3rd Gen Looks...

Oi vey

 

I think the Tacoma could have looked a lot better if they just blended the cab a little better to match the new front and rear. It's just half-assed looking. With fancy paint and nice wheels on it, it looks decent but when you look at the base model you can really see how similar it is to the gen 2.

 

EPA will get you every time...

 

Aww... I really like the vents. Why is square always better?

 

the Gen 3 resembles the older dodge dakotas. Again JMO

 

I think they are vastly different. I loved the look of the Dakota. If it was still around, and not a Dodge, I would have considered it heavily when shopping for my truck.

 

Toyotas have been looking more and more like dodges to me for years

 

This gen 3 comb-over should have been the refresh of 2012.

 

The good news is the front end is becoming more tolerable in certain configurations. Having some ground clearance makes it look less-weird. Still not how I would have done it but not as ugly as everyone is making it out to be.

 

I can take it head on, quartering from left or right is very unappealing to me. I'm back to reconsidering getting a 2015 now.

 

While it has grown on me, I still think it is ugly...(that sounds like an oxymoron ) Plate bumper will fix it.

The leaked specs haven't really excited me.

Hey diesel is the same as regular now, I noticed when I filled my truck up with 91 last night....when are the diesel Colorados hitting the dealer lot?

 

I must be crazy then because I really like this new tacoma. Extra cab for me please.
People are expecting a sports car from trucks now. The only thing I care about is reliability.

 

Part of my issue with the front end is that it has been overtextured with a bunch of fake tough crap. It just doesn't look authentic. It also looks tacked on to the rest of the body (which it was).

Look at the textures:
- Lights have three completely different things going on - dots, circles, reflectors
- Fake vents under lights serve no purpose
- There are three different textures in the grill and surround
- Lame gray plastic around fog lights - more fake vents or something
- Body colored fascia
- Gray block textured lower chin
- Optional lower (differently textured) fuel economy skirt

It just isn't cohesive. It's poor design, trying to cover up the fact that the Gen 2 was not designed to be compliant with future pedestrian impact requirements. A clean sheet design would have moved the wheels forward to reduce the front overhang, and the engine back to integrate more pedestrian safety room. Instead of doing a clean sheet design, they just kept puffing up and adding crap to the nose to try to disguise the additional inches. The disguise only works from carefully selected angles.

You might notice that in the case of the picture above, half the nose is in shadow. It does seem to look better in the dark, because you can't see all that crap

 

Oh - and the soft lines of the top of the Gen 2 greenhouse don't match the hard lines of the "Gen 3" body bits.


Look at the front, the middle, and the back - it looks like a bad hack job, because it is.

 

When your having your 2nd gens rusty frame replaced would be the perfect time to do it.

Boom

 

I have to agree with you on that one. The lower section of the front bumper has been photoshopped out. The front end is a mess.

 

You do know its the same frame post 2010 just "reinforced", Toyota frames are known to rust, I guarantee same issues for the 3rd gen later down the road. Boom.

 

My consensus so far:

- Redesign styling was disappointment overall (I'd say 70% agree here). Was a comb-over update, rushed, soft redesign. Design doesn't flow, cab does not match other parts of body. Grill was overzelaous.
- Although ugly, it looks "ok" in certain trims and colors.
- Although ugly, it doesn't mean it won't be a bad truck.
- Engine specs, MPG and test drive are TBD so I can't make a final judgement
- My gen 1 Tacoma has treated me great. I feel I owe it Toyota to go to them for another truck because QDR is what I care about most. That is why I am still on this forum and have not been seduced by the GM twins.

 

Well put, and a very reasonable position IMO.

 

Diesel is 30-40 cents cheaper than 87 here. I filled up at $2.45 a couple of days ago.