTURING and SPRING LOAD of the springs were not matched appropriately.

LEAF SPRING suspension WORKS just perfectly.

 

Jeff I see what you are saying about the codes but the writing is on the wall with the 2014 Tundra that Toyota has perfected these trucks to the point that they probably won,t be doing a full model change in the future. The timeline of ten years since last generation also helps my case for why it makes sense this is what Toyota considers the beginning of the next generation of Tacoma. Actually over due on the timeline. Bill Fay and Mike Sweers work for Toyota on the highest level and are speaking for Toyota and not just giving their opinion on the new Tacoma.

 

Wow... What are you looking at?? I see a SHIT TON of changes in those photos. Do you seriously think everything in these photos is BOLT ON and can just easily be swapped around like its nothing? My God...give the engineers more credit than that.

 

Why again?

New engine, redesigned frame (new steel, lighter), redesigned powertrain, new interior, and new exterior. All they carried over that we know for sure is the cab. Seems like a new Tacoma to me.

Even my wife's new F150 has nearly the same sized cab as the last gen. I'm sure Ford tweaked that cabin rather than built it from scratch. The truck also uses the same powertrain as the last generation. Does that make a 2015 F150 not a new gen? Nope. Why? Because I've drove every generation of F150, and I can tell you the 2015 F150 drive nothing like the last generation. It improved by leaps and bounds because the changes they did make changed the way the truck handles, accelerates, etc. As long as the Tacoma does the same it'll be a true new generation.

 

From the get go I said I don,t have a problem with people thinking this Tacoma is not worthy of a Next Generation title.That is their opinion and everyone should be able to give that. My issue is Jeff said that Toyota doesn,t consider this their next generation Tacoma and they certainly do. You agreed with Jeff on Toyota not considering this the next Gen based on the parts codes and I am saying that is not Toyotas current definition of what they consider next gen. The ten years since last gen began,the huge reveal this year, Toyotas highest reps coming out and saying it over and over that this is the next gen. Though mostly the front quite a different look to the new Tacoma. Some old parts codes cannot wash all that away. Logic just can,t allow that.

 

Here's a good one. If I took 100 random people who own or know of the Tacoma, sat them on the side of the road, and had someone drive by in a 2016 Tacoma do you think they'd say "Hey there goes a new Tacoma" or "Hey there goes a 2nd gen/2.5 gen Tacoma."

99 of them will say "it's the new Tacoma."

The one who didn't is likely blind. Story over.

 

That was exactly my point with those pictures, they are in fact very different, and yet both are from the same generation of vehicle, similar to what Toyota did with the updated Tacoma.

If you wanted to, you could swap the interiors between the two vehicles, because the windshield, the door glass, the mounting/bolt locations are all in the same spots, etc. It's just a major update to an existing vehicle, it's not a new vehicle.

In the past Toyota didn't usually do quite as drastic changes to existing models to upgrade them, so it was easier to say "this is a different generation," with them doing more major updates to existing vehicles, the generation definitions are becoming blurred.

My point is, if you took the front end parts from a 2016 Tacoma (lights, fenders, grilles, hood, etc.), they would all bolt on (or possibly weld on) to the same spots on the truck. I'd bet the rear body side panels from the 2016 will likely fit on the composite bed from the 2015 too. I bet if you wanted to you could take a 2016 frame and swap it onto a 2005 with only minor things to swap around.

Jeff

 

Internally they are not considering it a 3rd gen, you do realize there are different departments within a company, mechanically and engineering standpoint they can consider it an update to the current gen but still market it as a 3rd gen. Not a rocket science concept here.

 

They did change the frame and engine drastically in the Tacoma and did not in the Tundra. That's a big difference.

 

They've been making subtle interior and exterior changes within the generations for years. Every year or two they change something. My 07 doesn't have nearly the goodies and upgrades that a 15 has - yet, its the same body, same frame, same engine & tranny choices.

You will not be able to swap 2nd gen parts onto a 3rd gen. It's a NEW truck. I don't understand why people don't think it is. ???

 

How drastically did they change the frame? All we have is some anecdotes from the press releases and sales guys that they've improved them. They "increased the front suspension rigidity" on the front of the 2015 Scion FR-S, what did that mean? They changed a bolt on each side that holds the control arm.

This Sienna:


Has a completely different engine and transmission and drivetrain setup compared to this one:



What about the fact that the 4-cylinder engine is exactly the same from 2015 to 2016? Or does that not matter at all? Haha.

Jeff