List if your getting a 16

When did frame flex become a bad thing?

 

I am defiantly going to look into buying a 2016 tacoma. If the stealership can get my payment where I want it. Whats to loose. I doubt I will end up in one buy I will defiantly try.

 

Absolutely going to get TRD OR Access cab to upgrade from my 2004.
Looking forward to seeing what colors will be available.
Then it's mod time...I didn't need a savings account anyway!

 

This is my first post and the '16 Tacoma will be my first truck, well first new vehicle really. I went to the dealership on Sunday (01/11) to get a '15 Tacoma but there were no black access available cabs in CA and was told that the next production date would be at the end of Jan. with a delivery date end of Feb. I was bummed at first but then heard about the '16 Tacoma. The "it's the same truck" doesnt apply to me because I never had one or even wanted one before. I've always had small cars (current is a vw gti) but I just started my business and I am going to need a truck. For me, waiting is a no brainer. Lots of things that were considered an upgrade, now comes standard and you get a v6 with (hopefully) the mpg close to a 4. Plus, it being a new(ish) body style, it will look newer, longer.

I spoke with a sales rep from Toyota San Diego and tried to get on an allocation list but he said that they no longer do lists because people would get on a bunch of them and then just go with the first place that called. He said that Toyota would not start production until Sept. and wouldn't be available until Oct-Nov. It that true? I always thought the next year models were available around Aug-Sept. Is there a site that tracks the availability date of the Tacomas?

Now comes the purchase part. When I went in, I was pre-approved through USAA, using their car buying service and was offered invoice pricing. I also have Costco & AAA memberships but decided to go with USAA since they would give me .25% off the APR (little amount, but I'll take it) if I used the car buying service. I told a co-worker that and he said that he has always payed under invoice (he owns an older tundra and a '14 4-Runner) and that I should be able to do the same. My question is would they actually be able to offer below invoice pricing on a new, high demand vehicle? I am happy with the invoice price but I would like to save a little more if possible.

What are your purchasing experiences?

 

My dealership gave me different information, and is allowing folks to "get in line" for the first 10 dealer allocations they get. Allocation ordering begins in late May/early June, and early delivery will begin sometime in August. Since we're exactly 69 miles from the San Antonio factory, I trust my guy's information. He's been right for our last 4 Toys. Being in San Diego, your delivery may differ because of production in the Mexico plant, or having to wait for two railyards (onload/offload) before your dealerships get them.

We spec'ed out our 2013 Prius through USAA, got the dealer to match the pricing, then paid cash without having to get the loan. Dealers around here put signs up that say they'll match USAA pricing, which avoids the few days' effort needed for that particular tap-dance. You may want to ask yours.

All that said...Murphy's Law says we'll both be getting our trucks sometime in October. Stupid Murphy.

 

1. It means the frame is being used as part of the suspension. This means that all of the bed (and the load) is flopping around over bumps. This degrades ride quality and bump reaction because there is a large amount of unsprung, undamped weight.

2. More important, it indicates that the frame is still not very strong. It's not a big deal for around town use, but it becomes a problem if you want to drive offroad with cargo.

To quote Expeditions West:

"The rear of the Tacoma frame is subject to fatigue and failure if excessive weight is mounted to the aft C-channel. For example a heavy bumper, fuel tank, and spare tire mounted to a swing-out tire carrier. All of those items are scheduled for my vehicle, with the rear bumper, high lift jack, and spare tire weighing nearly 250lbs. The rearward frame section, just before the shock mount is not boxed as the front 2/3 of the frame is. 2000 and older Tacoma's are even more susceptible to frame failure as the frame does not have the additional reinforcement at the first bend (by the shock mount). The 2001 and newer frames are much stronger there, but the repeated flexing of the frame because of the rear bumper combination led me to want the frame reinforced for safety."

"I noticed the difference in ride quality immediately, which was a surprise. The flexy rear frame member contributes to the heavy axle wrap and bouncing of the Tacoma rear suspension. Now the truck feels like the springs and shocks are controlling the rear axle, as opposed to the frame contributing to the poor ride quality."

 

Anything above the axles is technically 'sprung' weight -- The frame, body, engine, bed, etc are all items that are 'sprung' because the suspension of the vehicle carries them. Wheels, tires, axles, & brakes are examples of things that are unsprung weight items. That said, I think I know where you're going.

I do agree with you 100% that a platform with more frame flex is generally not a good thing vs a more rigid platform. Kinda like drum brakes aren't as good as disk brakes but as long as everything stays within the engineered operating parameters there's nothing 'wrong'. One is better than the other.

FWIW, I've seen old Ford heavy duty pickups with c-channel frames stuck in holes out in the desert where they were twisted so bad between the cab and bed you'd sware they would never be able to go down the road again. Same hole with a different truck stuck in it (such as a boxed frame model), hardly no noticeable twisting. Once unstuck they all kept going no problem, and the Fords were some of the better riding HD trucks we had in the fleet. Again though, more rigid is moar better.

 

Heck no!! My 14 TX Baja has 2700 miles as of today! I am loving my truck... Who knows in a couple of years I might get a Gen 3 Pro or whatever they come out with that is TRD tweaked!

 

going to hold until I hear more drive-train details

 

That's crazy talk

 

Congrats on getting a Taco! You made the right decision . I'm gonna upgrade to the '16 and probably an access cab, too.

Mine experiences may be a bit different than most (I should really say my family and I). My dad bought all 4 of our Toyota vehicles, 3 of which have been trucks the other a camry, from the same dealership since the 90's when I was a toddler. First the T-100, then the Tundra, and then my Tacoma.

Nevertheless, I remember when my dad bought his tundra and helped me buy my Tacoma, he was the biggest devil's advocate, questioning the current technology and always comparing it to the Ford f150. He also intentionally looked for the "weakest" looking salesmen on the lot (in the case of his Tundra a female and in the case of my Tacoma a very young, didn't even look like he was 30, man) to work with. He always knew he was going to buy the Tundra/Tacoma, but he made sure that the salespeople didn't. By no means was he (or myself) disrespectful; he just knew how to exploit human behavior and get a damn good deal. At the end of the day, it always ended with a handshake and both parties were happy.

TL;DR: Don't bother going to the dealership without being prepared. Know the competition and don't hesitate to make comparisons. If you are fine with .25% off the ARP and want to deal with less hassle, take it for what it's worth. If you want to save another grand or more, fight for it. Welcome to the fam

 

Different ways to skin a cat.

- I almost always call a dealer & find out who the senior sales person is & deal with the them directly.

Or

- I've also had luck dealing with the fleet sales person. Many times nowadays this person can be dual-hatted & is the Internet sales mgr as well.

The benefit of working with either of the above is you eliminate the good cop - bad cop B.S.. The people listed above have the authority to sell you a vehicle. I abhor the dynamic that involves a Jr person having to go to daddy (the mgr) for every single negotiating point. It's a proven psychological process designed to drag the process out & get you to 'be more reasonable' (which means ripping more $ out of your bank account).

 

Nop! I'm keeping my 2003 it just hit 83k still a baby and not a single issue, plus the best thing it's paid off

 

I saw that a Toyota VP of marketing said Toyota is planning another TRD PRO for the the new 2016 model. I plan to wait for that especially if they are offering it in the Inferno Orange.

 

I will most likely end up buying a 3rd gen, don't know if it'll be a 2016 or not, tho.

My 2007 has been outstanding, and I guess the gen 3 finally gives me some incentive to purchase something different. New engine and tranny could be very promising, but the jury is still out on that. Creature comforts are way better as compared to my truck, which my family will appreciate.

One of my biggest hangups will be aftermarket parts availability, as my intention will be to lift it 3" immediately and get 285s back on. I've been running that setup on my 2007 for 115k miles and wouldn't want to give up the stance or capability for any duration.

Still need a lot more info, so hopefully the Chicago show gives us some more details. I did sit in a Colorado this weekend and it is a very nice looking truck. I'll be in the market for one or the other once the details are all available and each has been in the market for a year or so.

 

Are you going to Chicago show? If so please take some detailed underneath pictures which no one has done.

 

Wish I were. I'm in the same boat as you... Very interested if anything has changed with the front cab mounts and fenders so I can speculate how difficult a 285 will be to mount as compared to the gen 2.

 

I'll be at the philly show next week and will try to steal some undercarriage shots.

 

When are the 16 ' s gonna start showing up at dealerships?

 

Fall