2016 Tacoma SR (looking for opinions)

how's it going guys. I'm currently looking at picking up a small truck that's good on gas and won't break the bank on purchase. I wanna stay 25k and below. I live here on the coast of North Carolina not very hilly at all. Super flat and as far as towing goes I have a 19ft CAROLINA skiff that I use to pull with my old s10 I'm sure it won't be a issue for any of the Tacoma line. So here's my question guys has anyone driven the 4 cyl with the new 6 speed transmission in automatic yet? None of the dealerships near me have them in stock (4 cyl that is) they say once they come in they sell so fast. If I'm not mistaken it's the same engine that everyone says is super reliable and lasts forever. My wife drives a 2007 v6 4Runner We love it. Not the best on gas but she's been driving it forever so she's use to it. Anyways just wanna know if there's a change with the new transmission in how the truck drives. Been driving a stick for years so manual is fine with me as well. Just curious how this new automatic is doing Still sluggish like the reviews state? I want a truck the wife can drive as well. I mean the Tacoma SR access cab at 24k sticker with cruise and seems like a good deal on a Tacoma for brand new. Please share your thoughts with me guys I'm all ears. Plan to pull the trigger in about a month or maybe sooner. Just wanna do my research first

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jbaJT-FllEU

 

A lot of similarities to my situation. I drove a 4 cylinder 5 speed Sonoma (bought new in 96) for almost 20 years. That's not a typo, 18 years and 11 months to be exact. Put 184,000 miles on it. Some clown in a Nissan Armada hit me from behind and totaled it or I would still be driving it. I hauled my motorcycles on a light weight aluminum trailer, no problem. It did everything I needed it to do.
I looked at trucks for almost a year before buying. I was amazed at the high prices of used trucks. People getting 20,000$ for trucks with 100,000 miles on them! Now finally to the point. Found out I could buy a 2016 Tacoma SR Doublecab I4, six speed auto for 24,000 out the door. This truck is light years better than the old Sonoma (S10). I wish I could give you more owner experience but I just bought it yesterday. For what it's worth my wife likes it too. Lot of people hate on the 4 cylinder because it is not what they are accustomed to. Check the forum post here from many happy 4 cylinder owners. Hope this helps.

 

That's for the Reply buddy. I want the truck quite bad lol but won't tell the sales agent that. I forgot to mention that I only haul my boat maybe 4 times a year and a little trailer with our mower on the back. I feel I should be fine with the 4 cylinder. Can you tell a difference with the 6 speed transmission? I've been reading on here there's so much hate for the 4 cylinders but on the same token people absolutely love them and say they last a lifetime. I've had big trucks ( GMC Sierra 1500, Silverado 2500, and a Nissan Titan) learned my lesson with fuel mileage vs how much I actually tow. I mean with all these features this 24k Tacoma comes with I feel it's a good buy. It looks in pictures and online videos that the the 2wd 4 cyl like the truck I'm looking at sits higher than all the other little 2wd 4cyl did in the past. Not sure if that's just picture magic or what not but looks like you can't tell the difference between 2wd and 4wd and motor size by the height of the vehicle like you use to be able too. Maybe it's just me but how is it in person? I know you haven't had the truck long but it seems your please. I very much appreciate all the help and advice

 

I'll be happy to keep you posted. I'm a flat lander and understand that mountain folks would need more umph. I haven't heard much about manually shifting the auto but seems like a viable option for some situations. Just FYI I did a ton of research before dropping 24 grand (I'm cheap). Toyota's have served me and my wife very well. The Sonoma was the only non Toyota product we have owned. Tacoma's were almost twice the cost of the Sonoma's in 96 so I bought the Sonoma, like I said I'm cheap.

 

Haha I'm right there with you man. I'm looking for the best deal that will get my but down the road efficiently and cheap! Lol I drove a s10 through high school loved it. Got a job on a tug boat making awesome money had to have the big trucks. Well after a mortgage and a family big trucks gotta go especially with my long commutes spending over $120 a week in fuel. Gotta get a gas sipper and I wanna go new. My dad sold his 2500hd a few years back had 230,000 miles on it and got a Nissan Frontier base mode 4 cyl for 18k and loves the hell out of it. I'm torn between the frontier and this Tacoma but for the extra few grand the Tacoma has more up to date features. About the best that frontier has is electric start and a radio lol. Please keep me posted I would love to know how you end up enjoying your tuck

 

Hello! So, last night I picked up a new 2016 SR 4cyl 4x4 Access Cab. I always loved Tacomas and finally got one. I came from a built Powerstroke diesel and simply got sick of the cost of maintenance and the whole diesel life. I broke down and decided to go with something simple, RELIABLE, and fuel efficient. The 2.7 FYI has virtually no power, I know... I came from a 500hp 990tq diesel, but I'm not towing/hauling or bringing it to the strip like I use to. I chose this motor for reliability because it is based on the old 22RE design and that motor was legendary. Uphill, it doesn't do that great. You can use your ECT button which will allow the motor to rev higher and gives more throttle response, but kills efficiency a bit. I also want to let you know that the SR package has no cruise control or even key remotes, It has no intermittent wiper modes, no cool controls, it's almost like a bare minimum fleet truck. I don't mind not having these, I chose this package. I hope you enjoy and find the trim you want.

 

Get the truck! The 2.7L motor is great. My old work vehicle was a 2005 Tacoma with the 2.7 and its main use was city and parking lot driving. Idling with AC on frequently and it just didn't have any issues. Search me and you can see what I was doing with it and what I was towing and hauling. Sounds like your truck will be babied compared to my work Tacoma.

You mentioned that some Tacoma's look taller than others. That's because up until 2015 there was a "prerunner" line which could be 4 or 6 cyl that has the 6-lug bigger suspension but is 2wd. All 4wd Tacomas are 6-lug and look taller.

For 2016, Toyota dropped the smaller and lower 5-lug suspension and all Tacoma models now come with 6-lug taller suspensions. GVWRs used to vary too, now every 2016 Tacoma is 5600 gvwr. From the 2wd I-4 5-speed to the DCLB 4X4. So the smaller I-4 trucks have more payload than the bigger ones.

As for the auto trans, there hasn't been much complaints about it in the 4cyl, but in the 6 cyl. Seems like it's more suited and was designed for the 4 cyl.

I would buy that truck.

 

This is a timely thread, I've been looking at the SR very closely for a while I think it's a great value and really gets to the core of what a little Toyota pick up is supposed to be. The 2.7 it solid as a rock and great resale. I am ordering a 2017 SR 2.7 automatic 4 x 4 in black with The utility package and all weather mats on 5/1, can't wait.

 

I don't think you can get the utility package and the convenience package together at least I have never seen one.

The 2wd and the 4x4 have the same wheels and tires and ride height (or near enough as makes no difference).

The only nuisance to me was the lack of cruise and intermittent wipers, but for about 10minutes of work and $115 in parts you can have both.

 

Thanks for the response guys! I love what I'm hearing!! I'm in the same situation I need simple stuff that's always gonna work. That's my personality nothing fancy. Lol is there a way they can add cruise control though? That's the only thing I would say that I would miss. I live in the boonies 35 mile trip to the grocery story. 55-65mph all flat ground. But cruise is very convenient. Other than that I should go for it by the sounds of it! I'm glad some honest people are reaching out to help me. How I look at is is if I had to tow a lot I would get a full size truck again. I never tow and my last 4 vehicles had 4 whee drive and I can could on my hand how many times I used 4x4. Lol so I just don't need It. If I get stuck I'll get pulled out if need be. I'm in nc we rarely get snow. If it snows a half inch they shut the whole county down anyway. Lol thanks a bunch guys for all your help it seems to be a awesome deal for the truck

 

And when your talking about the wipers do you mean it's just on or off? Like only 1 mode?

 

The only thing I would say is that Although you don't need it, the V6 is only 1 mpg off from the I-4. Yes the I4 is probably more reliable, but I'm sure the V6 will also be reliable and has more power with the same mpg....just something to think about.

 

I get it and it is hard to justify that four-cylinder over the six but throughout history the Toyota four cylinder has always been more reliable than the six. The V-6 just makes the Tacoma a different truck in my opinion. Toyota just does a four cylinder pick up truck perfect.

 

I think you might be right I saw it listed as a package , but I don't think you can get the two packages together.
I'm really bummed out I think we can add cruise control but I don't know about the keyless entry and I really really want that keyless entry .

 

Yes pretty much, it's slow and fast wipe. That's it. I didn't catch this until I drove it off the lot and it poured raining last night.

 

Keep an eye on this thread, for the intermittent wiper switch:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-3rd-gen-intermittent-wiper-switch.397876

 

Thank you guys so much

 

Aftermarket has been done for keyless, but honestly I do not really miss it enough to care. First, my truck is garaged at home and work so I don't really need to lock it and when I go out it is not that hard to put the key in the door. Cruise is 10 minutes and $25 in parts ($15 Amazon switch, $8 Toyota cover plate). Certainly keyless is not worth the $900 the convenience package costs to me even assuming you could get it with the utility package which I don't think you can. Intermittent wipers are $90 for the switch and 10 minutes of work.

 

Do you think the cruise and wipers can be done out of dealership and not void warrantee though? One reason why I'm going new is because of the warrantee