Tacoma 2016 -17 transmission & power review

Hence the humor part....

 

All these threads end up the same with everyone saying the engine doesn't have enough torque or power. It does, Toyota just goofed up on the approach they took. I have a manual transmission and I can assure you the torque/power is fine above 2500 RPM. The truck is dead below that regardless of gear (except 1st).

The real story is that low end torque is non existent, the engine management is godawful at lower RPM's (really weird surging when pressing down on the gas), but above 2500-3000 RPM everything is fine for a mid sized truck.

So the auto transmission keeps you stuck in the worst part of the torque curve, and if you have a manual transmission you are cruising around at 2500-3000 RPM (unless you are positive you won't need to get up and move at above a snails pace).

This engine just wasnt the optimal choice for a truck, or at the very least it is "different" than what we are all used to.

Also, in all honesty, Toyota's response to more low end torque will more than likely be a hybrid....

 

I'm to big to fit in a small coupe, but I think this exact engine would be a monster in that FRS...

 

I agree that the engine would be a much better fit in a sporty coupe that is meant to be high revving versus a Truck that needs low end torque.

 

... or a minivan?

 

Yeah for when women have their phone glued to their ear and the pedal to the metal.

 

So about 500 miles later after having the ECU updated for the second time with the revision, TSB 0077-16 rev 1 I can't say the revision has netted significant changes in the shift process for me. I have never experienced the listed problems in the original TSB other to say it shifted too soon to get the power out of the engine as I described in my first post (OP).

Living in a hilly area, I am still managing performance with my gas peddle as the transmission seeks the right gear to generate power I ask for. Here is an example; going up a certain hill start like this. From the intersection at just a few miles an hours making the turn, I apply peddle, engine starts to work up to about 2000 rpm when it bogs down (3rd gear), appling more pedal has no result until I push a lot, finally I get a down shift (lerch), RPM's jump and quickly I am approaching 5000 RPM, got the needed power now, but now I am accelerating very fast and getting to my desired speed whereby now I must relax my foot and allow the transmission shift up a gear (lerch). Hence I am managing the transmission not my speed.

The flaw here is the transmission shifted to 3rd gear too soon, had it stayed 2nd gear longer then, RPM would have rose to develope the power. I would have had a smooth response with the gas peddle so when I was fast enough for 3rd gear a slight relaxation on my foot would have been a normal feeling. So instead of shifting 1-2-3, I got 1-2-3-2-3.

Driving the same hill with the ECT on I get a what I call a normal shift 1-2-3.

 

I get the exact same with my truck, great explanation.

 

Of course

Use your right foot.

 

Just wait the is coming.........

 

There isn't any reviews like that because it doesn't suck is why. What sucks is most people don't realize they got a good vehicle. No vehicle including this one can please everyone. If it doesn't make you happy get rid of it. If they test drove it they should have determined it sucked to them at that time and not bought it. It gets old hearing I can't take the depreciation hit. That would bother me to take one also if I did not like it but I would because I definitely wouldn't drive a vehicle long that didn't perform like I thought it should. Taking the depreciation hit is 100 times better than spending a year on here whining about it.

 

His right foot doesn't work well.

 

You like your vehicle others do not. Not sure why that's so hard for you to believe

 

I wish that all the people who didn't like their truck would trade them in so some other people who could not afford a new one might be able to buy a used one and enjoy it.

 

And lose money because Toyota can't fix the issues of an inferior product with years of documented vibration issues?

I just wish Toyota would stand behind their product that people spend hard earned money on....

 

Its not hard for me to believe that some don't like it but for gosh sakes get rid of it if you don't like it. Constant complaining in here is not going to make you feel better about it if any thing it just makes you more bitter. Also it seems to me that you have a hard time believing a lot more people than the ones that complain like their trucks.

 

I have never had a vibration issue with my first, second, or third gen.

 

I never had any with my 87,95,02 my 14 on the other hand had some issues but they fixed them to an acceptable level and now my 17 has issues that I hope they fix.....

 

If yours vibrates I hope they fix it for you. Mine is as smooth as silk.