GM Midsize trucks

That’s true.
The 6 speed in the present Taco doesn’t want to downshift. Image how even more gears won’t want to downshift.

 

At least most of the vehicles now give you the choice to fake shift.

The problem is they don't give you the same real time option to skip gears while shifting.

5th to 3rd in my Mt is nowhere near as smooth of a transition as with an AT faking it.

 

This makes sense. A hybrid setup with a 4 cylinder might have been a better setup for the Taco.

Obviously, these are not true Atkinson cycle engines. I thought it sounded like a crappy idea when I first read about it. Apparently, many owners agree.

 

I thought I read that they were getting rid of the diesel. That seems silly since the diesel option was the only real advantage I could see over a Tacoma. Maybe the turbo 4 will be the best of both worlds.

 

I thought I saw a video comparison, in which the Bison, at best, hung with a Taco. I hadn't heard of reliability issues, but that would surely lower my opinion of it's capability. The ability to get you home is definitely part of the equation for me. I really hope my 4runner ends up being as much of a rock as my '03 was.

 

It’s a GM vehicle. Reliability issues seem to be built into them.