OK, the 3.5 should be a good engine

I just can't wait til it comes out so I can go test drive it, then tell the guys I still like my first gen better still haha. There's just so many things about my older truck I couldn't pass up with a newer one. No a-trac, no traction control, auto lsd or any of that stuff that hinders drivability. I grew up driving old trucks that had none of that stuff so I feel more comfortable driving trucks without it. When I had my 2011 Taco, I was constantly turning the trac control off every time I went somewhere in the winter. Holding that damn button down for 5 seconds every single time I went to start it.. No longer a problem now!

 

I do like the 1st gen, and sounds like you have a great reason to keep it

For me, the 2nd gen just fits better with the 6spd and extra power it tows great, and the extra space fits me well.

At least there is the option to hold the button down and turn the stuff off. My 4runner did not have that and it was a bitch in the winter because it would cut the power to keep traction, way more aggressive than it needed to be and really sucked to drive.

 

Not sure where you getting Info from but look at the facts.

2UZ has been installed for 13 years as Land Cruiser engine.
In fact it has been installed for many years on 6 most expensive Toyota vehicles mass produced.
If this engine was anything but perfect Toyota would have pulled the plug on it, in their Luxury line.

Not sure why you think we dont have stuff from Land Cruisers.
1GR and 750 transmission with transfer case is from Land Cruiser Prado / Hilux Surf (aka 4runner) So current 2 gen trucks are driving with engine + transmission + transfer case designed for Land Cruisers. You can't get better than that. What More you want ?
In my 2 gen I have mechanical LSD which is what they installed on Land Cruisers.
Engine and transmission is exactly like Prado. Down to part numbers for correct years.
What more would you like, 2 Gen truck has most of drive train. To a point that until Dec 2007 a lot of trucks produced where installed in NUMMI with crated Land Cruiser engines from Japan.

2016 Tacoma has none of LC stuff. 2gr is car engine and its already had been proven to be a problematic one. Putting that into Truck is cheap as move by Toyota.

 

The 1uz was also in the most expensive vehicles of the time, before they evolved to 2uz and stuffed in the cruiser and Tundra/4runner.

They are both great engines, In stock power the 2uz and 1uz will run for every. The aftermarket power added on a stock unopened engine for early 1uz, or early 2uz is where the 2uz is weaker. The TRD supercharger for the 2uz was discontinued because of the reliability of the increased output on the 2uz being less than great.

Yes the 1gr, and 750 as well as the 8" lsd are from Prado's etc. But the real heavy duty 40-50-60-70-80-100 series namesake Land cruisers are what set the bar and gained the rep. Those vehicles share very little with the baby cruiser and Tacoma-Hilux-Surf-4runner other than the Tech developed on them applied to the smaller trucks.

I am not trying to argue that the best stuff comes from land cruisers directly or indirectly, just saying our trucks are also bastardized from other portions of the Toyota line.

Not coming directly from a land cruiser does not mean that its not going to be good, and considering the 2uz is literally and directly developed from the engine in and for a car. It has been done before.

I don't really have much knowledge of the 2gr series. But the 3vz-e was a piece of junk, developed as a truck engine and a car engine 3vz-fe. They made the 5vz-fe in the first gen Tacoma based directly off of that and it turned out great.

 

And yet 1 UZ was never put into anything that needed to last, but 2 UZ was.
Not sure what are you claiming about Prado but Prado is pretty much growing 70 series. And had been treated as such. Prados are actually most popular Land Cruiser around the globe. With new 200 series growing to full street luxury line, Prado is still developed as rugged version of Land Cruiser. Prado is as much Land Cruiser as can be.

So having drive train from Prado is like having cheap Prado in US.
2GR is not good engine that is why no rugged Toyota built to last has one. If it was such great engine would have end up in Prado or Hilux. but it did not. So if Toyota is not confident in that engine (they are the guys who build it) how can I be?

 

LS400 was certainly built to last. Remember those ball bearing commercials? Also, they have a respectable tow rating for being a car and they had an outstanding reliability rating throughout the years.

The Prado is great, but it is more like the Hilux and Tacoma in that its a vehicle developed based off the bigger cruisers. A great vehicle and I would love to have one. But it is the same thing in a different package for a different market, the smaller size. It is of course taking over that section of the lineup because they really did go another direction with the 200 series.

I don't think the Prado was first on the list for a 2gr, because we in the US are the ones pushing for extra efficient and more cushy trucks all around. Then we pile on more EPA crap than practically anyone so when the Prado etc get a modern, efficient diesel engine we likely will not. The Hilux is different for sure, its not as big, not as nice, not as "refined" and the majority of people in the US these days would call it an antique even if I would love to have one at home. That D4D drives great, and it rides like a truck which does not bother me. And it goes forever on fuel. Sitting in it, driving it... It is much "older" feeling than the 2nd gen Tacoma.

The Tacoma line is getting and will get farther and farther apart from all the other Toyota trucks out there because that is what the US wants. Heated seats and mirrors, car like ride, 35 mpg and gizmos and gadgets.

We will all see how it turns out at some point. I am hoping for the best.

Worst case scenario is hang on to my 2nd gen forever.

At least the next ones not a hybrid or something.

 

I agree, only problem I have with it now is I want some more ponies. Going to try some aftermarket headers and exhaust system first, if that satisfies me I will just keep it as is. If not, supercharger!

 

The 4.0 was a great engine for it's day but get real. It is 10 effing years old, it's beyond outdated and it was the main deterrent for me when I was contemplating a 2012+ purchase.

If you think the 3.5 is going to disappoint you're wrong. A lot has happened in 10 years. I'm glad I saved my money and waited this one out. I can't wait to test drive a manual 3.5 when they hit the dealer lots.

 

I felt the auto was a little less on the power when towing. Quicker unloaded though.

The 6spd feels more powerful and deffinately tows better. But it is slower. I plan to have the s/c someday. Now I am pretty sure I am going to get a 2015 because I need more room for the family. So the s/c is put off again.

Good luck with some ponies!

 

After driving the Chevy their 3.5 is super smooth and good power so the Toyota should be good.... The chevy seams a little revy for towing but the red line on the Tacoma photos is lower than the chevy so it must have better low end power...

Can't wait to drive one, have call my buddies at the dealership to see when they can get one...

 

That was probably the issue with the rubber oil line that effected nearly all 2GR's early on. They were later fitted with a metal line that cured the problem. The engine itself is sound.

It's worth noting though...the 2GR is hardly a new engine. It made it's debut back in 2004 in the '05 Avalon. Hardly changed at all since then....other than the use of direct-injection in the Lexus IS a few years later that netted 306 HP. I think the GS is using it now too..

So the real question is...will this be one of the current 2GR's which range from 266 HP to over 300 HP, depending on application? Or will this be some sort of new 3.5L engine. My guess is no...it'll be a current 2GR with DI. I'm guessing Toyota has delayed releasing the HP/TQ numbers to tweek them some to make sure they can compete with GM's 300+ horse engine.

 

So one of my biggest gripes is the smaller engine on the 2016, but it might be O.K. I would still prefer a new larger engine.. But in following the new Chevy so far the 3.5 is panning out to be ok and the Toyota could be better....

I 've be watching test of the new Colorado to see how the good the motor is to help decide if I'll upgrade to the new Tacoma. 2015 Colorado beats the 2015 Tacoma by 30 seconds in their towing test with the same weight and gets 5 MPG better gas mileage in a different test, win, win with worse gearing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd_5IBY2gQc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVC-JZ-5i2Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_XGGq9fsjE
They are really hard on the Tacoma but the MPG difference should be close...

So the 3.5 should be a good upgrade, much smoother larger power band, more top end power, similar mid range and much better mpg... But I would still prefer a modern 4.0 for more torque for larger tires off road and towing...

So if the Chevy 3.5 is an upgrade from the 4.0 the Toyota version should be a good upgrade...

 

Chevys is a 3.6, I love how all these reviews act like chevy was out of the game for so long. The last gen Colorado ran from 2004 to 2012, they just had a crap product that couldn't compete. IMO they have now just come up to the bar, not crossed it. The Colorado for me offers things I just don't want in my truck and those steering wheel controls scream cheap! But the Yota gets knocked for interior. Only time will tell on the 3.5, I wish Yota would have kept it a 4.0l and more geared towards a truck engine. But when "car people" want to buy trucks because the think its the cool thing to do manufacturers cater to that and "truck people" end up with vehicles that are further departures from what they want in a truck.

 

I know 3.6, they make the Toyota seam like crap, but the Chevy has just caught up... If you like a soft ride it's better and the inside is nice and it look good but I like my truck better.... Plus they make so many parts for our trucks....

 

The Colorado interior is awful. I cant believe the praise it gets from reviewers. It has the same cheap GM feel as the Chevy Cruze. And the 4x4 selector knob is the the real head kicker! A tiny cheap little knob on the left side of the steering wheel!!!??? WTF???

 

Well well my friend, You should be on the chevy forum and if you not driving a stick keep quiet. Real men drive stick shift. Automatics are for ladies.

 

Looking at where the Colorado gets it's horsepower, at 6800 rpm is scary. What makes sense when you consider a 4.0 Taco 5 speed goes 0 to 60 in about seven and a half seconds while a Colorado does in just a couple tenths faster....is that this higher horsepower is wasted unless you keep it wound up to near breaking point. Towing demos by FASTLANE truck in their Gaunlet run with about 5k lbs in tow showed that. This thing screeched all the way to the top in less time then a Tacoma (by less then a minute) but doing it at 6k rpm vs 4k or under for the Taco. Now, ten years from now, my Taco will still be purring like a kitten like the same motor did in my 04 4 Runner. The Colorado will be on it's second set of valves.

What I am most interested in is how the new Taco engine is calibrated. It does redline at about 6100 but will it have sufficient torgue at lower speeds. Either way, as in the past, my money is on Toyota motors.

 

Right so everyone with autos should stop posting? Douche. Go play with your football bat.

 

You do realize it isn't rpm that determines how long a vehicle or its drive-train last but how and what it is designed for right? If it was solely RPM any of the four cylinder hondas would be going through valve springs and rockers every few years. Is that why diesels last so long because they rev lower?

Tyler