Love my 3rd gen but it needs the ovtune

So this is my second Tacoma, a 2019 dclb. I came from a 2006 with the 4.0 and loved that truck. I’ve owned this truck for year now and I’m just not loving it. I read about all the powertrain issues and test drove it and didn’t really see an issue. After driving it this long I think I just flat out sucks. What pisses me off the most is it constantly shifting into some high ass gear in town just bogging the shit out the engine that has no power to begin with. That ecoboost sounds really nice right now but I just don’t know. Tacoma looks awesome I just want some real power.

 

Sell it and get what you want. Life is to short to not be happy. But the grass isn’t always greener. I personally love my Tacoma at 1.5 years now and love it more and more. If I didn’t she would be gone. Get what makes you happy and call it a day. Good luck!

 

Don’t get an Eco unless you want 3x the power and 2x the mileage.

Also your dick will get bigger.

 

I drive mine in S mode, ECT on and 5th gear and press the pedal a little harder. This is how it should drive and shift in D in my honest opinion. It took me a few months to learn the gas pedal on this truck, but now I've got it figured out, it ain't bad at all.

 

Try OVTune and you’ll probably end up keeping it, lol. I’m pretty sure Matt offers handhelds now that making tuning even easier.

I hated the way my ‘16 3.5 auto drove and instantly regretted selling my old 6spd Cummins once I drove the taco home... after OVTune I loved it. Much more low end power, reasonable shifting, and better mpg. Yes, it’s $700... but it’s worth it (unless you don’t really have a good reason to keep the truck)... but F150’s are insanely boring imo

Since that truck I’ve owned 2 more 3rd gens, a 6spd TRD OR dcsb and now an auto 2.7 4x2 since I moved back to FL and everything’s flat. There’s nothing quite like a Tacoma, even if you sell this one you’ll probably end up in another soon.

 

It has more power than the 4.0

 

I bought ordered my 2016 new. I enjoyed it while I was in the Midwest. Then when I moved out to Wyoming, I hated how it performed at higher intestate speeds and mountain passes. I’d get all the transmission tsbs and would see little improvement but would never eliminate my annoyance while driving. Hated using cruise control.

I went the OVTune route and I truly enjoy my truck. I highly recommend.

 

If you hate your truck for all the reasons listed, yet love it otherwise, tune it. What is $700 (ish) if you're planning on trading it and taking a much bigger hit? I was in your same exact boat and am more than happy at this point, after tuning the truck. I still don't agree with Toyota's decision on the double over-drive, but it is much, much better than it was.

 

I don’t get the complaints about the auto. I’ve had a loaner a few times and I thought the truck shifted fine and would get up and go when you pressed the pedal down.

Sounds like you should have bought an Ecoboost in the first place man. Third gen sure is pretty tho.

 

Did you drive it on the highway with some decent elevation? They’re fine around town or where it’s flat... but in the mountains it’s a whole different story.
Definitely needs OVTune with gear lock imo

Now that I’m back in FL, a stock auto is fine. I actually just picked up a 4x2 since I moved back

 

If you want real power get a v8 or a turbocharged diesel.

This is a v6 4600 pound truck, which actually drives pretty good for what it is. MT helps with lower geared rear end.


Like others have stated, life is too short, get what will make you happy.

Good luck !

 

I did a bunch of highway but no serious elevation changes, that definitely could have made a difference for sure. I just expected the transmission to be much worse with all the complaints. All autos shift weird to me in some form or another.

The MT in the third gen is pretty different then most others I’ve had. I adapted and have no complaints.

 

Why did you sell the 2006 ? You enjoyed driving that truck, nothing wrong with looking for an older one again.

 

The MT was a bit odd to me too, but it’s not a fault of the transmission. Factory tune is just bad, I flashed it with OVTune in “Full Otto” mode and it drove way smoother. Low end torque, predictable throttle response, and about 2-3mpg better. I really loved it after that!

 

Well I went out and floored the shit out of it and, she put me back in the seat. I’ve decided this is all in my head and I’ll probably will be getting the tune

 

That’s the spirit!
And if it’s within your budget... you should look into OV’s twin turbo kit

 

What about trading for a 4runner? If they weren't 5k more when i bought I would have considered it alot more

 

Atta boy! Just got to kick her in the ass, she'll go.

 

Sell it. Not gonna hurt my feelings.