My new Taco is half the truck as my old Taco

My 2004 Tacoma did not have squeaky leaf springs, nor did the mudflaps fall off when you put the truck in reverse on any kind of rocky terrain. It felt like a truck where this 2013 feels like a station wagon. My 2004 had a lever for 4wd- a lever dammit! Not some sissy ass switch (that isn't even lit- I mean no one would EVER use 4wd at night anyway). It doesn't get any better gas mileage but I didn't buy a truck for good mileage. Mostly it just doesn't feel as solid as my Gen 1. I have tried to ignore this since I pay heavily for this truck once a month and will for the next 4 years. This truck is more money than my Gen 1 and it just doesn't feel rugged at all. No where near as rugged as my '04. Now in all fairness, my frame turned to dust on my Gen 1, but I have to say that so far I do not get a warm fuzzy feeling about how this truck will hold up, including the frame. Does anyone feel the same way? Tell me it's all in my head.

The '13 has MUCH better seats. I will say that much.

 

My opion gen 1 and gen 2 are both solid truck. Didnt you test drive and check out all the bell and whistle before purchasing it?

 

1st gen FTMFW!

 

Yes, I did. But I didn't back it down a boat ramp in the woods and have the mud flaps fall off. And it was about 10k miles before the springs started sounding like a squeaky bed in a Vegas whorehouse.

Not really. Maybe a bit but I liked the Tacoma better than anything else I drove.

Right? RIGHT??

 

I have to say I felt the same way about my 13 versus my old 02, for a while. Some things still really bug me about the gen 2, like the switch for 4wd versus a lever, 6 gears vs 5 and no better mileage (doesn't make much sense and I know more power), the throttle hangs is terrible, lower ground clearance.

But there are a bunch of good things over the gen 1 more power, better towing (by a huge margin), ATRAC, I like the bed, the interior is nicer expect for the lack of a lever for 4wd. In the time I have had my 13 I've started to like it more and more. I just don't want anymore electronic garbage that doesn't have any real benefit added in future trucks. I don't want a freaking car, I want a truck that will take a beating and keep going.

Please Toyota you can keep the heated mirrors, auto headlights, side collision warnings, TPMS, auto ac, auto wipers, auto awd, seat belt beeping forever warnings (I do wear my seatbelt, but not when I'm moving a boat around on the beach or working in a field), off my Tacoma.

rant over

 

Exactly this; but give me back my locking hubs while we're at it...and transfer case shift lever with 2WD-low like all my old junk

thanks!

 

Fix it yourself, Disable Seatbelt Warning Chime

As for the OP, here is a sad face.

 

I have to say 2nd gens can take a beating. Look at this guy lol. Flooded his truck, left it overnight, pulled it out next day and it started up 3rd crank. He blew up the motor, but that was user error haha

 

Pretty sure I read somewhere that works for the 2012 but 13-14's it does not and requires a trip to the dealer.

 

I thought I read that as well; I go in for initial service on my 2013 (bought Feb 2014) on Friday; that was something I was going to ask them to de-program.

 

It does work on my '09. I hate it when they change the programming procedures for something so simple. I would speculate that there is a way to do it just not perhaps known yet.

 

Doesn't work for '12 either.

 

The dealer did take care of that one for me, but we are ranting right.

 

These are the complaints with every new truck in the last ten years, whether it was made by Toyota or whoever else. Personally, I appreciate the fact that the Tacoma is still more of a *truck* than the rest, in the fact it can off road fairly well even from stock and does not leave me feeling like it's a tank. For a 1/4 ton, I put my 2013 way past my 1998 Ford Ranger I had, much more refined and quick cheap fixes for the little issues I do have with it. Most of my friends owned Tacoma's or 1/2 tons at that time, I'd say if I rolled up with my Tacoma back then to any of them we'd quickly admire some of the changes Toyota made then cut away the ones they disagreed with.

My 2014 Dodge Ram 2500 GJ on the other hand, is a fucking tank on road with rear coils that sag under load . There's no helping her, good thing it's my work truck and I'm not paying for it. Now that truck has gone down hill fast since 2004, especially since it's really an up done commercial vehicle. However if your interested in one it's very pretty inside !

 

Ouch. Sorry OP. Toyota lost me when they "upgraded" the Tacoma. My 1st gen is just right. The new ones are just too big, for starters. I'm sure some folks prefer that, but not me.

Now you're stuck with payments and a truck you don't love. Wish I had a legal solution for you...

 

...still miss my 99 V6 (rotted frame & all)

 

You have a lot of valid points..
I did like my 1Gen I would have still own it if, Toyota did not refuse to replace my frame.
I had to sell it to Toyota otherwise I would be driving truck with bunch of holes in the frame.I would love to see Toyota build 1gen again, something simple, and unbeatable. However, thanks to new standards they can not. So for know I am happy my 2Gen does not have idiotic Traction Control. small win but its big benefit in my book. Would love to get regular accelerator (not that drive by wire garbage) and I would love to get Manuall Transfer box (manual as manual always to ADD). The way I look at this if I keep my truck long enough, I will no longer have to go for state inspection. That means I can get rid off all the safety garbage from it.

 

The good news is that you shouldn't have to wait too long to sell it since resale is higher than most other trucks...Sure you might take a little hit, but it could be worse.

 

The 12+ all use a module that you connect to a computer than you just run a script. its easy, i did it on my 13, best thing ive done

 

It's really a shame that Toyota wouldn't replace or repair the frames. Seems like lotsa folks were forced into a new truck they didn't really want/need as a result.