I love my Taco, but....

I agree with Hambone - the steering button layout is inspired by a touchscreen phone rather than HiFi. Thinking about it this way helped me train my muscle memory to target the correct buttons.

Also I am personally glad to not have a driver side grabber - the pillar obstructs enough of my view as is. There’s a lot of stuff to grab if you need a boost or lose your balance getting in (press my arm against the pillar, grab the steering wheel, the lip of the seat) but I’m a small dude so YMMV.

And while I completely concur about the suck ass named Entune, Toyota is starting to relent on Carplay and Android Auto. So maybe in the 4th gen we will see it lol.

 

No driver's side grab handle, no locking gas door. The two things I just can't live without.

And yet, here I am...How about that

 

Is there an oem car audio interface race? For as long as I’ve been alive, manufacturers design and install stock shit. The race exists in the aftermarket. Toyota designed and installed a stock system with an option to upgrade to “a little better than stock”. I have no idea when expectations changed and people expected their stock shit to be an earth shattering audiophile nerd-fest extravaganza.

 

Says the Suck-end Gen?

 

I haven't tried this yet (and probably won't), but I was told you could use the Entune mobile app for nav and upload it to the truck while driving. Not sure if that's true.

 

Actually, the orientation matches the screen. Stations are vertical, while the volume bar is horizontal. Maybe I'm a quick study, but it took all of about three attempts at the controls to figure them out and have them become natural. I just visualize the screen representation.

 

With how cheap some CarPlay or Android Auto receivers are, it is not like it would cost the consumer anything extra. Several manufacturers now offer it OEM. If we were fine with the status quo, then I guess we would still be listening to cassette tapes.

 

I don’t believe it’s about cost, entirely. And 8track/cassette/cd/mp3 is a different progression than hardware/software in a production vehicle.

I think it’s more like “let’s design and offer a suitably basic audio system with some connectivity, we’ll give it a name, done and dusted”. They are in the vehicle competition, all the other stuff is peripheral. Some people like it, some people don’t, some people insist it should be a top notch system, some people don’t care. Toyota just filled a need with oem basics.

 

1. The left steering wheel button controls are backwards!
I had to go out to my truck to see what you were talking about... I had never bothered to use them I just used my hand to turn the knob and my finger to touch the screen. I agree they are counter intuitive.
2. Where the eff are the grab handles?
Drivers side, I agree I miss it as it was where I used to store extra handcuffs and gloves
3. Where the eff are the grab handles?
Back seat I don't even consider them missing as the back seat is for children and dogs.
4a. Bluetooth phone call speakers blow!
Mine sound great and just the basic speakers. Please have yours checked or talk to people who enunciate properly.
4b. Having to stop to program the Nav blows!
I applaud Toyota for this!! The last thing we need is for lost people to be lost AND distracted on the roads!!!
4c. Entune blows!
Disagree, MUCH better than my 2017 Subaru!!
4d. The reverse overlay blows!
Disagree, I can back into my garage and stop with the hitch ball an inch from the wall every time.
5. Where the eff are the power ports?
Agree but only missing in the back seat. One on dash and one in console are plenty for me.
6. TSS system is going to kill somebody!
10,000 miles in and I love it, but I rarely tailgate and drive the speed limit so less of a problem with people trying to crowd in while in while i'm driving.

Items 1-5 were all things that were obvious when I test drove the truck. No vehicle will be perfect for everyone and the Tacoma was the best fit for me so I bought it. I am happy with it and the only real gripe I have is the ridiculous small and complicated rear window operation...sure do miss a big opening without a motor and switch!!

 

Didn't even know I didn't have grab handles. lol

Navigation is inexcusable. If it weren't for Google and a phone, I'd be back to mapquest printouts.

OP, it's probably been mentioned, but it sounds like you're in the wrong truck brother. Did you win this thing in a raffle?

 

I cant read this post. My taco has retrained me to read from right to left.

 

Your grab handle is called the steering wheel

 

I just got my Sport. Came from a RAM 1500 5.7. Anyway I’ve only had my truck for about a week. I can see the point of some but my biggest bitch is the seats. While the 15min test drive really didn’t bring out how uncomfortably hard the leather seats are I’m stuck with them. So I went on Amazon and bought a $25 ass pad and hope that will solve the problem. So far so good.

 

1. The left steering wheel button controls are backwards!

This all day. Meso was looking at maybe doing a fix but that's way down the road.

 

This...and the lost art of land nav.

Some of the places I go, technology is pretty much useless and something I'm trying to escape for a bit anyway.

 

1. The left steering wheel button controls are backwards!
Bothered the hell out of me when we first got the truck but not so much anymore. When I'm having a bad day it makes me want to sell it or burn it to the ground. Other than the shitty power delivery, its the thing I hate most about the truck. (really)

2. Where the eff are the grab handles?
This truck is my wife's daily driver and she is 5' tall. Seating position is good but she has a hard time getting in the truck.....especially now that shes 6 months pregnant.

2. Where the eff are the grab handles?
Theres one on the passenger side for me.....at 6'1" tall lol

3. Where the eff are the grab handles?


4a. Bluetooth phone call speakers blow!
Never realized these were separate from the stereo speakers. The speakers in this truck are garbage....calling them garbage is probably offensive to garbage. I replaced them within months of buying the truck, my 06 Civic with 195K miles sounds better and I'm pretty sure the back door speakers are blown.

4b. Having to stop to program the Nav blows!
Please protect me from myself. I understand it, but hate it.

4c. Entune blows!
I just use my phone on bluetooth, tried to use it but didnt like it. Deleted it off my phone.

4d. The reverse overlay blows!
Works fine for me. I can come super close to anything I want including my boat trailer.

5. Where the eff are the power ports?
RIGHT?? When I want to work in the passenger seat while wife drives I have to use a plug in ac/dc converter deal with a fan making noise. Should have one at least in the back of the center console.

6. TSS system is going to kill somebody!
Dont have it. Specifically bought a truck with out all the nanny bull shit.

With that said I bought it for my wife and she loves it which is what matters.

I like it most of the time.

The power delivery is what I hate the most. An engine that makes power high in the RPM band is great in an S2000.....shitty in a pickup truck. The truck is definitely not slow but I really dont feel like I should have to lay into it sometimes like I do to merge etc. With that said even lifted on bigger tires I can average 19-21 mpg hand calculated almost anytime I drive it. Wife gets like 16 though.

Honestly we ended up in this truck because its basically what there is if you want a small 4wd pickup truck that's not outdated or a POS. The Frontier is a design that's like 15 years old and my wife refuses to buy a Colorado because every Chevy we have owned has been a steaming pile. That pretty much leaves the Tacoma with no real competitors in my mind.....and that's where they get away with some of the cheap interior bits ect. because they know people will buy it with no real competition.

 

If you ever pick up another new Toyota you're gonna have it.

 

Yeah I know this lol Currently looking at GX470s as they are much nicer inside, off road just as good (for us) and no truck payment. If I buy another pickup it will be a full size truck.....and not a Tundra.

 

Yes. But...this one doesn’t.

 

Can I say there are problems of no problem?

Well, nothing is perfect, if really want me say something, I will talk about most people wants.
How about auto folding mirror, persenger side keyless door handle, auto locking tail gate, leather seat..... Those tiny things that Toyota should fix. Even they are not really bother me to drive, but they will make me more happier.