2016 Tacoma would you purchase again

My personal opinion is that Toyota let the 2nd gen run forever because there was not really an incentive/reason to invest $ in introducing another gen while the Tacoma basically owned the light truck segment after driving out the ranger, s10 and early colorado. Regardless, Toyota probably saw the need to eventually introduce an updated truck with better MPG and HP stats because they didn't want to lose potential customers to the full size truck market where 5.0L+ V8 F150s and Silverados were getting 21-22MPGs with more power, towing capacity and cabin space at a comparable price point (factors that reliability can't always overcome in the decision-making process).

My guess is they started the process a little while ago and were very close to completion but not quite done, maybe even anticipating a 2017 model year release. However, the Colorado hit the market in Fall 2014. This was probably terrifying to Toyota because the Colorado threatened to 1) dilute the Tacoma's market share by introducing a new demographic into the segment (millennials who never considered a light truck but were drawn to the tech-heavy Colorado's impressive fuel efficiency and refined yet rugged appearance) and 2) luring away the segment's existing demographic by an offering of a more fuel efficient and newer offering than the outdated Tacoma. If Toyota waited too long to introduce a new Tacoma, they risked losing valuable market share that would be difficult and expensive to regain. As such, the pressure was on to introduce a new Tacoma ASAFP.

Because you can't introduce a next-gen vehicle overnight and Toyota introduced their next gen model less than a year after the Colorado, my guess is that Toyota was close to being ready to release it but as I said before, it still had some work to do in quality control and perhaps took the 2016 year as the opportunity to work out kinks instead of waiting another year. It's like when big studios rush to release video games and there are bugs/glitches. I guess Toyota felt the possible hit to their reliability reputation was better than losing out to the Colorado. JMHO.

 

Agree......

 

I felt Toyota could have let the 2nd gen continue a few more years until they released a proper redesign. Look at what is happening to the Frontier. Being left untouched, the Frontier is selling more vehicles now than it has in the last several years.

 

What was your build date?
Mine was 7/8 and I seemingly do not have any of the issues mentioned everwhere.
Mine is a manual also

 

March of '16. Texas Plant

 

Have 5K miles on my TRD OR. Dealer squared the transmission away at 5K service. I think I have a good truck.

 

Everybody wants a diesel Tacoma. If they get a taste of DEF this forum would be slammed with people bitching about it being Toyota's fault for screwing up the Diesel engine. The people bitching about the tranny issues will be nothing compared to the DEF complaining.


I haven't had any of the issues others have experienced either.

 

I would buy it again. I haven't had any of the problems that have been so thoroughly documented by others. I have an automatic V-6 that was produced in March at the San Antonio plant.

 

Without question, yes.

 

nah, I wouldnt. the 4 banger is underpowered, and the four diff 6 cyl I test drove all had vibration problems. But I just HAD to have a Tacoma. That damn toy fever has burned me more n once! But I can live with it for a few years. If I had a do-over, I'd get a 2nd gen 4.0. I think the early teens gen 2 have a clean classic look about them too. Barcelona red with black fenders....