3rd Gen... one year later

I'm on 2 weeks ...my guess

 

So far my Taco is the best car I've ever owned and the third car I've bought brand new.

My wifes 2004 Volvo S80 is just about ready to roll over to 200,000 miles. Talk about a quirky car! I've had to replace 2 engine mounts and the instrument cluster panel will randomly just go out. Volvo knows it's a problem but hasn't done anything to address the issue. To get a new one is $3,000 so we put up with it. It only goes out about twice a year. When you turn the car off and then restart, it comes back to life. The first car I've ever heard of this happening to. I wouldn't buy another one new. The value it gives us exceeds it's monetary worth. Plus my wife refuses to give it up for another car. So I vetch about it but honestly we like it enough to keep around.

 

I love mine. Drove an auto and wasn't too impressed. Glad I ended up ordering the manual.

Pulled out an F-150 from a trail in a snowstorm that dropped over 2 feet on us for about a half a mile because it lost its 4WD. The truck has been good to me. It does everything I want it to do and more.

I get compliments on it all of the time too. I think Toyota made a good truck. I got rid of a V8 4Runner for this thing and don't even have any regrets on losing the power, the manual in the Tacoma feels great. I don't think I'm going to get rid of it until a new gen arrives, or maybe move up to a Tundra if they offer something exciting.

 

Nah, I've had a few Toyotas and always had good luck. That being said I work on a lot of vehicles everyday. Toyota quality has dropped a little bit, however they are still one of the better manufactures around. Obviously the Japanese have a lot better quality control and I'm sure if these were being built overseas there would be a lot less manufacturing errors and problems we have seen early on from some of these trucks.

My Tacoma so far has been above par thankfully. I do have the R to D hesitation when it's really cold out. It's very intermittent though. I still haven't checked the tranny fluid, but I also need to take it to our Toyota store and do the TSB because I have the dreaded cruise control issue. Right after I got the truck I had my gallbladder out. So I was down for a bit and then right after I had my best friends wedding in Indiana to go to. Needless to say I found out the hard way using my cruise for the first time. Had to shut it off after 5 minutes because I couldn't take it anymore. I was about to drive it striaght into a telephone pole. There happened to be a Toyota dealer right across the street from my hotel but unfortunately because I came down late I didn't have time to stop while I was there to have it reflashed before I made the trip back home. I don't use it on my daily commute as I live 5 miles from work so that's why it keeps getting put off now. Anyways sometime soon I need to get it over there and get those things taken care of. One other thing and I'm not fully sure yet what exactly it is but I've been cruising a few times around 550-55 and it seems as if the torque converter slips or tranny does for a second. Perhaps a bit of a drone for a split second. Only happened twice and seemed to be in the exact spot on the exact road on my way to work. I also think both times I happened to be behind a semi. So not sure fully of its the truck or just some weird vibration or something I'm getting from the road or draft from a semi. Other than that that's really all the issues I really have. A few other little things that I don't consider problems (entune doesn't always pair with my phone, and sometimes seems to have a weird display cut out or change for a sec. Also have a slight dash noise up by the passenger A pillar when it's really cold) I've seen a lot of people on here complaining about a lot of little shit and honestly I just feel like they are the type of people who get angry they have to wait 30 seconds in line to get a coffee every morning or something.


That all being said I know you can't compare apples to oranges but my f150 was hands down a way better truck. Granted I had a pretty loaded one but pretty much any model full size is really going to blow this thing out of the water for the most part. Especially the powertrain. I'm not saying this 3.5 doesn't have power, I just hate having to floor it to move the damn thing. I hate that it has a delay before it revs up, and wnile you're passing someone the damn thing is screaming while your going by and you feel like a retard, like your passing someone in a 88 dodge caravan. Meanwhile the damn thing still is barely moving until your around 5 grand and the tranny downshifts. what makes it even worse is I average between 15-16 mpg with it. I used to think I was getting shit mpg with my ecoboost when I was getting around 16-16.5 mpg. And that I beat on 10 times more and would drive faster because the damn thing actually moved. My f150 wasn't flawless by any means but it was a lot more of a truck. That's for sure.

I knew I was downgrading when getting into this Tacoma. I had options and almost got another f150 but I decided to make some sacrifices and take the cheaper payment on the Tacoma since I'm going through a divorce and basically lost a full income and still have the same expenses. So ultimately I knew I had to make some sacrifices. What really made me pull the trigger is the resale value. If I want to dump it soon and get something else, or keep it a few years and then get something, I know I'm not going to take a hit that I would in something else. I don't regret buying this truck but I'm sure as hell not in love with it either. I haven't taken it off-roading yet but it is fun hauling ass down a dirt road and hitting some bumps and getting that suspension moving. More so than in a full size. So I guess it does have some perks

 

Coked up.........yeah!oh wait, nevermind!

 

Where is your mobster laughing gif that you always used to post

 

Good in depth review Larry. Glad your gallbladder issue worked out and you haven't driven into any telephone poles. Wondered where you had gone. Nice to have you back!

 

I've had mine for just past a year. The truck now almost has 24K on the clock. The only issue the truck has had is the crummy reception on Satellite Radio..... Never purchased a subscription so I haven't bothered with it.... I'm not even sure why the reception sucks. It just cuts out more than I think it should.

Otherwise, it's been a nice truck. I would like more low rpm torque and more direct feel with the throttle, but it's a small want. Really, for driving to work everyday, going camping, going hunting, this truck is great.

 

Loose bolts on the carrier seal will ensure a 3rd replacement.

 

Mine was the worst vehicle I ever purchased. Engine-way under-powered compared to my 2gen. Brakes horrible. Pulsing gas pedal vibration and steering wheel causes numbness in my right extremity.

The only positive thing I can say is it is the best looking truck in the midsize Class. And Toyota Customer Service staff are a bunch of buffoons’.

 

After a year, no gripes. Still my favorite of the five trucks I've had.

 

Zero issues. Not one. Funny how people keep comparing power to a full size.

 

Really ?
Faster than 2nd gen in 1/4 mile and towing by whopping 45 seconds in the gauntlet tow test, and latest car and driver shows best braking distance in comparison to Colorado, Ridge, etc. Facts.

 

I agree, this isnt a full size truck.

 

yep, there's always a Tundra for more room and power or 4Runner and Sequoia for plush interior.

 

Yep....just open your wallet a little further.....thats all.

 

Depends on your priorities....

Used Tundra's can still be had for sometimes less than the same year Taco.

 

Aside from a daily driver it's my work truck. Bags of cement, lumber, generators, bags of tools. It really takes care of business. Was weird at first getting used to an automatic again, especially a brand new Toyota. Mostly learning the throttle response which was and can still be kinda annoying. But I remedy that with a heavier foot on the highway. Just gotta let the truck know what to do instead of feathering the gas. Besides that the truck is everything I wanted and expected! Well worth the money. I can't speak on behalf of the older gens but the 3rd gen is seriously a nice truck. I could go without about half of the electronic gizmos but I guess it makes me feel fancy. Just waiting to throw on some overland gear and hit the trails