Consumer Reports Evaluation

hell no... they are so much taller and thicker on the second gen. I hate them

 

I read what you wrote...didn't like the insinuation.

 

I think the 2nd gen is much better looking, period. Dont mind the fender flares at all, and the grill/front end on the 2nd is so much cleaner and attractive than the Peterbilt nose on Gen 3...who's idea was that !? Knock about a foot off it, and try to streamline it a bit, then prolly wouldnt need the silly air dam ! Seriously, you ever notice the empty space between the grill and radiator.. you could put a BBQ grill in there..hey, theres an idea

 

Tacomas are sold before they hit the lot in northeast Ohio. Waited for a TRD sport to hit the dealership before I'd put money down. It was gone a hour later. Happy with what I ended up with, better fit for me

 

Same here in MD, at least back in May. Had to order mine, waited about 2 months which wasn't bad. They aren't perfect but nothing is. I love it either way.

 

3 guys were sitting in mine when we rolled up on the lot. We walked around and looked at others, and came back to the one I got and now no one was in it. I asked if it was a available and the guys were at a desk thinking about it. He hesitated about color (inferno) and so I said I'd take it. We were writing it up and a guy came in an hour later and was pissed because he drove 2 hours to buy it and I bought it. I went back the next day to ask about some parts and the sales guy told me another guy had come in to buy it. So the dealer could have sold 3 of them if they had them. This dealer had about 5 taco's, but only 1 DCSB TRD 4x4 off road at the time.

Another sales guy said there's a 5 day supply of Tacomas in the US right now. Every time I drive by the local dealer they have none or 1, and that 1 changes every 2 days when they have one so I believe it. I guess a lot of people don't read these forums and know how really bad the 3rd gens are... LOL.

 

You read the forums and still bought it......... 3rd gens aren't bad at all, I love mine. Sure they have quirks, it's a first year model, it's expected.

 

the only issue I had was the holes in the control arms needing plugged for the howling noise. Besides that mines been perfect, no issues at all.

 

thats odd they are so hard to find up your way...lots in north Texas that I've been to, have a pretty good selection. Freeman Toyota had at least a dozen, and the place I bought mine, Grapevine Toyota, had 8-10 to pick from. I think they are both Gulf States Toyota dealers...maybe thats it. The big distributors callin the shots on who gets em?

 

Consumers rates Taco among worst cars list for 2016.


Toyota Tacoma
The old Tacoma was a clunky, utilitarian truck with unimpressive fuel economy that drove like an agrarian-era relic. As for the redesigned Tacoma—well, the gas mileage is much better. The rest still carries over. Throughout its history, this truck has developed a fan base, but you’d have to be a Tacoma devotee to endure the ponderous handling, tooth-shattering ride, and loud cabin. Once you awkwardly duck into the low seat, you’re greeted with a rudimentary interior. Reliability has been very good, but after waiting 13 years for a redesign, buyers deserve better.

 

How is consumer reports wrong though? After over a decade buyers got a soft-redesign. Basically some new, slightly different body panels, new interior and a car V6 from the Lexus parts bin. The gen 3 has been riddled with issues which are much more widespread than typical 1st growing pains of other makes and models.
Toyota knew competition was going to heat up and they did very little. I am a big fan of Toyota's conservative/minimalist approach to trucks but that is only when the end result is great QDR. That clearly isn't the case now.

 

Well, I still have my teeth, and I don't think the ride is that 'ponderous' They be hatin on the Tacoma for years.

 

What issues? My 2nd gen had issues... 3rd gen manuals are gifts from the gods.