Consumer Reports - 2016 Tacoma - Telling it Like It Is

I'm assuming your post was in jest and talking about my profile picture. If so, then Ha Ha.

If not, then let's make this personal like you did and go there.....

 

Dear Consumer Reports,






<==== Read this.

 

In Canada we don't test drive nothing..LOL

 

Do you have permission to try to provoke people and then call them sad fan boys? Really?

 

Seems to be a fair assessment to me.

 

The Flintstone's buggy probably rides better than my Tacoma. A pogo stick would be an upgrade, but I wouldn't even consider trading it. Takes me everywhere I want to go, no rattles or squeaks.....reliability is the name of the game.

 

This. This about sums things up perfectly. Well said.

 

And I'm sure those features you are referring to, reliability, toughness, off road capability, are already mentioned by CR as huge positives. So yeah, those things are important. But it still handles bad, even by today's truck standards, and is a little gutless. It's the reality. Still like mine.

 

Love to see the proverbial diesel option in the Tacoma. Not sure I'd buy one, as the break even point is probably somewhere in the 200k mile range and it'd have more maintenance stuff to deal with. Don't know. But choice is freaking awesome, isn't it?

 

See, you just "outed" yourself as a fan boy with this statement. & I have no dog in the fight but I DO find it entertaining to "hang out" as you call it, I try to be helpful with info I've learned about 'yotas until it's implied that whatever knowledge I give doesn't pertain to them because these are "2016 Tacomas" ...OH WELL, it's a 2016 tacoma, therefore any info provided is B.S..... makes me laugh....I bet theres still cab mounts to chop, & flairs to trim (or pick up off the trail) & springs to change, but what do I know coming from the prehistoric pool of 1st gens...you're right, I'm not worthy...

No, not worthy ...back to the 2nd gen dungeon for you...

 

Well if I had to be 100% honest (and I'm not bashing the Tacoma or Toyota) a lot of my choice came down to the fact there was not a lot of choice in the midsize segment (I don't want a full size). When I bought my truck there was the GM Twins - forget it (better in 2015/16 but still forget it due to GM shady practices), the Ridgeline (won't go there for various reasons), the Frontier (which was a very close second in my test drive and my comparison) and the Tacoma.

I was not blown away by the Tacoma but wanted a truck with excellent reliability, a few options, the price I wanted, and good resale. I'm not a big offroad guy (I've done more extreme offroading in an old Chevy Celebrity that I have in my truck). I had to make a choice in the somewhat mediocre mid size segment.

 

I've always had a soft spot for Tacomas. Throughout the years, just didn't fit whatever the current need was, until now. Ridgeline, maybe it's a decent truck, but does nothing for me. Plus, it's dead for this year. Frontier? Terrible interior, but better engine. Love me that 4.0 V6, even with the bizarre idle dance it does.

The Canyon? That's a nice truck. I drove the loaded up SLT, which was still ~$1500 less then the Tacoma with way more equipment. Didn't have the sunroof, and the bed was plain Jane. In the end I decided to finally fill that Tacoma itch I've had for so long. But I do think that if you take reliability out of it, the Canyon wins. More head room, back seat room, power, fuel economy, better ride-for most situations, and that diesel option. Pretty sure the resale value is very close on the two rigs as well. So it's neck and neck, except for reliability. GM has met their usual dismal benchmark in that regard.

 

Michael, You're making way too much sense, I can see you haven't been on this board long. Sounds like you kept an open mind.

GM is a different company since the bankruptcy, they have some impressive products. (New Vette, Camaro, Volt, Canyon et.)
They seem to be more customer focused too. Reliability should be interesting to watch comparing '16 models. The twins are now past first year teething problems and the '16 Tacoma is going into it.

 

Of course he's talking about that profile pic, who doesn't like that lady?

 

I've personally had bad experience with GM. So it's just natural to be hesitant to trust them with my money again. I've also heard GM over the years say they've figured out quality control, numerous times, only to slip back to making junk. Unfortunately, CR's reliability scores on the new Canyon/Colorado are not promising.

As I said, I like the GM twins. They are really nice trucks. And I do hope they become reliable. Any time competition is increased, it drives innovation. Only time really.

 

That's cute to think my post calling out someone who clearly (from his other posts on his own post) wants to provoke gen 3 owners in the 3rd gen forum as being a fan boy. I have owned gen 1 and gen 2 tacomas. But you don't see me in their forums provoking arguments as the OP is clearly doing. Other wise he would not have as many "sad fan boy" posts.

It's a simple passive aggressive provoking thread he made in the Gen 3 forum. That's why I think it is sad that he is doing it.

But thank you for assuming I'm fan boying. I didn't even watch the video. It could be a good assessment. But after I saw the OPs post of him waiting for angry fan boys I just read all the posts and commented on him and his "sad fan boy" post.

The interweb is a sad place.

 

Gotta agree, Everyone has had a bad GM vehicle. Most of these posters here with problems are probably GM employees.

 

Nice Sean, you are on it! Nice Tundra, how do you like it?

 

The "drives like a truck" issue isn't just some subjective complaint for sissies like some of you are making it out to be. The new Taco has 15% worse roadholding (skidpad acceleration of ~0.64) than the Sienna, a lumbering minivan that actually outweighs the Taco in AWD spec. Modern suspension would easily allow the Taco to corner like a crossover/minivan (~0.75 skidpad), but Toyota would rather save money and stick with leaf springs and a floppy frame. "But payload!" you say; well the Ram 1500 has IRS and still has more payload capacity than a comparable Taco. "But offroad!" you say; trophy trucks seem to do just fine with IRS. Besides, you can't do much hauling or offroading if you die in a fiery car crash because you can't maneuver to avoid a wreck on the highway.

Toyota with the leaf springs, drum brakes, manual fixed-height seats, etc. sounds just like Ford used to with the Mustang and its solid rear axle. "But drag racing! But tradition!". Then they finally joined the 21st century, and the Mustang all of a sudden outhandles German sports coupes on the Autobahn, while still being 100% Mustang. Truck manufacturers are starting to innovate (see Ford switching to Aluminum and turbo engines, Ram with IRS, small turbodiesel in the twins, etc), but Toyota is content to sit on the sidelines clinging to their reputation for reliability/resale. That'll work for a while, but eventually customers will wise up.