Four years in a Tacoma, a frustrating experience

Then sell it.

 

OP:
I mean the complaints here are fair if it was a rental or a car you borrowed, but you could have done some research in regard to the truck's flaws and capabilities and referenced it to your own needs. Clearly its important to you to analyze how the truck doesn't meet your expectations, so maybe analyze before your purchase instead of complaining about a rushed/bad decision you made. Guaranteed that every one of these flaws has been identified in Tacomaworld at some point and it doesn't take more than a week or two to write down your must haves and deal breakers etc. I realize your post was meant to point out the flaws you've experienced, but the reason so many people have skewered this post is because it wasn't JUST a statement of the flaws, it was a statement about how all these people who own the same (or similar) trucks have somehow made a bad decision or overlooked the bad because they've been blinded by the good. Then you boiled the good experiences people have had down to "that's your experience".

Also, 4 years is a long time to suffer with something you dislike so much. I think you really ought to consider selling and getting something else.

Good luck finding happiness...

 

@desmodue

I bought my Tacoma in May 2021 and joined TW in September of the same year. Over 4 months of sheer joy which translated into my first thread start.

Can't say I'm one of those owner's who takes offense to criticizing the third generation Tacoma...but I sure get tired of reading how people despise/put down automatic transmissions. I've driven standard transmission and still know how to if I had to drive one.

I'm still running on mostly OEM everything except the OTT Tune upgrade! All-in-all, roughly $5K in expenses with almost 2 years of ownership.

I'm learning to view thread starts/replies on TW with humor.

Seeing replies like yours is a welcome analysis.

Thanks for that on a Friday evening.

 

I bought my '20 OR DCLB late in '19. Before I did, i looked at the current '19 (deeply discounted at the time) pretty hard and read about some of the '19 shortcomings and the new features coming in the '20 models. It's important to understand that after a short around the block drive I asked the sales guy for an extended test drive. I was in Denver and drove it for 2-3 hours up into the mountains and back. My evaluation was for the power, shifting (including use of ECT mode, S mode) and comfort of course (I'm a big guy).

I was fully aware of the lack of power and the shifting by the end of it and frankly, I was okay with it. For me the seat was the deal breaker. The sales guy was waiting with his manager when I returned sure of a sale. He took it pretty well. But, I told him I would take the '20 model as soon as we could get the one I wanted. A few months later he had what I wanted on a list to be shipped so, I paid the deposit and the rest is history.

OP's not entirely wrong, it just wasn't for him. These trucks are flawed but what isn't. Compromise is the word here. My previous trucks were complete crap. This one is not. There are things about it I don't like and, I bitch about it sometimes. But, I'm not selling it anytime soon.



PS: When I bought my 1st new car, the dealer let me keep it and test drive it all weekend. Ask...the worst they can say is no.

 

Hey! I just realized that this will be my 6th year with this truck. Man, seems just the other week I picked the thing up from the local Ford dealer. 15,000 miles on the truck and I was worried that maybe I should have gone to Toyota and bought a new one. I guess if I never went off roading or wanted to park in the garage or just drink beer and look at my truck then I might be happier in a Ram 1500 or Ford F150.

 

Exactly, that other post is nonsense and there are plenty of 150K mile plus cars in CO to prove it. You’re not driving out here in the high country every day and not regularly taking your engine above 3K on the tach. I sold my Subaru after 186K trouble free miles. Four cylinder, 5 speed, loaded down with skiing/camping gear. Up and down I70 every weekend around 4K RPM at like 80 MPH…dropping into 4th gear to pass people on Vail pass. Same story with my fiancés 4Runner, 280K miles. It’s what a vehicle is for and I have no doubt my Tacoma will last just as long.

 

I understand your pain of the lack of power and seating comfort. But it’s a truck that has been proven over an over on off road trails. I have a 2017 SR5 and I have used it in the Everglades and it hasn’t disappoint me. Before my taco I owned a fire and a ram. Never again will I go back to either. If any I would upgrade to a tundra.

 

I appreciate the OP sharing his opinions.

I agree the low-end torque and gearing could be a LOT better, and that's with a manual trans, OV Tune & TRD intake/exhaust. Also agree the rear diff whine is annoying, and the radar cruise sucks balls to the point of uselessness. I also think the Nav system is mediocre (zoom out one level too many and you're left with nothing but three unmarked lines on a blank background), the gauge display looks cheap, and the dual cycle engine getting 18-19 mpg overall is nothing to write home about. Just as a point of comparison, my friend has a higher-end late-model Nissan Frontier small pickup, and it hauls ass to 100mph, gets better gas mileage, and looks & feels more upscale in every way - not advocating for Nissan, I'm keeping my Taco, just saying.

OTOH, I find the Taco seats reasonably comfortable with lots of head room, and the wind noise acceptable. I also deeply appreciate Toyota keeping the manual trans on this vehicle as long as they have, so much more engaging to drive and a great anti-theft device!

Everything's a compromise, I'll stick with the Taco to go 300K miles without hassle and do everything decently.

Cheers, Dave

 

Been through many states, and even Quebec many times, and never encountered stop lights in the middle of a highway on ramp. How stupid is that. These traffic engineers need to rethink that one.

 

I certainly wouldn't keep a vehicle for four years if I didn't like it.

 

No you wouldn’t be happier. Those things are ugly compared to your truck. A Tacoma is a better garage beer backdrop.

 

I agree!!

 

I guess you learned your lesson. Test drive something for more than 20 minutes next time you're gonna shell out $40,000 for it.
If you're worried about the "break-in" procedure, either rent one, or test drive one in a color you don't intend to drive, at the least.

I'm not a Toyota apologist - but literally all of your complaints are your own fault.

 

This tacos, in my opinion are the best little off roaders!!

 

Sell the 2019 truck and get into something that fits you. Tacomas are good vehicles but do not walk on water.

 

1.5 years into my ‘21 TRDOR ownership, it’s Taco #6 for me. As of yesterday I’ve decided to pull the pin on this one, plenty of things I like about it but just as many that I don’t like.
I share some of the same frustrations as the OP…
Debating a Tundra next but not entirely sold on that yet.
1st world problems!

 

You have excellent taste in color choice, sir!

 

I agree with a lot of that and thought maybe a power seat would have helped a lot. My 93 pathfinder had a similar seating position, like you’re sitting on the floor but that felt more comfortable than the taco. The 21 silverado work truck actually has a worse seating position and the arm rests are awful.

The KDmax tune really helped a lot, but agree it’s still a mismatched engine and transmission and think an 8-10 would be better.
I’m surprised the 4:88s didn’t make a bigger difference.

The incline engine issue is definitely scary. There was a Matt’s offroad recovery where a 3g taco engine grenaded on a climb.



Were you running the stock tire size?
When I put on the heavy e-rated 255/85/16 mileage and “power” went off the cliff!

 

I’m almost afraid to ask, but what is the incline issue?

 

There are some posts talking about steep inclines will cause oil intrusion into one of the cylinders and hydro lock the engine.