That is one LOUD engine

Test drove 16 OR today. The ride was very smooth and the interior was very comfortable. I drove on the highway and city streets. One thing that stuck out was how loud the engine was when you put your foot on the gas pedal The engine has pretty pretty good power but it seems to strain hard to get the power it needs I guess you just keep your radio or stereo on to block out the engine sound. I then got back into my gen2 and you can tell the difference The engine noise while in the gen2 was a lot less noticeable during acceleration. That's just my two cents. Other than that the truck seem fine.

 

Must be because it's a minivan engine, it has to scream to make power.

 

I've always enjoyed the 1gr motor. It was torquey and made decent power. I loved how 'rough' the motor sound and felt. To me, the 3.5 motor feels as if it has the same DNA, but most of the power is up top and there is no more linear torque curve. Neither are bad motors, just different power delivery. The 3.5 pulls hard when you drop the hammer and sounds angry. The 1gr never had that rush, but the 1gr had such a fantastic flat torque curve.

 

Well said

 

YUP

 

The new 3.5 motor along with 'high mpg' transmisson mapping is where 90% of the complaints from 2nd gen owners come from. I really do get it. You really have to rev the crap out of the 3.5 to get it to move and it just feels unnatural in a truck.

If I had it my way, give me slightly less hp, 30 more ft lb of torque that starts at 1500 rpm, and have a 'sport' mode transmisson mapping and I would think it be a good upgrade from the 1gr.

 

By noisy, do you actually mean the motor or the exhaust growl? I've had both a Gen 2 and now a Gen 3, exhaust growl on the Gen 2 seems quieter to me. First thing I noticed when I took the Gen 3 for a test drive, exhaust is louder than my previous truck.

 

This coming from the jeep guy...

 

I like the way mine sounds. Has a nice little burble/growl at low rpm, and doesn't sound horrible when revving higher. It's not like a nice V8, but for a V6 not bad ... hey, at least it doesn't sound like my Camry

 

A major critique of the 4.0 was how "raucous" the engine sounded

 

Seems Tacoma owners just like to complain

 

Indeed. I've literally not had a single complaint yet. Having said that, this is a forum for information so I guess it's all in the name of info sharing

 

All my complaints are nit picky ... I am really happy with it. Maybe I'm just one of those idiots that is easy to please. Then again, I did buy a manual, and it seems 90% of complaints are about the transmission lol ... manual drives great, never hunts for gears unless I tell it to

 

I have just the opposite experience. the new 2016 I drive is way more Quiet and smooth than my 2013 !! No comparison.

 

Sarcasm. And i have the 4.0. Not sure what you are getting at.

 

Oh and this. Well said.