3.5 long-term dependability

Snow and ice. Prolly makes stopping 6500 pounds more interesting.

 

Not much different in size anymore, one has a V8.


Only one makes commercials boasting about towing capacity.

 

ECT makes such a huge difference in how the truck drives.

When you turn on the truck, it is in "ECO" mode, when you hit ECT, it is now in "SPORT" mode. The transmission and throttle adjustments are fantastic. Seriously go try it and stop whining. It does much more than ECT ever did on toyota's older vehicles (aka let the tranny rev 500rpm higher on part throttle before shifting).

 

Not sure but I believe the manual even recommends using ECT for towing applications.

 

Sooooo... what you're saying is I need a bigger truck. The Tacoma cannot meet my needs and survive for very long.

 

Never said anything about survival rate, just that there are better vehicles for towing and yes, you probably need a V8 or better motored truck to tow those maximum capacity loads 30 times a year for 100 miles.

As far as a regular work truck, not tow truck, the Taco works just fine no matter what gen you pick.

 

One thing to keep in mind with this discussion. The newer midsize trucks have a similar capacity for towing/hauling and similar power as fullsize trucks from the 90's. Back then, a fullsize would have been the only option.

That said, will the Tacoma do the job? Absolutely it will. Is it the safest option available for the job? Probably not. Will towing that much alter the reliability? Possibly, but the same can be said for literally any vehicle. Is there a significant difference between the 2nd gen and 3rd gen as far as towing/hauling? The numbers say no. The engine/transmission feel is all personal preference.

Honestly, get what you want. If you want the 3rd gen, get it. Just remember that towing is considered an extreme situation so your service intervals change. If you want the truck to last, proper maintenance and very safe driving when towing/hauling goes a long ways.

 

Hmmmm not exactly. There is no Sport mode on this truck. ECT is for towing.

 

Have you ever driven a car with sport mode? It lets the tranny rev more and downshift quicker, and greatly increases the sensitivity of the throttle. With ECT on, i can literally make the hood go up and down with minute throttle position changes, it WILL NOT do that in sport mode.

Towing you want it to rev higher and hold gears. You do not want it to be super sensitive on the throttle. Nice try.

 

So you just answered your own question. ECT isn't Sport mode.

 

It's the most equivalent to sport mode that toyota has ever put into a truck.

 

People towed with much weaker

Exactly.

 

Pulled from the OM, regarding ECT mode:

"Use when high levels of response and feeling are desirable, such as
when driving in mountainous regions or when pulling a trailer.
Press the “ECT PWR” button to select power mode."

I guess it depends on one's own interpretation.

 

Cool, that is exactly what sport mode does in my GS350.