Anyone else feeling better about their 3rd gen.

I feel great about my 3rd gen. I came to the realization that didn't need a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton truck. I wanted a manual, 4x4, access cab, smallish pickup truck. The gladiator and jeeps in general look absolutely stupid to me, so that wasn't an option. I played the domestic game for years. I never got the mileage that the halftons are supposed to get. I had a '15 silverado with the 5.3, mileage around 15mpg. My '16 silverado 2500hd got 10-12mpg empty and trying to squeeze the best mileage I could get. Both of these trucks were not what would be called reliable. They didn't breakdown and leave me stranded, but they did need their share of inconvenient repairs. My '23 Taco with 17k miles is averaging 22 mpg. Hasn't had a early stupid problem that my experience with domestics always seem to have. I'm really happy, probably because I'm not looking for a new problematic truck.

 

Was thinking about the Trailhunter because of the lifted suspension, snorkel, etc all under factory warranty but then saw what the price tag was and assuming there will be massive dealer mark up due to demand. I am perfectly happy with my '21 TRD OR Long Bed. Especially since I paid 1k under sticker, which at the time was a great deal when everyone else was asking like 7-10k over sticker for them!

 

thank you sir im in the clear

 

I've felt good about my truck since the day I brought it home in late July 2020. It's been dependable with nothing needed but a battery that was replaced under warranty and maintenance. Now that I only owe the credit union about $3700 more till its paid off I'm even happier. Besides that I'm not over joyed with the exterior looks of the 4th gen. The interior and bigger screen looks very nice. Of course there's the turbo 4 I'm not excited about either.

I definitely am more interested in being free of auto loan payments than owning a 4th gen.

 

Toyota’s legendary reliability is mostly bullshit and internet lore. Have a very long list of repairs over the 30+ years of ownership from all of mine. No matter the brand they will all give you trouble, used to be Toyota gave you less trouble, don’t think that is case anymore (or ever was).

Had some dude walk up to me at the gas station wanting to buy my 1st Gen, he said these are super reliable! Told him, nah…it never was, want to see the stack of repair receipts in the glove box? It is still on the road because I am a stubborn dumbass that keeps on fixing the stupid thing.

 

It’s not the same as my 88 or 02. Bigger, with leaps and bounds of technology over my 02. Some I like, some I don’t. Should I leave my lifetime taco (Black I must add..LOL) I will strongly consider other trucks, and likely test drive different ones.
They sold the gen 3’s before refining small, annoying issues, & after 6 or 7 years of production, very little if any were corrected.
All of mine were subjected to interstate travel coast to coast, road salt brine, country work, firewood hauling and such. Failures over that time were rear leafs flattened, coil pack failures, and then, frame failures due to rust, even with rusty jones rust proofing. They only warranty replacement frames for 3 years as well.

Namely, the “Hunter Series” 6 speed automatic, & the coolant Y pipe. Trivial stuff such as pretty much zero updates on the media head unit, combined with the ancient software rendering the unit not much more than AM/FM/CD player. The phone wireless phone charger is a prime example of their technology package..

 

If you ever own a Jeep, CJ all the way through the JL Rubi (Ive owned 6 so far) you will truly know the meaning of unreliable. Its not just a list of repairs, its the major stuff with the latest gen FCA vehicles. Before I sold off my JKRU, I too had a long list of things I had to repair that weren't cheap (leaky seals, failed drive shafts, clutch issues, misfires, exhaust manifold cracks, all manor of fit and finish problems) but the engine issues were the killer. Before selling it off on ebay for nearly 2800 less than I paid for it nearly 7 years earlier, I had to dump 2800 into the top half of the engine due to FCAs infamous Pentastar rocker arm/ cam follower failure. A literal ticking bomb waiting to explode.
Hard pass.
My Toyota has been very much the opposite; solid as the proverbial rock. I don't ever expect it to be perfect, and 100% realize I will eventually have some issues, but so far its been the very polar opposite to my Jeeps as far as reliability goes.

I also realize all Toyotas are not built equal and I am sure there are some lemons out there, but it seems nothing like any FCA products.

 

There is that, my buddy loves XJs, 100K on one of those it feels like it is falling apart, on a Toyota still feels tight, though all of my Toyotas have nickeled and dimed me. The famous 22R in my ‘85 seized at 125K, the ‘92 wasn’t terrible, clutch, ball joints and rear wheel bearings at 80K, 1st Gen needs a water pump and timing belt every 90K, had three third members in it too along with wheel bearings. Had a belt tensioner already go out in my 3G at 45K…those should go at least 200K, going to need front brake pads at 50K, my 1G they would go to 75K. Would blame it being heavier and an auto for that.

There are bunch of other things, but too numerous to list. Have basically rebuilt the whole under carriage in my ‘99.

 

I don't think that's the reason at all as to why Tacoma's aren't made all/mostly in Japan (or any import truck for that matter). It has to do with the still in place Chicken Tax. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/...cken Tax?,tariffs on American chicken imports.

 

All that emissions equation is ungodly expensive to fix is my guess there is downturn in the full-size market. Think that is why Ford did the 7.3 Godzilla, even finding its way into the medium duty trucks. Those diesels are a cash cow for mechanics.

Wanted a Sprinter, but all my moto friends who have them had nothing but problems with them. What is funny people tossing 200-250K at them for camper conversions and it is a ticking time bomb. What I have noticed, people buy them for a summer trip or two, then off them. Really isn’t a long term vehicle. Best leasing or renting one of those.

 

The biggest thing that bugs me is, I can’t get an exact replacement for my ‘21 SR ACLB. Gone are the access doors, and the ‘24 gets the detuned engine. Used to have a choice between power plants in the SR trim. Have to step to the SR5 XC to get the better tune, yet no access doors, smaller 18 gallon tank and still has leaf springs. Which is roughly $10K more than what I paid. Just not seeing the value of the added cost, not to mention they cheaped out on the skid plates and the spare tire. New gen should be a better than the out going gen, however in the SR trim it went backwards in a few areas.

Perfect truck for me would be the SR AC with the linked rear and manual trans and the 310 tq tune. Toyota always seems to miss the mark…they could have sold me another truck here in a couple years. But my ‘21 might be my very last Toyota. Crazy to think after 30 years of loyalty.

 

I would feel better if I could drive up a steep incline without having to worry about my motor blowing up or keeping $5k saved for when my timing cover leaks.

 

Don’t worry the 4WD will break long before you even reach that steep incline…

 

Just curious... the 3.5l engine in 2023 is the end of its evolution.
As I understand it, the early product VVT-i had production/design problems which are since corrected.

Q: is the leaking timing cover an unfixed problem?

Or, is there something that should be done as a maintenance basis to avoid leaks?

 

Timing cover still can leak. Nothing you can do to prevent it.

 

My Dad once asked me why I hugged my dog before I hugged my wife. I asked him "who looked happier to see me when I came in the door?"



.

 

The 2GR-FKS will surely not be missed by anyone.

Even after nearly 9 years those things leak all over, oil starvation issues, cyl #3 blowing up etc etc. and generally are less than ideal in the maintenance and longevity department.

 

Lots of stuff to like in the 4th gen. Power at 1700rpm, 8 speed auto, easy of fitting bigger tires, no leafs, and I personally think they aren't bad looking. But my 3rd gen is paid off, so it's not going everywhere.

 

4rd gen is civic but pick up truck