*Hopefully* constructive discussion about the 3rd gen and it's issues

Ridgeline? Never heard of her.

 

Barron not trying to argue the point, but you do not have the facts right. My facts are quoted off KBB.com so they can be verified. First the Ridgeline is heavier than a Taco 4,515 lbs vs 4,230. The payload on the Ridgeline is 1,499 lbs vs 1,370 for the Taco.

The bottom line is people need to buy what suits their needs best. The Ridgeline is a truck period, so Weather a truck is body on frame or unibody does not make it less of a truck. If you are seriously into off road then a Taco is the better truck. For the other 99% of the time the Ridgeline wins hands down.

 

Wins what? Best douchemobile? Ok, just kidding - don't hate the Ridgeline

 

The bottom line, you can't compare the Tacoma to a SUV/Crossover without a top and rear seats, that is exactly what the Ridgeline is. The Ridgeline is a Honda Pilot, which is not a truck, this is not speculation but but confirmed by Honda.

The Ridgeline was designed for those who didn't want a truck but a nice plush ride, and a Bed.

There is an old saying, "Rides Like a Truck" because trucks were never designed for comfort, they were designed for power and work. In the last 15 years they have tried to make trucks more like cars and big surprise, they don't hold up as well when tasked to do truck things.

It cracks me up when reviews say the Tacoma rides like a truck, it is a f!@#ing Truck!!!!!!!!!!

For those who want a SUV and a plush ride and a bed, get a Ridgeline. For those who want a real truck, Toyota, Ford, Chevy, and others have options for you.

 

To each their own... I just can't get passed the fact it looks like a damn mini van.. I would be embarrassed to drive that thing.

 

Can't argue with that.....

 

The "bottom line" is all the car magazines have compared the Ridgeline with the Tacoma and the Ridgeline beats your "real truck" every time. The fact that it is a Pilot with a bed is fine with me. It can do all the truck things I would need and be comfortable while doing it. What's wrong with that. All you people who don't like the looks that's fine, to each is own. I don't like the looks of the 3rd Gen Taco.

 

Guess I should trade my taco in for a Ridgeline now... can't believe how much better the Honda is. All those years of proven reliability with the Ridgeline...

 

Yeah, but be sure to keep posting on TW telling the rest of us how your ride is so much better than the 3rd gen.....lol

 

lol no kidding.

 

I'm on the Taco side of the argument because I really like mine and the way it drives....

but... Jeep made the Comanche on the same platform as the Cherokee. It's a uni-body, but you don't hear too many people say it's not a truck. They have actually become uber desirable among the Jeep off road crowd. That said, I have never seen a Ridgeline pulling a trailer, never seen one with a bed full of dirt or construction equipment, and never seen one off-road. So it's a truck. Just not a stereotypical truck. It tows up to 5000lbs. So it's not on the workhorse side of "midsize truck" either.

It is what it is. Just sayin'

 

I consider anything not fullsize with a bed a pickup, capable of doing some things a real truck can do like haul a payload and tow some things.

Ridgelines, Tacomas, Chevy/GMC twins and Frontiers all fall into that caragory.

Enjoy your pickups.

 

I've come to terms with my Tacoma.

It's had a good portion of the issues you hear about on this forum. The first transmission TSB made a huge difference for me, but I also think I adapted my throttle usage to the truck. Someone likened it to "rolling on" the throttle like you would a sportbike. I've found myself doing that and the transmission is silky smooth. If you drive it like you would most other vehicles by putting your foot down and holding where you would expect--it upshifts way too quickly. Rolling-on the throttle seems to help. Eitherway, it shifts gears like it should now. I'll get a wonky "stuck in a gear for too long" moment here or there on the interstate but its not frequent enough to mind. (I'm actually nervous to get the newer TSB revisions because I'm afraid it will revert back to the way it was.)

I still get occasional clunks. It surges when cold. My rear differential, which is the worst issue by far, howls like a banshee on the highway when you hit the sweet spot 55-65mph. My other issues have been slowly fixed by Toyota, so I'm going to trust that Toyota will eventually fix that problem (I have an extended 8year 125K warranty).

I think Toyota should be embarrassed by the roll out of this new generation and their underwhelming response to the issues this truck obviously has. Time will tell how well this truck will hold up. We may all be singing its praises in 8 years when we have 300k+ miles on our trucks or when someone creates a ECU patch that turns it into the powertrain we wanted.

I've considered trading it for something else, but the new T4R's are dated/lackluster (and they all had a shimmy and buzzy brake pedal on the test drives--wtf toyota?!). The GM twins are way overpriced & feel cheap, and I dont want a fullsize. Seriously, this would be the PERFECT truck for me if it wasn't for these issues. Its frustrating to watch them be so close to something amazing only to whiff.

With all that said: It's grown on me. I like the truck (in spite of it being a pos at the same time ). I'll be keeping it unless something way more appealing pops up (like a new awesome T4R or a diesel Tacoma).

I hope they fix the rear diff howl soon.

 

I think @KB Voodoo was the first to compare the 3rd gen at to the sport bike, but I got that right away, and since I never owned an auto trans before this vehicle. Glad your liking yours more now.

 

Toyota already makes diesel they just dont sell them in the states. Im sure if you wanted it would be pretty easy to find a diesel to drop in it. If and when my '98 goes out I was thinking of trying to find a diesel for it. I know Tata uses a 2.2L and they're pretty similar to the tacoma

 

Car Magazines have bagged the Tacoma for years, yet it is the best selling Midsize compact ever, and still outsells the competition. They already discontinued the Ridgeline once because it was so spectacular.

 

1st Gen Tacomas only had a towing capacity of 5,000lbs.
So - you're saying the 1st gen Tacomas weren't workhorses?

Just sayin.....

 

I preferred the 2nd gen transmission. But everything else about the 3rd gen is better. i've only got 5000, so maybe things will change. But I love my Pro.

 

I have a Manual and it is much better than the 2nd Gen Manual, would love to have the low end torque of the 2nd Gen though.

 

The topic wandered widely here. I read it all.

I could force myself to live with it. But; The throttle response is way to slow for safety, on streets and highway. I've often had major issues simply trying to pass a vehicle going 50->55 on the highway.

Waiting for something "Constructive" from Toyota. Won't be waiting for much longer.