I went for a second test drive and I love the truck, but.......

So we are comparing a diesel minimum 3/4 ton 18+ year old truck to a new Tacoma? Makes zero sense.

 

Ugh. You are misunderstanding me. But, I hate to say it, the 18+ year old truck is way more truck and beats the pants off the Tacoma in almost every aspect, except ease to find a parking spot. Look, I get those that don't want to hear it. I think the truck is awesome. I took two REAL test drives with 6 speed manuals. The second test drive was interstate driving for 25 minutes. I love the 6speed for this, but unless the computer is way off on these things, which I don't think it is, it gets crap fuel mileage for the size and capability. Granted, some of long term economy can be made up by the simplicity and easier repairs. I love looking under the hood and seeing a basic v6 and room to work. But, a truck that size has to do better than 21 ish miles per gallon empty on the open road. I am not insulting you guys for buying it and everyone makes compromises. This truck was supposed to fill the niche of lighter things that I would not need to bring the larger truck for. For now, I'll use the aluminum trailer and CRVs.
I do not want a new diesel due to the emissions headache.
Again, I love the truck, but it needs more rear center leg room and 2-3 more miles per gallon. I hope Toyota can deliver.

 

Clearly you don’t want a new Tacoma. Keep your old diesel running.

Just remember the MT is a dying art… who knows how long trucks will come from the factory with one.

 

You’re not looking for a “truck” what you are describing you want/need is a ridge line or Santa Cruz.

 

Yeah, I misunderstood you too.

As it should, different class of truck.

Kinda hard to get an actual fuel consumption average just driving 25 minutes. The center gauge is a bit misleading, on my 20 mile commute I can get it into the high 20s for that particular jaunt. In reality the overall tank has been 21.5-22.5 for summer tires…18-20 on my snows. Just recently getting 23-24, but have been taking longer drives with fewer stops and goes. Sure 30 and above would be stellar, diesel is only the real way to achieve that. Doubt hybrid will be able to crack 30 in the Tacoma. Guessing maybe a 2-3 mpg gain over current, and that is being optimistic.

To get get more leg room and cab height, the Tacoma has become a bigger truck. Why they make the Tundra. That platform might be the compromise between your 7.3 and the Taco. Comes in the Crew Max cab with a 6.5’ bed. Loose the manual but who cares. Have been driving manuals for 40 years now, new truck is auto. Was apprehensive at first, have grown to love it. Don’t know what it is, but backing up a trailer is so much easier with an auto. And I have been towing trailers just about as long as I have been driving. Maybe even longer if you count tractors.

Ahh who cares about parking. When I had my jacked up F250, had a friend say to me, where are you going to park that thing!? Anywhere I want!

 

mine gets about 18 with 87 octane but i can get 25 easy with 91. my best on 87 is 25.5 mpg on my way home from work. on 91, my best is 34.5. obviously it takes a few tanks for the ecu to adjust so this why many people say it doesn't make a difference.

 

I copied and pasted what I found on "motor buiscuit", when they reviewed the new Tundra.

"The gas-powered Tundra with 4×4 gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city. this is the same fuel economy that the Hybrid with 4×4 gets. Despite having the same numbers, the Hybrid still saves fuel.

But the Hybrid provides a lot more power, and typically, more power burns more fuel, so the savings are there. The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine offers 389 hp and 379 lb-ft of torque. The i-Force Max cranks out 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque."

So...... why not put the 3.5L v6 from the Tundra into the Taco? It has way more power and I am sure it has to get better economy in a smaller shell. I am almost certain the Taco will get a more fuel efficient platform in 2024. The truck is just too cool to be left behind. It ticks all the other boxes. I actually think they may keep the 6spd MT. The Taco has a massive off road following. I have seen a few videos that contained Toyota Engineers and they said "we like our manual". They know the customers want this as well. So, I think there is a chance.

There is also a chance the Ranger will get the 7spd MT from the Bronco. One can dream. I am pulling for the Taco. I hope the next version hits the mark.

 

Battery and EV technology is constantly improving, I'd wait 20 or so more years before buying into the BEV craze.

 

The Tundra engine would be an awfully tight in the Tacoma engine bay. Why it most likely is getting the hybrid 4 cylinder. Guessing Toyota is going to kill the manual for ‘24. Find it odd it only comes in couple trim levels and not across the whole line. They say true off-roaders like the manual, so why don’t they offer it in the ACLB OR? Have a feeling they are going to do away with the access cab too.


Swears did want a diesel for the Tundra, would assume a diesel hybrid would get the most efficiency. But the higher ups nixed it. Too tough of emissions regulations in the States. Diesel is on its way out here, and Toyota knows it.

https://carbuzz.com/news/toyota-wont-rule-out-plug-in-hybrid-tundra

 

Also spending 40K for a Taco to be a second vehicle to "save on fuel costs" is kind of odd since 40K can buy a lot of fuel.

And the Taco getting 1-3 mpg more is going to be a losing battle if the Taco doesn't meet other needs like cabin size.

 

Then don't get the tacoma. I came from a 2020 Tundra and just wanted something smaller. I'm not complaining at all! It gets way better mpg's than the Tundra did. Trust me, if I'm able to swing it here in southern CA where gas prices are crazy, I think you could too. It's all about how you drive it. And if you want to save money, buy an older one or pay it off as fast as possible. You could look elsewhere and get a maverick or santa cruz, but again, you're sacrificing reliability and resale value. I'm pretty sure this next gen tacoma will get a 2.4 4 cylinder turbo paired with a hybrid. Just like the new Toyota crown is getting. But again, I'd even wait a few years to buy a new generation so they can work out all the bugs.

 

I've got no issues with your opinion, but I think the bolded is why most of us end up in a midsize truck over everything else. I know myself personally miss the power of my 6liter, but I don't miss parking the package it came in.

 

Has anyone pointed out how much more expensive diesel is than regular gas? Apples to elephants.

 

Bingo. That's the big X-factor; if your mileage alternative is a Santa Cruz, you're also necessarily staring all of Hyundais recent non-trivial engine problems (that still aren't resolved) on a fairly new design and I think that's reason enough to tap the brakes pretty hard on a Santa Cruz. Even if you still didn't get a Taco, I'd think long and hard before a Santa Cruz.

 

Toyota has improved gas mileage, each generation of the Tacoma, by 1 mpg. So, you have my 4th Gen prediction.

 

That doesn’t really matter. Get better range and low end torque. That and I loose count how many $60K+ diesel trucks I see running around here, apparently fuel cost isn’t too much of an issue.

 

You’re missing the point. The original post was literally comparing diesel gas mileage directly to the Tacoma’s as if they both cost the same, which they don’t. Moving over to a non-diesel truck that gets the SAME gas mileage is more economical on its own. I don’t deny that Diesel engines have advantages but that was not how this thread got started.

 

The Tacoma is just about the perfect sized truck for me. If only it would get the fuel economy to match the lack of power or produce the power to match the lack of fuel economy.

 

Thought you were referring to Swears wanting a diesel for the Tundra. Since the original post was like 6 pages ago.

Seems plenty powerful and decent enough fuel economy for me. Not sure why some have issue with it.

 

That’s why I asked if anyone had mentioned it, because I sure wasn’t going to read the whole thread.