Four years in a Tacoma, a frustrating experience

Honda’s Earthdreams 3.5 is a fantastic power plant too, once you turn off cylinder deactivation.

 

Would it meet regs without that though?

 

Honda does make peppy cars but their reliability has been on the decline

 

The 3.5 is a fine engine that makes plenty of power, it's just applied like shit in the Tacoma. My old '72 elcamino with a 2 barrel Rochester and a bad accelerator pump didn't have an off-idle flat spot like this 3.5L does in the Tacoma...it's fucking horrible. As a former toyota tech and one who has owned over 20 toyotas, I can't believe they'd put something out like this.

 

Good point. I have absolutely no idea.

 

Try 5 years without a locker! :0(Sport,SR,SR5 that are not locked, the reason being I traded in a 2012 OR with a locker(two lockers before that), Atrac, downhill assist and I forget what else because I really dug the look of the 3rd Gen. I couldn’t hang and two years later, and because my home was more important, I went with a SR5 4x4. It NEVER disappointed wherever I went. Especially in sand. Toyota’s ALSD magic is there if you learn pedal control. Those engineers got it spot on for the non hardcore trail enthusiasts:0) With that said, one needs to know the limitations before buying. You can always improve it if the need arises like you tried OP. Like a stock saw. Power to be tapped into with the right mods. Unfortunately they didn’t work for you.

I love this truck a lot. The way it looks is hard to beat. It’s a fantastic looking truck. I’m okay with Mount 3.5 as I don’t do overlanding but do haul quite a bit. It does the job good. But a man’s got to know the limitations. I won’t haul a yard of decomposed granite in a STOCK 2nd Gen(where I experienced it) and surely the 3rd Gen’s back end would do the same. Scary fucking ride home is alls I’m going to say. Yes it got the job done, but I now know the limitations of hauling in a stock bed for a Tacoma.

I have never had issues climbing or descending steep angles, albeit they are for a short time. Enough good power to get to the top, even on the rutted side where I have to slow down as the Work Truck does not have off roading suspension capabilities. I know the limitations of my favorite adrenaline filled climb so I have to slow down at the ruts, which kills momentum, yet it still pulls strong to the top. Either in ALSD or locked. No codes so far.

Just like the 2nd Gen, it is a super fun and exciting truck to wheel. Comfortable too in its interior and footprint.

As for the haters. Fuck ‘em. Let them keep hating!

 

Oh there's no doubt the 3.5 pulls good when it gets spinning.

 

And that is the one thing Toyota tries to never lose. They'd rather be lower on power and MPG than start falling off the top of the reliability charts. That's why they are so slow to implement systems across the whole line up. They want it all working perfect before it's launched. Doesn't always happen, but they do fairly well.

 

Not true at all.

 

The big thing is that Toyota will never be on the cutting edge. They are slow to change because they want to be sure it all works. That's why they took a known performing engine and stuck it in the 3rd gen Tacoma. They creep along with incremental improvements, and sometimes there are speed bumps. Let me ask you this, though: have you ever doubted that your truck would get you home? Did you ever worry that maybe you shouldn't make that 500+ mile road trip because it might break down and strand you?

 

What’s not true? Tall people in Tacomas bitch all the time about the seats. He didn’t even bother to acknowledge Toyota changed the seat in the next year model after his.

 

I pretty much agree with your analysis, but I mainly use my truck for recreation (even though I have about 4 times more on-road miles, a good portion of the on-road is for getting to off-road destinations). Since I mainly bought it for recreation the downsides you mention, I can handle.

I also am 6'2, (32" inseam so not a reallllllllly long torso). I test drove a 2019 and decided I couldn't take the horrible seat position and my head hit the roof. When I read that the 2020 had electrically adjustable seats I tried another test drive---made a big difference in that my head didn't hit the roof, still driving it for more than an hour is painful due to the lack of seat support under your thighs. Am on the fence about getting seat jackers. They will lift the seat up to give thigh support I think, but my legs barely fit under the steering wheel as it is so . . . I don't know maybe worse, maybe better.

 

Two main points that I’m gonna dispute so-as not to scare off any future Tacoma owners reading this thread.......

The seating position and view is subjective, I’m 6’8” ~290lbs and have no real complaints (even with a sunroof). It might be because I’m 50+ and owned so many uncomfortable, clapped-out shitboxes throughout my life that everything I drive now is gravy to me these days....but probably not.
I respect your opinion but I don’t think the 3rd Gen seats are a common problem for most owners or a reason for potential buyers to think twice.

My OV Tuned Toyota 3.5L is still gutless compared to the full sized V8’s and turbo diesels I’ve had in the past but it’s definitely not the slowest truck I’ve owned. I’ve driven plenty of other mid-sized Mazdas, Nissans, Fords and even Dodges and I’d say they’ve all been less powerful than my stock 18 Tacoma. If a potential buyer needs V8 power for regular, heavy-ish towing, then they shouldn’t buy any mid-sized truck, regardless of manufacturer....go buy a 1/2 ton or bigger. For me, the Tacoma V6 is plenty fast and tows my 18ft bowrider boat or my 16ft enclosed trailer without issues.

To each their own though, and the Tacoma obviously isn’t be the right truck for you, but I think for most owners like me, it is. Good luck with an F150 or Rivian.....

 

There’s been several guys to add that they have no issues with room in the truck and they’re all taller than OP. I’m saying the statement of “guys over 6’ shouldn’t buy Tacomas” is bull.

 

Do they have electric seats in a 2020+ Tacoma?

Doesn’t really matter. People make questionable decisions all the time here, then open threads about their dissatisfaction with these choices. Sell the truck already.

 

Good luck to the OP, I hope he can find something that works for him.

 

You are missing the point about why some people over 6 feet are not having problems with the seating position. It depends a lot on whether you have long legs and a short torso, are evenly distributed between legs and torso, or have a long torso and shorter legs. So some taller people won't have problems and some will. And some like me just put up with it.

I am 6'2 and don't hit the roof because of the electrically operated seats, however my legs ache because of lack of thigh support--I put up with it anyways.

 

I also pointed out earlier that arm length also matters. Some taller people might have longer arms which allow them to keep the seat back farther and reclined more. The steering wheel has very little telescoping range.

 

winner.

 

I think the Tacoma shines the brightest in its lowest form the base model. Some people want more than that and Toyota offers something for them. I considered a TRD Pro, not really a fan of 4dr trucks for less than the going price of a Pro I went with a 4dr XLT F-150 it's pretty ho-hum IMO buch of crap I don't use and never will but it's a truck. I don't even think about moding it, I don't hate it either it's a rather unemotional experience which is good I think. Sure that Pro would have been a fun truck and worth more when I got rid of it, but I probably would still have a list of everything I would want to buy for it, and I wasn't buying a manual anyway. What does not make sense is I still want a bigger truck or a smaller truck.