Drove a 3rd Gen Today...

It's amazing how many people complain about the 3rd generation Tacomas powertrain. I owned two tundras prior to down sizing to my Tacoma. The 3.5 liter engine is not that bad. I had 5.7 liter in my last truck, so it took a bit to get used to not having a 5.7 liter engines get up and go. The 3.5 liter is no slouch though, it will get up and go when you need it to. I'm happy with my truck. I bought the Tacoma for its stellar reliability, and better 4 wheel drive system.

 

Agreed -- I only drove a '17 once but that's all I needed. The interior is definitely nice, though still lacking some "cutting-edge" tech my 2006 Accord had.
But the lack of low end torque would unravel me if I owned it. That thing can't get out of its own way until you rev it like an S2000.

I hear you on the Prius drivers ... just glad there aren't as many of them clogging up the UT roads as they are in SoCal

 

The people complaining are mostly former 2nd gen Taco owners who were expecting an upgrade.

 

Are you familiar with the term 'soccer mom' related to a vehicle? It's what sports car buffs call mini vans and most SUVs.

If you look around (maybe not as much here, but more in the real world) piles of Tacoma owners would easily qualify as 'soccer dads'.

They want something spiffy, techie with 4wd (just in case) and the ability to haul some mulch from Home Depot. As long as it looks manly.

The 3rd gen fills that bill perfectly. Get a level lift, some beefy rubber and black wheels and all is well.

The 3.5 works for that just fine. And Toyota is Liberace-ing all the way to the bank. Every day.

 

Doesn't the newer dual vvti 4.0 still use the same A750 trans?

 

correct. it still uses the 5 speed auto.

It would of been very cool to see the dual vvti 4.0L with the new 6 spd auto (id bet you might see that combo in the 4 runner at some point soon)

 

Would be cool to see someone do the dual vvit swap into a 3rd gen. See what it would have been like getting the truck we all wanted and deserved.

 

Are we allowed to place bets on all this?

 

The screwed up auto in the 3rd gen? No thanks

 

Ugh again, people give the 6spd shit for "hunting" but as i explained its literally another gear past the 5th gear of the 2nd gen autos.... not more gears in the same area. Because of the lack of low end the trans has to hunt a lot because it cant simply produce enough power at such a lower rpm.

Now if you paired it with the more powerful and much more low end motor of the dual vvti 4.0L and a slightly lower gear rear axle ratio (3.90-4.10's vs 3.73 of the 2nd gen) it would be a GREAT overall setup IMO.

 

Two overdrive auto tranny? I'll pass

 

and insta, youtube, and fb live... gotta get all those viewers man (we will split the revenue)

Yes but there will be a 20% charge on winnings to each of the participants (40% total split between myself and deserttaco4x4)

 

Been a SUPER common thing for the last 10 years.... aint nothing wrong with it if the motor can utilize it properly and overall final drive ratios are good.

I really think the 3rd gens autos would be good if they went from the current 3.90:1 axle ratio to a 4.10:1, lots of the complaints would go down, and mpgs would likely be identical.

 

So many people complain about 3rd gen lack of power and busy transmission. Didn’t anyone test drive it before they bought it?

 

We already sorta have that. 5th being an OD gear, lockup converter being the 6th.

I mean the RPM drops again when the converter locks, and it's unlocking is the first step in any downshifting sequence.

Like @nd4spdbh suggests, it's the power band of the motor that's the real issue, more than the trans.

 

I came from a 2nd gen taco and there is no chance I’d go back. Maybe my old truck just really sucked or my new one is a unicorn but the difference is night and day and I absolutely love my 3rd gen.

 

And therein lies the issue, the 3.5 doesn't have close to the low end torque to pull a double OD. It's ''iffy'' even in 5th gear. Now a 3.0 turbo could do it but it's doubtful Toyota will do that, Ford seems to be the only truck manufacturer in the US to go the smaller engine/turbo combo but it's working for them and they seem to have the bugs worked out though longevity is always on peoples mind with a turbo engine even though they have been out a long time.

I had a 2014 FJC with the updated 4.0, there is no doubt in my mind THAT is the engine Toyota should have used in the 2016 and up Tacoma. [other then the stupid oil filter]

 

Not sure if you have driven a 3rd gen but it is definitely a combination of a poor motor and a effed up tranny. That tranny is garbage.

Oh and I forgot to mention the learning feature....junk

 

The dodge Dakota did it years ago...

 

the difference is night and day. I test drove both a 14 and a 17. I honestly preferred the 17 last year when I went to the dealership idk why lol