Love Hate Relationship

Good points. I'd also say that it takes a little while for the truck to learn how you drive. I know my truck certainly drove better after a few thousand miles, and even better after about 10k. I think the learning logic for the transmission utilizes an iterative learning alogrithm, so time is your friend in that regard.

 

My 2016 AT had the known shifting issues, I took it to the dealership for the TSB install and now all is good. It still rides like a truck though, not comfortable at all. I'm not complaining, that's just how Tacomas ride. Maybe a Honda Ridgeline is what you're looking for? I test drove a 2021 and the ride is amazing.
Good luck!

 

I haven’t felt the need to tune my ‘21. It shifts like a normal truck should and it moves when I get on it. I know I probably don’t know what I’m missing with OV tune. But this ‘21 is a helluva lot quicker than my old 1st gen taco, that’s for sure! One thing that makes me kinda wary about the OV tune is if you’re running the motor even just a little harder on average, then you’re putting more wear and stress on it over time. Is it enough to make a significant difference in its lifespan with regular driving habits? I don’t know, but it’s something I think about. I am considering a tune on my truck, and I hope to have this truck for the next couple decades, so longevity is #1 for me.

 

Doesn't help a bit with all the gear shifting on the highway.

Cruise on 65, flat highway and my Tacoma still shifts gears seemingly for no reason.

 

My truck lugged around and was always shifting too soon. It really felt like it was overworking itself. So in contrast, after the tune it's smooth, power where it expect, and it's predicable. To me that's better for longevity then the last Toyota update.

 

Maybe try a Ridgeline

PS I’m Joking

 

Same here my 2020 is a beast on the highway having no problem at at all keeping up with traffic. I don't drive more than 75 mph, but sometimes i have to slow down when it gets away from me. I've towed my boat for daily fishing trips, i thought i may have issues with sluggish performance coming from a 4.7 tundra v8, but nothing of the sort.

 

Trade it get a manual . Problem solved .

 

I commute 90 miles per day for work at 70. I'm not sure what people are dealing with, but I think the shifting complaints are largely overblown; especially if you're doing 70 using cruise. I have a little more shifting than my last truck, but I also have 2 more gears than my last truck. My last truck also got 18 on a good day and now I can clear 21-23 in the summer without a front chin spoiler.

Fact is: more gears, more shifting. Especially when tuned for MPG. We're a ways away from the 3 speed and 1 OD. You should see the the complaints on the Ford/GM 10 speed. People complain about gear hunting and that it doesn't use every gear. An 18 speed semi also doesn't use every gear when unloaded.

 

I had a 2015 Ford Exploder with a 3.5L V6 with a 6-sp transmission that never shifted gears like my Tacoma does.

I'm not saying I don't like the Tacoma, but it is something you'd think Toyota would have addressed by now given the number of people (and magazine/internet reviews) who have griped about it.

 

Groped or Griped?

 

A friend of mine has a 2 year old f-150 with the 3.3 v6 in it. I think it came with a 6 speed auto. The truck didn't seem quite as peppy as the 3.5 in my tacoma when towing my boat during a trip fishing last summer. He told me he chose the 3.3 over the ecoboost saying the ecoboost gets too loud for his liking.

 

LOL! Nice catch.

 

Same here. 70-75, it’s in its zone. Couple of days ago I went out to Palm Springs and the other day to the Santa Rosa mountains. 75 or so and it just cruised along great while getting good mileage. Much more enjoyable then my old full size. After the truck had a few miles on it, the shifting seemed to sort itself out. I do use ECT for mountains or drives with lots of climb-outs.
Whether or not it feels right may be a matter of what you are used to driving and what your expectations are. Your vehicle may need to break in and learn your driving style too. You might drive it for a while and see if your feelings change. If you decide to move on, you might rent whatever you are looking at and see if it fits your needs better. It’s hard to really evaluate a vehicle on a test drive.

 

"OVtune virtually undetectable or not ?" , that's my question . Doesn't the ECU have some sort of imprint if someone has monkeyed around with the factory tune? Anyone ?

 

virtually undetectable and looks like stock ECU when read

EDIT: Hell I can't get them to apply a TSB when I first bought the truck

 

There is no known imprint to tell if someone has edited the factory tune as far as I am aware.

 

I love my 2021 Tacoma TRD but I also feel it to be underpowered vs the fuel economy it returns. Toyota needs to lean towards what EcoBoost has done. The 3.5 EcoBoost has a 130 more HP and over 200 more lbs torque with better fuel economy for the same displacement. Even the 2.3 liter EcoBoost in the Ranger has considerably more power and fuel economy in both fields. The Tacoma has a great look, dependable and great resale but in my opinion they need to step it up in the powerplant department as compared to the competition.

 

Long Island NY.

 

I beg to differ that the Ford 3.5 EB gets "better mileage" than the Toyota N/A 3.5. I have co-workers who drive 3.5 EB trucks and they tell me they average +/- 15 MPG in mixed driving. I see 16 - 17. I will admit that Tacoma is smaller, and lighter than a F-150 and so it should get better MPG. My co-workers also say they will never buy another EB truck as both have had ongoing issues.