How would you redesign 4th Gen Tacomas?

The audio system at every level needs a revamp. I'm not sure how they managed to build a audio system that sounds no better than the 1st gen Tacoma.

 

They’ll have to give the 4G taco a better sound system to drown out the sound of the 2.3L turbo-four screaming at 6000RPM

 

You can get a Tundra bed step, I got the OEM one for my Tacoma, pricey but I love it.
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...KABAbABD8gBCMABAQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

 

Like too see the 4th gen. Come out with a unibody like the Ridgeline has.

 

I would start with a turbo diesel and a real manual transmission (The RA60/1 doesn't count) then make the rest fit around that.

 

beating a dead horse here, but transmission.

 

Turbo V8 with the front end of a 4 runner and straight front axle and a little tiny hooker that can also fix things when they break

 

Mines an ‘07 and I would definitely take knees out. Trick is not to hit people. Those things won’t come back because engineers have figured out better designs and computers have nearly perfected drag. My car has radiators in front, even though it’s mid engine, the front has to catch sufficient air.

 

I’m just amazed by that knowledge. It’s ok if a big fucking truck that weighs 5k lbs hits you but a low 3k lb sports car is where we draw the line? Come on

 

Caymans are nice, those are actually one of my favorite newer Porsche. I just love the 996 also. Lucky for me I get to drive them all, I work at a European shop here in the Silicon Valley so I get all kinds of interesting cars in. Of course newer ones are faster but even 997 starts to feel too big to me. I’ve owned all kinds of fun cars over the years but the most fun I’ve had in the awesome mountain roads here is with my’86 951. That little car is so under rated!

People these days just have no idea what fun a sub 3k pound car is. In my opinion the 986/987/996 are the last of the true sports cars. Then tech and too much engineering took over.

 

Opinion. We all have them.
Asses. Every single one of them is different and what is uncomfortable for one ass is glorious for another ass.
Price. What is too much for one is cheap for another.
Quality. Again, everyone has their own metric for measuring quality. Is it measured by reliability and durability or is your metric door and hood gaps or hard plastic that scratches vs soft leather covered door panels.

 

I think in the area of comfort, seating position, etc. is a matter of opinion and usage of the vehicle. Today, many people (I would include myself in this group) buy vehicles for family and daily usage - most flock to bigger/other competitors because they offer more room and higher scale interior finishes, see the new f150, Silverado, etc. People want leather interiors and a large back seat for the family.

They also want a great looking rig, the looks are primarily what drove me to buy a taco, along with the practicality of having a smaller pickup that I can use to haul the occasional load from home depot, I totally own that. I prefer to sacrifice some of the comfort for exterior design and reliability and resale, full well knowing there are other options that offer more interior space, comfort, refinement, etc. And I am ok with sacrificing those items for a kick ass "turn your head when you drive by" truck.

I think where the problem comes in is people who would be better suited with a full size buy the tacoma because it looks awesome, but then it doesnt live up to their standards and they think, "how crappy of Toyota" when in reality the truck was never meant for that person in the first place.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/busted-deer-totaled-taco-nsfw-dead-deer-pic.699947/

pedestrian safety? At the cost of totaled vehicle

 

I agree, its possible to expect too much of a vehicle. For instance I'd much rather take a Tahoe on a long road trip than a Tacoma, and I can't expect my Taco to do everything. But at the prices they charge and given the pedigree of Toyota trucks as lifetime vehicles, you'd figure the manufacturer would have put a little more effort in some key places like they did with other models like my FJ and 4Runner (which were absolutely fantastic vehicles).

You have made a great point and its well taken. I really only remark on the marginal cheapening of quality I've noticed in their products over time.

 

I more or less agree. I will say the truck is great for what it is, just ain’t worth MSRP in my opinion. Arguably its not worth 39k new because I paid 33.8 for mine and I’m not the only person who’s gotten a deal (obviously). Pretty sure that’s with in a few thousand of what my friend paid for his ‘05 new. I don’t feel so bad considering it was almost 15 years later. Having come from a ratty ass 20 year old XJ that I wheeled the hell out of I think I might be as little more pleased with my truck then others but most of what you said was on point. The seats do suck for a new vehicle, drum brakes are just inexcusable and frankly the power train could be a little better. But hey, at least it’s got stupid high resale so my thought was it’s always easy to sell.

 

Very well put, and I'm the same way - I like my truck a lot and it does what it is supposed to do. And I gotta say a major major plus about the Tacoma is Toyota's choice to keep a manual transmission available on the 3rd gen, meaning they still cater to their submarkets and I know they are not totally out to lunch.

 

Make it a Hybrid.

 

Id like to see 300-350hp.
rear disc brakes
manual transfer case
steel bumpers
id prefer a column shifter, to save space in the console.
led lights on everything.
either taller cab, shorter seats to make it easier to get out of.
remote start doesn't shut off after unlocking, dumbest thing ever.
add some usb ports, remove qi charger
adding a plug and play oem auxillary switch setup like you see on some of the fullsize trucks

 

POS truck.
What I hate most is the rear end whining ... in the third gen forum.
Sell it. Trade it.

 

You could always buy a Colorado to get rear disc brakes and spend all your time sampling stale coffee and doughnuts at the service department. The Tacoma with its drum brakes stops in about the same distances as the other trucks in the midsized truck category.