Coming Back to Tacoma - What to Look For?

Hello -

I have previously owned a 2018 Tacoma w/ AT and got rid of it due to the terrible shifting behaviors on it. I am currently looking to down size my full size truck, but want to go MT this time. Is there any years that are better than others (looking for 2021 or 2022), and what kinds of things, if any, should I be on the look out for? Known issues, Recalls, etc…

Also would prefer the heated seats, but if I cannot locate one, is it hard to add later?

Thanks for your help.

 

It is the same truck you had.
Manual trans is not all rainbows and unicorns.
Reverse is really tall, hard to get repetitive shift, etc.
The Tacoma is good but has it's warts. You either love it or not.
Honda Ridgeline is the truck that is very predictable.

 

Gen 3 is gen 3. Same truck. Shifting can be helped with a flash update.
As stated above you love it or not. Honda is the other choice but less of a truck

 

Agreed that a tune would have probably let you keep the truck. In most cases it makes a noticeable difference with shifting and performance. That aside, I agree with the others saying that a 3rd gen is basically a 3rd gen, although 2020 and up MY seem to have fixed most of the things the earlier year 3rd gens ailed from. My 2021 has been rock solid but the stock tune still sort of sucks, but that is pretty easily fixed.

You have to decide what you want out of a truck. If you are looking for car comfort with the convenience of a truck bed to put stuff in, then definitely look at the Ridgeline. If you're looking for a capable off road vehicle and/or a vehicle that's going to actually do truck work, I would be looking at the Tacoma. This forum is full of threads with issues and rants about the taco, but keep in mind that this is a focused community and not representative of what the typical owner experiences. It's an overall reliable mid sized truck that holds it's value well, and is just as much at home on the pavement as it is off road.

 

Great advise above from all. The 2020+ MY the SR5 and above trim levels come with power adjustable drivers seat and all trims, Apple Carplay / Android Auto. The power adjustable seat made it easy for my wife & I to both drive the truck comfortably.

 

It's still the same Tacoma as what you sold, just with a manual that makes it slightly better to drive. Still slow and underpowered with a limited payload but a great size for a daily driver light duty truck.

 

Power seat. I wish I had but wasn’t available in my trim. I wonder if I could source a used one for my 2016

 

To your question on adding heated seats, it is easiest if doing clazzios as you can stick the seat heater pads to the inside of the covers. Otherwise you are removing the stock cloth to add heat and may as well get katzkin if you like a leather seat. Though it would be possible to put stock cloth back on after adding heater pads, and some prefer the cloth.

factory seat heater buttons are super nice but the heater modules themselves have known documented failures, at least in past MY’s. I oddly trust aftermaket seat heater modules more, one of the rare situations where OEM may not be the best quality.

But the OEM buttons are by far the bomb.

 

Yikes. I am coming from a 6.7L Cummins. Not sure I am going to like that transition then. Was just looking for something that was cheaper to operate, but the trade offs might not be worth it.

 

sounds like you switch vehicles every 24 months, so you will always find a reason

 

Going from a big diesel to a 3.5 NA gas definitely takes some getting used to (giant loss of torque down low). And the mpg doesn't get any better.

 

I have owned a 2016 SR5 with and auto and a 2020 OR with a manual. I giggled with joy when I started driving a manual again. I can’t get explain it. It’s just in my blood.

Otherwise I have nothing for you. Nothing significant has changed since 2016. I do appreciate the CarPlay, adjustable drivers seat, and power rear window.