4th Gen Tacoma (2024+)

They could have parts binned the manual trans, no more R&D investments involved. A RC61f, found behind the 3.0 turbo diesel in the HiLux could handle that new turbo 4 gasser.

 

Lol! Same! My 1st Gen should be out of the shop in 2 weeks, can’t wait to jump in and row some gears. Almost traded my 3G in on a Sport so I could get a manny. My wife says don’t. Will say it is kinda nice after beating the hell out of myself on the dirt bike, is to just sit there and do basically nothing on the way home. Yesterday was one of those days…

 

I think it's all personal preference, i had manuals in my Toyota's until I got my LC. It's a great auto trans, 2nd gear start, PWR button for higher rev shift points. OD off. I never had an issue and it's way more fun rock-crawling with it than a manual. But ehh for me it's a been there done that.

 

Toyota deemed it worthwhile. The investment in much of that manual technology you mentioned has already been made for other Toyota's.

For what it's worth, I would have no interest in trading my 3rd gen in if wasn't for the 4th gen offering a manual. I'm sure I'm not alone. Selling 12-15K manuals per year is nothing to sneeze at while maintaining good will within their enthusiast community. That community provides a significant amount of free advertising for their brand.

 

There’s a charm to not having to row on the highway (I did in my 3G on 33s anytime I needed to pass).

 

There is something about dropping a gear or two and laying the hammer down to pass. Of course in a Tacoma that hammer is kinda small… lol!

 

Your thoughts may be an exact quote from Toyota’s own engineers 5-6 yrs ago. And they would’ve done it too, but for the emissions standards.

Regardless of marketing spin, turbo in the Gen4 is actually its biggest compromise, but 465 lb/ft is a pretty damn good consolation prize. Tundra has its issues but power delivery doesn’t seem to be one of them. Hopefully the new Tacomas can hold up the reliability piece, but that’s anyone’s guess for at least a few years.

 

I think it's been anyone's guess for the last several years if Toyota can hold up the reliability piece they used to have. They're definitely riding the coattails of their past record of reliability.

 

It’s how you use it!

 

Fuuuuuuuuuuck, they never were reliable. Let me tell ya after being a Toyota owner for the last 30+ years…just the other manufacturers were worse.

 

It’s like one of those rubber squeaker hammers you give a toddler.

 

It would be a complete joke if Toyota released an NA Tacoma today. It wouldn’t be able to compete with the competition in a very competitive segment. I can’t honestly see the appeal after living with one at altitude. You wouldn’t be able to make those power numbers unless you brought in a larger engine that would get worse fuel economy than the 3.5. Power to weight ratio would be worse, economy would be worse and performance would be worse, all in the name of perceived reliability. At the end of the day an engine built around a turbo will have stronger internals anyway than a NA engine. Turbos fail because idiots don’t change their oil on time. The same people lamenting turbos are drooling over turbo diesels from other countries. The idea of keeping your Tacoma 350k miles is more popular than actually doing it. If you want your NA to reach those numbers and still be reliable you have to be diligent about replacing many parts anyway. Water pumps, alternator, steering pump, steering rack, fuel pumps, coil packs, CVs, shocks, leaf springs, UCA, LCA. A lot of those critical components fail all the time before 250k. If you are comfortable throwing $$$ at expensive parts like CV’s on a 200k mile truck than how is a turbo replacement any different.

 

The problems with the new Tundra aren’t too promising.

 

Yet somehow engines like the 5.7 Hemi we have been discussing and the V6 in the new Frontier manage to pull off power and economy. Amazing.
Also replacing a few worn out parts is still cheaper than buying a new $50K vehicle

 

Paddle shifters are the new hammer you old fart.

 

I think this is spot-on. My life circumstance dictates I keep my V6 indefinetly but completely agree Toyota had no choice but to go I4 turbo to improve efficiency and performance. When the time comes; replace your turbo if needed. No big deal.

 

The new frontier is rated at 17/22 while our truck is rated at 18/22. So no it doesn’t pull off fuel economy. The 5.7 is rated at 15/22, again not bad numbers but nothing to brag about. The tundra is rated at 20/24, so yea it’s more efficient. Also a $1500 turbo replacement is still less than a 50k vehicle.

 

What problems, it was a waste gate issue and that was fixed. Other then a Toneu cover flying off I haven't heard anything else

 

People really act like it’s the end of the world. I had to replace my power steering pump and drivers side CV, more $$$ than a turbo replacement but not a big deal on a vehicle that will go another 150k miles.