3rd Gen to 4th Gen… was it worth it?

What did you miss about it?

 

Because it’s a forum and we can and I have a deposit on one and have had on a few, driven a few and owned all gens. I guess your brief experience with the two makes you oh so much more qualified and the only one allowed to make any comment.

 

Weird things I said in my review from test drives.

 

Dude I’ve probably sat in (most not test drives) researched more on the various pages and forums and negotiated more 4th gen then your 1600 miles. Owning one isn’t the all qualifying factor for actually helping op come to a decision. Not arguing day to day owning and driving one isn’t a better perspective but you can also be a blissful owner who isn’t watching the pages on issues or have taken a lot of time looking at them and making a more weighted decision based on those things. Both perspectives and inputs can help.

 

I test drove a 2024. Nice but it has now morphed into a "lifestyle" vehicle and not so much truck. That's fine of course, but I still do truck things so I got a new Tundra.
What is kinda funny is, all the traditional service trucks around South Carolina, the pool companies, the bug companies, etc, that used to buy the Tacoma have now seamlessly shifted over to the Ford Maverick and they work just fine.
I think of the 4th gen as a dirt road capable set up for camping. Not much else.
@Gmak621 I hate to break it to you buddy, but that 17 year old boy playing video games in their mom's basement have just as much right as you or I have to post in this thread. And, to be honest, he probably will post better content.

 

I don't own one, but watching posts here and other forums, as well as facebook, seem to indicate consensus is a two thumbs up. There have been a few new generation glitches as expected. If you don't absolutely need a new truck right now, I would probably recommend waiting 12-18 more months. Glitches will get ironed out and hopefully prices and interest rates will stabilize.

 

This, its just different, you have to have had prior gen Tacomas to really be able to describe it but it drives like a mini tundra (almost identical but length/size). I agree there have been far less issues than the Tundra roll out but I will say there are two that concern me as I see alot more starting to post, 1) the issues with the A/C and cracked evaps 2) seeing more and more bad transmissions manual and auto (some guy just posted a bad solenid auto that Toyota lemoned), both of these have had new owners without their trucks for over 30 days and many going lemon route. The 2 I test drove did have some really hard shifts that were a bit concerning. But I will say the look is good in person, and the upgrades in tech are nice. Not a fan of some of the obviously cheaper components in the interior and the cheap as hell feeling tailgate but its a nice taco.

 

I had an 18 Pro before this. So mine is a TRD offroad base in Canada with a manual. I am really enjoying it so far the seating position was a big one for me I have had a few back surgeries. Can't say anything about reliability yet but 5600km in and I think its a better truck driving so far.

 

Not sure what the Hell is going on with the rough shifts. Mine will be a little rough when cold, but quickly smooth out. It did one time around 1,000 miles just hesitate and SLAM into a different gear. Hasn't done it again. Weird.

We have a '23 Camry with an 8 speed variant and it definitely is not the smoothest while cold. Not sure on the programming strategy on both that would possibly cause this.

 

Did you see the few threads in the other forum and on FB group, just concerns me as some are ending up with that and then a bad transmission. Not saying its a systemic issue, but a bit concerning still when you are dropping 50k on one. I didnt hate the truck, it was cool, just wasnt like gotta have this now like I was with every other truck, it definitely didnt feel like a tacoma, like a shrunk down fullsize, which some may prefer.

 

Yea, I've seen quite a few. It's in the back of my mind, but nothing I can really do about it. I chose to be an early adopter so that's completely on me. I don't drive it near as much as other people do, there's two other vehicles I commute to work in. So, it might take longer for something to pop up.

I still like it better than my 3rd gens. I do still have a soft spot for that '14 TRD Sport ACLB we briefly had. The Subaru that replaced it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

 

Thats how I felt when I briefly went from my 11 Taco to a 14 Silverado (new), 4 months later back in my 15 Taco, will never own another GM product. I will say most that hated the 3rd gen love the 4th gen. I see the good in both and other gens, I still miss my 15 DCLB Sport.

 

I never did hate my 3rd gens. My first was a '21 TRD OR automatic and while I loved the truck, hated the transmission. So, I found a barely used '22 manual and after a while didn't like that transmission either. So, here we are to the 4th gen.

I wouldn't blame you to wait it out a little bit to see what all transpires with early on issues.

 

I mean I was an early 3rd gen adopter, had a 16 that had whistling control arms, rear diff replaced, faded tailgate handle, low transmission fluid and rattling speaker dash piece. Still loved it.

 

I appreciate everyone’s input. I just remember when I got rid of my 2005 for the 2019, it was great at first, however, after a few months, the shifting and lack of low end pedal response had me regret getting rid of my old torquey 4.0. I love my 19, but dam I wish it had some balls off the line and a faster shifting response when someone is driving like an asshat. I’ve tried everything with tunes, which helped, but without dropping big money in the supercharger, you can’t change the soul on the truck.

A lot of people are more prone to being about looks, not caring about performance, and others want performance sacrificing looks. I love the way 285s sit on these 3rd gens, but dam they are heavy and it makes an already flaccid engine much worse unless you drop bucks into gears, tunes, superchargers, ect. I feel I found an okay compromise with C rated 275, but there’s still some sacrifice.

My truck is paid off and in perfect condition with about 30k miles on it. Sits in a garage most the time. Where I live, this truck is going for 40k to 45k private sale, stupid I know, but seems to present an opportunity to update without going into debt. So, selling my truck, with a couple grand out of pocket, I can pay cash for a new one.

I was just curious about those feelings after the honeymoon phase, you know, when her cute quirks become irritating as hell.

 

Hahaha, I went through all the same! My crowning achievement was when I finally got rid of the differential noise at 68mph

 

I feel ya, I love the clean more elegant or nostagic look of my turd gen, and its also paid off. Maybe try doing 285's in SL load? I have the Falken's and they work great for my needs (fire roads to tracks, etc.), I get 18mpg pretty consitently. Similar to you I test drove a few, had/have a deposit and looking to maybe snag one but even at $250-300 a month I'm like is this really worth it? Only you can tell. But I'd test drive a few and see what you think. It is improved in some areas, but its definetly different. Time will tell how reliable it is though no reason it wont be, little more in maintainence and potential issues with the turbo but nothing crazy. Good luck.

 

I would do SLs but we have lava rock and very thorny debris on the ground here. SLs get popped all the time. If it was a pavement princess, Id be all over it.

 

They’ll be coming out with a tsb for the hard shifts(software update) . The 2016 tacoma had the exact same tsb issued early on after its release for “updated shifting” 1-2 gear hard shift

 

Yeah mine has a bit of a rough shift from 1-2 gear but only the first shift after it sat all night. Other than that it shifts perfect. The 3rd gen had a tsb early on for the same thing a software update to correct the 1-2 hard shift