Your Take on 2016 Tacoma

After watching previous generation Tacomas for years and never buying one, I waited and bought the 2016 model. As much as I felt

$90 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma With 4L Right Petrol intake air snorkel kit high performance system compatible kit Replacement black Rotational Molding (2005-2015)

2005-2015 version was the best looking truck, I was concerned with comments about coarse 4.0L V-6, low driving position, and clumsy handling, so I decided to wait for 2016.

Picked up mine on 12/18. It is built in Mexico. Comparing to my 1993 Ranger, it sits so high off the ground. Fit and finish is excellent. driving position is good. Road/tire/wind noise level is excellent. My cars are 2009 Accord EXL 4 cylinder and 2009 Mercedes E350 Sport.

Engine noise and transmission shifting smoothness are below my expectation. I know Toyota makes smooth engines. My wife's RX350 has a 3.5L V-6 and her old 2004 RX330's 3.3L V-6 was also smooth. I realize the new 3.5L in Tacoma is a truck engine, but should a truck engine be coarse and transmission be rough shifting? Maybe they both get better or I get used to them both.

I hate to say this but the 4.0L V-6 in my 93 Ranger with 158K miles has smoother engine sound cold and warm than the V-6 in Tacoma.

At cruising speed of 65-70, it downshifts frequently. Wife's RX has a 6 speed transmission and Mercedes has a 7 speed and neither one down shifts the way Tacoma does at HWY speeds.

The air pressure in tire all the way around was at 38psi that made it ride very hard. Spec is 29psi. Once I lowered it to 29, it rides better now.

Interior is well laid out and is comfortable. The audio and instrument panel are easy to see and operate. Nothing looks confusing.

 

lovin' my new 2016 Sport 4x4 Tacoma...coming from my 2013 it's a huge improvement I can go on and on about all the things I Like better about this truck! A few cosmetic things can be easily fixed (painting the middle part of grill black, trading someone hoods to get rid of the hood scoop, and swaping out the orange dash surround with gun metal gray). Other than that, It's all positive here. Way better than my 2013.

 

Hey Jeff, I've got the exact same truck as you just a different VIN is probably the only difference, haha. Anyways, I've also got the orange dash surround trim piece that I want to eventually swap out with the gun metal gray one that will actually match the rest of the gun metal gray trim pieces in a couple other areas in the truck. Finally on to my question... have you been able to find the gun metal gray trim piece? If so, could you let me know where? It's not a huge deal for me, but if I can find it somewhere and it's not too terribly much money, I figured I'd make the swap.

 

yes, gray pieces came in and I swapped them out. Toyota parts department can Help you. I'll give you the pics to help you out. I have all the pics/steps posted in another thread ('what have you done to your Tacoma today').

 

Awesome! Thanks for the quick response and the pics.

 

The driving position is essentially the same on the 16. It is the same exact cab they are using so the dimensions are identical. Small Toyota trucks have always had low seating positions. It's one of the prices you pay for good ground clearance. When I bought my 2002 Tacoma it felt weird initially but now I am totally used to it and riding in other trucks feels weird now.

 

i think the Inferno Orange is the only truck I would like that orange dash color on.

 

The 3.5L in the Tacoma is essentially the same as that in your wife's Lexus. Adjusted a little for the Tacoma with the Atkinson cycle stuff and all.

The transmission gets smoother with time, and also seems to settle and not be as jumpy. I have about 1300 miles on my 2016, and it definitely is better than it was right off the lot.

Seems like other owners have said the same and that after another few thousand miles it breaks in further. Give it time. Maybe it is also a mix of getting used to it. Use the ECT button if you want less shifting, but it will cost you a few MPGs.