Test Drive and TRD Pro

"Maybe it just wasn't warmed up."

You keep saying that. That's not the problem. The problem is expecting a truck to accelerate like a sporty car. It will never.... Just like the payload and tow rating of the X1 will never compare to the Tacoma. It's a different tool for a different job.

Remember, the Tacoma 5th and 6th gears are overdrive gears. The auto tranny has to kick down to fourth and start at 3,500 RPM for the power bands sweet spot. Toyota set that up on purpose because it is a truck.

Have you heard of a Ford Raptor? It's 400+ HP and 430 lb ft of torque.. You'd think a motor like that would be a drag racing king, eh? Guess what, i'm sure the newest Honda Accord can out accelerate it. Again, back to my point.. different tool for different jobs.

 

Take another test drive and hit the ECT PWR button.
It's my understanding that it will improve your outlook and decrease your MPG.
But hey.... gas is cheaper than bottled water or Pepsi right now!

 

Obviously not! I wouldn't even consider joining an internet forum for a vehicle I didn't own, it makes very little sense. If you think you're getting unbiased information this way, you're dumber than a box of rocks. The reason I'm on this forum is to learn little tricks and tips about my vehicle that others have found.

 

I joined a month before I ordered my truck, so three months before it arrived. Good idea to get answers before throwing money away.

 

Obviously there are no tricks and tips for you in this thread, so move along and go find another thread to post on.

 

Yea I test drive a OR yesterday. Love it. Had it on the highway and city streets. You are so correct that it seems to struggle when you accelerate It sounds more like a 4cyl Other than that I like it. I will just have to keep my radio or music on.

 

Dude, fuck off.

 

Never owned a Tacoma, haven't even test drove one yet, but i know I want one. I'm like you, I'm here looking for answers.

 

Good to know there are some welcoming people on this forum...I've found it to be an excellent source for knowledge and I'm on here a lot learning new things about these trucks...but there's also a good reason why after 3-4 months I've only posted 23 messages

 

I'm thinking the same thing. While I was a little disappointed with the acceleration, I did love everything else about it. For $40k, I'm not going to find a vehicle that is perfect in every way. The goal is to find the one that is the most perfect.

 

#174 posts here and I haven't owned one, either Hopefully soon.

 

Low-end torque isn't something that you can feel. Acceleration is felt through g-forces and torque IS a twisting force, which Tacoma's have a sufficient amount of, but that torque becomes meaningless if the rate at which it is applied/produced is low, I.E. if the horsepower is low. Remember horsepower is the rate at which torque is produced. Now, take into consideration the Taco's engine horsepower, it makes more than your BMW, but the secret lies in the good 'ol concept of gear ratios. Others have mentioned that the Tacoma is geared lower for towing and they are right, it is.

Gear ratios work through what are called gear reductions, in which a larger gears turn gear depreciating in size and gear teeth (thus reducing the driveline gear size--a gear reduction). And this is the function and purpose of transmissions concerning the lowering of engine RPM and increasing wheel speed for highway travel, what we call overdrive. The consequence of overdrives, however, is a loss torque.

The opposite is true for the Tacoma, rather than trying to increase output speed, the Taco is geared to have more torque. For ex., what some call a gear induction, when a smaller gear turns a larger gear (1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear), the result is less output speed and less horsepower. So you see, the Tacoma has plenty of torque, but the rate at which it is applied is low due to gearing. Most if not all the output gears in the Tacoma's transmission and the differential ring gear are larger than the ones in your BMW. As one would expect, this is great for towing applications, but not for the drag strip.

 

Want more low-end torque? Get the manual. Problem solved.

 

I need to drive one myself but I have heard more than once the power on these trucks is way too far up in the RPMs, trucks are supposed to have good torque and one reason I sold my supercrew F150. That thing had no low end, no mid range and couldn't pull itself out of a wet paperbag. My 2013 has a good power range and Im disappointed to hear the new ones have a car engine not re-tuned for a truck. I owned a little dodge D50 and it revved to the moon but Im not a kid anymore and not into driving around with the rev limiter banging off redline. I hope Toyota looks at re-tuning the car for better take off or at least replace the cam with a truck cam. I dont mean to complain about a truck I havent driven but I have my heart set on the newer one for a few reasons and dont want it to let me down.

 

Make sure when you drive it, try both with the ECT button on/off.

It will make a big difference.

 

welcome to TW dude. That's the way to look at it, find one that meets most or all
of your wants and needs. I wasn't sure about a Taco either coming from full size trucks but
I'm now on my 3rd one and never looked back. Good luck on your search!

 

This guy explains one of the reasons the truck has low torque, the Atkinson is built to be efficient and the hybrids get around the no torque deal with electric motors. the other way around it is the supercharger.

https://youtu.be/z45fM2N-4C4

 

i moved from a C230, the truck does feel like a v4 but im getting used to it and i love it. the only thing i hate is toyota service department! not much of a vip treatment i was used too.

 

Ignore the assholes. Do what your heart desires