2nd Gen vs 3rd gen, which do you prefer?

I wish I had my '14 Sport 4x back. It's the damn new auto, and highway MPG that is giving me fits.

 

Which Taco did you demo?

 

I understand your point but when I see BS I call it what it is, which is exactly what that video is, BS.

 

I loved my 2nd Gen, smile on my face every time I drove it, but love my 3rd Gen even more. Why? IMO, like the styling better, but even more so love all the new technology in the cab. Don't care if it's quicker or slower than my 2nd Gen, plenty fast enough for me when I want to go deep into the pedal.
It's a Toyota Tacoma, proven reliability and resell value, as I found out when I traded in my '13 for my '16, no other vehicle I have owned has retained its value like the Tacoma has.

 

There's still snow and ice on the ground here in Alaska so I still haven't even been able to test out how fast it is.

 

As for me I like the technology behind the 3rd gen, interior is nice. Looks are ehh not sure yet. The truck is a buttherface...that grill! I am not a fan of the direct injected D4 engine. Under powered. Direct inj motors have to many issues early on in the life of the engine for me. Great technology but its just not there yet.

Just my opinion....don't be offended

 

TRD sport DCLB

 

Love my 2012 , when/if she dies I'll buy a new one..... tacoma will probably have another body style by that time. Even though I've never driven one I'd say newer toyota technology is the way to go ,yet you can't go wrong with the tried and true either.
Tacoma old or new.... it's a win win decision.

 

I was on the fence about trading my 2013 TRD OR in for a 2016 TRD Sport. At the time I did the trade I was kinda just wanted something with better tech and low miles. Nothing REALLY appealed to me about the new 2016 and I was a bit skeptical of the new motor. After driving it 1200 miles I can say I LOVE the look so much more and interior is definitely an upgrade. Not for one second do I regret getting rid of my 2013. My vote would be to go for the 2016 if you can afford it.

Good luck!

 

So 2gen vs 3rd gen.
Well I find out, that for first time my dealer has a $750 discount on Tacoma. Thats right, After 10 years of selling 2gen, third gen gets discounts here. Wow never thought I am going to see discount on Tacoma but I guess there is always first time.

Interior of 3rd gen is OK (average if you think about) I actually like Subaru interior more than "new" Tacoma. 2gen interior was not spectacular either. Simply its a truck. Less crap inside the better.
Ugly grill is still ugly.. and reminds Angry bird special. 2gen looks slick and timeless, 3gen looks comical.

However, Interior or even grill on the truck is a secondary thing.

I would think anybody buying a truck would be interested in 3 key (truckiness) points

1. Towing capacity
2. Payload
3. Powertrain

If you look at those three

1. Towing capacity of 2016 Tacoma double cab long bed (imo most popular) is below of 2007 double cab long bed Tacoma truck
2. So is payload (sigh)
3. Can be answered by point to all the Engine problems, transmission problems, transfer case problems and rear diff problems in first couple months on production. Long term here is a picture.

 

No power seats....yet ......and no rear Disc brakes. From what I'm told, 45% of Tacoma owners actually take their vehicle offroad and drums are better for offroading, plus they tend to last longer than discs.

I keep hearing that the 2016 Tacoma is more expensive than the 2ng Gen. Just some basic info : A 2005 Taco DLCB TRD Sport auto MSRP was $37,730 in 2005. If you adjust for inflation, that is is around $46,895 in today's money. A 2016 Taco DLCB TRD Sport auto MSRP is $39,340 - so $1610 more which is not really that much when you consider all the extra features you are getting.

What folks might call "plush" I'd call "refined". The 3rd Gen rides and handles like a modern vehicle should. The 2nd Gen rides like a truck from the era of which it came.

Both automatic and manual's have the e-brake lever on the center console.

Versions of this engine have been used Lexus for 10 years now. The D4s system is not new and since it is both direct and port injected, doesn't suffer carbon build up issues common in many direct injected-only engines. Of course I can't speak for all 3rd gen Tacoma's everywhere, but we have not had a single one come back for mechanical issues.

 

I have a Black 2015 DCLB SR5 4x4 and a Inferno 2016 DCSB OR. I kept the 2015 just in case I did not like the 2016.
I have had several issues with the 2016 including trans problem. Getting a new trans next week. So which do I like better? Hands down the 2016.
Problems and all! Right now I would definitely buy again. That of course could change. I will save my final judgement until after the transmission is replaced.

 

After 11 years with my 2nd Gen, I got a 2016 DCSB OR about a month ago. I'm very happy with it and have no regrets.

 

Well if money wasn't an issue and I would of had a new truck by now, I would have a 2015 super white TRD PRO with the supercharger. Planning on waiting a couple years though and probably get the 3rd gen trd pro. 2nd gen is tried and true, but I like what they did with the new gen, just want to wait a couple model years.

 

Personally, I went 2nd Gen for 3 reasons:

1) Reliable. I'm sure the 3rd gen will prove to be as well, but I wanted to proven powertrain. I didn't want to be getting a brand new model while kinks get worked out.

2) Available. I wanted a truck and wanted it now. I didn't want to wait on a 4 month waiting list for a quad cab Colorado, and surely wasn't waiting a year for the 3rd gen (this was last march).

3) I thought the 3rd gen was ugly. With the right changes though, its a good looking truck.

If I was looking right now, I'd go 3rd gen.

Truth be told, I will probably be in 3rd gen within 2 years. A big reason is that desert sand color is purely orgasmic.

 

I have put my 2016 Tacoma search on hold. I love Toyota but I am going to wait for transmission issues to be fully evaluated before I commit to anything. I know forums are a place for issues to be magnified but I do know people in person who own 2016's and who are utterly disappointed by the 3.5L/Auto combo. I know CAFE regs put automakers in a pinch but the Tacoma is Toyota's biggest truck seller. Not the full size like most automakers. Toyota could have easily kept a larger displacement and gotten better MPG but no, we get a high-revver car motor that shifts like my Mom's Hyundai Elantra.

 

I'm looking at the picture and no where do I see towing capacity. According to Wikipedia, the 2015 tacoma has a towing capacity of 6500 pounds, while the 2016 tacoma is 6800 pounds. Then again it is Wikipedia, but on toyotas website I can't look up the 2015 models to compare. Also, usually the highest towing numbers are in access cap and 2wd, which is usually the model people don't buy so it's typically a little less.

As far as payload, doesn't show on wiki what the 2016 model is but 2015 max is 1650 pounds..which configuration that is, i'm not sure. On toyotas website the 2016 tacoma has a payload of 1620 pounds...that's the highest i am seeing. Ironically, that is the access cab with the 4 cylinder and automatic...maybe because it weighs less? It all depends on model and configuration, etc.

Either way we are talking about less than 100 pounds and the new tacoma is heavier and more fuel efficient...slightly.

 

Another big difference is a smaller displacement motor. Sure, the 3.5L has more peak HP, but only because the 3.5L can spin faster. You get more peak HP but who regularly drives at 6,000 RPM?In normal, everyday driving the 4.0 is going to be much better for moving the somewhat heavy Tacoma. That extra .5L gives noticeably better power at low RPM where most people drive at.
Toyota is ahead of the CAFE curve which is why it is really surprising they chose to go this route while the ancient Tundra with outdated and thirsty V8 remains unchanged while selling less units than the Tacoma.

 

I love my second gen, but one of my best friends has a 2016 and he loves it. I like the interior of the 16 but the exterior of my 14. In the end it's all personal preference and pick what you like. Personally though I'd wait at least a year for them to get some of the kinks of a first year production model worked out.

 

Agreed...unfortunately that's just the way things are going. Guessing the tundra will get an update soon...probably an 8 speed transmission to help with fuel economy. Heck, the full sized F150 has two v6's...both turbo. Hopefully once the transmission fluid issue gets worked out and possibly a reflash or something with the transmission...so that 6th gear actually works things will get better.