New Member, First Post

New to Tacoma Forum, but have been active on the FJ Cruisers Forum since 2006, under the user name Kansas Law Dog. I don't own a Tacoma yet, but planning to purchase in October 2020. I need to sell the FJ (not easy to give up), but I'm 72 years young and it has become too much of a chore to lift my kayak on the roof of the FJ. I pull a small trailer (teardrop) for about 2-1/2 months each summer. Living in Phoenix, I need to escape the heat, so either the US or Canadian Rockies are ideal.

I'm not new to Toyota, purchased my first in 1978. It was a green FJ40 that I owned (1978-1991), then a Series 80 Landcruiser (1991-1999), then a Series 100 Landcruiser (1999-2010), and then a 2007 FJ Cruiser (2006-present). I'm been a continuous owner of Landcruiser (yes even Toyota admits the FJ Cruiser is part of the Landcruiser family) for 41+ years. This is why it will be difficult to sell my FJ Cruiser.

I'll wait for the 2020 because Toyota is going to reconfigure the CPU to reduce gear searching (hold the shift point longer in a lower gear), which has been an issue on the 2016-19 Tacomas. I've slowed down a lot from my younger years, but pulling a trailer (even one that only weighs 1800 pounds) will be annoying if the power curve on the 3.5L V6 is searching for the right gear all the time. Even the 4.0L V6 in the FJ would search, depending on the speed and incline, but the 4.0L V6 paired with the 5 speed AT transmission has been bullet proof for 183,000 miles.

My specifications will be Tacoma 4x4, TRD Off Road, 3.5L V6, 6 speed AT, short bed, with Technology Package and Tonneau Cover. Yes, I'm picky. Also, living in Phoenix, the vehicle needs to be a light exterior color, either white or sky silver (definitely no black, blue, red, or green). The trick will be to get the dealer to order it without all the bling: i.e. wheel lock, spare tire lock, exhaust tip, etc., etc.

I've spent some time looking at the torque, horsepower curve discussion on this site, and decided it was time to stop being a lurker.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

confidence in the AT? i ask because you say you're picky. if i was picky, and Lord knows i am, then i would stay away from these ATs forever. just curious. also, since you've researched the powertrain, any thoughts or interested in tuning? OVTune if you've seen it..

 

Glad you posted up some stakes & decided to stay a spell. Welcome

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to TW

 

I thought long and hard about AT vs MT when ordered the 07 FJ, and went with the 5 speed AT. I haven't regretted it once. I hope the 6 speed AT is a reliable and trouble free.

I saw the OVTune in one of the discussions here, but if I'm going to purchase a new 2020, I want to make sure a modification like that will not result in a void / exception type impact on the 3 year, 36,000 miles warranty. Also, I wouldn't expect a recall notice on a 5th year of the 3rd generation Tacoma, but if such should be issued, I want to make sure I won't have to undo the OVTune to get the recall validated.

 

gotcha. best of luck with your purchase!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW. Be ready to spend money.

 

Welcome!