Honest opinion on the 3rd gens?

17 dclb sport 4x4.

biggest complaint was erratic shifting. the drive train has completely transformed, started feeling good right around 10k miles and has been perfect since then.

 

I've read that the 3rd Gen has no low end torque yet a lot of people say they tow better than the 2nd Gen...am I missing something or are you just higher in the rev band when you're towing?

Thx!

 

Honestly I almost didnt buy my truck because I found Tacoma world before I finalized my purchase. SUPER HAPPY that I went through and purchased the truck regardless of what I read a few people posting.


If you take a step back and look at the big picture Toyota has sold roughly 400,000 of these trucks and there are 10-15 owners on here super vocal about not liking them. Good for them they have that right. We were also looking at bigger trucks and looked at new F150's. There are people on F150 forums bitching as well. Every car has something that someone wont like.


As far as our truck goes its a 2017 and we have 11K miles on it so far. 1/4 of that has probably been off road. ECT button on and truck has plenty of power. Leave it off and I can average 22mpg. People complain about the transmission but honestly have not had any issues or complaints on my end. The things I like far outweigh the few that I dont and I dont regret buying the truck one bit.

If I had to pick a "biggest disappointment" with the truck it would be the factory speakers. I like the head unit just fine but the speakers suck. There is a thread on here for a $250 audio upgrade that I just ordered (cost me less than $200) and I bet that will solve that.

 

I have developed one very serious problem with my 2017 TRD Pro that may keep me out of the driver's seat.

My wife drove it around for a couple days
She liked it.
She liked it a little TOO much!

 

Same story. Also what bugs me about the tacoma is the extremely thin paint, everything wears horribly in mine. The seat has signs of wear, the door shows signs of wear, little rattles every where, and horrible ride quality. And my drivers window is currently shaking the entire door when I roll up from fully down position. I would give other options a lot more of my time if I was doing it over again as well.

 

I have a 2016 TRD Sport, V6 Auto. A few problems, when I went in for my first oil change they kept my truck for week to replace the instrument panel, works great now. Then when I took it in in April again for routine maintenance, they told me I needed a rental, I got hit by the differential gaskets recall. They had my truck for 79 days, needless to say, I was not to happy with Toyota. From what I have read here, if you take it in for the recall now, they will just tighten, add some fluid, and tell you they will call you when the parts come in, then just a day with out your Taco. Toyota really screwed the pooch on the early recall! I was ready to get rid of it, but am liking it more and more. No rattles or wind noise, transmission shifts fine, and no differential howl! I got slammed for saying this on a different thread, but I still stand behind my comment, going from the rental Ram, back to the Taco, was like going from a 70s Cadillac, to a Porsche! Now, if they would just come back out with a Base Cab and V6 option, I would trade in a hart beat!

 

Compared to the mid-70's to early 1990's 4 cyl and V6 Toyota pickups, I dislike the 3rd gen Tacomas. I think their biggest fault are their gutless, torqueless and coarse sounding 4 cyl and V6 engines - you have to mash the throttle to feel enough torque to press your back against the seatback and they don't make smooth, buttery sewing machine type sounds when accelerating moderately like the earlier engines did. The cab is now so high off the ground it's a bit like stepping into a semi-truck whereas the 70's-90's pickups were car like to get into. Likewise the bed is now so high off the ground it's a pain to load stuff into it. Ride motions of the 3rd gen are stiff and abrupt, hence tiring whereas the ride of the 70's-90's pickups was more car-like and they could be driven for hours without serious fatigue. Seat bottoms of the 3rd gen are harder and smaller which contributes to fatigue too. 3rd gen is so big in size they feel cumbersome to manuver around town and park whereas the 70's-90's pickups once again felt car like. After renting V6 and 4 cyl 3rd gen Tacomas I'm glad I still have my more comfortable and car like 1993 extracab 4 cyl pickup and will not be getting a 3rd gen anytime soon.

 

I have a 2ng, when I first got it the brakes didn't feel great, I thought oh it's a truck like the commercial trucks I've driven before. Months or years later received a fix it letter, I can't remember if it was a TSB or recall notice. After the fix the brakes were better.

Brakes must be an all round issue.

I've never been a fan of the composite bed, it might be better than sheet metal in the long run.

I never liked how narrow the pedals and thought that footwell are was rather compact.

All issues I can live with, but there has been no evolution from Toyota in these areas.

 

Man don’t say that...I love my ‘13 but am jealous of the new 3rd gens. Hopefully when the OME kit is installed it’ll keep me happy.

 

I wish my truck got more than 14 or 15 mpg, and that it would hold the correct gear while running 75 or 80mph. Other than that, I really enjoy it and have no plans of dumping it anytime soon.

 

I can't get past the plastic beds and cubby holes. I can only imagine what dumping a 1/2 ton+ of gravel into it would do. As the guy (who was evidently banned from here) pointed out, some of the electronic/electronic control shit sucks. I was thinking about upgrading to a 3rd gen next year, but after driving a rental '17 around for a week, I'll pass. I'd rather keep my 01 stock and (nearly perfect), buy another Gen 1 in good condition and dump $25k+ into it.

 

2017 TRD Pro was the first brand new vehicle I've ever purchased and it's been great so far. Only on about 9,000 miles after 13 months and in a couple days taking first 1500 mile round trip out to Alberta and back.

Haven't had it in sand but done a bit off-roading on rocks and in mud. Still running everything stock (going to upgrade speakers when I get back).

Can't complain at all. Perfect for me.

 

Within 2 weeks of buying my truck a deer jumped out in front of me with almost zero notice and I slammed on the brakes - it was the best I’ve ever seen ABS perform. Hopped for what couldn’t have been more than a few feet and I actually “touched” the deer it was so close but no damage to my truck nor the deer. Haven’t had any chance luckily to test it like that since but it certainly gave me a lot of confidence in the braking system. No doubt I would have hit that damn deer with a prior vehicle.

These are good trucks - the engine tranny combo is just the “wave of the future” and I’ve even heard folks coming from Colorados with the same complaints. Good news is there is a fix out there for any inconvenience you may find in these trucks. Shifting weirdness can be addressed by either getting a manual, Shift Sense Pro, or (what I have) OVTune. It did indeed seem like some of these were slapped together mine included but with help of the forum I knew what to address and spent a bit of time in my garage those first few months, but now it drives like a top and I do love the truck.

 

No issues with mine (2017 TRD OR DCSB). At the beginning I did find the transmission weird but I got used to it. When I need it to respond I just push the ECT button. The cruise control is sometimes annoying on hills but I have learned to accelerate before any hill and it stops searching for gears. I really like it so far.

 

I have had my Sport DCSB MT a year to the day - 16,8xx mi. I seriously enjoy this truck and has performed as designed. I was not part of any recalls, but I did have two little spots on my dif - dealer fixed it and I never had a issue, just want the truck to last a long time. My rear leafs squeaked, dealer fixed as well and a few months so far not squeaks. I have towed, hauled family, hauled many things, driving in all sorts of weather and this truck is solid. Overall, I would highly recommend this truck - gods honest truth

 

my 3rd gen is great ive put over 20,000 miles in a year , no problems brakes are fine , came from 1st gen , a little different as far as seats but am not complaining about it , 19 mpg with 33s and I drive very hilly terrain with a 100 mile daily commute

 

Ha I have had similar issues w/ my wife. She ended up w/ a T4R soon after so I could get my truck back

 

The cruise control on the second Gen models was bad as well. I actually think it's better, or I've gotten used to how the taco cruise behaves on the 17. I Remeber driving Wyoming east to west many times and the cruise in my 06 was a nightmare, and I'd just turn it off.

17 is a great truck! Engine does seem like someone above mentioned, always working, but mine only does this in the mountains. Flat, gentle curves etc, drives excellent .

Here she is on the moon, getting Xmas tree, and pulling a pop up the day after I bought it, pre mods

 

Not higher in the rev band at all on flat to gentle rolling hills. I was catching myself doing 80mph and had to continue to monitor speed. It pulled it great.

Going to be awhile before she goes up and over some serious passes, but we will see.

 

i have a 2017 TRD Double cab 4x4 with 8k miles not one issue. This is my 1st Toyota so I cannot compare it to a 2nd gen. I am coming from a Ford Raptor & Nissan Pathfinder. To me the truck shifts smooth, plenty of power, for mid sized truck, it could use a tad bit more torque at the low end. It tows great for what I tow which is a utility trailer. It has a quiet comfortable ride. I noticed a lot of people that bash the 3rd gens on here are 2nd gen owners that do not own one. Just soon as they see an issue they blow it out of proportion or they say I know a friend that has a friend that knows a buddy that has a buddy that has this issue with a 3rd gen. Would I buy the truck over again yes in a heartbeat, I bought it for re-sale value, and reliability