Looking at Tacoma

No transmission problems with the 20, however with that said the shifting can be annoying. I really believe where you drive makes a big difference. Near my work there are slight hills and the truck always trying to keep he RPM low by shifting sucks. Near my home is totally flat and I don’t notice it as much. I am 6’3” but thin and I would not have bought this truck if I was any taller or bigger. I think you’d be happier in a full size truck, or maybe one of the other mid sized trucks with a different design.

IMO the Tundra looks terrible, needs a redesign.

 

There is a reason the biggest thread in the 3rd Gen Tacoma section of TW is the OVTune one. The automatic transmission in these trucks are not necessarily physically bad, but the programming for them suck donkey dong. OVT has worked magic and figured out how to sweet talk them into acting like a proper transmission instead of acting like a 12 y/o throwing a temper tantrum when you want it do something. His stuff is a marvel but considering what you are dealing with atm I would suggest a diffrent vehicle, one where the transmission doesn't warrant 3rd party support as soon as you drive off the lot. As for a Tundra, is it 2021 or 2022 model that is getting overhauled? Today's Tundra is a dinasour.

 

You'll miss the F150. Let them make it right. I tried the tacoma and its a cute little grocery getter, but you'll miss the full size. Trust me!

 

Wow! Fast responses!

My local dealer is really nice and allowed me to drive the DCTRDOR 6MT over the weekend. I put about 50 miles on it. With the power seats, I had nearly the headroom of my STX with manual seats.

The only two things I didn’t like were the tall gearing in R - 1st and the center console corner digging into my right upper side of my calf.

I as thinking about applying a piece of adhesive backed neoprene to the side of the center console. Otherwise, the cab was very comfortable.

My wife and 17yo daughter won’t drive the F150 due to its size. Not to mention the transmission issue scares the heck out of them. Size is one reason why I’m looking at the Tacoma and not a Tundra... and price.

Chris

 

I have no issues with size, comfort, ride, power. I’m an older 5’11/200 sized guy. I drove it, liked it, bought it. Tacoma’s may be small for some. You should also test a Tundra to be sure ... why not try out the other brands also? I suspect every make/model will have some issue. It could be you bought a broken truck.

 

In my area, Chevy Colorados are rusted out heaps. I had severe quality issues with several Chevy products years back and don't want to take the chance. Plus, don't they use the same 10R80 transmission with one less gear? I know that Chevy is having a lot of issues with the transmission, too. GMC isn't any better than Chevy. I like the Frontier except that there isn't one new truck in Virginia that has power seats. I sat in one and my head rubs the headliner.

I could get a good deal on the Ford Ranger Lariat but I'm afraid that I'll encounter more headaches and warranty issues. It seems like Ford's quality is falling into the crapper.

 

I know we meme on them a lot, but the Honda Ridgeline might be worth looking at in this case. They are comfy and have good road manners, but also have a usable bed.

 

The Colorado has the most leg room I have ever experienced. I’m 6’1 and I couldn’t slide the seat all the way back, I never felt that before. The Tacoma works fine for me but if my legs were longer it would be small for my liking. It’s worth a look at your height but Chevy dealers are the sleaziest I’ve ever experienced. Every vehicle looks bad in online Forums, out of 14 new cars I’ve owned only one problem I saw online existed for me or every owner I spoke to. The auto is fine, coming from a long time stick shift driver.

 

The 10 speeds in the Fords are complete garbage. I too had many problems (including tranny shifting issues) that Ford could never figure out no matter how times I took it in. I came from an '18 Raptor and as some have said, the shifting in the '20 is like butter smooth with zero hesitation in comparison to the Ford 10 speed. The power is just fine and as always with toyota the reliability is solid. The comments on this site align more with an anti-Tacoma site than what you would expect from a Tacoma fan site. So take the comments here with a grain of salt. The biggest issue is just making sure you fit and are comfortable with it. I'm 6' and around 220 and have no complaints.

 

Calebc,

Did you sell or trade-in your Raptor? I'm afraid to sell the F150 outright because I'm afraid it's not safe. On the other hand, I have followed every dealer recommendation and it's fresh from the dealership where they said it's all fixed now. When the truck downshifted from 70mph with CC on, I was on I77 in WV and they had 3 inches of snow and ice on the road. I was 1/2 a truck length ahead of an 18-wheeler when it decided to downshift from 10th to 4th, on a curve. As luck would have it, I had just passed the slick areas about 2 miles before and had set CC to 70mph a mile before the issue happened. I remember looking into my rearview mirror because I thought someone had rear-ended me only to see an SUV swerving all over the place. I guess it was like being brake-checked without brake lights. They were blowing the horn and screaming at me as they passed me when I pulled over to check my shorts.

I really didn't have any complaints about the Tacoma's interior space except my right leg and center console. The backseats didn't have a lot of room but my last kid at home is 17 and we can take the Accord when it's the three of us. Otherwise, it's normally two adults in the front and occasionally our fur-child, Sprout, our Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix. She doesn't care where she rides as long as she gets to go!

At this point in my life, I'm concerned about owning a vehicle that is going to be reliable and drama-free, but still has some utility that I want and as looks that are appealing. That rules out the Ridgeline. I simply don't like how it looks.

Chris

 

The new frontier is coming out soon.

 

I traded my Raptor but not in on my Tacoma...actually in on my wife's Jeep. I don't think I could have sold it private party with how crappy that trans was.

Quick history on my last couple vehicles:
'03 Tacoma
'07 Tundra
'14 Tacoma
'16 Tundra
'18 Raptor
'20 Tacoma

I keep coming back to the Tacoma, it's by far my favorite vehicle. When I have the larger trucks, I usually also have a car to go with it (GTI, etc) If/When Toyota ever updates the Tundra, I'll revisit it, until then I'll stick with what I have as I'm really happy with my '20 Tacoma (I actually also have a '16 4Runner that I was planning to keep but I enjoy the Tacoma so much that I'll be selling it shortly).

 

OP buy a manual if you can.

 

Go drive a loaded Offroad or Limited and decide for yourself. When using the automatic, make sure to enable the ECT button. It will give you a little more peppy response driving around town.

 

What he said. 6'1", and I really like my truck. 1 year in, no real complaints.

Truck wise, I've owned Land Cruisers since 1994, and would not consider anything outside of Toyota (except F250/350). Nothing else has reputation for quality and longevity.

 

Take a Tundra for a test drive

 

What in the motherland of Jesus Christ our Savior is this individual that calls himself @gamason saying about our beloved, reliable, manly, powerful trucks!?

grocery geTTER!?

GET OUT OF THEreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

51 6’3 260

Had two f150’s a 2014 new and and 2016 new. Ran away from all the eco boom problems . Drove a 2017 Tundra trd off-road 4x4 for 3yrs. Got tired of fitting it in parking and everything else. Now I drive a 2020 dcsb Tacoma trd sport 4x4 and couldn’t be happier . I fit anywhere I want and the truck is just plain easier to live with day in and out . I’m never going to need the larger towing of a full-size truck. My gas mileage was 15.7 with the Tundra. The Tacoma knocks out 20-21avg all day . If you do drive a Tundra get the weekend loan . I thought I liked it until I took a 2 hour trip . Never did that again. With the adjustable seat of the 2020 Tacoma I would turn the key and drive to Alaska from Florida where I live and never blink an eye.