First Long Trip In My Taco!

I just got home from the first long trip in my taco. Greensboro, NC to Wilmington, DE and back. Via US 29 and the always awful Capital Beltway and I-96 from DC up. Just a few observations and thoughts, wondering if others feel the same.

1. Drivetrain. This truck really needs a V8 to run 75-80 on a hilly highway. Kept downshifting and revving to maintain speed. Tried turning the "ECT Power" on, really didn't help.
2. Suspension. Soaked up the awful and crappy Washington DC and Baltimore road craters quite well.
3. Gas mileage. Overall average for the trip, 20mpg. That's only 2 mpg better than I get in town. Guess I shouldn't be too surprised there.
4. Comfort. Overall, quite good. I have back troubles, the seat remained comfy and supportive, tho the seat cushion is definitely short and lacking proper thigh support. Think I saw a thread about this recently, that OP was right. I realize I've been spoiled, my last car was an Audi A6, and before that was another Audi, a couple Volvos and a BMW.
5. Overall, was very pleased with the taco as a trip vehicle. Nice having all the storage room in the bed, and sitting up high gives great visibility in high speed traffic.

 

Agreed with everything except the comfort. It kills my tailbone, and same for my wife. I will buy a cushion before I take another drive more than an hour long.

 

Our roads aren't awful and crappy, just broken in already.

 

How many miles was that one way?

 

Did you do the transmission updates? I live in CO and after the updates truck drives like a dream!

 

Have you had the TSB done on the transmission? If not, that really helps the shifting you were speaking about.

I have a black Limited that I got in March, I love mine!

 

LOL...That's a good way to look at them!

I just had it at the dealer the week before the trip for an oil change, they didn't mention anything and there was no mention of an update on the work order. I'll look into it, thanks!

 

About 500 miles. 8 hour trip with stops.

 

I may be wrong (hopefully ) but I don't think the TSB's apply to the 2017's. Yes a 4.7l would be nice but since that's not a reality I plan to install some 4.88's to help compensate.

 

4.88 will only help your low end, not the high end.

From what I've heard depending on build date some TSB for the transmission can apply.

 

As far as shifts at that speed, personally, i just blame all automatic transmissions. I hapily went back in time and got a manual.

 

Just did a drive from Long Beach, CA to Dallas area TX.
No shit on the needed v8 especially with a trailer haha. But yes they do pretty good. Personally (and I'm only 20) the seats kill me! After about 4 hours it really starts to suck some ass on my lower back.

 

My big beef on long drives is I can't straighten my legs out to stretch because the floorboard is in the way. Seats are sorta okay. My Mustang is better for long trips except for the pesky no-spare-tire issue.

 

I went from an audi to a taco, as well. Two engine rebuilds in 98k and I sold the audi as quick as I could. Figured the taco would give me a break from the mechanic for a while.

 

On people complaining about the seat comfort - do you try different settings on the lumbar dial? I've only spent minimal time in the 3rd Gen Taco driving it and I don't have an opinion on long-term comfort yet.