Picking up my MGM Limited...first impressions

NMTrailRider · Sep 27, 2015

Hey, I'd love to see some more interior photos. Instrument cluster, center console, back seats, back seats laid flat.... Ha whatever you're willing to post, I'm sure would be enjoyed by a bunch of us! I think some of us are as excited to see pics of your new truck as you are to get it! Awesome write up. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

TacoBella · Sep 27, 2015

Awesome truck...My second choice if I could/do not get JBL in a Sport. Thats the only thing I am worried about with my deal since most TRDs are not coming with JBL. If mine doesn't have it , I have a second truck on order a White Limited sans tonneau. December delivery.

Otherwise I am putting CoverKing Leather Like covers in front, I don't use the back seats as they are always down in all my previous Tacomas.
Congrats
Tom

Karben4 · Sep 27, 2015

harpolith said: ↑

Hey, I'd love to see some more interior photos. Instrument cluster, center console, back seats, back seats laid flat.... Ha whatever you're willing to post, I'm sure would be enjoyed by a bunch of us! I think some of us are as excited to see pics of your new truck as you are to get it! Awesome write up. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
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Will do as I find a few minutes here and there. If you are wondering about anything with regard to a measurement or real-life comparison for scale- I'm happy to oblige.

Karben4 · Sep 27, 2015

TacoBella said: ↑

Awesome truck...My second choice if I could/do not get JBL in a Sport. Thats the only thing I am worried about with my deal since most TRDs are not coming with JBL. If mine doesn't have it , I have a second truck on order a White Limited sans tonneau. December delivery.

Congrats
Tom
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Thanks, Tom! All I have to say is make sure to get the Premium JBL- I've never experienced anything like it in a vehicle. Beyond being able to check the weather, any sports score (even across a season), buy movie tickets (and see the local movie times) or make a restaurant reservation, find the nearest and/or cheapest gas, etc, etc, etc...my buddy summed it up nicely as my sales person was going through the how to use the nav system with, "Finally, a GPS that f**king works and makes sense!!"

Sound quality is great as well, subwoofer shakes the side mirrors

.28 · Sep 28, 2015

@Karben4 Thanks for the added pics. Have a 9 month old grandson which is main reason I ordered a DC. Glad to see car seat fits easily back there.. Truck's a beaut..

Karben4 · Sep 28, 2015

.28 said: ↑

@Karben4 Thanks for the added pics. Have a 9 month old grandson which is main reason I ordered a DC. Glad to see car seat fits easily back there.. Truck's a beaut..
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No problem. We have a 2 year old and a 6 month old. The forward facing seat was no problem, although I have his footprints in the back of the passenger seat. We could not use the base for the other seat- had to belt in just the seat, but it fit just fine.

border411 · Sep 28, 2015

They make seatback covers that use straps to secure it to the back of the front seats. Best money spent in my Highlander with leather seats and my wife's Forester with black interior. You can find them at babies r us.

Karben4 · Sep 28, 2015

border411 said: ↑

They make seatback covers that use straps to secure it to the back of the front seats. Best money spent in my Highlander with leather seats and my wife's Forester with black interior. You can find them at babies r us.
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Thanks for the idea- just ordered a set on Amazon

VinTaco · Sep 28, 2015

Karben4[OP] said: ↑

Thanks on both accounts! (I'm the Brewmaster at Karben4)
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Do you have an iphone, Im hearing that it doesn't work on the wireless charging they have in the new trucks..??

fredgoodsell · Sep 28, 2015

VinTaco said: ↑

Do you have an iphone, Im hearing that it doesn't work on the wireless charging they have in the new trucks..??
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Apple phones do not support the wireless charging unless you buy an aftermarket case/adapter. Like THIS

VinTaco · Sep 28, 2015

fredgoodsell said: ↑

Apple phones do not support the wireless charging unless you buy an aftermarket case/adapter. Like THIS
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I guess it will support it in the iphone 7, something to look forward to... I guess.. thanks for the info though..

VinTaco · Sep 28, 2015

Karben4[OP] initial post: ↑

TW- my day of reckoning is here! Well, kind of....my truck was delivered to the dealership this morning, but some paperwork and detailing are holding up final delivery to me until tomorrow morning.

I was able to take it for a spin and snapped a few photos- I will post them from my phone, and more pics when I can bring it home.

First off, let me say this in caps: THE GRILLE IS A NON-ISSUE WHEN YOU SEE IT IN REAL LIFE! If there was one part of the 3G I was leery about, it was the front end- especially the grille (I really love the 2G front end). The issue is simple- the front end of this guy is just not photogenic. In person it looks great. Now, the design and color match on the Ltd version definitely helps, but it really took me by surprise how much it was instantly a non-issue. I will still be wrapping the chrome pieces in black (grille outline, fog light trim, mirrors, and door handles). When supply lines settle down, I might look in to swapping the grille with an SR...we'll see.

Overall, the truck really does have a mean stance. I love this thing. The interior is an obvious upgrade. It's not a whole planet away from the gen2s I have driven in terms of overall layout, but it certainly is enough that it instantly makes you say to yourself "they got it right". They took a great thing and made it better. It's simple, sleek, elegant, utilitarian, and luxurious at the same time. I just don't see how designers could squeeze any more out of a midsize truck cab. Up front there is certainly more room. I'm 5'10" 215#, and my brother (who went along with me and my other business partner, 6') is 6'1" 240#. We are both former athletes (who are now getting fat and sloppy), so we take up a bit more room. I was perfect. He was not sure he would like a Taco bc he didn't like how he sat in the 2G, where he would be looking almost directly into the visor. He had no issues in this 3G. He even had noticeably more room for his legs. My other partner said he was comfortable as well- no issues.

All of the interior finishes were quality. The premium JBL system was worth every penny. The quality of the information provided by system, and the way it is delivered is better than my father-in-law's $60k Infinity. I could not be more happy with it. The sound quality was great. I used to have $1500 stereos in my cars in college, and this certainly doesn't hit as hard- but it is beyond acceptable (premium system has the subwoofer).

The ride was a little stiff over bumps and such- exactly what you would expect from a truck, but not jarring at all. The handling was tight and responsive. The turn radius was much smaller than I was expecting.

I personally have no issues with the engine. I would have to second everyone else's report- lag in the beginning, but hammer on it and it rips. If you push the ECT button, there is far less lag time. It definitely is not like driving the Honda Prelude I had in college, but I'm done with that phase of my life and all the corresponding speeding tickets. I will wait until I am really comfortable with how it handles and responds before I try putting it through its paces in earnest.

The tonneau cover, aka tunnel cover , was built well. I can see where some picture make it look like it's not sitting flat- but it does. It has significant gaskets on them that are fresh, so they give back on the latch and make it appear- in photographs- that it's not quite right. As far as the length, the top of the tailgate is several inches deep bc of the built in spoiler, so the cover reaches as far as it should. If it reached out further, it wouldn't seal properly. It was easy to operate. I'm still not sure if I want to keep it on apart from road trips with the family. Maybe open in the summer and put a cap on it in the winter.

Overall, I'm very impressed and more than pleased with my decision. Toyota did a great job. Although I have driven many work trucks over the years, this is my first personal truck and I am stoked...especially when they finally let me take it home!!

If there are any words to share with 3G haters, it would be that the most common complaint I see out there is that it's "really not that different" from the 2G...and at the same time you pour out love for the 2G Taco. That just seems nonsensical to me: if Toyota was making such a great product and it is selling well, has a great track record, and a cult following, then why would they do a complete revamp?? A wise team builds on their previous success. You don't take a championship team and completely reinvent the offensive and defensive strategies in the offseason. You make minor adjustments, maybe some a touch more drastic than others, but you don't reinvent the wheel. Could there be rear disc brakes and power seats? Sure. Why didn't they do it? Beats me. BUT, there were some quality material swaps and other upgrades. If you were expecting some brand new, mindblowing technology, or other crazy thing-- be realistic. I would also suggest you dig into Toyota Manufacturing practices, i.e. "The Toyota Way" before you start suggesting what they should or shouldn't do. Until you have participated in running a $235 BILLION dollar worldwide automotive manufacturing company, I just don't think you know what you're talking about. If they had come out with something so far different from the kickass Tacomas of previous generations, IT WOULDN'T BE A TACOMA ANYMORE...and then you would trash talk about Toyota moving so far away from what was already working. My point being, I purposefully waited for the 3G bc I loved what other generations offered and looked forward to a few upgrades. This isn't the end of the road for the Tacoma for generations or maybe even a mid-generation change. Toyota did a great job and I look forward to what the future holds, as well as the modifications I will make to my new taco, JARVIS. **Drops mic, steps down from soap box**
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How do you like the difference in power ( 42hp more ) is it significant. ?

Karben4 · Sep 28, 2015

VinTaco said: ↑

How do you like the difference in power ( 42hp more ) is it significant. ?
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I only drove a 2G a handful of times, so I don't feel qualified to make that direct comparison. I have owned 2 Taurus' w/aV6, a Honda prelude with 300hp, a Chevy Blazer w/v6, and most recently a Mitsubishi Outlander with a 2.3L 4cyl. My wife has a Honda Pilot w/V6. The best I can think to say is that up to 30mph (w/ECT off), it reminds of a cross between the Blazer and the Pilot: a touch sluggish if you're not beating on the gas pedal, but more agile if you have a lead foot. It will rip if you are slamming the pedal at any speed. I slammed it going 45 on an on-ramp, and I was at 90 before I knew it. I was going 70 in a 55 at one point bc it felt effortless and the cab is so darn quiet.

I like it bc you have a chance to get decent gas mileage if you wish, and plenty of power for anything else. Right out of the box I thought the low end was a dog, but after a few days I'm starting to get a feel for what's going on and how it responds and like it. Test driving vs real life application I guess. Plus there's always the ECT button....

NMTrailRider · Sep 28, 2015

Awesome pics OP. Thanks!

alexderaven · Sep 28, 2015

Karben4 awesome pics. This is the exact same vehicle I'm trying to order, love the MGM color.
Do you know if the leather seats are true leather or is Toyota using there SofTex (fake) leather?

croixman · Sep 28, 2015

Sweet ride! Thanks for sharing ! I'm thinking the exact truck will be next for me.

Karben4 · Sep 28, 2015

alexderaven said: ↑

Karben4 awesome pics. This is the exact same vehicle I'm trying to order, love the MGM color.
Do you know if the leather seats are true leather or is Toyota using there SofTex (fake) leather?
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It is the SofTex leather. I like it so far. Do you have any experience/opinion on it, or things to look out for?

thors.hammer · Sep 28, 2015

Interesting article on SofTex at http://articles.sae.org/11983/

alexderaven · Sep 28, 2015

Sorry no experience with the SofTex stuff. I was a little disappointed to find out that it isn't real leather but after doing some research I'm starting to wonder if even my Acura has the real stuff.
So long as the fake stuff out lasts and out performs the real stuff I'm okay with it.

04trd · Sep 28, 2015

Well! That's a beautiful truck. I had an 04 trd or double cab and recently picked up a 2015 f150 Eco boost lariat. Not to stir the pot but for 7 more grand you could have been in the lariat Eco turd. Grant it there are reasons for choosing the smaller truck but I'm just throwing that out there. And the Eco boost is the 4x4 crew cab fx4

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