Nits and Picks on my 2008 V6 Access Cab

Ok, I have put just over 12K on my 2008 Tacoma V6 Access cab w/auto and 4WD. A couple of things really bug me, enough that I will probably end up selling it before the winter. First is the brakes. It has the worst brakes of any vehicle I have ever owned. Yeah, I did get used to them but when I get in a <normal vehicle> and drive, I realize how spongy and ineffective they are. In the winter (I live in Maine) they absolutely suk. I bought this truck because of the winters here, and when the ABS kicks in, it is like you took your foot off the brake. I have slid through several intersections, and IMHO it is poorly designed. The transmission kicks me in the butt when I stop. Not every time (dealer can't replicate it) but often enough to really bother me. It feels exactly like someone has tapped my rear bumper a few moments after I stop. And no, the A/C has nothing to do with it, since it happened all winter.

I was an idiot to <assume> that heated side mirrors would come on a $28K 4wd truck. I never checked and that is my own fault. Dummy. I leave for work early in the morning in the winter, it is still dark out and once I get off the dirt road, I can't find the 4wd switch to turn it off, since it isn't lighted. Brilliant engineering. I'm sick of the stupid <engine maintenance> light coming on at 4,500 miles to remind me to change the oil.

Overall, this has been an OK truck, but nothing special. I really wanted to warm up to it, but I can see it isn't a <keeper> for me. The poor brakes and insane transmission programming are the main reasons I'll be selling. I can probably redesign and modify the remaining engineering an marketing goofs but those two are biggies and out of my league for modifying/fixing.
Anyway, just venting, as I really wanted to like this truck......

 

if you really wanna sell it....then sell it, but you probably arent gonna find anything better or that will last longer than the tacoma.

if you keep it..................buy some mirrors that are heated and do the install yourself....save some cash. for the brakes....i agree the brakes suck.......get some powerslot discs and hawk pads........guarantee you it will make a world of difference. really easy fix!!

use this mod to light up the 4x4 switch......its in here...
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/4838-cheap-free-mods.html

for the transmission.......take it to the dealer and tell thewm you want the tranny fluid checked....could be low from the factory. the 06 i had did this, and it turns out the fluid was low.

these trucks arent perfect.....nothing is......but they are alot closer than any other truck out there!! just my .02

 

Well...The ABS programming set up you really can't fix-but if you are trying to stop that hard it might be you need to get some different tires?? What type/brand are you running now??

You could also think about upgrading brake pads, putting stainless steel lines and replacing the fluid. The stainless lines should remove some of the spongy and doing those upgrades will mean you should to re-bleed the brakes.

The transmission- Yeah...I know there have been a few threads about it- but nothing conclusive that I've seen....Checked the fluid right??
And the mirrors- If you liked the truck I would say find some that you like that are heated and graft them on....
The engine maintainence light is pretty standard on new cars- You are gunna find that alot of places.

Sorry you don't like what you got- Let us know what you end up doing with it!!

 

actually.....i forgot to mention......you can mod the abs to turn on/off when you want it to. check the cheap mods thread....its in there.

 

::gets another brain wrinkle:: Learn something new every day.

 

Will pretty much said it all. I would work up a killswitch for the ABS.

 

once in a while......my brain takes a hard left!!!

 

Maine winters and lame stock B grade tires (found on most new trucks, all makes) dont mix. Agree ABS is a bit sensitive. In winter, snow tires take care of that. It takes alot to get the ABS to kick in with the right tires. Note in all mid size truck shootouts, (Edmunds, C&D) Tacoma still stops the quickest.

Can't comment on the auto lurch. 6spd

Yea, you gotta scrap the mirrors but if I'm scrapping the windshield already whats 5 sec for the mirrors. 4wd switch, never had an issue, like the fogs, I know where they are and know which way is 'on' or '4hi' blindfolded.

You can always find another truck with these features, but gotta look at everything for the life of ownership... your buck, so your call.

 

Spongy brakes??.....these Toyota brakes are great compared to a Chevy Truck.I had a Z71 and you want to talk about spongy? I could hear it! lol
no prob with my Taco brakes

 

After driving my 95 4x4 manual shift 2.7L Tacoma for 13 years and then test driving my new 08 4x4 V6 Tacoma automatic, I thought.....WTF is up with this braking system???? I thought it was just me, I was so used to clutch braking all those years while slowing down and hardly touching the brakes. I have learned to drive this truck like a manual shift with an automatic clutch (just like my 03 Honda Foreman 4x4). When I'm coming to a stop, I shift to 4th and then to 3rd, and if it's really steep, on to 2nd. There is no button to push on the shift knob, so I find it relatively easy to do. I now do not have much problem with braking like I first did. The tranny shifts easily and this technique has been working well for me, I live in WV, nothing is flat here.

 

Yeah scraping is cheaper than the $300 aftermarket side mirrors. But c'mon what about while once on the highway?
Weather conditions make it impossible on occasion to safely use your passenger side mirrors. Make lane changing on the interstate interesting.
Toyota corp cheaped out on the Tacomas....the old & new tundras have em w/ the factory cold weather pkg. Not an issue for the warm weather folks here but having the option would be nice.

 

....the old & new tundras have em w/ the factory cold weather pkg. Not an issue for the warm weather folks here but having the option would be nice.


Yeah I would have bought those in a heartbeat. Heated mirrors make a big difference in COLD climates.

 

I'm in Minnesota, last 3 trucks had heated mirrors and I don't think I ever used them once. Scrape the frost off and go....works!

 

The tranmission issue COULD be the A/C even in the winter. The A/C is on whenever your defrosters are on, which they probably are first thing in the morning in the winter. My nit-pick would be having the A/C on with defrost whether I want it on or not. Bad for gas mileage.

 

I followed a prev. gen Tundra in to work today (looks almost like the 2nd gen Tacoma!) and the mirrors looked like they were the same mirrors I had - wonder if you could put those on (if they are heated). (Funny I would have noticed the mirrors!)

 

thanks for the tip...yeah being in texas and all, heated mirrors not necessarily the biggest worry for ya!

 

Heated mirrors and heated seats- Texas is crazy. A friend of mine insisted on heated seats and mirrors when he bought a new Denali a couple years ago- and it took the dealership some time to ship one down from Pennsylvania for him.
So when I bought my new Toyota this January he thought I was siolly for not asking for heated seats.

 

I live in the opposite climate as the author of this thread, I'm in Las Vegas. I came out of an '04 F-150 Lariat and the main reasons I don't like this truck are all interior. I can live with the bump from the tranny and it don't snow here so brakes aren't that big of an issue. I think the materials used for the interior are just plain stupid. Door fabric on the armrests, center console and door handles made of that dirt attracting rubbery stuff and the dash material that scatches WAY too easy. I bought this truck to save some MPG's (which it is doing) and reliability. I can see me going to a Tundra or back to the F-150 in a couple years.