Moving from 2nd Gen to 3rd...what to know

Can’t wait for the 1.2L motor with 42MPG.

 

Like many, I absolutely fell in love with my 3rd Gen, then promptly came on here and was devastated to find out how “bad” it was. It took me a month or two to realize it was mostly BS.

The 3rd Gen is every is every bit as good as the 2nd. Like every vehicle, including both previous Tacoma Gen’s, it had a few kinks to work out, I would probably point you to a 19 or 20.

But overall I think TW is starting to come around to the 3rd Gen, many of the the butthurt 2nd Gen’ers have either come around or gotten board and moved on, and the vast majority of us 3rd Gen owners that love our trucks are more and more willing to confidently talk about how much we love our trucks.

I would recommend an OR, possibly without the premium tech package if you don’t need it. I really think you’d love it, they ride and drive great, are tough and capable off road, and get pretty dang decent gas mileage for a 2 ton + naturally aspirated truck. Go for it, we’d love to have you in the 3rd Gen club!

 

I didn’t actually say it was better. I tried to clarify in a later post. Long story short, it could have been the vehicles proceeding each. Had a 200 series LC as a daily driver prior to the 16. 18 Tundra prior to the 20.

 

Great input
Troll

 

Definitely not a troll. Was giving my personal opinion on why I just bought a 2nd gen instead because all the threads on 3rd gen diff howl. To each their own.

 

I've really enjoyed the 8 months I've been in my DCLB-OR. 2020 models have the adjustable seat and a few other upgrades but if you can grab a deal on a 2019, go for it, since all the important stuff is unchanged.

I agree that the transmission critiques are overblown. No complaints with mine.

 

I had a 2014 DCSB sport and went to a 2018 DCLB sport and absolutely love it. The 3rd gen is a better truck in every way. The one and only thing I miss on my 2nd gen is the little pocket on the left side of the steering wheel. My wallet fit in the one on the 2nd gen but it’s smaller and more of a coin pocket on the 3rd gen and my wallet doesn’t fit in it. Go ahead and upgrade, you won’t regret it.

 

I'd do it...

 

As I say to people with motorcycles, ride your own ride and don't worry about what other people think.

 

Agree. I purchased mine the last year of the second gen...because the new 3 rd gens were too expensive, unreliable and had pussy engines. Never regretted it. Wait till they get off their asses and replace the minivan motor and the cab design. .

 

That means the second gen is every bit as good as the 3rd.
The 3rd prioritized 2 miles per gallon for 80% of the torque available at 2k rpm in the second gen. Basically, it became less drivable as a Truck. Also, the newer is quieter but with no more room and costs a bundle more. Sure, crawl control is great when most never use it. Seriously, I like my second gen but as for what I don’t like, they didn’t fix without making sacrifices.
Yes, I’d buy a 3 rd gen over the competition. But there is no way I’d trade up to a 3 g With a 2 g when it’s really going to be......trading sideways.

 

The entire interior and layout is way better in a 3rd gen. 2nd gens are great trucks but there is nothing about the 2nd gen I wished I had on my 3rd. For me everything I had wanted updated about my 2013 was in the 3rd gen.

 

I hear you.....
The few times I’ve driven a 3 g I agree about many things. But, the seating and room is the same. Personally, the old Nissans have more room.

I’ll take the 4.0 any day of the week..
you can keep up with traffic all day under 2 k rpm and leave
most under 3 k while the 3.5 is deciding what gear to use. Now, the 4.0 with a six speed and direct injection, it would different conversation.

We have a 3.5 version in wife’s Venza. It will really scoot.....but it’s 5k plus to do it. At that rpm, any advantage in economy is lost. The 3 g superiority is all when unloaded.

 

My '13 would cruise ~70 MPH at the sunny side of 2k RPM. My '20 sits around 1600 RPM at the same speed on the same piece of road. IDK what 3g you tested or how you drive, but my '20 is superior to my old '13 in every measurable way.

 

Plus mine tows way better as well. Has plenty of power to pull the boat down low and when you spin those engines they are snappy!

When the 4th gen comes out, guys will come out and bitch and say the 3rd is superior, better built, simpler, blah blah blah. In reality the new generation will address what consumers wanted updated on the 3rd gen. It’s a cycle that Toyota’s history is built on.

 

I have an '18 V6 auto Sport, and it's a good truck. I've found most of the common issues to be overblown, personally. Power is just fine, the transmission is just fine, it's been good to me.

 

1600 at 70 mph ? Seriously. Did you have a 40 mph tail wind and oversized tires or leave the readers at home.
The best I’ve seem at 70 in a third gen is north of 1800 and then it would not stay. Like my Venza, you have to near 4 k to get much power. The 4.0 by longer stroke nature, has much more torque lower end and is rock solid on grades at 70 mph in OD. No one is saying the added horsepower doesn’t help on the high end, and the mileage has to be better with the direct injection. But it’s a trade off minivan
/car motor. It will be fine with a turbo or as a charger for a hybrid. Till then, it’s no faster to 60 and a compromise.

 

I went from a 2011 to a 2019 and am really disappointed in the power and the trans specs say it has about 40hp more it seems like it has
100 less, plus the transfer is always shifting up and down on the slightest grade. I wish I would have read more reviews b4 buying

 

I forgot to mention my fuel economy went from 18 to 16 if I am lucky! Poor design toyota