A few questions regarding a 2012 6speed and a small review.

Hey all,

Today I was just going to the local dealership to "look" at 2012 4Runner's, like I always do.

Spotted my ideal truck, 2012 DCSB sr5 6speed in Spruce Mica.

me and the very attractive sales lady got to talking and I was surprised by the numbers. I have been put off buying a 2012 because I just bought a 2012 VW GLI and I take such a big hit selling it right now.

If I was to trade it in, the difference in price would be having a car payment for 2 more years.

2 years left on my GLI vs 4 years for the taco with similar payments of 130 bi weekly.

I liked the truck a lot, buy it had a few flaws:

1) Although the 6 speed shifted and felt VERY weird, it was LOUD. I tested an automatic a few days ago and don't remember it being so loud. I did not have the window's down or the stereo on, but it was noticablly intrusive at low speeds.

On the highway, however, the truck was nearly as quiet as the "upscale" GLI.

2) Power. I seemed to be less than impressed by the 1GR's power. I gave it half throttle and it just seemed to be sluggish. Is that common for new trucks that are still in the break in period?

3) The stereo left a lot to be desired.

A few positives are:

1) bigger back seat than expected.
2) Very nice ride stock for a truck.
3) Ultra slick 6 speed gearbox (although the 6 speed reverse position is annoying).
4) Size. DCSB is the perfect blend of small/large truck.

Now I am having a damn hard time deciding what I should do.

 

1. Guy, if #3 is a big concern (enough to do something about), then you'll not likely be bothered by #1 all that much.

2. It's a 4000-4500-lb truck (empty), not a sports car. It'll get down the highway nicely enough, with loads no sports car could possibly handle.

3. A matter of taste. If you want earsplitting (loud enough to damage hearing) sound levels, consider after-market solutions (amps, woofers, subwoofers, etc).

Only you can truly address the last sentence.

 

Continuing on #2, when I was 4runner shopping back in the day a lot of people said the 4.0L and the 4.7L were very similar in power, and a lot of guys praised the 1-GR for its top end power while the 4.7v8 was a brute down low.

I loved the power my 2004 v8 had, and what I felt today in the 4.0L was next to nothing.

It felt close to my 3.4L 2002 than anything.

 

Power at half-throttle doesn't mean anything.

 

I've got a 2005 4Runner with the V8 and my 2011 V6 DCSB 6-speed Tacoma. I agree that the power output from the 4.0L is unimpressive. I feel that it is adequate, just not anything like the V8 in my 4Runner. As far as the 6-speed goes, it's a truck not a sports car. If you shift it with any laziness, (and I'm not saying you did), it will be notchy and sloppy feeling.
A TRD supercharger would probably address the power issues, and contacting Crutchfield would address the sound system issues.
Good luck.

 

Did it have the TRD muffler or intake? Either would make it drone quite a bit. My stock 4.0 6 speed gets praised by the occasional passenger for how quiet it is. Actually was a major selling point for me, it's quieter than the reg cab I drove and a LOT quieter than any Honda I've driven.

The "weird" is the drive by wire + slow synchronizers. It does shift loudly, aka listening to an echo from a building it's ka-CLACK every time.

The auto is faster than the stick for the average driver, but still the stick is no slouch. (DCSB isn't 5-6k#, its about 4500# with the driver.)

I thought the 4.0L is fairly quick. The first image in my head when I opened up my truck the first time was Harrison Ford pulling back 3 levers and saying "watch this" lol but that was after 3 years in a 109 hp car.

 

How many miles on it? My 4.0 was the tightest engine I've ever broken in. It was a wimp up to around 200 miles.

 

My truck literally felt like a lifted Ferrari after driving my tired old blazer. This v6 has more than enough power IMO but of course I will always want more, but it's just not justified in a mid size. Need more power get a v8 (even tho this beats most 8's 0-60)

 

Had only 10 ten km's on it. I had a feeling the new engines needed loosening up.

 

I've driven the 3.0L, the 3.4L, & the 4.0L. The 4.0 liter seems adequate for me, but of course there's nothing like a V8 especially if you do a lot of towing and hauling. It works fine for what I use it for (a little towing and hauling, but mostly I use it just to drive here and there). I have a 3500lb (Trailmanor) camping trailer that I tow and I wish that I had a bit more power when I'm in the mountains, but otherwise it does the job fine. I average about 18 mpg combined city/hwy so that's a bit better than V8's get. As a matter of fact I got 17-18 mpg when I was towing.

 

Such a hard decision.

Trade my 2012 GLI for a 2012 DCSB Sr5 in spruce mica.

My monthly payments remain about the same at 250ish. But the length remaining goes from 2 years to 4 years.

Right now I also have. 92 4runner, so I will also save the insurance and repairs on that which will likely be close to the difference.

I hate tough decisions.

 

Dooo eeeeett!!

 

Heck, if you only have about 10 km (roughly 6 miles) on it, you're not supposed to be applying heavy throttle anyway. Take it easy during the break-in period.

 

The 4L's power is all at high revs and it has plenty. Despite what some say the 6spd. is fine I have no complaints if you are used to a 5 spd. it will take awhile to remember what gear you are in. It's a small truck if you tow any thing big it will take a hit. I owned a Toyota motor home with a 4 cyl so towing my camper with the Tacoma seems like a rocket ship. It does OK on fuel I get about 22 normal driving and towing a camper as poor as 9-10 (@75) and as good as high 14's (@55-65)

 

I don't own the truck, it was a test drive.

This would be my 3rd 6speed. I am very familiar with them.

 

A standard transmission on a truck is gonna feel different from that in a car...so I'd most likely attribute that to the "weirdness" you describe in the OP.

I've owned both automatic and standard transmission 2nd Gen Tacomas (both 4.0L), and I have never noticed a different in how loud they are, personally.

I'm actually a bit impressed at just how smoothly my 2012 Tacoma shifts compared to some other stick-shift trucks I've owned in the past. Of course, I've also owned MR2 Turbo and a Honda Civic with manual transmissions, and yeah, there's definitely a difference in how they drive compared to a truck, especially in the case of the MR2...it's a bit to be expected.

You probably will find that at lower speeds the Tacoma doesn't have as much "jump" as your VW, but again, that's expected. For me, the power and acceleration at highway speeds is great, even climbing hills.

There are a few different stereo options -- but that's important to you, it's pretty easy and fairly inexpensive to throw an aftermarket system in there.

Regarding reverse in the manual, when my truck was brand new getting into reverse took a bit of effort, but at just 2000 miles into owning it, it seems to much better now -- probably just needed to be broken in a bit.

 

You're comparing a truck to a car. It'd be like comparing a Neon to a Lincoln in terms of luxury.

It isn't geared for get up and go. When I'm on the highway, if I have to pass in a hurry, I drop down to 4th. In my Mustang, it was optional. Driving through my neighbourhood where the speed limit is 40 km/h, I could drive the Mustang in 4th, but it was shaking and protesting. With my Taco, 5th is fine, and 6th it seems to not like, but it'll do it. The truck has plenty of power, it just isn't geared to wind up quickly. Just like my wife's van stock had more power than the Mustang stock, but the Mustang will walk the van all day (that, and the extra weight). Or when my Dad had a Durango R/T with WAY more power than his Yukon, yet the Yukon had way less trouble pulling...they're geared for two different purposes.

 

Well, a shitty end to the story.

After my test drive on Saturday (first post). I told the dealership I needed sunday (which the dealership isnt open) to think about the purchase and get my finances ready.

Monday rolled around and I was unable to call or make it to the dealership because I worked late.

Today (Tuesday) I got a call at noon saying the truck had been traded to another dealership who had a buyer ready right now. I was working until 4pm so I was unable to tell them I would take the truck.

So i called after work to find out the truck had been sold, and the kicker is...

There are ZERO 2012 Double Cab Short Box SR5 Tacoma's in BC or Alberta.

Dealer could not give me any details regarding the 2013 models because Toyota has yet to release them.

 

Just got into a '12 DCSB V6 6-Spd Off-Road Spruce Mica; She's purdy.

Coming from 10 years in a 2500 Ram Cummins TD 6-Speed. Absolutely loved that ride and rowing through the gears all day was a pleasure.

My Taco shifts just fine. If having trouble shifting around 2K RPM try double-clutching to keep things open (clutch once to shift out of gear, clutch again to shift into new gear), otherwise shift closer to 3K or more it seems to me the tranny likes it much better up there. When downshifting always blip the throttle. Took me a few rides to adapt I'm so used to low RPM driving from the diesel days.

Not sure what all the fuss is about the 6-speed perhaps they made some synchro changes on the '12 and it's better than years past, or maybe just most folks complaining aren't used to shifting or have backgrounds in small cars. The Taco is a small light truck, but still a truck so things are supposed to be a bit "rougher".

Enjoy!

EDIT: Oops, didn't read your last post...there'll be more...just go configure your ultimate ride and have patience and tenacity and another will show somewhere...good luck these are fun rides!

 

I believe the manual transmission is much improved over previous 2nd Gen MYs...and they also seem to be making more of them, which is good.