Test Drive Disappointment - keeping Gen 2!

So my 2009 TRD Off-Road has 155k and getting time for a bunch of parts replacement so I figured I'd see how the 2020 TRD Off-Road was as a possible replacement. Well it was OK but I was totally not impressed by driving it. Best things were push button start, the center display/radio, and the nice new paint.

Downhill from there. Still no rear disc brakes. The engine was not very responsive compared to the 4.0. The 6 speed trans was kind of doggy to me so put the ECT mode on and worked a little better but it is coupled with a car engine so what could I expect. The rear bumper is plastic junk and will rip off. The front end has that huge nose for no reason and the lower part will rip off on the first steep descent so for a real set of bumpers add $$. Same Toyota 2 piece drive shaft and rear springs I have replaced on my 2009 so would have to do them add $$.

So they gave me a price out the door with only the wheel/tire and Tech packages and after all the distribution add ons and dealer stuck on stuff (all their vehicles had them included paint protection and the junk tube steps that will also get ripped off) they were at about 40k.
TRD premium pack with dual zone controls, auto headlights, moon roof, and leather (hard feeling compared to the cloth) add 5K.
Advanced Tech pack adds MTM modes and crawl control add $$.
LED headlights another pack add $$.
Better buy an extended warranty to cover all the electronics!

Bottom line is I'm keeping and fixing my 2009 for about the sales tax and can live with the worn look. It rides, drives, and shifts better in my opinion and I don't care who bumps shopping carts into it anymore. I also tow a boat and launch in salt water.

Other items between Gen 2 and Gen 3:
My bed mat would work on Gen 3.
Frame the same so all my steel skid plates could be moved to Gen 3.
ARE shell would not work on Gen 3 as higher than new cab and tailgate diff.

I do not mean to offend any members that have a Gen 3 Tacoma.

 

Should have test drove a Tundra.

 

Good reasoning. The ‘09 you have with 155K should last you for many more years/miles with proper maintenance.

 

My dealer called me about a '20 AC MT-6, and I drove it, but I'm not 100% in love with the "Safety" and other tech shit. If I wanted a vehicle that would dodge pedestrians I'd get a f***ing Tesla!

Charlie

 

LOL, Tesla not a good idea either, Tesla on auto pilot rammed CT. State Trooper car and another today on auto pilot!

 

I don't have any use for a vehicle that doesn't go the way I steer it. Period!

I'm hearing a lot of push back on the tech crap. My GF had to take a driving course (because traffic ticket), and she reported that half of the people in the course were bitching about the self driving features of their vehicles. I trained at Bob Bondurant's driving school in Dallas, and that's a problem I can do without!

Charlie

 

Lol

 

I hear you. Sometimes I think I want a new truck, but almost nothing about the 3rd gen excites me. Dual zone climate would be great for the wife but not worth having a car payment again.

Like yours, mine runs, drives, has plenty of power, and rarely has issues. Like yours, it isn't as pretty as it once was. But, I'm sticking with it until something that excites me comes out.

 

I agree. Every time I rent a car (about twice a month for work), the first thing I do is shut the nannies off. It boggles my mind when I read magazines who praise the technology. I guess other people need it, but when driving in these parts you are going to have close calls. The lights and beeps just scare the shit out of my and make me more likely to hit stuff.

 

Same reasons my parents just bought a '19 Frontier Pro-4x with the luxury package. They looked at all of the mid-size trucks and liked it the best.

 

If I want to go styling I can take my FJ TTUE. But when I'm working my old 2010 AC MT-5 does the job. It's not ugly, and it gets 22 MPG reliably. I don't know where I'll be in 5 years, but right now I'm exactly where I want to be.

Charlie

 

I have an 07 TRD Sport and was lucky enough to qualify and receive a new frame. My loaner was a 2019 TRD. Couldn't wait to get my truck back. The transmission left me a little baffled.

 

sat in one (TRD Pro) at a dealership and it seemed cool inside,
but didn't actually go for a test drive to see if it sucked or not

 

If you want to see why self driving cars are actually needed, just go to your local shopping mall. Park somewhere where you can safely observe folks parking their vehicles. It'll take about 30 minutes to make you a believer. Words fail me on how some of these folks passed their road tests.

As for the 3rd gen trucks, I keep looking at them, but just can't pull the trigger for the exact same reasons as the OP.

 

I live in NJ. I get it. But it's not for me.

 

Don't get me wrong. It's not for me either. I can actually drive and kind of enjoy it.

 

Save $400/mon from now until your gen 2 dies, and you can pay cash for whatever truck you want

 

This pretty well sums up our situation too. We have owned our 2005 Taco since new, so longer than any other vehicle except my '72 Chevy (avatar pic, 42+ years). Only ~97K miles on the Tacoma, lots of life left in it. The new stuff just doesn't do it for me, especially all the electronic nannies.

 

Isn't the 3rd Gen 3.5L DIY oil change a nightmare ?

That & payments will make me keep my 2nd Gen(s)

 

Not really.