Tacoma Chief Engineer on PUTC

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/05/up-close-tacoma-chief-engineer-goes-deep.html

"To start that process we talked to a lot of our current Toyota Tacoma owners and asked them what they would change, if they could change something about the truck. We asked them to tell us what they wanted that wasn't available, or wasn't built into the current truck."

Who are the people that Toyota talks to, are there ANY TacomaWorld members that have EVER talked to a Toyota engineer?!?!

 

They go to places like Consumer Reports. They get reviews and opinions from soccer moms and people who only use their truck for dump runs and the occassional Home Depot run. I would be willing to bet that those people vastly out number the hardcore off roaders and people who actually use their truck like a truck.

 

"Customer suggestions also resulted in us putting a GoPro camera mount inside the windshield"

I may be wrong but my impression is that GoPro Mount is as popular as the huge front grill around here.

 

You have to realize Tacoma World is the 1%...

 

Max Tow rating goes up 300lbs to 6,800lbs

 

And I'm glad I was right about the rear diff being new. Everyone said I was crazy

And

That's a bold statement. I really think that was the 2nd gen's downfall for fuel economy. It was about as aerodynamic as a barn.

 

Are y'all happy now? They HAVE been listening!

 

Toyota had emailed me a questionaire 2 years in a row. was pretty long. 2012 & 13 I think maybe.

Asked about major repairs that have been needed. Likes/dislikes of each major system as well as overall.

 

The article makes sense. Go drive around for an hour and look how many stock Tacoma's there are driven by the average person doing exactly what @Pugga said. I know I can pass at least 5 Tacoma's on my 20 minute drive to work driven by old people. We are a very small minority. They tried to appease us 1% by giving us the TRD Pro.

 

Yeah, but they said they had a better coating on the 2nd Gen frames and look how well that worked out... They didn't even make it 10 years and they were replacing them as well. Just because you say it over and over doesn't make it true.

 

I'm taking your comment to mean "it's not proven to be better yet". Which is 100% true. But what I'm saying is, they've realized the problem was significant and they've attempted to fix it; which is all you can ask for.

Honestly, I didn't hear anything in that article I didn't 100% agree with (ok, maybe except for the GoPro mount). A new e-locker that won't blow up? Yeah, we've been asking for that quite a while. Stronger rear axle and better front control arms? All things I want to hear. Quieter cabin and better fuel economy due to better aerodynamics is something I want for 99% of the driving I (and most of us) do.

 

How did they make the interior bigger of the cab is the same size? Thinner door panels or what? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

Oi. I can't believe they're making the 1st gear even lower; I test drove a TRD w/the six speed stick and I was shifting out of 1st before I'd even gotten away from the stop signs. Any lower and they'll make it like the old 'Granny Low' 4 speed transmission in my Dodge. You completely ignore 1st gear and start off in 2nd unless you're pulling a heavy load.

 

I am just hoping they make the 6th gear taller for optimized fuel economy.

 

They said that they made it 22% taller, so that should help. Not sure what it'll end up actually being with the new diff ratios, though.

 

Reg Cab TRD models, crazy.

 

Who put that comment there:

 

I agree, it was well written, I just hope it's all true. A lot of the reasons I didn't buy another Tacoma seem to be addressed with the 2016. Time will tell.

 

^Absolutely.....I'm always taken aback at how few I see modded and are completely stock even in SoCal.

 

It says underneath.