2019 Tacoma - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and the WTF

OK let’s do this. Bought a new 2019 TRD Sport double cab long bed. I’ve had it for 2 1/2 weeks and I put over 1200 miles on it. I am all ears to any suggestions and certainly education but here is my the good the bad the ugly and the WTF list:

THE GOOD -
1.) I have been driving trucks for over 30 years. Toyota trucks and Tacoma’s plus tow trucks, flatbeds etc. This is probably the nicest truck I have ever owned.

2.) The truck is pretty much a 4Runner with a 6 foot bed behind it. Leather interior moonroof dual climate control etc.

3.) very nice ride can’t complain about that, rides well and is very quiet.

4.) averaging over 21 miles to the gallon which is pretty good since my last truck, a 2002 Tacoma TRD extended cab V-6 manual transmission was getting about 18 1/2 MPH

5.) Sharp looking truck.

6.) Acceleration for the size truck is fairly impressive. But can it keep up with my 2000 Corvette or my 69 Camaro? Probably not. But for a pick up truck it does very well for itself.

THE BAD -
1.) 17 inch rims but the tires seem a little skimpy to me. Leave an awful lot of space in the wheel wells and I feel like there should be more tire there.

2.) A little bit better gas mileage would’ve been cool, but I guess I’m not going to bitch too much about that.

3.) A little more storage would’ve been nice in a cab. Perhaps something behind the backseat to keep a few tools and some crap. Seems like I barely have enough space To keep a small box of tiedowns behind the driver side back seat. Will make do, but just saying ...

4.) i’m over this but put it on the list anyway. The fact that one has to purchase an extra bed mat just to keep things from rolling around all over the back of the composite bed seems odd.

5.) I wish the truck was an inch and a half to 2 inches higher. I really don’t feel like investing in a lift kit at this point as I am now making truck payments. But if anyone knows of some shocks or something fill me in.
THE UGLY -
1.) The interior is very functional seats are comfortable leather is nice but I feel like the dash is an awful lot of plastic and pretty darn generic and plain looking. I guess I justify the interior as “it is a pick up truck” after all. Dressing it up a little would’ve been sweet.

2.) Wheels are OK. But again I got to go back to the tires. They just seem too small for the truck.

3.) Not a huge fan of the cheese grater front grill. Some people thinks it looks “mean”, But I am thinking cheese grater when I see it.

4.) Couple other things that could just be me being anal so I will leave them off the list because they’re not that big a deal.

5.) no Apple play or android play with the JBL premium navigation radio unit. Maybe this one belongs under the WTF section.

6.) The yellow lights. Come on man they can do better than these damn yellow interior lights, license plate lights, even the headlights are yellowish.

WTF -
1.) what in gods name is up with that artificial hood scoop? I mean what the deuce man, but couldn’t hollow it out and put a screen with a gray in it at least get some forest cool air into the engine compartment? I guess it looks OK but they could’ve done something to make it at least partially functional. I feel like it’s a little bit of a scam just sitting there doing nothing.

2.) on the steering wheel there’s a little button just above the lane departure button. It looks like the front end of a car with three lines in front of it. What the devil is that thing for? I have pushed it on pushed it off pushed it off that off I have no idea what it’s doing and I see no changes.

3.) The ECT power button. I’m all ears. Don’t Know what that is for either.

4.) Remote start. Every manufacturer makes remote starts for their cars now and are built into the key fob. Why doesn’t Toyota have that?

5.) door unlocked when you touch the handle. I love the idea if I’m going to have to have the key Farb in my pocket the door will unlock as I tend to open it. That is a wonderful thing. But WTF, it only unlocks the driver side door? So then I have to unlock all the doors to let other people in? That is in sane. Why can’t it work that I open my door and every unlocks. And why the e’f can’t I open the passenger side door with the key fob in my pocket and touching the handle. Just dumb.

OK, so that is my after 2 1/2 weeks 1200+ miles of ownership list. Feel free to hip me and comment. Thanks for this form to get this stuff out

 

Some of those questions can easily be answered by becoming familiar with the manual. It comes in the glove box of your truck. If yours did not come with one it is available online through Toyota.

 

Take the good with the bad, and enjoy your truck. Not much else to be said since you bought it on your own free will.

Read your manual. It tells you what the buttons are for, and what they do.

Some of your complaints like headlights, remote start, car play, were all addressed in the 2020's...

 

Yup, You have a Tacoma, Deal...

 

You can set all doors to unlock with the driver door, its in the manual but settings in the head unit.
ECT changes shift points. Try ECT and S4 in the city up to 45 mph, works great.
That button on the wheel with the front of the car I think is for the radar cruise control to adjust the distance of the vehicle in front of you. I dont use cruise control so I haven't used that button.

Apple car play is available in the 2020, you should have waited.
2018 has a nice bed cubby perfect for ratchet straps, you should be able to cut one in your bed, if you can get the box.

 

BTW, nice rant...

 

My double cab sport has storage behind both rear seats and under the rear seat. ECT button changes the shift point of the transmission, higher revs. The button the steering wheel is for the adaptive cruise control I.e. how far the car in front of you has to be before your truck slows down.

 

Search bar works if you care to use it.. but reading the manual works best. Enjoy your truck.

 

in your WTF section, RTFM; it will resolve 2, 3 and 5.

 

Moderaters do exist..

 

He got me at the part about thinking the scoop was functional when he bought the truck.

 

LOL. Before everyone comes out with the torches and pitchforks, I just want to make one thing clear. I do LOVE my new Tacoma TRD sport truck. As I previously mentioned it is the nicest truck I ever owned. So far for the limited time I have had it it has performed very well and has done everything I needed to do to date. That said I have not got off road with it or driven it in the snow yet. What I really wanted was a TRD off-road but the long bed won out over the added options the off-road version offered. I was originally in the market for a 2020 but got a pretty good deal on this 2019 leftover that was optioned as I wanted it, had a long bed but was the sport model instead of the off-road. From what I gathered I saved $8000+ by going with the 2019 left over.

So at the end of the day, I do love my new truck and enjoy it every time I am in it. I haven’t stressed it yet so we will see but I suspect it will do just fine. Just sharing some observations and questions. I know nobody likes to have their baby called ugly, and that certainly was not my intention.

P.S. I did Indeed know the hood scoop was ornamental and non-functioning prior to buying the truck. Just pointing out that they could’ve done a little something something with it to make it at least somewhat functional.

 

ECT mode button changes shift points helps with towing and power.
Storage under read seats and behind rear seats.
No one ever said it was a hood scoop think more along the lines of hood vent. New GM 3/4 & 1 tons have a fake scoop also.

Place owners manual near toilet! Enjoy!

 

WOW!
What a list.....

 

Better yet, download a pdf of the manual or use the toyotaowners app, then there is access to the manual at any time.
Unless you have it near the toilet for backup paper, in that case the phone will not work out too well.

 

Nah. Me and @Chicken_Taco are old friends. He took that bullet for me in Da Nang, and I’m godfather to his 11 daughters.

 

at least you don't have the fuel pump prob

 

Obviously you have not been around the chevy and gmc 2500/3500 with the L5P diesel motor... that scoop is functional, and has ducting, directly to the air box for ram air. Ski

 

Good place for water coming over your hood to flood your engine. Functional air intakes on the hood of a 4WD is full-retard (no offence)