What I really think about my 2014 Tacoma...

It's kinda a turd.

I'm no stranger to base vehicles but this is a real disappointment compared to my 1993 Tacoma base extra cab 5 speed 4 cylinder truck.

I put about 80,000 trouble free miles on that, I was the original owner. I adored that truck. Hated to sell her but too small. I had added a third seat belt in the back with an extra seat cushion to carry the three kids but the damn things kept growing! Lol!

Next I had a 1999 F150 base extra cab, V6 5 speed long bed. Great appliance of a truck. Kids got bigger, toys got bigger, boat, motorcycles, etc. it did 120,000 miles when I decided it was rusting enough stuff it wasn't worth repairing. Exhaust manifolds were cracked, oil dipstick tube rusted away completely??? But I did not do a single repair on it. Typical wear items, brakes, tires, oil n stuff.

Kids are grown so back to my all time favorite truck!

My 2014 Taco has 18k and the clutch pedal has a side play about one Inch to the left and the common pedal squeal has just begun. I greased the pedal to master rod contact point, the groan is gone for now but the pedal is friggin junk. Every time I press it I expect it to fold over and fail completely. Inspecting it by eye, I guess I'd put a bushing on the pivot bolt but seriously? It's had the side to side play since new.

The body panels might as well be made of paper. If I touch it, it dents. It's got dimples all over it from typical contact that doesn't damage the paint. The sheet metal just folds in? I'm pretty sure I could peel off the fenders with my bare hands.

We all know the leafs will be sagging or already were as I've added a AAL already too.

Would I buy it again? I think I'd have bought an older generation with low miles. I thought I'd be buying the latest, most refined version of this generation, what a let down.

If this 5 lug was a $10,000 vehicle, hey, I'd understand. For 19,000 I didn't hesitate as I loved my 1993 and this should be much better, it isn't.

But what else is out there? Chevy Colorado doesn't have its act together and didn't exist when I got this a year ago, I never liked the .Nissan but I'm thinking it may have been a better choice a year later.

I've modded it to fit my needs but every time I see another ding or push the clutch I'm disgusted. Anyone else expected more quality or remember better days or am I delusional?

 

I have no dents or nothing...and bought the auto even though I had manuals all my life...18k trouble free so far

 

All I can say is don't push your thumb into the body! Lol!

 

To my hand the sheet metal feels half the thickness of my other trucks. My 2003 mustangs were even more stout than this trucks body?

I didn't even mention the gearing. 3.31??? Seriously? I'm surprised it even moved off the lot. I jumped to 4.10 which was about right with stock tiny tires.

Open diff? Another joke. Yeah, I get it, cost cutting but they put a TV screen radio in it?

Drum brakes in 2014? Another thing that still makes me shrug. Why?

After a year that's my thoughts. Underwhelmed and it just didn't meet my expectations based on my 1993 Tacoma. More HP but less of a truck in my experience.

I'm married to it now, it's not going anywhere but I'm really not impressed that it's only gone backwards imo in 21 years of development.

 

It is still under warranty, take it to the dealer for the clutch.

 

They can't fix it. Brand new it had the pedal play. A new pedal will do the same thing. The fix will be to pull it out and add a bushing to the pivot point. The whole pedal is plastic.

 

Again, I may be spoiled but my 1993 returned the same or better mpg, never needed for more power and was anvil like in every regard. I know it had one door ding on it after seven years when I sold it. One.

That was with three kids leaning motocross bikes against it every weekend.

This one has dings in the bed fenders from just touching it while loading light cargo, like a plastic kayak.

I expect to be bedlinering the whole damn truck at some point cause he is right, the paint isn't very tough either.

 

I agreed with you, some of the things they put on the truck is a joke.
4 speed auto, drum brake, no key lock on bed, manual mirror, two speed wiper, no cruise control...I feel like I am buying a new 1990's car.
Yes the sheet metal is like paper, you can't lean on the truck or you get dents everywhere...

 

Chula Vista, CA today.
I want that decal

 

To the OP, First your old truck isn't a Tacoma. Tacoma were first made in 95. I had a 96 as my first Taco. The older trucks before the Tacoma were pretty robust. I don't know the specs on the older trucks, but gen 1 Tacomas were about 2800 lbs max. Regular cab gen 2 Tacomas are 3300 lbs. They are bigger and little bit more stiff than gen 1 Tacomas. Transmission for me is about the same between gen 1 and gen 2. The gen 2 is a bit more notchy, but that's easily fixable.

If you want real transmission issue... go with a FT86 platform car and you will be glad you have your truck that you have now. In 1996, I paid about $12K+ for the truck new. You are upset about $19K in 2015 or 2014 when you bought it. Am I disappointed in manual door locks and windows...absolutely, but I knew that going in and I wish there was an option for more in regular cab...but doesn't exist.

New cars are not that reliable anymore. Mini coopers or BMW... go on every forum and you will see defects here and there. Tacomas is your best bet in reliability and resale value...unless you got a lemon.

If you are really unhappy with the truck...sell it... I'm amazed at the resale value of these trucks. I would have bought a 2016, but it's first year new model and they don't make regular cabs anymore. Otherwise I jump in a heartbeat to buy the gen 3 Tacoma.

Finally regarding your clutch issue. Not sure if it's really just pedal squeak...but how do you have 1 in of play to the left? Go to the dealer if you can't fix it yourself.

Do yourself a favor and don't compare a 23+ year old car in terms of sheet metal. The cars get bigger, heavier, and thinner body panels as each generation model grows.

If it bothers you so much...sell the truck and get a Cali 1970s truck and drop a new V8 in it. It'll run the way you want and you can have stiff body panels.

Is this your first new vehicle in a long time? I think you are delusional if you want it to be reliability and bulletproof as the old cars of several decades ago.

 

Lol! You don't remember changing points every couple thousand miles I guess? Cars are far more reliable and require far less from the owner these days. People with issues have the Internet to voice their displeasure now, information is available at a rate that wasn't possible 30 years ago. Not even close. In 1985, we wouldn't have any chance of discussing this. None!

Not my first new car in a long time, in the family we have a 2010 f150 and a 14 Mustang, in a long line of new cars this is my personal seventh in 26 years not counting wife or three kids who all have had several too.

Call the 93 Toyota whatever you want, it was better built as a truck that you could at least lean against and not a giant leap behind the 2014, in fact it's about the same tech wise. That it got bigger and heavier but no more capable is kinda an indicator of what I'm saying. Thanks for nothing. Yeah, I know MPG and crash requirements, bla, bla, bla. They left this truck rotting on the vine. It isn't as good as they once were.

The clutch pedal is a known problem that I didn't know about when I bought it. Who could fudge up a simple clutch pedal? Toyota apparently! My grease job worked for a day, WD40 yesterday cured it again, but for how long. P.O.S. Clutch pedal assembly. Really a joke.

I'm a long time wrench spinner, body guy, hot rodder, moto mechanic, and engine rebuilder. I can see the clutch problem, no bushing and excessive clearance at the pedal pivot.

Thanks for the suggestion to sell it, didn't know I had that option! ROTFL!

 

I'm not here to argue with you. You made a post asking for opinion and to vent. If you had new cars mostly FORD (who is actually improved quite a lot over the years) then you haven't seen other cars like BMW(including mini) and Subaru that have a lot of problems. Subaru was a big surprise to me seeing it's suppose to be Japanese quality, but it was a big disappointment in a few key areas.

If your clutch pedal has so much play...stick a washer in it and see if that addresses the issue...what does grease for 1 inch lateral movement going to do for you?

I don't get that comment about changing points every couple thousand miles? My 96 Tacoma had for over 10 years and put 176K miles on it...the only thing that went bad was the starter at 98K miles. If you are a real experience wrencher... fix the damn thing or take it to the dealer. My point is that you are complaining about thing sheet metal that's been the same for over 20 years. Gen 1 Tacomas were no different. You are comparing to an older Toyota truck and older cars.

I didn't post to crap on you. I made a post to tell you that newer cars have a lot of issues because they have so many sensors and more things to go wrong. Direction injection fuel systems have plague multiple manufacturers. Audi, BMW, Subaru, and probably the gen 3 Tacoma. It's a pain to figure out and get right. 6 Speed transmission with triple cone synchros from Aisin are garbage.

Good luck with your pedal problem. It can be frustrating especially if you don't know how to fix it.

 

Buddy, your 1996 didn't have points! It must be nice to not know the pain in the arse they were! I'm guessing I'm a bit older than you. Yeah, I've had Fords, but I've had VW and Subaru and Chrysler, Dodge and Isuzu along with a Mazda.

Yeah, I know how to fix it, it isn't adding a washer, it's pulling the pedal assembly, turning a bushing on a lathe to fix the excessive play between the bare plastic arm and the steel pivot pin.

The grease is to resolve the groan it was making at the pedal arm to master cylinder rod. It has nothing to do with the side to side play in the arm.

My point is, this shouldn't be an issue in 2014 on a stick shift truck they have been building for decades.

The Mustangs have gotten better every generation. I owned a Fox, a pair of 2003, an 06 and my kid has a 2014. Constant evolution and improvement. This truck has been holding ground or getting worse for decades on just about every point I can measure by my year of experience with it.

Nobody has to argue, but it can be discussed! If I was shopping today I doubt I'd be buying another one. Cute pot shot at the last line. You have no idea how much I do or don't know, but I've got a clue it's a lil more than you think.

 

Newbs report to the Thunderdome stat.......

 

I'm ready!

 

They don't make em like they used to *in my best old guy voice*

 

We used to stack trucks like this six high and use them as sand bags....

( In my Clint Eastwood gravel voice. )

Damn kids!

 

Agent though a hail storm a few weeks ago. Pea size to quarter size, no dents.

 

That's great, i don't have any dings on the top either. Lucky you didn't park it on its side!

 

Body panels on my 08 are stiff enough. My clutch pedal is solid, and the only thing I'll be hauling is dirt bikes, and maybe a quad. Aal might be in my future, but not too soon. I love my truck, and would 't change a damn thing