Test rode a '16 TRD Sport tonight... loved it... but...

I actually do with the big amp under the driver seat. Honestly, it's not even in the same ball park... far, far superior sound in my Xterra.

 

Paid troll guys, not sure why you guys fell for it. Why would someone create a account just to bash a Tacoma

 

I did tinker with it a bit... I did spend half an hour to fine tune, but did make initial adjustments to test out the range... still not impressed.

 

I assume you are referring to me. I created an account because I want to a) share my experience and b) see if others have a similar view after test driving and c) perhaps get logical explanations of some of the concerns I expressed. I am not trolling. As my post indicate, I still love the truck and will prob still end up getting one. Just because I post my honest negative (and positive) thoughts, does not make me a troll. To state the obvious, I simply represent one man's thoughts and looking to chat with others about a shared interest.

 

you make a valid point but also with a low post count I have probable assumption but yes I could be wrong about you.

 

still not tired of trolling this forum huh?

 

I have low post count because I have never owned a Tacoma (or any truck) before. I have been drooling over this 2016 Tacoma for months now. I've lurked on this forum for about 6 months, but never felt I had any knowledge worth sharing. Last night, after the test ride, I felt I did... and therefore created the account.

 

Might be a troll, but it needs to be continually brought up to remind us just how stupid using 1950s technology in a $35,000 truck is. The last car I had with drum brakes was a 1993 Buick Century.

Many things on this truck are cheap except the price.

What it will take to make me buy one:

1. Disc brakes all four.
2. Strong reliable engine in excess of 300hp
3. Power/Heated/AC Seats
4. Power Rear Window

Until that point, I will not be buying a Tacoma. I'm not paying champagne prices for a 6pack of Milwaukees Best. If I absolutely needed a truck today, I'd probably still consider it, but since that's not the case. I'll stack cash and wait for Toyota to pull it's head out of it's ass

 

Not to be mean, but HP means very little on a truck other than stroking rights. The torque number is far more important.

Why do you need disc brakes? For the principle of the matter? My ex's 2012 GMC Sierra had discs. They actually saved us money considering it didn't eat the rear rotors like my Ram on gravel. To me I'm fine either way, the brakes just have to work (and they do on my 13 just fine).

Again, the engine argument is silly. This 3.5 L is much like the higher HP Chevy engine, just a lower redline which means lower HP. If you want high HP, go to the fullsized trucks.

I do get the power seat argument. However, if and when they come, I'm betting they will be an option until you hit the tech packages. Cooled seats are ok, but not necessary. My dad Lariat has them. Nice in the summer, but not something I look for in awe.

The power rear window, again, isn't something that screams anything to me. I have one in my Dodge. I think I've opened it twice...

Midsized trucks are priced right up against the fullsized trucks because of the low volumes. I'm curious to see if Ford follows though with their threat of releasing the Ranger with pricing 5K under the F150 per trim line. That could be interesting.

 

Many things aren't needed, but when I'm paying $35k +TTL for a new car in 2015, they should be included.

Tell me at $25k for the V6 you're getting bare bones options....I get it, but definitely not at $35k+

 

Yeah, and I can get that. We just bought a 2015 F150 without waiting to see the new Tacoma. It was a no brainer value wise. If you need to go offroad I can see why people go with the Tacoma, but the fullsized trucks now turn about as well as the nearly same sized midsized trim level and give you more bang for buck.

 

If I was confident Ford has brought it's quality/reliability WAY up (which honestly it probably has), it would be a no brainer. The new F150 looks amazing inside and out.

 

Considering the resale value of a Tacoma - you're probably buying Bud Light and then pissing it back into Milwaukees Best cans. I think people make too big a deal over rear discs. I had a Dodge Dakota and the rear discs were nothing but trouble.

 

@vuTron Thanks for taking the time to write up your experience. I wish you had taken a few minutes to test drive a 2015 as well since you have no experience with a Tacoma to compare it to. I find the Nissan engines feel much more powerful than the Toyotas when driving around town but I understand that's because of their throttle ratio differences (more sensitive gas pedal in the nissans - you push less and get more throttle.) so I'm not surprised you were unimpressed with the power.

 

I'm not getting the price pissing contest. a Dodge 1500 Sport starts at 35k for the 4x2 and 39k for the 4x4(key word is start). Hell, I paid more for my 15 Harley(over 40k otd). My 16 Taco(TRD Sport 4x2) MSRP is 33,100. Less than 1k higher than the 15's.

 

Oh Lord more of this disc brake nonsense.

 

The VQ40DE 4.0L V6 engine in your Xterra is the same engine in the 05 to current Frontier. It is still the class leader in torque with 281lbft which peaks 600rpm sooner than the new Toyota 3.5L. I don't doubt it felt less powerful than your Xterra.

 

VQ's ftw

 

The lack of low end power + high revving engine sounds + very noticeable engine braking = disappointment for me.

that all said, I still want to test drive another one, perhaps a TRD OR, just to see verify consistency.

 

thanks for the technical proof I'm not crazy.

kinda sad a 10+ year old engine with the same fuel efficiency seems to perform better than this brand new hyped engine.