Have things gotten better?

My buddy has a new Ram, nice but also has a $890 monthly payment, no thanks...

 

What do they think is going to be different, a power seat and Apple carplay is somehow going to make it go up a hill better?

 

I love my 17. It's a very capable truck and it looks badass. I don't know what else to say.

 

I guess nothing. I had a question and you didnt answer it.

I certainly sparked a lot of discussion, some helpful and some not so much. I do agree that the 3rd gen was a much more comfortable ride than my 2nd gen. I know the power was there, but it just didnt seem to use it properly. It always wanted to not use its power and would often hesitate stutter going up hills. Sure if i floored it would go, but not before some jerking and pause.

For those saying there are no issues with the gen 3, than lucky you, but clearly i am not just making this issue up. I really could care less what sales numbers mean, im glad X number of people have become complacent with the issue of the stuttering Tacoma (something i never experienced with my Gen 2 or the 4runner).

It does sound like the 2019’s are somewhat improved and maybe worth a test drive though.

Thanks again all.

 

That's crazy , around here they are marked down like crazy, 15k at least. Shit a fully loaded ram 4x4 around here is about the same as a fully loaded off road.

 

Man, I'm not even sure what a "stuttering Tacoma" is. Sounds like a bad transmission maybe? I've had two third gens and never had any issues at all. But you know anytime comparisons between second and third come up, you're going to get a "spirited" debate. Kinda like if you start comparing an OR and a Pro.

 

Buy a low millage 15 Tacoma.

 

True. I also don't get where people say in here they give it gas and it bucks and all this, wait for the 2020 fixes etc. Am I driving a different vehicle ??? If it does buck fix it. It is not suppose to do that.
I hit mine and it kicks back, once rolling, faster and better than my so called torque monster 2nd did which started to bog in the higher rpms. It kicks damm good. 2nd would start making a lot of noise, peak in rpm, slow down and then eventually decide to shift. That's why 3rd Gen meets 0-60 time on 2nds.

 

That may be the plan. My only references are a 2007 with 200k miles and a 2016. The interior of the 2013- 2015 and 3rd gens are pretty similar (which is why i oicked those years), but comfort ride wise (engine/transmission aside), I’d like to see how they compare. Obviously the 2007 was not as smooth as a ride as the 2016, but it had 200k miles on it and was 10 years old.

But at the very least, it seems like its worth test driving a 2019.

 

For me, money was not a real issue... just wanted an open bed to move things around on occasion. Not a daily driver as I’ve only put 2700 miles on it in the first 6 months, and that includes a 950 mile round trip to Denver from Albuquerque.

Narrowed down between GMC and Toyota when researching... GMC drives MUCH better. Tacoma drives like it’s dragging an anchor stuck in mud, completely disappointing drivetrain. That said, still bought the Tacoma due to 1) better “features”, 2) better resale (only keeping for 4 years), 3) not using as daily, 4) not driving long distances, and basically is only used a utility vehicle when such is needed.

Would I buy it again... probably not.

 

You should look at @JCOOR 's new TRD Pro. I think you'd be happy with the specs.

 

I dont know about that. I have a 2019 and my buddy has 2016. My truck doesn't have any of the trans/shifting issues his does. . .

 

The 3rd gen has a different transmission than the 2nd gen and 4 runner, it's not your typical 6 speed with 1 OD gear, this one has two OD gears so it drives differently than you might be used to or even like. I happen to like how it drives once I figured out how to configure it for optimal use to suit me.

No amount of ECU tune will change that.

If you want to stay with Toyota quality and still need a truck then consider either the Tundra or another 2nd gen but only after you drive the other mid sized trucks I'd mentioned earlier. That's what test driving is for right, to see what you like?

 

Just to add, I keep reading these posts from people chiming in about the “problems” with the ‘19’s and I find myself wondering if they're actually speaking from experience or are these people just parroting crap they're reading here?

I have none of these issues whatsoever. The only reason I’m even aware of them is because of my experience with my buddy’s ‘16. I almost didn’t buy my truck because of that experience but the test drive on the ‘19 changed my mind.

 

The fact that this thread, and others similar in nature, even exist is proof that there is an issue (whether it be perceived or real) with the 3G Tacoma, specially the powertrain.

I love the overall Tacoma platform and the engineering that went into it. I would've like to have seen a boxed frame and disk brakes in the back as well as a beefed up GVWR, but even with all those design choices, I still consider the Tacoma to be the most robust midsized pickup out there...and I say that knowing full well that the Gladiator is about to hit dealerships. For all of their offroad prowess, Jeeps, and FCA overall, have yet to prove their reliability and durability over the longterm.

If I were to pick a brand new midsized pickup, it would be the Tacoma...no question about it. However, the engine and auto transmission are not great for truck applications...meaning they don't produce decent low-end torque even compared to the older 4.0l v6. The manual with the 4.30 gearing is a bit better but even that leaves a little bit to be desired.

So as it currently sits, I like a lot about the 3G Tacoma, but if Toyota had been a little bit more ambitious with their engine choice, I probably would have loved the platform. The 2.8l Duramax is a nice, torquey powerplant, but I just have no faith in the GM brand. So if I were shopping in the midsized segment, I'd gladly buy a Tacoma, even though I know that its 3.5l v6 isn't all that impressive.


At the end of the day, these are 1st world problems....all of the trucks on the market are decent enough (certainly better than they were 10-15 years ago) and the 3G Tacoma, for all of its faults, is even more capable and arguably just as reliable as its predecessors.

 

I’ll agree there is a “perceived” issue, not an actual one.

 

I've learned in 3 years of ownership of ax3rd gen that people who dont like how it drives think the truck has issues, in reality the truck is fine they just dont like how it drives.

Dont buy a truck if you dont like how it drives no matter the resale, reputation or popularity. If you dont like how it drives you'll be miserable. It's not the truck or manufacturers fault, you just chose a truck you didnt like.

Find a truck you do enjoy driving and buy that instead. It's okay if it's not a Tacoma, it's okay if it's not a Toyota as long as you like it. Those of us that like how the Tacoma drives will understand your decision.

 

Im confused. You previously acknowledged that the 2016 drives differently than the 2019. So why is it now a “perceived” issue.

 

The software flash makes both year trucks drive alike now. That was the issue.
Put ovtune in your 19 and you'll be saying the same thing again.

 

Im not disagreeing with a ything you said. This is why i asked the question. I bought a 2016 and didnt like the way it drive so i moved on. There isnt anything to convince me of that the truck is “fine”.

My question was, has the 2019 changed from the 2016? I was not debating if there was an issue with the truck.

Some feedback from those that have actually driven both, indicates that their may be an improvment with the 2019.