The new electronics scare me

The Tacoma has always appealed to me for its relative low-tech interior which is easier to troubleshoot and repair or modify. So I had to cringe when Toyota released this photo:

- The mechanical ignition switch is gone(?) replaced by a Start/Stop button. Do the door locks on the 2016's have metal keys for the exterior?
- The climate control is now zoned left/right or front/rear. No doubt an expensive fix when the control head fails.
- More and more electronic controls in the steering wheel.
- Who's idea was it to make the 4WD switch virtually identical to the A/C control knob?

These complaints might seem trivial, but they add to cost of ownership substantially. When this shit breaks, it will likely be a dealer-only repair. Less and less these days can be diagnosed and repaired by private mechanics.

 

One more thing that drives me crazy being that this is a 2016 model. The resolution of that GPS navigation is no better than what was available 10 years ago. I think that is Microsoft's Bing Maps or whatever the current models have??

I wish they would take their heads out of their asses and partner with Google for the Terrain View available with Google Maps. That feature is extremely helpful when doing 4WD off-road and trying to navigate around a stream, for example.

/end ranting

 

I have the same concerns. Mostly about the touch screen things because of how fast that technology is moving. Ok you can already figure out how tech savvy I am, NOT! If it weren't for the manufactures wanting a piece of the technology pie they could have designed in a docking system to accommodate existing and future tablets, phones etc. I personally think that they would be able to offer a better product if the used there resources on the automotive details and left the infotainment to the that industry.

 

I am sure the base Sr5 will not have the Keyless start, dual zone climate control and some of the other nice features, it sounds like that is the truck for you.

That being said, many of the new technologies are very reliably. I would have no problem expecting all of them to go 10 years without issue.

The added tech features are new to the Tacoma, but not new to the auto industry. The keyless start and doors has been in the 4runner since 2010, VW has had it since 2008. Dual zone climate? try the 96 4Runner limited. Electronics on the wheel? The 4Runner has had this wheel since 2010 as well, with little to no issues on T4R.org.

Do your research before you start a witch hunt on their lack of reliability.

 

- The mechanical ignition switch is gone(?) replaced by a Start/Stop
button. Do the door locks on the 2016's have metal keys for the exterior?

Yes, the doors have metal key locks along with keyless entry.

- The climate control is now zoned left/right or front/rear. No doubt an expensive fix when the control head fails.

Unless the heating controls are tied into the ECU controls or media center. How could this "stand alone" HVAC system be anymore expensive or complex than the current unit?


- More and more electronic controls in the steering wheel.

This steering wheel configuration and controls are nothing new, they've been in use since 2013 model year. After doing a quick search on TW, they seem to be a non-issue.

- Who's idea was it to make the 4WD switch virtually identical to the A/C control knob?

On the 2 gen, 4wd switch looks exactly like the fan speed switch.


These complaints might seem trivial, but they add to cost of ownership substantially. When this shit breaks, it will likely be a dealer-only repair. Less and less these days can be diagnosed and repaired by private mechanics.

Call me a young naive whippersnapper if you like, but I don't understand the guys who are afraid of modern tech and are making a huge deal out of nothing. If electronics were really that much of a pain in the ass why don't we ditch EFI, ABS, A-TRAC, VSC, E-lockers, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, electronic fuel pumps, solenoid controlled auto-transmissions, electric starters, light bulbs, and turn signals while we're at it.

 

Sounds good to me. Though I think I'm okay with starters, lights and turn signals - a man deserves a few luxuries - I would love for someone to build a basic bombproof 4X4 without all that crap. Up in the mountains that's the dream vehicle.

I like my vehicles to last for 20. Of course it turns out it's not the electronics that are dooming Tacomas, but what SHOULD be the most basic bombproof best built piece on the whole damn vehicle: It's foundation - the frame.

 

Sign me up coach ... I'll take one of those too.

 

Just wait until you get in a wreck and the computer downloads all the stuff you where doing wrong right before the accident. Right to the cops and lawyers.

 

I'm actually ok with getting rid of over half that stuff.
As a design engineer, there is an appeal to some benefits of using electronics instead of mechanical or hydraulic systems. But that doesn't mean I, as a user, want the electronic version.

I blame Apple and MTV for accelerating the gadget craze that has infected products of all types.

 

Ha. Carburetor and "bomb proof" do not go together. I'll take EFI any day over that crap. No thanks, you old salts can keep your crappy high maintenance old engines so colored with nostalgia you forget how often you worked on them. Note that it is the 22RE that people want, not the 22R. There is a reason for that and it is the "E" that does it. Electronics always better than mechanical when it comes to reliability.

EDIT: To be clear - electronics *replacing* a mechanical function I mean. Now of course adding more features, whether electrical or mechanical, does in fact mean more things to break. And yeah, we sure seem to have added a lot of features I don't care about to trucks these days.

 

I wonder how difficult it will be to make this world changing go pro mount hold an iPhone

 

That's a scary thought.

I personally prefer less junk on my truck and that's why I have a base model.

 

Our old 2007 Prius was a electronic monstrosity, but it used its power for good. No issues. My 75 year-old father-in-law has all the other stuff on his Highlander, and he's got no issues using any of it. In fact, he's tied his iPhone into it and everything works great.

Bing maps would suck, though, but has it been confirmed? The Entune in our 2013 Prius is good, and the navigation system is almost as good as our old Tom Tom. Looking at that image, that nav looks exactly like the maps in our Prius. Not the best, but usable.

 

Keyless entry and push button start are reliable and have been around a long time.
These are the two features I wish I had in my 2014 and may trade up once the 2016 hit the road and there is a little more information on them. Not so much for those two features only but I am liking the 2016 overall.

 

Keyless entry can be hacked.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/339486-possible-turn-off-keyless-entry.html

 

The GPS uses a preloaded map in the truck. If you want Google style satellite imagery that's gonna require A LOT more data and most likely the ability to stream it. Not to mention that even google maps uses pictures from 6+ months back most of the time. That stream might be a river now...

Auto GPS is meant to show roads and POI. If you want a realtime satellite image, mount an iPad and pray you get reception.

 

The reason they don't include docking systems is because of how fast technology moves. There are 100s of cell phone/tablet designs. They include a way to plug it in so just get an aftermarket mount designed for your device.

 

I'm not sure why so many people get navigation in their vehicle, over having a removable Garmin that you can take out and use in any vehicle you want. You can take them inside and enter coordinates to plan a trip out on your computer, and Garmin has the best rated screen interface hands down. I have all my favorite hunting, fishing, and camping spots marked in mine, and take it with me in any vehicle I want. It's also nice to see the radio screen and the nav screen at the same times when they're separate units.

 

I agree with you. That's why I actually really like the ford my touch system. The wifes explorer has it and it gives you all the fancy stuff you want without navigation. I really think android auto and apples equivalent will be the way to go in the future.

 

That works for you, and that's great. My old GPS would be better served as a paperweight.

What I would prefer is Google Maps from my iPhone popping up on the display screen. That map is updated all of the time, gives turn by turn and I don't have to take it anywhere to update it. All I'd have to do is toss the phone into the wireless charging bin, Bluetooth would connect, music would play and my nav would display if I wanted it to.

While I'm wishing, I want a 1967 Pontiac GTO.