Tacoma Live Q&A with Chief Engineer Mike Sweers

I really liked the look of the gen 1 Tundra. That was the last truck that was not overtly macho with the oversized Mack truck grill that you see on all trucks now (and somewhat on the new Tacoma).

 

Yeah....only it looks like a car inside and came with tape deck and cd in my 2005. Seriously....tape deck in 2015?

 

Tape deck in 2005 was not out of the ordinary. Especially for a conservative company like Toyota.

 

My ranger still had one too in college.

 

I think the last actual tape I bought was circa 1989.

 

Simple question for Mr. Sweers,

If I'm spending $35,000+/- for a pickup truck... why can't it have manual height adjustable seat? Mr. Sweers could you just add $25.00 to $50.00 to my $35,000 vehicle so the seat height could be at least manually adjusted??? I don't like sitting on the floor of a truck, maybe soon customers do, but maybe some customers don't... Can't you at least give your customers a choice as to how they want to sit in their truck? Does "Toyoda" so disrespect the "all new" Tacoma owners that their seating choices are less important than the cheapest Scion that has height adjustable seat? I can buy a Tundra with height adjustable seats for less than the "all new" Tacoma in the $35,000+/- price range.

I want to buy your new truck, but I would like to be comfortably seated for the 100,000+ mile ride.

I do NOT want to mod the seat rails when you "Toyoda" could simply give you customers the courtesy of a basic creature comfort that not out of line on an "ALL NEW 2016 $35,000+/- VEHICLE".

Please help Mr. Sweers.

Thank you for your consideration on this important matter.

Silverwing

 

The good news is Toyota hasn't released the final production info yet, so hopefully the seat adjusters will be included in the new truck even though I will have the seat as low as it can go. I also hope that the they allow more more room for the rear passengers in the double cab.

 

My 2006 Tacoma has always been fun to drive. I'll give it that. But as a TRUCK in stock form it was mediocre at best. Tons of issues-- shitty suspension, suspect frame (at motor mounts, easily rusts if you don't stay on top of it), etc. etc. Many design issues. To improve it meant dropping a TON of money for aftermarket parts, after spending about 30k on the truck itself. Even Toyota will only guarantee their frames for a period of 15 years. 15 years? Give me a break. I'm not sure why anyone would consider buying generation 3 of a truck when the first 2 have the history that they do. If there's one thing I've learned about Toyota by driving and owning several of their vehicles, it's that they keep making the same mistakes model year after model year and hardly ever fix any of the issues. Pretty sure this will be my last Toyota.

 

My wife has a 2011 Highlander. Great vehicle no problems or rust. I feel that Toyota spent most of the R&D work on the new Tacoma. Fixing things that were issues in the past. Like the frame problems, leaf springs, weak tailgate, fuel mileage, etc. I've heard more complaints and problems with the Tacoma then any other Toyota product. Lets hope the new one is build back to Toyota standards.

 

Exactly!! I remember reading an article a few years ago, which said that Toyota wanted to get back to making a bullet proof truck. I would much rather they do this and do a 50% redesign., as opposed to a 75%redesign and have a multitude of problems again.

 

I'll just throw a "Hell Yeah!" in for good measure.

 

If I develop a diesel system for our country and I spend a huge amount of money to do that, I won’t see a return on the investment. That’s what we’ve struggled with.”

The quote from Sweers... The same guy who is too cheap to install a manual height adjustable seat in a $35,000.00 vehicle. Hint Toyoda, add $25.00 to $50.00 per unit to cover this below basic feature.

Tacoma Limited, Sport, Off Road??? Really gonna push the $35 - 40K without below basic Scion features???

 

I think he's saying he'd like to see a little more return for his investment in a $35k + midsize truck. As in it's ok for Toyota to have to see a return but F their customers seeing a return. . .

 

Nothing. But it does have something to do with the height adjustable seat he's talking about, at least the way I read it.

 

Sorry to shit on your point, these pictures suggest that the seats do not have height adjusters.
https://i.imgur.com/atby9jb.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qbqqVur.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadt...4/2016-toyota-tacoma-front-interior-seats.jpg

 

Not saying you're wrong, but what's the gear shaped dial? Isn't that a height adjustment knob? In my car ( Nissan Sentra) the gear dial raises and lowers the seat.

 

Adjustable lumbar support I assume.

 

Like Voodoo just said, lumbar support.

 

2015 Toyota Yaris starting at $14,865.00 +/-

HAS:

Fabric-trimmed front seats; 6-way adjustable driver's seat; 4-way adjustable front passenger seat with seatback pocket Standard...

Wow maybe Sweers could consult with the head engineer of the Yaris project and learn about the unobtainable "top secret" technology to make a drivers seat go up and down...

Sweers your Tacoma vehicle cost easily TWICE as much as the Yaris, not having this basic feature is an insult to your customers.

Silverwing

 

but it has GoPro mount, and nose cone...