Finally Took a Test Drive, Surprised

I traded my 2019 Highlander in for a 2021 Tacoma. On the 700-mile ride home, I kept thinking, "Boy, this is rough. I understand the body-on-frame, but it was close to my FJ40."

I got home and discovered 60 PSI in all four tires—lowered pressure (cold) to 30 PSI and a much better ride. I was a teenager once and didn't know better.

I love my Tacoma, but I have to admit the Ecoboost Ranger was faster and smoother. I plan on keeping the Tacoma for over 10 years; if only two, then it would have been the Ford. I hit the "ECT" button (hold rpm longer for more power). Use "ECT" and shift over to Sport Mode for best acceleration. S4 when towing; S5 around town. Locks out that overdrive gear (only helps on flat, boring roads like Interstate 10 or east of the Rockies)

 

Exactly! Lol

No, I’m waiting Toyota to buy Ford, re-engineer the 2.7T for reliability, and drop it into a TRDOR. Now, how soon can we make that happen, and is it before the end of this year?

 

1. Cares about ride quality
2. Unsure about new turbo engine
3. Doesn't need 4wd

Test drive a Ridgeline, not kidding. It's the "pickup" that most people won't admit they need, but the one most would be happiest with. Better gas mileage, too.

 

If Toyota re-engineered the 2.7 for reliability the motor would not rev to 5k RPM any longer.

 

Quite possible, but then, I don’t need to see how they make the sausage, just give me that motor in my next Tacoma (in bronze oxide), and make sure it doesn’t break.

 

I seriously considered the Ridgeline when I was replacing my 20 year old Ranger... I liked the flat bed floor with storage, the fuel economy and power, roomy interior, soft and comfortable ride, and I was ok with it looking like a Pilot (at the time) and the price wasn't bad as it's not a popular pickup so more deals to be had...

That said... it was one of the most boring cars I've ever driven and having owned a boring, soft car before (Mercury Sable) I will never have one I can't enjoy driving. Steering and pedals on the Ridgeline are all vague, you can't feel anything. Yes the Ridgeline will do most things a Tacoma can do at least on road and low loads but I wanted something I'd enjoy driving, enjoy looking at in my driveway, and think of fun places I can go and get a little dirty (even if they are like 2 hours away).

So here I've owned Tacoma for 5 years and still love hopping in her and taking a ride. I hope for some deep snow just so I can flip it into 4x4 with traction control off and hit the local roads before the plow trucks and I also never shovel my driveway because I don't need to haha. I also peek out the window at her all the time and smile.

Life's short, don't settle for boring just because it makes sense on paper.

BTW if you just want to tack off your checklist the Maverick hybrid might fit. Not sure how those ride though, been meaning to check it out.

 

Yep. The ridgeline is fantastic

and more payload than the tacoma

 

Agree on the Ridgeline but my wife was like “I thought you wanted a truck”. Ended up with a 2024 OR with the upgrade package. I do think the OR rides better than the Sport.

 

My tires where at 51.5 on the dealer lot - at 30 psi it rides much better.

 

Nothing, NOTHING, visually appealing about a Ridgeline.....
Shouldn't even remotely be in the discussion here....

 

It’s also dead last in resale value. The resale value of a Ridgeline is worse than the frontier.

 

Put some weight in the bed for a little preload and it will ride like a Cadillac.

 

Maybe a good excuse to pick up a used one then. Some people don't care about how a vehicle drives just need a reliable vehicle to haul stuff.

Hey has anyone driven a Maverick? What do you think?

 

Call me crazy, think they look better than the ranger....
Seems solid for a mini, mini truck...

 

I tried the Ridgeline last summer. I didn't make it a mile and turned around back to the dealership. 1. Had a strange constant vibration like it had offroad tires but it didn't (RTL model) 2. Steering wheel was off center, one of my big pet peeves, PDI should have caught that. 3. Steering felt dead. 4. No sale on a D.I. only engine with cylinder deactivation, timing belt. 5. I was bored to death before we left the lot.

 

Does the Tacoma have individual tire pressure indicators in the info screens? I didn't check when I was there. If they do maybe I'll call the salesman and ask him to fire up the one I drove and check the readout on the dash.

 

Yes. Ask the salesperson to get you there.

 

You need to get the Tacoma that has IsoDynamic seats. It will smooth that ride out for you.

 

Yes, it does. I would highly recommend you drive a sr5 or an offroad. It seems the sport is too rigid for a lot of folks.

 

I bought the Sport, and personally like the stiffer ride…..
BUT
Like most have already written, start with the tire PSI.

Pretty quickly, I leveled AND changed tire size and brand……..went a little taller, and with Michelins……..very much improving ride and handling from the OEM Generals……..

will wait for strut replacement time or when I can’t stand it anymore to change out to Bilstein adjustable, fantastic and what I had on my 2021 Sport.