Waited for 16 Tacoma..until I drove 4 of them.....

what a moron. what does your stupid comment have to do with his awd comment on a 4wd vehicle.

 

all I was saying was that the awd comment doesn't make any sense on a part time 4wd truck. now I could understand if these was a Subaru where the full time awd system is sucking power due to the drivetrain, but on a truck that is in 2wd most of the time unless engaged in 4wd mode the I don't see the issue.

trust me, I know when the warden is using 4wd mode during the winter. the mpg drops into the low teens/single digits per tank instead of the mid/upper teens.

 

Actually didn't read the whole post. Just skimmed the first few lines of it and realized it was yet, the same garbage posted by every other person that complains about it. I'm glad to know you're ego is on the same level since you felt the need to call someone out as well. I spoke about the comment, you spoke about me directly. I think your ego may be a tad smaller.

If you bothered to read the whole post I made, you would know I said I was looking for something new that maybe someone hasn't posted yet.

 

Well I love my Taco!

I guess I am not as lucky as most people on this forum that can get a new vehicle every few years. My last new vehicle was in 2005. I did a lot of research BEFORE the 16 was available to the public, and I opted for the 2016 because I liked almost everything about it compared to my brother in law's 2015

Does the 2016 have some short falls listed on this thread? ... probably.

I have 6700 miles on mine now. The AUTO 6 speed went from riding a bucking horse down the highway to only noticing the infamous 5 - 6 shift every once in a while. I got used to the different way it shifts and hardly notice it. I also believe it has LEARNED and doesn't shift nearly as much.

The engine had NO low end power, and I hated that, but I learned that the pedal travel is just longer if you need it. No Power? It has a TON of power .... getting onto the interstate from an off ramp stop sign ... it will set you back in your seat if you chose too give it the power ... and a few seconds later you are backing off as you hit the posted 75mph speed.

I have no hood rattle or other main problems. I had a few squeeks in the dash, but found the SHELF in the glove box just needed to be pushed down to latch properly.

I am sorry for those that are not happy with their new Taco. If I was not happy everyday with it, I would trade it ... life is too short ... plenty of other people who may have come from another make of vehicle and they would love the change.

I am usually the old grumpy complainer type, but the Taco is just right for me and my needs and I love mostly everything about it.

 

Heres my opinion. Anyone coming from a newer year and model vehicle might not be totally sold on the "all new" Tacoma. Toyota may have shot themselves in the foot with the "new" models of the tundra and the Tacoma. While they have made changes with the body and interiors the trucks have been based on the same platform for a very long time. Atleast with the Tacoma Toyota changed the power train, where as the tundra everything is the same.

I've owned a few toyotas in the past. They have always been great. I was gonna get another Tacoma back in 2010 but I didn't like the second gens that much. So I opted for a Frontier which I like better when they did the refresh. Only trouble I had with that was a back filler tube. If I pumped gas too fast it would spill over. After that I was looking around for a new truck. Eager to see when the next gen Tacoma was coming out, the tundra, and new Titan. The manufactures were slow to get the ball rolling on the new trucks, and the Tacoma got pushed back further as so did the Titan and new frontier. The new tundra wasn't all that new and while I liked the changed they made, especially the interior, I was looking for them to release a motor that would bring better fuel economy. I dislike GM so the Silverado was off the table even though I could of got a smoking deal on a 14. I liked the Dodge Rams but there are a ton of reliability concerns with those. I worked at a dodge dealership when the current body style was released. Lots of them always in the shop. Even though they seem to have stepped up in the terms of quality the past few years, and they get leading fuel economy, I liked the Ford F-150 Ecoboost FX4 better. My truck is pretty loaded up. It's honestly a bit big for me and while I do haul a lot of stuff and have pulled a big trailer with it, I pretty much could do everything I have with it in a mid size. In fact I have had about 1700 lbs in the bed of my frontier before and while I was over the max payload I still didn't have any issues. The retail value on my ford is just terrible. I keep my vehicles near flawless with only 20k miles on my 13. Right now it's depreciated a good 40%. I'm looking very hard at getting a new Tacoma in September, and while it's basically gonna be a bit of a down grade in terms of features, It's cheaper, more reliable and will hold its value a lot better. I have yet to get in and drive one and I'm still waiting to see the new Titan. I don't think the new frontier will be out for another year so that option will pretty much be off the table. And ford won't be ready with the new ranger for about 2 years.

So in a few months I'll end up going to our Toyota store and check the new Tacomas out. I'll probably take one home for the night and see exactly how much I like it. If I do, it'll prob be my next truck, if not I'll continue to look around until I make up my mind.

 

Smartest thing you can do is to take any prospective vehicle for an extended test drive. A 30 minute test is not enough.

Merry Christmas.

 

This is just a negative opinion. I had a 2014 taco and now a 2016. I don't miss my 2014 at all. If you want more tech go get a fully loaded GMC Sierra. The tech in my truck is more than enough for me and I'll keep my reliability and resale value

 

The new Tacoma is solid. It comes down to personal choice, however, there is no denying Toyota is by far the best midsize out there. I just sold my F150 and bought a 2016 TRD OR AC Automatic and it is outstanding to say the least. Full size Trucks belong to Ford for sure but comparing those with Midsize is a waste of time. When they bring the new Ranger out in 2018 then you can do real comparisons. Until then criticism of the Tacoma is pointless. Have a great rest of 2015!

 

You do realize that the front end components are always spinning even in 2WD right? That creates drag, not to mention the added weight of CV shafts, a differential, drive shaft, TC and a bunch of oil. All he was saying was that could explain the 4X4's propensity to search between 5th and 6th. But you wan't to argue semantics between 4WD and AWD and use that to say his opinion is garbage. If you don't like his opinion, move on, don't be an ass hole . Sweet chrome exhaust tip you got there...

 

See? When I asked OP about it, this exactly what I wanted to know! I'm so ignorant to the matter, this being my first 4WD, that I'm eager to learn as much as I can.

 

The weight is a factor, the height of a 4 wd is a big factor in the previous gen. The actual mechanical drag should be minimal. The half shafts turn to the from diff where there is an actuator. So yes, you get some mechanical drag, but the real issue is weight and air resistance. Also, the electronic controlled auto down shifts to keep you from coasting too fast with the cruise and downshifts whenever you brake hard. If that's the way you drive, you have more problems with mileage from other reasons then the 4 wd.

 

I definitely agree with the disappointing design. I always thought the 2012 through 2015 design, (especially the sport models) look bad ass without trying to look bad ass. The new design is trying to hard. Way to aggressive (like the 4 Runner)

 

Fortunately, the grill is a problem that can be easily fixed by Toyota or the owner. Really, Taco ownes are conservative because the truck hasn't changed for 10 years. Did you ever look at the ugly grill on the Tundra, Dodges and Fords. Everyone has a big mouth. Other then the font end, nothing much has changed.

 

Yeah a lot of people agree that the grill is pretty bad. Truth is I bought this truck knowing that I was going to be changing the grill as soon as possible, but by the time I had the $400 saved up, I had warmed up to the grill.

 

My $.02 is on the 5-6 gear hunting, if its doing that youre in too high a gear, drop into 5th and leave it there until youre at high enough speed for it to stay there. Yall remember the OD buttons on automatics (especially Fords E4OD) they would hunt back and forth, they advised to hit the OD button to lock out 5th gear so the tranny would last. Same with these but now you have to manually move the lever.
Mine hunted all the time when I got it, until I figured out the best way to drive it. I shift out of park right into manual mode, either 4th or 3rd depending which direction Im leaving out of the canyon I live in. I find I can run 5th is plenty on the congested freeways around here mostly.

 

I love my 16. I also love the 2nd gens. My 3rd gen has been great, and really great wheeling. I just don't want or need a full size truck. And when it comes to tech, give me music and I'm good. Oddly enough, seems like the older gents are obsessed with tech in cars, when younger folks like myself don't care too much? Just an observation

 

Well I'm 53 and I'm a music buff. Love my rock. Dont care about tech.

 

Great real review of the half hearted refresh from Toyota on this one.

 

i hate to tell you this man but i work for the railroad and when i spot the autoracks on the ramps to be unloaded those guys put their foot to the floor as soon as that thing is on the pavement i shake my head everytime....they get paid per unit not hourly and when i was in school i worked at a dealership in virginia beach and the DX drivers that usually took the cars hundreds of miles away were mostly old men who drove accordingly

 

You can tell me what you want but it does not nor will it
ever change my mind about buying a dealer swap car/truck in this lifetime. My @ss in the seat for the 1st 1,000 miles no others.

Oh by the way, my Grandfather retired from the Illinois Central Railroad. His 1st job was working in CC camps, then WW2 Pearl Harbor. When he got out of the Navy he started his railroad career on the bridge gang. He died in Jan. of 08. I sure miss that old hateful man.