Toyota Needs to Step Up!

Daily Dose of Sweers.

For whatever reason, this article wasn't loading when posted. Now, I wish it had stayed that way.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/42434...dra-doesnt-chase-max-towing-like-other-trucks

He's not wrong, but at the same time, he makes my brain hurt in ways similar to Bangle. LoL!

 

Those comments about the loads Tundra buyers typically haul sounds exactly like his past statements about the Tacoma.. yup, my brain hurts too.

 

Yup!

We know what our buyers want better than the buyers do. There is some truth in that, but it is not as absolute as he makes it sound. And, the unforgiveable 3rd Gen launch with some woes still present would not have me trusting that level of BS. The fact that he is still around is just plain odd.

 

Tow ratings are a wash for most people, all the trucks can tow 10k and if you are towing over that much you will probably should have/be getting a 3/4-1ton anyway.

 

I’m not sure what you mean by this. I mean yes, I see a lot of Tacoma’s used as work trucks. But I also see A LOT more daily drivers with tons of modifications like roof racks and off road accessories and bumpers etc…. I think Toyota knows that’s where their branding for Tacoma has been headed for some time. They promote off roading capability all the time and there’s limitless aftermarket accessories for it. Maybe even as much or more so than Jeep Wrangler.

 

To be fair the market has changed over the ~15 years since they launched the 2nd gen. Overlanding was barely a thing back then let alone have a bunch of competitor full size trucks aimed at the off road enthusiast market. The 1st gen Ford Raptor didn’t even exist yet.

 

I think that has to do with the success of the 3rd gen Tacoma. Despite the BS and the complaints on TW, they are selling about 250K of them a year and he gets some of the credit for that. He also gets credit for any issues and shortcomings, but those don't seem to be impacting Toyota's bottom line, so he stays. We'll see if the Tundra proves to be as popular. At least the Tundra seems to be new from the ground up, so maybe he won't make the seatbelt bracket claim this time.

 

Very true. But, corporate is 100% aware that folks have traded their Tacos over the shortcomings and are still unhappy about. Being about longevity and long ownership, that has to be a metric on their radar. Full factory capacity has been a testament like you said.


Funny enough, looking at some pics of the Tundra, I spotted some commonalities. But, it is ground up a different package. It will be interesting to see what is swappable to the 4th Gen Taco / 4Runner since it is a common platform now.

 

3rd gen Tundra has a car motor from a Lexus, and it's a 3rd gen. 3rd gen 4Runners are nice, maybe all 3rd gen Toyota products aren't cursed.

 

You should move down here to Florida, plenty of scorching heat all year long. My ac stays on all year pretty much. Just walk to the mailbox and you'll feel like you just got out of a swamp !!

 

The 3rd gen Tacoma isn't perfect by any means, but most of the issues are relatively minor. Though, I'm still scratching my head as to why they haven't been able to solve some of the issues, especially the rear diff howl. Maybe they are blaming suppliers rather than engineers? Who knows?

I'm also curious about parts interchangeability between Tundra/Sequoia/4Runner/Tacoma once they've all moved to the new platform. With all the focus on the Tundra getting coil springs in the rear because of comfort and it being a lifestyle vehicle, I wonder if the 4th gen Tacoma will get a coil rear suspension. Maybe they'll work out a bunch of the bugs with the Tundra and the next gen Tacoma will have fewer growing pains.

 

Got a locking rear diff too. I wonder if it also likes to howl.

 

I questioned the TSB that they put out about the howl being a harmonic issue. But after my recent suspension swap, the howl is a fraction of what it was. It was never loud, but I would hear it. Now, it is almost in audible with the slider open.

If I had a loud diff, I would certainly jump on that TSB.



They have super stiff competition, but after the Taco launch, I would be waiting a year to see how it goes, esp with a brand new platform.

 

My 2017 had the howling diff, but it wasn't so loud that it was unbearable, just a little annoying. I had the TSB done and it helped a lot, initially. Over time though, it got louder and when I traded it in, it was probably 80-85% of what it was before the TSB. Fortunately, my 2020 is quiet. If I can get rid of the plastic sounding rapid clicking by the passenger side seatbelt, it will be dead silent.

 

That sucks. We'll how the new leafs do long term. It sounds like we had the same level of howl on the stock side.


I'm of no help with the seat belt. Hell, with the way they are on my AC, I am surprised how quiet they are. Unless you are talking about a panel clicking. You might check that the B pillar was installed correctly? My rear door panel wasn't and it squeaked like a mofo.

 

Yeah, it doesn't seem to be the seatbelt, but definitely in that area. I'm thinking it's one of the plastic pieces in the B pillar, I just haven't been able to figure out which one. It honestly reminds me of the tweeter cover rubbing the A-pillar that I had in my 2017. I hate squeaks and rattles and this is the only one I have on my 2020. If I can get rid of it, I'll end up keeping this truck forever because I'll be too scared to trade for something else that might rattle. lol

 

Good luck finding it. That speaker rattle sucked for sure.

 

The rear locking diff sounds like an improvement, if it's needed. I recall Sweers saying a video that must Tundra owners didn't need, or ask for a rear locker. I think it makes sense to offer that on the new truck since it will most likely be around for a while.

 

I would tend to believe that most Tundra owners wouldn't use a locker, but in such a competitive market I agree it makes sense to have that option. Especially on the Pro.

 

Not only is he still around, they promoted him to Vice President. Sales talk.