DeMello's review of the 2016 Tacoma.

Now Subaru is something I could enjoy on a dirt road

 

Glad I got the MT

 

We have the TRD off road. I'm going to 4:88's when they are available.

 

Speaking of Mileage. I believe our super charged tundra 5.7 on 37's re-geared hauling more weight got better mileage than the Tacoma did. I believe it Averaged about 13mpg the whole way the Taco was around 12 I believe. My 4runner heavily roof loaded this trip did about 13-14 depending on the area. I think the worse for the Tacoma was 10mpg. Actually I heard the driver wrong, it was average of 10 on some of the down hills he saw 15 but there are a lot of hills between Socal and Ouray.

 

I'm no where near the weekend warrior that you are (yet), but believe me, I towed a 4500 lb boat and trailer with a full bed and 2 people and I was a pretty disappointed by how the truck managed it. Schizo on gears, not enough torque to assertively pass people, etc, but I've come to terms that this wasn't a vehicle intended to tow anything more than a set of motorcycles. Averaging 75 MPH on coastal Texas terrain (flat AF) I eeked out 7.2 MPG and literally confused the 'miles to empty' calculator on my truck. Needle on E with 141 miles to empty! Needless to say, last time I do that.

 

And I quote, 7.2 MPG.

 

Wow our Tundra does better than that towing! Actually our motor home (38' long v10 gas) towing the tacoma with about an extra 2k weight in the garage and the Tacoma behind it got an average of 7.5 all the way to texas. The way home it was lighter but I went a different way and I got 6.5-7.0.

 

My 16 gets around 12-13 MPG now too, but i just drive between work and home, which is hills with lots of lights. Kinda makes my heart cry a little. But I guess thats what I get to want to look cool! lol.

Oh, and I dont feel much different with the TSB.

 

The TSB is fairly recent. If it's not noted on your paperwork and you don't recall talking to the service advisor about it, it's highly doubtful they did the reflash. Although it won't solve your issues, it definitely helps with the shift points. I'd get the TSB done ASAP with the amount of weight and tire size your running.

 

I will, thank you.

 

For what it's worth, I've read on this forum that they don't necessarily have to apply the TSB to your truck if you don't have symptoms of tranny issues, but the main items that the TSB addresses are:

- delayed engagement Park to Drive or Reverse to Drive
- Harsh 1st to 2nd upshift
- Delayed upshift when in cruise control

If they give you any resistance regarding 'why' you want it, just say your transmission experiences one of the aforementioned issues. I also brought a copy of the TS (T-SB-0077-16) to the dealer since they didnt seem to know about it (facepalm).

The TSB is called "ECM Calibration: Shift Feeling Enhancements" so might help with your observations regarding powertrain. It's stickied in Gen3 forums. Best of luck brudda.

 

I currently have a 2000 3.4 Tacoma and a 2006 4Runner V8. My wife is dying to get a 3rd gen MT Tacoma. I love the interior but I'm having a hard time getting over the negative reviews. I can get 20mpg in my full time 4x4 4Runner with a 5 speed transmission...why didn't Toyota put the 4.6 out of the Tundra in the new Tacoma with the six speed...especially if they are not going to offer a supercharger. I'm leaning towards getting a low mileage 2nd gen and supercharging it. At least then I know I won't be left wanting for power.

 

Solid plan. I'm not versed in 2nd gen Tacos at all but apparently those TRD superchargers are hard to come by. URD is always an alternative.

I have a 6MT 3rd gen Taco and love it. 90% of the negatives that people complain about don't necessarily apply to mine. The 4.30 gears and being able to row your own gears makes up for the power short comings.

OA

 

I agree with your post on not towing more than a jet ski!

I bought a 2016 4 door off road with 17" tires. I loved the truck but it constantly shifted up and down and averaged 12.5 to 13.4 mpg at highway speeds. I took it back 4 times to the dealer and the bulletin improved it slightly on the shifting but not much and nothing on the mpg. My final straw was when I hooked it up to my 17 foot boat and it wouldn't come out of 3rd gear on a flat road highway. My 2014 would pull this boat all day long with no problems. I had to take it back to the dealer and get my 2014 back after I had the new one for about a month and 2000 miles.

I'm disappointed but happy to have a good Tacoma back and I'm waiting to see what Toyota will do with the Tacoma's in the near future. I need it to pull my boat and if it cant I need to look elsewhere. I don't want to as I've owned 9 Tacoma's in he past and loved all of them but this Gen 3 just doesn't have it. I talked to a Toyota Field Service Rep and he said he doesn't see a change with the engine/transmission combo until a new Gen comes out. I don't see myself waiting that long so I'll probably be looking at another brand. Like I said, I'm very disappointed to go elsewhere but I don't see this smaller engine/6 speed tranny setup ever working.

 

Curious. How did that work out? Did you have to buy back your 2014 and trade in your 2016 towards it?

 

We agreed on a price to get me back into my 2014 and they tore up the deal. It was basically what they had to do to my 2014 to get it ready for sale. They were able to stop the title from it being marked as sold by calling the DOT.

I've bought a lot of vehicles from this dealer otherwise I don't think they would've done it, but I was told that they got back a few Tacoma's for the same problem and I suspect I'm the 2nd one to return the one I had since it had over 400 miles on it when I got it.

 

Great review of the 2016. I'm into my 3rd tank of gas on my 2017 Off Road, about the same review. I still have my 98 and I love to jump back in it and drive, it's like a tractor where the 2017 is like a spaceship.

 

Dang, I'm so close to pulling the trigger and going for a '17 Limited that it's not funny! Now all I read is that it won't even pull a 17' bass boat! Really???
That's all I want it to do, besides look good and feel great to drive on other less-demanding missions. Maybe I should just feel good about loving my '05 and what a great truck it has been, and will continue to be. Oh well.

 

If it helps: The Tacoma will pull exactly what it is rated to pull, assuming the truck is stock. Toyota was the FIRST truck maker to actually adhere to SAE J2807 - which is the now accepted standard for rating towing capacity. The SAE J2807 test is rigorous, to say the least (Davis Dam, uphill, maintaining speed, AC cranking, with high ambient temperatures), and you can rest-assured that if you buy a Taco, it will deliver.

The transmission hunts, to be sure. Just take advantage of manually shifting the truck; keep it in the right gear for the hill you're on. Here in Colorado, every naturally aspirated engine is 20-30% weaker than at sea level, so when towing you just get used to knowing where your truck has power. Check out TFL Truck videos (they have one of the new Tacoma towing and going off road) - those guys are in my neighborhood and their reviews might help you decide.

 

Much appreciated, Sir. I will still consider it. You seem to be pleased with yours, and the PRO is awesome. I'm just not in that "bracket" anymore, and prefer something a bit softer, and yet still able to kick butt when called upon.