Looking at a new 2019 Tacoma - Have some questions!

Howdy all, new here obviously.

I am looking at buying a new 2019 Tacoma (4-dr longbed 4x4) and there are some things I am wondering about that I was not able to get answers (or truthful answers) from the dealer on.

Hoping y'all can point me in the right general direction.

(These are obviously my potential complaints about the truck, obviously it also has a lot of things I do like, or I would not be considering it)

The dealer claimed the collision warning computer stuff is in the logo in the middle of the grille, which would make it impossible to put a custom billet grill in, because you can't disable those computer things.

This would be a huge negative for me, as I want a billet grille and a light bar behind it. Hoping you guys have some ideas?

Next thing was, I am told that the transmission (auto) is a "learning" transmission that tried to adapt to your driving behavior... I also really hate this, every one of those I have ever seen shifts weird or hard in varying driving conditions. (I have a weird commute of crazy city traffic with a lot of open road as well) - Ideally I want a "regular" transmission that just works and doesn't shift hard, or too early/late etc.

So I guess the question there with the transmission is, how do they/yours behave? I am planning on keeping truck for a long time and just don't want trouble.

The stereo seems nice, but the salesperson seemed to think that they do NOT offer Android Auto/Apple Car Play, I thought that was rather odd as most all new cars do have that these days - is it true they don't? - if so, is it feasible to add an aftermarket deck like from Alpine that does? (speaking to the dash configuration that the factory deck could be removed and replaced)

Lastly, lift and wheels/tires. 100% prerequisite for me for a truck, is that I can put a nice looking lift in and some custom wheels/tires... are there any "gotchas" about this with the Tacoma? like gear ratios, or CV axle angle issues, etc.?

Ideally I'd really like 35"x12.5 tires.... but I'd settle for like a 285/70-17 - what is the "popular" or common lift/tire size that works well with these but not cause problems for reliability?

Thanks so much for any help! I'm hoping I can learn these things and get this done!

Have a great day!

 

My advice would be, if your able, wait until the 2020 Tacoma is reviled this week in Chicago. Rumor has it, it will be a mid cycle refresh.

 

Theoretically, being that cutting edge may may things like custom grilles, and lift kits more difficult? just thinking out loud?

 

Just keep your options open until you see what the 2020 will have to offer. I have a 16 Taco Sport and will be interested in what the 2020 has to offer

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2020-tacoma-teased.590296/page-42#post-19773315

There are plenty thinking out loud.

 

Fair enough, keeping options open never hurts.

Still hoping to find out the answers about the '19 in OP. thanks for your help!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

1- Yes sensor is under the logo, so no billet grill for you unless they custom build one for you to accommodate the sensor.
2- All modern transmissions are "learning" type, which is actually a good thing.
3- Correct, no CarPlay or Android yet. However you can connect your phone via Bluetooth which is good enough for me. It plays music and "Hey Siri" works great too.
4- Can't help you there, sorry

 

1) yes sensors are behind logo in grille. You can disable radar cruise.
2) transmission is annoying. takes the fun out of driving the truck. having to predict passing by a few seconds... and only for truck to downshift more than one gear. my girlfriend hates its... seems like i am downshifting for head whips, when i am just trying to pass at a reasonable pace. 2019 off road owner here.
3) no car play... wait for 2020 reveal this week. May have car play and a better audio system. I just use blue tooth for audio.
4) no idea. staying stock here.

 

Thanks all, I appreciate the info!

I also to remove ALL factory badging/logos from my vehicles for a clean look.... so that grille thing is a big big negative for me! I really hope there turns to be a workaround.

Maybe 2020 will have Android auto (android auto is soo nice to have) - thats not a dealbreaker, yea bluetooth works but its just not as "nice"

The transmission thing worries me, from having grown up in shops all my life (my Dad was a mechanic) - this learning transmission thing isn't good for longevity regardless the brand. That concerns me, just like @VegasKnights said, predicting passing and stuff because the transmission doesn't shift as expected is super annoying... I was hoping the Tacomas might have been a little "less" with that system... I talked to the dealer about a manual transmission so I could avoid the learning thing, but they said the manual isn't available in 4-door longbed.

 

Correct, the manual transmission is only available in the shorter wheel base (Access Cab + "Long" Bed / Double Cab + "Short" Bed) in some configurations.

It is a pretty sweet manual to drive though!

 

Customcargrills has some nice options for mesh grilles which have a mount to relocate the sensor. This is the one on my wish list.

You can put the trans is S mode and it bypasses AI shifting. I use S4 with ECT on and love it.

Radio can be swapped out. Some have the ability to retain steering wheel controls some don't. I think there may be some available that retain vehicle settings capability (settings you can do through Entune) but not positive about that.

But, with the reveal of the 2020 just a few days away, you should wait and see what they have done. Obviously the sensor in the grille will still be an issue, but the radio could be new.

 

Excellent! thank you! that was the stuff I was hoping to learn about! awesome, I can live with that! thank you so much.

 

So you want to push 35s, don't want TSS, don't want wonky transmission... sounds like you need a Tundra. Most recommend 33s max here and even then you have to cut/trim and it'll be slow as a turtle. Haven't heard of lift gremlins besides the vibrating driveshaft, assuming you get new upper control arms.

Edit: I'm mostly ok with my tranny but obviosly some aren't. Like some have said, be ok with it, OV tune, manual or buy something else.

 

well, if you have big opinions regarding how you think your auto transmission should operate, i suggest you either:

- wait to purchase and do a ton of reading around here, and look deeply into the OV Tune threads, or
- buy a MT truck

 

I can comment on the transmission issues there is a huge big deal of threads and complaints about the automatic transmission. I don’t have those complaints myself. If you want to feel a bad transmission try the GMC Canyon 8 speed auto with the engine dropping down to 4 cyl all the time. It’s pretty awful.

In Ect Pwr mode the truck runs even better. It feels like my old 2nd gen manual with all the power on tap I have no problems getting in and out of traffic. My commute is half city half highway and the truck is very nimble and I have no complaints in ect pwr mode. It even holds onto the gears on deceleration so you get a little engine braking effect too.

As for the lift I’m running 285/55r20’s with a leveling kit and I haven’t ran into any issues with the cv joints.

For the Apple car play rumored to be coming to the 2020 tacoma.

The canyon/Colorado has carplay but to me the lack of a hand brake and the cheap rental car interior were deal breakers along with resale value and unproven reliability.

 

Get the 2020.

 

Wait til Thursday at least. Don’t worry about the sensor thing because there are grille options already and more in the future I’m sure. The trans can be avoided by buying a manual which is even cheaper pricing anyway.

 

Buy an earlier model w/o TSS and use whatever grill/light you want.

 

I just picked up a 2019 Access cab SR V6 with Auto 4x4. It has SR convenience pack, Remote key, SX Package, blacked out emblems, and a few other options also. Not the steel wheel version. I test drove a 2019 4cyl turbo Ranger before the Taco. The Ranger has a 10 speed auto trans that is about the only thing I am envious of. However, I the 10 speed seems to have issues in the other Fords that are equipped with the 10 speed.

My Auto is ok. I like the Sport "manual" shift option when I'm on roads that cause the trans to shift too often.

I also have a 2016 Frontier V6 with Auto. Now there's a transmission that commits to no gear for more than a few seconds on roads less level. Like speed dating....