What the heck were they thinking?

I think the bottom line is Toyota after 10years with the 2nd Gen had to knock it out of the park with the 3rd Gen and they didn't.

 

Why did they have to knock it out of the park? What would count as knocking it out of the park? The 3rd gen is already the most capable, with proven reliability in its class. Sure the Colorado is more fuel efficient... if you opt for the diesel which is $40k with no options...

 

I really wanted a 2016 and I went to the dealership prepared to buy an inferno TRD Sport. As soon as I started driving it that changed because of the lack of low end power. I felt like I was driving my old 4 cylinder Tacoma. At the time I didn't know about turning the ect and traction control off for more power. Now that I know that I might try another one some day and see if I like it better. Not knocking the truck at all,it just wasn't what I expected.

 

Dunno, I got's a 2014 and the supercharger. Sorry, you missed the boat.

 

[QUOTE="uood8, post: 11713158, member: 18086 Making the truck hold 80mph on even the slightest grade is a struggle.[/QUOTE]

What the hell R U doing driving 80 MPH..?? A lawman and all..??

Hell if U want to go that fast...go to the track man..!!

Slow down and get in tune with the Taco....!!

 

Is there anything that can hang on the go-pro mount besides a camera?

 

It's a good truck. Get it if you want it. Don't get it if you don't.

 

Sell you my '15 for $45,000 cash in hand.
6700 miles. Lololol.

 

OP had the same thoughts I the new truck that I did. I got to spend the better part of a day with a 2016 loaner. I liked the look of the truck better than I thought I would, but wasn't crazy about it overall. Course with more time I would probably "grow" to like it.

 

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like you may have gotten a "lemon" but at least Toyota stepped up to the plate. Hope you can find a '15 Taco!

 

Personally I came from a 2011 to my 2016. Loved it since day 1. Sure it was a change but in the end it's way better personally. If you don't like it then don't get it. When you come up here posting like that it only makes you sound ignorant. I still don't understand why so many people come up here on the third gen and try to bash as much as they can. If you're happy with the second gen, great. Go post your thoughts there and be done with it. I have a feeling more and more new vehicles are going to start feeling like this. Low end power will be slim to assist with gas mileage and the upper power will be there for passing and things like that. Yes the etc button does make a huge difference in throttle response and help the gear hunting. Now that I've got 3800 miles on mine, it drives so much better. I wouldn't go back to my 2011 if I had the choice. Keep saying what you want but the horse is pretty damn dead by now. Let's beat it to a pulp to make everyone happy. Call me a third gen fan boy if you want but that's just how it is. I've had both and prefer my '16.

 

I've seen people buy the adapter and mod them for radar detectors. You could probably mount anything if you're creative enough.

 

What the hell R U doing driving 80 MPH..?? A lawman and all..??

Hell if U want to go that fast...go to the track man..!!

Slow down and get in tune with the Taco....!! [/QUOTE]

Speed limit is 70 on quite many highways around here.

Regardless that doesn't excuse the fact it feels like my 09 2.7 on power

 

I loved my 2007 but as soon as I test drove a 2016, it was over. The 2016 is better in almost every single measurable way, without question. (I do miss the drivers side grab handle.) Maybe it's more obvious because I'm going from a manual to a manual, 90% of the complaints from the '16 seem to stem from the auto trans.

 

Canadians eh? If you don't go 80 down here you'll be ran off the road!

 

run

 

Exactly, he doesn't even wanna know about i95 where people literally do 95

 

Sure makes for a quick trip to Florida!

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. They had the basic ideas down as to what they wanted to change...then gm dumps a marketing bombshell. 21+mpg, 300+ hp 260+ ft/lbs and a 6 speed in a similar truck.

Toyota had a knee jerk reaction and countered with "278 hp from a quasi-atkinson motor and 2 more mpg in an all new truck." It was a premature decision and they'll loose market share for doing it. They should have put the dual vvti 4.0 from the 4runner in it (270hp,278ft/lbs 1000rpm's sooner) and focused on the performance aspects of the truck. They could still have tossed a 6 speed auto in it, or just a shorter rear gear to get 1 mpg back and the truck would have been awesome and completely marketable if they had made a marketing campaign with lots of video and press kit showing the taco besting a colorado by 1-1.5 second in a 0-60 run. I'll bet this 3.5 will actually lose mpg compared to the 4.0 when guys start putting bigger tires on them, and they'll still feel down on power.

I hate it because the new truck definitely does have many real improvements that count: ride quality, interior noise floor, and a better tailgate were important to me. The tailgate on my '05 folded while i was loading a 4 wheeler. Toyota did come back on this with a tsb that added a stiffener rib to the top of the tailgate, and following models had this fix included, but I've never trusted the 2nd gen tailgate under a real load. The '16 tailgate feels like a real truck should.

For those that have mentioned it, i did try turning off the ect and the traction control. I tried manual shifting the auto. It was just never impressive. I left out of the dealership in my old pickup with a smile on my face. The only button I pushed was under my right foot.

I'm not alone on this. While I was at the dealership another guy was trading his '06 access cab for a 4runner after being put off by the new taco. Toyota still made a sale, but the guy openly stated he really came looking for another tacoma.

High strung motors belong in high strung cars. Trucks need torque. period.