New Tacoma reliability...still good?

You have a cool mom

But yes I've read that it does drive like it's a much bigger BOF SUV which is why I'd rather have a Taco.

Weight and distribution do have a lot to do with how any vehicle handle.

Good to hear!

 

I mean is there any manufacturer that the frame will survive out there without proper maintenance?

 

well I picked it out for her. She wanted a tahoe but hadnt bought a vehicle in a long ass time and she drives aLOT.
Also if there are any problems who you think is gonna have to fix them/pick her up/deal with service??? thats right this guy right here.

I told her that these vehicles are much bigger than what she remembers and she will get in a lot of fender benders with tahoe and that the 4runner should give her
similar space and reliability.

So i convinced her into getting it and shes 50/50 on it.

she already backed up into a huge commercial trash can with it with only 5k miles on it..... lol

 

At least you're honest!

A lot people say "tAke It On A lOnG tEsT dRiVe"... even if I do have one overnight, I'd still be scared of driving it how I drive it and where I'd like to take it since it's not mine. Hence why I like to read from peoples experiences instead. I've heard nothing but positives from the Taco and 4Runner, but like I said the 4Runner is a bit heavier and drives like a Tahoe as you said.

 

I mean offroad they both will be fine.

the issue is actually living with it day to day.

drive them on the highway for 30+ minutes.

The tacoma is much more cramped than the 4runner.

 

Im in PA as well and just had my 2019 coated with fluid film recently. Wanted to get it done before the first winter.

 

96k hard, overloaded miles on my 18. Hasn’t skipped a beat.

 

We have the same issue here in NJ and always see rusted Jeeps and Tacos.

 

is there a no nut november thread on this website?

post a pic of the odometer in there and bunch of dudes will fail asap

 

Does she truly need a 4X4 BOF SUV tho?

Maybe a crossover with all of the parking sensors and would have been a better fit for her!

 

probably but she didnt want an suv like that at all. she wanted something like a truck.

she flat out refused to even test drive crossovers.

I offered to lend her my pilot for a week and she refused lol.

The deal on the 4runner was too good it didnt make sense to get any of the other trims.

it was like 37k out the door.

 

I can top that. My ex side swiped a Dumpster in her brand new Sienna with 22 miles on the clock.

 

This is an interesting video exploring the features of the 4Runner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq5A5ctua8s

 

The transmission does not have a problem.....at all. Actually the fact that it is holding up while shifting its little heart out as an indicator of how robust it is.
The issue with the truck shifting is the engine is tuned like a car engine rather than a truck engine. Seems like most enthusiasts are concerned with peak HP numbers like they are trophy truck drivers banging 4' whoops at 5K rpm. This truck probably has enough torque, but it is poorly placed and peaky. We need a flat torque curve with some grunt off the bottom. Look at stock dyno numbers for this truck, there is no torque below 2,500, none. So why is this a problem? Because with modern emissions and fuel economy measures we are seeing super over driven multi speed transmissions like in the Tacoma.....and no matter what, this 3.5 does not have the balls to push that brick down the highway at 70mph below 2K RPM, its just doesn't. Throw in a hill or slightly taller tires and you make the problem much worse. People opt for a manual to sidestep the "transmission problem" but the gear ratios are different, hence the manuals gets a worse MPG rating. Manual drivers can hold the gears longer and simply decide not to shift into 6th and might allow the engine to lug a bit, where the auto has no idea of how long the hill is and goes searching for more torque.

I'm not convinced the more modern eco friendly engines are going to be as reliable as the old ones either. The fact that we have a second set of injectors to clean the valves, because of the EGR bullshit....why have direct injection at all? Fuel economy? Lol.

 

You might drive more than any person on Earth.

 

I agree, they are pushing for a MPG# and causing more problems. To make it even worse I don’t think it even helps in the real world. If you have to climb a hill in a lower gear and higher rpm, you probably didn’t save anything. My Jeep had the start/stop thing, but it doesn’t know the difference between a stop light and a parking spot at Lowe’s lol. It shuts off and then I have to start it again to shift it into park and then turn it off. Seems to be the world we’re in though with every manufacturer. At least I don’t know of any new stuff that’s not overly complicated.

 

At the end of the day though this minivan engine still tows more, hauls more payload, does 0-60 faster, and gets better MPGs than the old 4.0L Tacos.

The complaints about the 3.5 really don't make a lot of sense to me. It's a fine engine. As is the tranny IMO.

 

My last vehicle was a 2000 4Runner. Loved it. 17 years and relatively problem free. Probably why I bought my Tacoma.
I've had my Tacoma for 3 years. 2 recalls, for the rear diff and the heater fan. Rear diff was OK, heater fan was replaced (I think they replaced them all).
Otherwise problem free.
And as much as I loved the 4Runner, I wanted a truck again.
As far as needing more power, sometimes I do notice it, but it's mostly a non issue since I have a heavy foot. And my Tacoma gets 19 mpg city even with a heavy foot.

 

i got k02s on my taco and i get 13 - 14 its awful.

 

whatever you buy, fluid film it from day 1, twice a year in your area... the reliability question is a bit more nuanced... all brands have issues you need to deal with during the infancy years of a product lifecycle... quality of manufacturing and assembly process as well as reliability engineering turn in to vehicle durability at some point... most would agree that Toyota has superior durability and ease of maintainability over its competitors, which is why their vehicle last so long and usually in some of the most extreme climates on earth. (all over the middle east and australia outback)... rarely do you see contractors, military, diplomats from any nation in anything but a hilux/tacoma or land cruisers etc...

Figure out what problems and issues you want to deal with and ultimately which manufacturer stands behind their products better in your opinion (you don't see Jeep replacing frames on wranglers out of warranty and surely they rotted just as bad as a Toyotas, if they were still being driven)

I'm thinking of buying a Tacoma myself. I have owned Japan built, Toyota SUV's my entire life... 4runners and now a GX (the wife's daily).

If you go the SUV route I would highly recommend a lightly used GX coming off of lease... they're as affordable as a Tacoma/ 4Runner with a superior fit/finish and just as if not more capable. You can add CC and MTS to any GX for under $500 plus you get a bulletproof drivetrain, the 4.6L V8 and 6speed, also KDSS which is glorious.