2021 Six Months/6k Miles Thoughts and Observations

So, now that I've had my "Bro Turd Gen" for six months now here are my thoughts.

• 3.5L paired with an MT is really good! Like, really good. Better than my 4.0 AT. It tows better, has more pep and is more fun to drive.
• Damn this thing gets good mileage for a pickup. I'm currently averaging over 21 mpgs! My 4.0 never got anything better than 18, in the best of conditions.
• I love that it has a simple, normal key! This cannot be understated. Every other Keyless vehicle I've owned is a PITA, and the ability for thieves to scan your key and steal your car? No thank. I love it has a normal key.
  
• BSM is fantastic! (and all the TSS stuff) How do people drive without it?
• All the Camera's are also fantastic. I have a small garage door and those cameras make parking inside less worrisome.
  
• All the auto-thingies are so nice. Auto headlights, Intermittent wipers, Climate Control, One-Click auto-windows, adaptive cruise control - it's a very pleasant driving experience. Especially for a body-on-frame pickup. It's far more pleasant than my wifes Subaru.
• The plastic fender flairs do seem to damage easy from rock fling. I suspect they aren't that big of a deal to replace when they do get hammered too badly.
• Not really into the leather/pleather seats. Seems unnecessary, from an ethical standpoint and a durability standpoint. I liked the 3D Cloth (Fart Traps) on my Second Gen - and those seats still looked fantastic 15 years and 200,000 miles in.
• I miss all the bed compartments. Not sure why they took those away from us.
• The LR paint really draws attention. It's rare to get gas and not have someone come up and start talking about it. Everyone seems to love it, even though some people think it's a blue shade.

I don't understand all the crap this truck gets. It's better than my last two Toyota pickups in every way, shape and form.

Photo Tax:

 

Had you bought an automatic this thread woulda had a different tone to it, just sayin'

I'm at 8 months, 8K+ miles and that's my only complaint is the automatic. I can see it now "shoula bought a manual" Well, no, didn't want that...

 

Yeah, my buddy bought the AT, and gawd that thing shifts constantly! I told him he needs to re-gear the thing. I couldn't live like that.

 

I’m not in disagreement, but I just had the “WOT” TSB done (0062) and my shifting/gear hunting issues are drastically reduced. Not idea, but acceptable now… beforehand it was insane. Not sure if that TSB is applicable to your year or not, but worth checking out.

 

The one touch windows -- I realize it isn't a big thing but I really think they are neat. I smirk like a kid every time I run the window up or down.

Some say I'm easily entertained.

And yes, the manual rocks!

 

wait til you try the tune on it.

 

Glad to see more positive post

 

glad your enjoying the truck and get compliments on it. I had a 2009 forester & 2010 forester before; burned so much oil, was horrid motor died twice on the 09!

I have had a few people in traffic pull up and comment on my truck also! nothing special about mines though stock, paints already scratched from bush whacking, 13k in 2 and half months. The automatic shifts fine in my opinion, mind you I drove manuals since car#1 back in 06 so eh don't know what to expect and never had a truck before but it works for me.

anyways truck looks good!

 

As it should be, better than the last two that is. What I've tried to convey in some of my posts is with the Tacoma being near the end of its current cycle it should be dialed in perfectly but it is not. I'm sure many will disagree but because the Tacoma sells so well and because a new Tacoma is just around the corner Toyota has given up on improving the current Tacoma. Right now its more about decontenting the truck than it is improving the truck.

That is not just a Toyota thing, its an auto industry thing. Profit over building the best truck. Just because I accept that doesn't mean I have to like it.

 

Dang you make me want to trade up to a V6

 

My 2018 (AT) had several of issues people here have bitched about but my 2020 (AT) has none of those issues...(yet)....though I do think I am getting the notorious hood wobble...lol. Love the current truck and happy as heck I traded out to the 2020. Driving it is so much more pleasant than the 2018. Luck of the draw I guess?

 

Different strokes for sure - I can't stand one-touch-windows. If I want to crack 1/2 inch it takes 3-4 attempts to get it right.
Hmmmm I wonder if there is a way to disable the on-touch thing.

 

Six months …. Came back in a year over 15k miles and see how you feel about it then .

 

2nd gen AT to a 3rd gen MT was a great move for me too. More fun, more comfortable, less noisy. Just more money.

 

Vehicles with keys can't be stolen? Keyless is a PITA ?? Funny stuff!
Glad you like the truck. Have you used it as truck yet?

 

17k on my ‘21 manual and I also came from a 200k mile 4.0 auto.

i agree with all the points you made. From everything I read on here about the gutless 3.5, I don’t know if I ever would have made much note about it if I got in my 21 having never read the forums. The power is up higher in the rev band but the engine lines to rev. The 4.0 does not like getting above 4K but the 3.5 is happy to rev right to redline. They use the same engine (different configuration) in Lotus Evora’s. You aren’t going to hurt it by shifting at 5k every now and then to get on the highway. After a couple thousand miles with any car you learn where the sweet spot is for your driving style and you shift accordingly. At least with a manual.

I also miss the seats in my 4.0. 200k and aside from dirt they looked new. I don’t know about my OR cloth ones. But worse case at some point I buy covers and some new foam. I did notice that my 21 seats took a good 8k miles before either they broke in my my ass got used to them for long rides. I got a lot of leg pain the first few months on longer hour + drives. But now they are fine. They aren’t cozy like an 80s Cadillac. But I can be in my truck all day and feel fine.

The radar cruise works far better than my wife’s 19 Odyssey. Honda’s system is way to cautious and leaves too much room for people to jump in.

The power rear window is huge. I use it all the time. My 2nd Gen with the manual slider only got opened when someone was back there.

My one gripe with the manual is that first is too short and reverse is too tall.

The 21 is significantly quieter on the highway. Maybe that’s because my 12 had 33” STT Maxx tires, exhaust and a lift. But just wind noise seams like it was greatly improved.

 

I’m just shy of 15 months and 23k miles and I love mine more now than the day I bought it.

 

Always good to hear people enjoying their trucks. Glad you are liking it, OP!

I had the same problem with the fender flares on my OR when I had it. They were getting pitted pretty badly from rocks. Mudguards helped, but it didn’t stop until I added my slider/steps.

I think everyone was disappointed to lose the bed storage. lol

 

Really love mine too. The engine doesnt bother me at all - has really good power just a little higher in the rev range. This engine is shared not only with the Lotus Evora, but also with various Lexus vehicles.

I have an AT (and live at 5500 ft), so initially the gear hunting was a little excessive, especially going up mountain grades. As soon as I learned to use the gear selector feature and ECT, I have no more issues. Put it in 4 w/ ECT on, and I can go up nearly any mountain grade without downshifting.

The only thing that has me a little worried is potentially dealing with an out-of-warranty timing chain cover leak at some point.

 

Utah in the house! I know where that photo was taken!

I guess you haven't been paying attention to how thieves troll neighborhoods cloning keys? https://youtu.be/2tQVov0Ra8g
I guess you haven't been at a gas station where the RF frequency of the lights interferes with the keyless entry?

Yeah, a lot actually. Tons of towing, tons of trips to Home Depot, hauling lots of heavy things, lots of off roading. Not sure what your point is?

I worry about this too - or the coolant leak - Supposedly, those are supposed to be fixed by 2019. But who knows, right?