What the heck were they thinking?

I've owned, and loved, Toyota trucks since '86. There has never been a day in my life since I've had a drivers license that I didn't park a Toyota pickup in my garage: 2 old Hilux's, 6 tacoma's (3 1st gens, 3 2nd gens), a 2001 Tundra (total POS that should have never seen pavement), and a Paseo. I still drive my '08 doublecab every day. I've lived through the ups and downs of driveline shimmy in all the 2nd gens, and finally solved the last one myself. Needless to say I'm emotionally invested in the Toyota brand, and well versed in the quirks they've had over the years.

I'm afraid that may soon change. I test drove a 2016 Doublecab 4x4 limited today, and all I can do is shake my head.

I've waited on a tacoma update for several years, always thinking they'd put the 4runner v-8 in one, or give the 4.0 at least a little modernizing, maybe even the dual vvt-i from the 4runner. Instead, I'm now seriously thinking about a changing brands. They've ruined several of the things I loved about the taco. The new, higher snout makes it harder to see in front of the truck, it still has horrible brake feel (but better than my '08), drum brakes in the rear. You cant get an e-lock rear diff in a sport model, and a $40k truck that has mud flaps as an option, but has a go-pro mount standard? WTF?!?! The idiocy of the mount being heralded as having ANY value is just beyond me.

I still cant get my ATV in the back because the wheel well width is still only 42" wide. The lower dash on the passenger side is too low and hits your knees if you're moved up any at all for a rear passenger to fit. Not to mention the new front end is butt ugly.

But the real deal breaker is the motor. How any marketing engineer, or demographic researcher ever thought this engine was a good idea is ridiculous, and they aren't worthy of sweeping the floors at Dodge. I honestly thought I had accidentally locked it in too high of a gear. And at highway speed, (around 2000 rpm) the steering wheel had this strange high frequency vibration. Not a shimmy like my 2nd gens, just an annoying tingle. My wife said she felt it in the passengers side too. It will scoot at high rpms, albeit really no better than the 4.0 does. All other things being equal, I'd be extremely surprised if the new taco wouldn't get eaten alive out of the hole by the old 4.0 in the real world. They've turned it into a honda civic truck. It only has power when you're wringing the poor things neck. All for 2mpg? The transmission downshifted every time something that looked like a incline was in front of it. Back and forth, back and forth, constantly shifting. I wanted to toss a couple of adderal pills in the atf fluid after about 10 minutes.

The truck is absolutely quieter, the seats are higher, and the fabric is better. And it positively rides better than my '08. I also like the center console hand brake. The tailgate is also much stronger, and the dampener is really nice. But that's about it.

So what is boils down to is the same old taco, a little quieter, a little better riding, a little better MPG, a little more comfy, with a no-torque high strung motor and a hyperactive transmission trying to hide that fact.

I've driven toyotas all my life, almost 30 years. I'd like to keep it that way, but the 2016 is a no-go for me.

That being said, anybody know where I can find a new 2015 Magnetic grey, double cab short bed, trd sport 4x4 with a grey interior and tow package?

 

Welcome to TW, whata first post for the new guy.

Hope you have luck with your search...

FYI, 4Runners no longer come with a V8.

 

Let's wait for the 3rd gen fanboys to insert their opinions on this


Good luck on finding a 2015 OP, they're becoming few and far between in term of choices!

 

I've got one I'd let go of for, say, $50000 cash lol
Not new but 20000 not completely abusive miles

 

Well you got that off your chest. Happy 2015 shopping.

 

Actually, I'm not a new guy. I was on here years back trying to find a solution to the steering wheel shimmy in my '05 doublecab. Enjoyed the forum at the time as there was lots of info here and the forum members were as passionate about the taco's as i am. But, that was years ago. I finally got it fixed, and moved on. Its been a long time, i forgot all my login credentials, and my email address changed about 5 years ago, so I'm back under a new account . I dont even remember my old user name. Anyway, If you guys come across a new 2015 like I described at a reasonable dealership, send me a message. I'd gladly send a man and his gal out for a steak dinner as a finder's fee lol.

 

LoL this guy must have just found TW.

The GP mount is pretty dipshittery vs. about a thousand other things that are much more useful, that I'd say the consensus would agree on.

 

http://www.cars.com/for-sale/search...rtFlds=stkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId&pgId=2102

 

Haters gonna hate the 3rd gen. I have the 2.7 which is solid, its always drove nice since the day I got it so I can't speak on the new 3.5 from experience

"I still cant get my ATV in the back because the wheel well width is still only 42" wide. The lower dash on the passenger side is too low and hits your knees if you're moved up any at all for a rear passenger to fit. Not to mention the new front end is butt ugly."

Sounds like you need a Tundra, and not liking the looks of the front end isn't a 3rd gen flaw, its just your preference. I can barely keep 1-2 on my lot, they sell great so Toyota did something right. I can look across the street at Chevy / GMC and see rows and rows of their trucks sitting unsold till they can put enough rebates on them to move em.

I do agree the 2015 body style is excellent. I still might end up buying one for my long term truck I can modify and upgrade. We will see what kinda of aftermarket stuff come out for the 3rd gen in the next few years.

 

#keeping14tacotillwheelsfalloff
#14SCCtruck

 

Gen-III guys say the 3.5 wakes up when the "ECT" button is on. I don't know....just sayin'.

 

Scooter62 Thanks for the link. sent a request in on one in FL to get see if its a trd sport and if it has a factory tow package. Maybe it'll work out!

 

Good deal. Best of luck to you.

The only 2 TRD's I saw were the red one and black one.

 

I'm the same way. Looking forward to hitting the 1,000 mile mark this spring to see the difference once she is broke in. I'm liking her now with just over 600 miles, even during the winter. I figure things can only get better!

Only thing I'm noticing is a heat shield flutter as I'm going through the gears. Maybe they can find which one is fluttering when I take her in for the 6 month bolt tightening appointment.

 

I think that every vehicle I've ever owned there are things I can nitpick about. Something being newer doesn't really change that. I'm just hoping the new Tacoma's engine proves to last as long as previous years'. I really don't care about the bed size or the lack of torque or whatever, it works fine for me, but I guess this is all personal preference and needs. My brother's F150 ecoboost has tons of torque and an ATV fits in the bed just fine. Maybe you should be looking at a fullsize and not a midsize?

 

I got 4k on mine now and it def drives better after 1200 but it was never "gear hunting." It finds a gear going up steep grades and stays all the way up the hill and wont bounce around. Downhill it shifts to engine break so it doesn't run away and you have to ride the brakes (I suspect, sure feels like it on a steep downhill). One thing I did notice on the 3.5 is it kind of lurches on a quick start which I don't personally like very much.

 

The manual transmission doesn't seem to have any problems gear hunting

 

That is something else I'm looking forward to, leaving the cruise control on when I'm going up a hill. I have been canceling it before I hit the grade because it will rev the rpm's up if I leave it on. I have been keeping the rpm's close to 2,000 as I can until Betty gets a 1,000 miles on her.

 

Here's mine I traded in with < 10k miles

http://www.gossettmotorcars.net/used/Toyota/2015-Toyota-Tacoma-6c2f5cc70a0e0ae704465759eb0d9775.htm

 

That's the problem, there isn't really anything else worth a dam. Nissan probably the next best imo.

That's the ticket .. beats a ranger/chebby debacle.