No power, sluggish.

Hmmm... that was the first thing I noticed. When I took it out, rounded the corner and floored it. It went Baaahhh instead of eeerrhh. The rest of the test drive was nice but lack of low end was a deal breaker for me.
Maybe Toyota will re tune them one day.

 

Don't hold your breath, I expect higher revving, lower torque to become more the norm in the future for smaller displacement engines. Electric hybrids might make up for it later if you want that in a truck.

 

Your description is incredible!

I tow a lot and I personally love the high-end torque. I don't need the truck to run 0-60 in 3 seconds pulling a trailer... I DO need it to be able to take a hill at 70 without falling on it's face.

This was something my 2nd gen couldn't do.

 

You've got my attention. You see, I tow a lot as well. And I attribute low end torque with towing. I would like to see a gen 3 tow one of my loads of timber just to see the difference. I have no doubt that at high rpm you can pull pretty good. However, when it comes to pulling out onto high way to merge with traffic, low end torque wins big.

 

I don't live in an area with that much traffic. Even so, yeah you've got a point. My 2nd gen AT I would shift manually at 3k to get on the interstate. This truck needs shifts between 3.5 and 4 to really get a big trailer moving. It'll hum at 2.6K with no issues though.

But remember I'm in a MT and the gearing is way lower.

 

Just for reference, I have an 1100lb 6x12 H&H flat nosed trailer. When empty, my 2nd gen couldn't pull the truck in OD due to wind resistance. So I'd stick it 4th and run 60mph at 2500RPM. 70 was 3100 and it was SCREAMING. It could do it, but it bothered me.

In the 3rd gen, 70 is about 2800 in 5th and the motor really isnt working that hard. It zips up and down hills without issue. On flats, it'll do 70 in 6th at 2400 no problem.

Disclaimer: I never routinely pull more than a 500lb mower (John Deere S240). I've once put 1000lbs in it and it did the same.

 

I had a Corvette and now I have a Taco and no complaints from me. I've got sense enough to expect sports car performance from a sports car and truck performance from a truck. Side note: I get better mpg out of my taco than the Vette.

 

I've gotten used to mine. We also have 2016 highlander, same size engine that makes my taco feel like its a rough driving 4 banger. Not sure why toyota chose to do that, load carrying maybe?
at lower speeds and right about 1500rpm my truck feels like its stuttering before changing gears. Is that the normal everyone is talking about?

 

I assume this is in D when in 5th gear?

Are you talking about pressing the accelerator and it stutters to drop down to 3rd or 4th to speed up?

Yes, mine will do that aometimes if it climbs to 5th at lower speeds, that's why I run in S4 anytime I'm under 45mph. I don't need it climbing to an OD gear puttering around in town.

 

i did that for about 6 months then did the ECT mod and now the truck is perfect in D. IMO

 

ECT mod meaning always on? I could push the button too but really, I don't mind using S4, S5 or D or ECT on or off.

It's not like it's hard to do or inconvenient, I rest my hand on the shifter anyway, not hard to bump it left, right forward or back.

 

yes, comes on at start up. i did the bump shift like i said but just would rather not.

 

When Toyota went to the 3.5 problems started....period. The engine doesn't have enough torque to perform well with the automatic transmission....period. Toyota tried to "squeeze" more mpg by downgrading the power package....period. It wasn't their greatest engineering move and there wasn't enough testing done prior to production.

 

Is this based on fact or what you perceive to be fact?

In 30+ years I've driven these trucks from the 22r, the 3.0, the 2.7, the 3.4, the 4.0 and now the 3.5 for 20 months and not seeing anything particularly wrong with this motor and transmission.

They've actually upgraded the power package as the most hp in a factory tacoma yet and is only 1ft/lb down in torque from the 4.0.

Where are you getting your facts to make that statement that there wasn't enough testing done?

 

I could log onto TW in 3 years and there will be one of these threads.

 

Yep,

There will always be a guy expecting Tundra performance in a Taco then bitch why he bought the wrong truck and it's Toyota's fault because he doesnt need full size but expects full size power.

 

x Million


Truck drives like all other normally calibrated vehicles with ECT on. Without it, they're a dog.

I don't give a shit what anyone else says, Toyota screwed the pooch on this setup. They should be shot with a ball of their own shit, and sent back to class.

I like the truck overall, and live with the fucked up calibration by running ECT, and S5 most of the time. If I'm on extreme flats, or over 75mph 6th gear is usually acceptable. Too bad it spoils an other wise very nice truck. Ride is great, styling is great, options were good for me, I do have the diff howl, and squeaky rear leafs, but they are far easier to overlook then the motor tranny calibration in stock mode.

 

I agree with Homesteader about the truck. Overall I chose the Tacoma for its reputation, looks, resale, handling and economy features...would do it again. Just know there are a lot of dissatisfied customers that have the exact same problem. That comes from not just reading the complaints on the Forum but talking with Toyota techs and salesman who have to deal with these issues. I'm more than sure the 3.5's will be just as reliable as the 4's and the automatic transmissions will prove to be excellent for overall reliability but, there are problems that I believe should have been ironed out prior to replacing the 4 which has proven to be one of Toyota's best products. It's a great idea to create new and improved products but make sure their track record is better than what they're replacing. My issue with the 3.5 is not power, it's the transmission that is constantly searching for a gear to get and stay in. I've visited with several Tacoma owners who have not encountered the "searching" problem at all and even driven their trucks and sure enough, no issues. Yes, the etc will help some but you shouldn't have to activate that feature every time you drive because of a "calibration" issue. I have been told (by three different techs), that Toyota is currently working on the shifting problem and a SB should be in the near future. Incidentally, I've driven Toyota's for almost twenty years. Traded in my Tundra for the Tacoma and knew exactly what to expect from the performance change. My wife has a '15 4-Runner with the 4 liter...EXCELLENT vehicle however I'm told that Toyota is considering switching to the 3.5.....

 

If Toyota puts this engine/transmission combo in the 4Runner, the 4Runner community is going to absolutely howl.