DeMello's review of the 2016 Tacoma.

Good stuff here but i wish Toyota would have stuck with the 4.0 as well. Kinda like when Jeep decided to abandon the in-line 6 4.0. The new engines just ain't the same. Man, this makes me sound like an oldster!

 

I haven't driven a 3.5 yet, however my old '05 Taco was an absolute dog with the 4.0 motor. Maybe things changed over the production run but I was not at all impressed with the 4.0. My wife had a newer FJ with the 4.0 and it was night and day different. The calibration of the FJ was spot on. It was torquey and responsive while the Taco was just flat and lifeless.

It also developed some strange hesitation after the ECU was reflashed for one of the recalls. I think it was the brake pedal nonsense. I wish I never let them do it. The RPMs would surge a couple hundred RPM under load and happened every single time. I tried everything to get rid of it. New plugs, coil packs, MAF, higher octane fuel, you name it. It was low so I had the pleasure of feeling it from every stop. It really is what made me decide it was time to move on from my old Taco. The dealer told me the found no problems and sent me on my way. Frustrating for sure.

Sorry for the rant! haha

 

Thanks for all the useful comments

 

I bought a new 2016, access cab, TRD off road, automatic model. All the other Toyota trucks (82,84,92) that I still own are manuals, so I was not use to the automatic, I thought it seemed to hunt for shifts. However as I have now accumulated close to 30,000 miles and I have learned to use the self shift mode, I have come to like the power that is available from the new 3.5 motor. Of course it is a lot more powerful that my other Toyota trucks but not as fast as the corvette that I own (but it does not go off road). With that all said I put in an order for a new 2017, Manual TRD pro, it should be here in eight weeks or so.

 

Thanks for the review JDMELLO. This is my first Toyota and I must admit, I love my TRD Sport; however I do wish the engine had more power. So far I got all I can with the TRD CAI & CAT BACK. Would love to see a turbo or supercharger, but that will require premium fuel and most likely a drop in mileage. I heard the Lexus will have the same motor, but with more power. Hmmm! Sound like some computer tinkering perhaps.

 

I saw the C&D results on the GM twins, but I still think I can hold my own against them. I believe the 430 gears and 6 speed manual (providing I could shift quick enough) would give me an edge. But, no matter what, I think the TRD looks, feels, and holds its resale value better. Had a 2001 Silverado for my first truck. No more Gov't Motors for me. It nickeled and dimmed me, plus blew cold air in the winter on the pass side. My wife would use a blanket. They could never find the problem.

 

Mr HanSold, I believe you are wrong on your 256 lbs torque figure. According to my manual, I have 278 HP and 265 lbs Torque. When I take out the traction control, etc., the truck really moves. Not to mention, I'll bet my Sport can out handle the GM twins any day of the week, especially on pavement.

 

@JDEMELLO would love to see a followup review to this thread after a couple of years experience.

 

This.

 

Chirp...chirp...chirp...

 

Guess he traded for a Ridgeline?

 

I'm sure @JDEMELLO is busy and has a million more important things going on than messing with TW nonsense. Probably forgot all about this thread.

 

Lucky guy, cause TW is a big "time suck"...

 

I'm an old geezer and a Wrangler guy from way back. I too lamented when Jeep abandoned the I6 4.0, but that engine was a gas-guzzler. The 3.8 V6 they replaced it with in the 07-11 model years was something of a slug. In '12 they went to the 3.6 Pentestar, and that's a decent engine, although the Wrangler is not a race-car. Neither is the Tacoma. I'm pretty happy with the 3.5, however, and even have the "terrible" automatic transmission. It has plenty of zip for normal driving IMHO.

Back to the Pentestar engine, I once rented a Challenger and drove it 1000 miles over three days. It had the Pentestar, was one of the base models. Went like a bat out of hell, though. Felt like a totally different engine from the one in the Jeep.

 

2005 was the last year the 4runner and the taco shared the vvti engine with 245 hp and a (282 lb-ft) #6500 lb. tow rating. In 2006 4runner went to the bad-ass DUAL VVT-I motor and the taco dropped to 236 hp and max tow of (266 ft-lb) #5000 lbs. 4.0 = 244 cu.in. vs. 213 cu. in. IMO the 2005 is the best taco built and that is why I was happy to find a clean 2005 with low miles. I sold my 2014 and missed the truck. I was going to buy the new model, and I work for Toyota for many years, but in the end I just don't like how the 3.5 liter, (278hp / 265 lb-ft) , performs. Atkinson cycle motors are great...in a Prius, not a taco. Now..with that said, the Tacoma is a great truck in any year. Can I get an AMEN !!!

 

My 87 powered by a carbed 22R was all of that and more. It never let me down on any terrain, despite being slow af. When I sold it, it had 387k miles on it. (Pic 1997ish)

 

The FJ has a DUAL VVTI the TACO is VVTI (not dual) the 2006 and beyond 4runners, the FJ, and the older 4.0 Liter Tundra trucks all had DUAL VVT-I engines...I think it is Toyotas best V6..IMO...

 

Was looking at a Nissan Frontier PRO 4X originally but Toyota sucked me in with the interior and brand reputation and whatnot. Now I'm burned with this ridiculous transmission and no one can do anything about it.

There are times that I really like the truck and then I go out for a drive and if feels like your brand new truck has a transmission with 400K+ kms on it and you go right back to being annoyed by it. I feel deflated sometimes thinking about it.

 

You got problems then.

 

Sure do. Lots of transmission problems.