2016 tacoma worth it?

Sorry finding gears on my 2nd and 3rd gen has been about the same, only 3rd's noticeably smoother and easier. Unless you're towing or trying to drive these trucks like an over-zealous knucklehead behind the wheel of a WRX, you shouldn't need to shift "ALL THE TIME" with either.
Not trying to offend the naysayers, but imo 3rd Gen Mt is the best truck Toyota's built so far (coming from 30+ years driving manuals).

 

No such thing as the perfect Toyota truck, they all have their own imperfections but they last and that's why I love and keep buying them.

If I need to tow something all the time or haul alot of crap, I'd buy a full size.

 

I own a '16 Tacoma TRD offroad. My brother in law owns the same truck. My truck has problems shifting, dropping out of gear and then slamming into gear when coming to a stop... it also lurches/surges (pauses then jumps) when I'm backing up or pulling forward at an idle. One other issue is the transmission will delay a few seconds then slam/crash (not a pleasant sound/feeling) into gear occasionally when going.

My brother in laws truck shifts smooth with no issues and doesn't lurch like mine does. Also, I took a tacoma home from the dealership (also a TRD offroad)and it was a smooth and steady shifter as well.

I got my truck in from the service department today. They said my fluids were good and they reset the memory on the transmission to correct the problem (the transmission learns your driving habits). Well, reseting the computer on the trans didn't work and my transmission does a gear slam nearly everyday... it's just a matter of driving it around... get it to the dealership and they will only driver it a few miles once or twice and then say... drove normal to me.... so frusterating. I found a hand full of other folks on Taco forums with the same issue. So I'm glad it's not just me now.

 

No!!! Find a low mileage 2nd gen
My '16 double cab limited is garbage

 

hook up a 5000 pound trailer to a second gen and a 3rd gen and watch the 2nd gen run circles around the low torque 3rd gen

 

Sound advice

 

The tq comes on low in the 4.0 where the 3.5 doesn't get decent tq until high rpm.

Pulling the same 3500 pound enclosed trailer that my 2011 dclb auto and 2012 access cab 6 speed used to pull without any issues , my 3.5 auto struggles to pull itself around

 

Any recalls on the new 16s?

 

6 months and I have no complaints with my 2016.

 

Had mine for two weeks now, my first Tacoma. I was torn between the 2nd gen and 3rd gen because the 3rd gen is such a new truck and the bugs or not fully known yet and the reliability of the 2nd gen... I went with the 3rd gen because I wanted to be the original, the technology, the redisgn, and I was fine with taking the risk of buying a first year of a new platform. My 2 cents.

 

Love my 2016, no issues whatsoever but it's a manual trans 2.7

 

I was in the same boat as you. I went with the '16 because I wanted a truck NOW, didn't want to buy used because of the ridiculous resale of these trucks and actually thought new was a better value, and there were no new '15's left in my area. Plus I thought the 2nd Gen was very dated looking and way overdo for a refresh (and I've parked next to 2nd Gens more than once now and am very happy with the looks of the 3rd Gen. Crushed the 2nd Gen). I do like the truck aside from the transmission. I'm not knocking it for the way it's designed with it's shifting, power band, etc. I'm just not happy with the fact that mine was in the shop 3 times already for hesitating when shifting, clunking into gear, slipping gears, etc. But the fact that I have the 7yr/100k warranty and my uses are pretty tame for what the truck was designed for (I'm using it for road trips, mountain biking trips, getting back to trailheads, fire roads, towing a small trailer occasionally, Home Depot runs, etc., it's more than capable for my uses.

The people who own the truck but bitch and moan about it not having enough power for their uses, it's towing capacity and performance etc., might just be people whoa re never happy or satisfied. And honestly if the truck isn't suitable for your intended uses, then you bought the wrong truck, so don't blame Toyota. Should have done your research and been a little more thorough. These trucks are like the weekend warrior special! Jack of all trades, master of none, and doesn't do any one thing particularly well to be honest. Buyers just need to be honest with themselves. Are they bitching because they made the wrong choice?

 

You and I know that because we actually own a '16. Those that are making it out to be more than it really is most likely own a 2nd Gen and are just trying to troll, make up for the fact that they don't have a 3rd gen but probably want one, can't afford one, or have never even driven/test-driven a 3rd Gen and have no idea what they're talking about. The mapping and throttle response are different between the two Gen's that's for sure. Different feel underfoot and thus, they respond differently.

 

I own a '16 and hate it.
Maybe mine is just a lemon but compared to my 2nd gen the 16 is a pile of crap.
I love the new look and the new gadgets and if they would have put the 4.0 from the 4Runner in it I'm sure I would love the truck .
As it is I hate the 3.5

 

It is a pile of crap and that's why I'm trading it in .
I loved it for the first week driving in the city . But once I got a chance to go on a long road trip I realized it was a waste of money .
I ordered a trd pro 4Runner that will be here end of next month .

 

So why did you buy it?!

I've said I'm not a huge fan of my '16 either, but in my defense I only started having transmission issues at around 4,500 miles. Before that I loved the truck, towed with it, drove it halfway across the country and enjoyed it. I test drove the truck before I bought it and was well aware of the power band/throttle mapping, etc.

So I have to ask again, why did you buy the truck if you thought it was such a pile of crap? Why didn't you order the 4Runner in the first place?

 

So you're basically blaming Toyota for the fact that you made what sounds like an either impulsive or uninformed decision? If it's such a pile of crap what does that say about you? Kind of reminds me of people who are constantly trashing their ex and talking shit about them. In my my mind I'm thinking, well you were the one that was with the for however long, so what does that say about you?!

 

My truck seemed great during the test drive and with city traffic the lack of low end power wasn't really noticeable .
However the first road trip was when I realized the truck was underpowered unless you keep your foot in it.
By that point it was already too late .
The only reason I didn't buy the 4 runner in the first place was that the Tacoma claimed to get 24 mpg on the highway and I fell for the lie .
I know I can average 20 in a 4Runner where my Tacoma is currently averaging 18 at best

 

Underpowered how? Were you towing? Are you uncommonly large/dense and slowed the vehicle down? Towing something? It's a mid-size truck with an engine that's made for a mid-size truck. Or maybe you're in the club that most people are subscribing to where they want a mid-size truck that gets Prius mpg with the power of a full-size truck. There seems to be a lot of those guys out there.

 

If you don't have the 4Runner yet, how do you KNOW this right now?