MARYLAND TACOMAS

I bet my collection of dead hookers will too

 

I found the power band to be all over the place and it kinda lurched at 2500 RPm and then again around 4000 It has no low end power either which a truck really needs. 6th gear was absolutely useless with 33" tires and 5th was marginally useful. Constantly in 4th just to get up a hill. Otherwise I really did love it. Comfortable, quiet, they look great. If I needed a work truck or just a pickup that I didn't intend to modify, I may buy another one. The reasons noted above along with needed more room and dry storage is why I sold it. I do miss it at times though.

 

We have one, I hate it. There is literally nothing I like about it so it just sits. 9 months old and 4000 miles.

 

The third gen needs 400hp and get 35mpg. Until it does, i'll continue to not be interested.

 

Why do you hate it so much?

 

Actually, if the truck had the 4cyl with 5spd and still be a DCSB with the OR package and 4x4 it would be perfect.

 

It just needs to get the 4.0 back with the auto trans. The 3.5 and 4.0 put out about the same but the power band of the 4.0 is just so much better for a truck.

 

Hunts for gears, shifts all the damn time, transmission shutters at cruising speed, rear diff howls, seats are uncomfortable, they're to small for me, it has weird blind spots, under powered and I've never seen above 21mpg in it and I drive like an old lady. My 360hp V8 F-150 gets 22mpg... I pulled my little trailer with it once which with the load on it might have weighed 2000lbs total, felt like 8000 lbs. I'm actually quite shocked people use these trucks to haul close to their weight limits. The only attractive feature IMO is the styling. It's an attractive truck but Toyota dropped the ball big time on the powertrain.

 

Put the gen 2 engine and transmission in it and it would be perfect.

 

Fuel economy to me is somewhat irrelevant. I didn't buy a truck to get good gas mileage. They kinda don't mix lol. I do agree 100% on everything else though however I never had any of the rear diff noises or anything like that. It's hard to compare a full size 150 to a Tacoma. Totally different animal and different price point.

 

I know. But everyone seems to compare the F-150 to the Tacoma when buying. I get it. Almost the same price.

I don't mean to compare the two. But I have a good idea as to how the two are good and bad. I'm biased I guess. For a truck, I'll take a full size. Similar fuel economy and cost, but payload/towing is higher and there is way more cab space and comfort for me.

 

This third gen is my first automatic and I don't think it's bad at all. After about 1200 miles the transmission started to shift consistently, hold gears where appropriate, and downshift when necessary. Coming from Hondas I'm kind of used to peaky motors too. No complaints here.

 

I want a third gen to beat the piss out of. Just to see how much of a dog it is.

 

I've got a decent amount of time behind the wheel of 1st and 2nd gens. 3rd gens definitely lack the low grunt of the older V6 but the power is definitely there. These newer DI DOHC motors like to rev and make power up top. The Ford coyote motor is a perfect example.

The 3.4 V6 in the 1st gives a great shove down low but it isn't a powerhouse by any means. When I was a teen I thought it was the fastest thing on earth though! Lol

 

I can certainly feel the power when I'm in the higher RPM's in the 3rd gen but that's kind of dumb for a truck. You want low end power for hauling and towing.

 

I agree with you there. Unfortunately I think the old LSx style V8's are on the way out due to emissions standards and fuel economy and things and stuff.

 

Yup. Same shit happened 30-40 years ago. 60's and 70's built huge displacement high HP/TQ motors. Then EPA said no more and we were stuck with the garbage that the big 3 pumped out in the 80's. Ford regained some credit with the fuel injected 302 and then everyone improved from there. I see that pattern happening again.

 

I love my 3.4's.

 

I have no complaints with the 22RE, 2.7, 3.4 or 4.0. The 3.5 mated with the auto is just a huge disappointment IMO.

 

2.7 is really a dog as well......just have to say it