First Tacoma Observations

So for the last twelve years I’ve had 3/4 ton trucks, gas and diesel. Changed careers and for the last few years have had a Dodge Durango R/T. Last week I just bought my first Tacoma a 2016 Limited Double Cab Long Bed.
I needed a truck I could take clients in and be an office on wheels, so the Limited was the way to go for me.
First two weeks of ownership here are some questions and observations:
- I found out my truck was bought in Canada by someone who lived in Michigan. It was the only way to get a 2016 Limited in the long bed as that was not an option in the states. Are there any differences that would cause issues? From what I’ve read there are no real differences between Canuck/US spec’d trucks

- Turning on the ECT makes this a whole different truck. Why wouldn’t Toyota make the truck factory drive like it does with ECT on?

- Toyota should have made the wheel wells just over 4’ apart inside so you could lay a 4X8 sheet down in the bed. That might be expecting too much, but this isn’t a Honda Ridgeline, people do real work with their Tacoma’s, I think for a midsize truck fitting a sheet of plywood or drywall flat makes sense

- Any issue installing the OVtune since the truck was originally from the Canadian market? Is there different ECU coding that would stop me from re-flashing?

- I changed the Limited Grill to one I bought off a 19 sport on CL. The Limited grille is ugly and it was a dark gray. The rest of the accents are black and chrome, the gray doesn’t even match, so I swapped it out.

- anyone else with the brown leather know how susceptible it is to fading? Anyone use any UV blocker they recommend?

So far I’ve been very pleased with the Tacoma other than the throttle response everyone complains about. The truck does a thousand little things well, it’s very intuitive. It handles about 90% of everything I need to do in a truck, and makes a great daily driver. I see a small lift/leveling kit in the very near future. Anyway thanks and happy to be here!

 

With respect to the ECT button question, it's my opinion that this is Toyota's way of getting around CAFE regulations. There are a number of different makes and models of vehicles currently on the market that have the same issue, and the makers have installed a "sport" button to allow you to drive the vehicle like it was intended. If you don't like it, you can either mod it to be on all the time, or get involved in politics.

 

With respect to the 4' bed...there are notches for and aft of the wheel wells that a 2x6 can lay in and then you will have 4'9" of bed space.

 

Welcome to TW, thanks for making your first post and about a 3rd Gen to boot, positive, i see a bright future for you here. BTW nice Truck!

 

Did the Limited's have sport wheels in Canada?

 

Why does it have Sport wheels?

 

Congratulations... you get the coveted Low Windshield Washer Fluid warning light..!

 

i agree 110% although some here say it does nothing or very little. what you say above is why i bought the mod "ECT on at start up" i drive with it on all the time.

 

The sport wheels were on it when I bought it

 

I'd pull that air dam right off. Other than that, nice truck! Do you have a bed mat?

 

I’ve been thinking the same thing. Other models it’s blacked out. It’s like a dick on a fish just doesn’t belong

 

If you off road at all it’s going to get ripped off anyway.

 

I do not have a bed mat

 

Your truck is over three years old. If the leather still looks show-room clean that should tell you something and since there's no older Gen 3's it's a pretty good indicator as well. As to product to keep the leather nice, look at the 303 products.

 

"Fish dicks", badass coveted Canadian model Taco, and already talk of modding/lifting.

Oh you're going to get along here swell my friend. You will get along just fine.

If only you had a MT. Oh well...perfect is the enemy of good

 

303 on the leather and plastic. Heck tires and everything else.

 

Truck only had 31,000 on the odo, so it didn’t see much use.

 

With lower quality leather sometimes it's time and exposure to heat/cold that takes a toll. I think the Toyota factory leather is pretty good. You should be good to go.

 

Why is the limited emblem on the forward part of the bed????

 

The Canadian Limiteds came with the 17” sport wheels instead of the US 18” limited wheels which is why you have those wheels.

I’ve never seen a paint matched air dam or paint matched mud flaps before, makes me wonder with the limited badge in the wrong place too if they resprayed the truck and painted the mud flaps and air dam in the process.

Either way the truck looks good, I love that brown leather interior.