2017 Tacoma and Consumer Reports

I can understand how some guys can buy after test driving and not really convinced. Most buyers are previous Tacoma owners and they had a rock solid experience and then people here tell them to ignore the trans because after some magical break in period it will be flawless.

 

Own a 2017 trdor and hate it.

Agree with consumer reports completely.

 

Exactly.

A truck handling like a truck... mind blown.

 

I'm happy so far, but I'm happy if I get to where I'm going!

 

Ok class, say it with me:
Consumer reports is bad, Tacoma is good.
Class?!?
Pay attention!

 

Haters gonna hate.

I haven't had any issues thus far, forums like this tend to attract fan boys and haters, which makes sense if you think about it.

 

That's exactly what my salesman said - "don't pay attention to the transmission, it'll get better after 5k miles"

 

It's not the fact that it handles like a truck, it's that it handles worse than previous gens. Again, one would assume that each generation would offer improvements rather than going backwards

 

Exactly with a price increase and evolutionary updates I expect improvement not regression.

 

I dont post often, but thought it worth replying to this thread. I own a 2017 DCSB SR5 and love having a Toyota truck again. I used to be an avid believer in CR, until my wife and once owned a 2009 Honda Pilot (bought new) that was CR best pick. I had to trade it in for a huge loss because it burned oil horribly between oil changes. Had to fight Honda the whole way and finally gave up and traded for a Toyota Highlander for a huge loss. CR later noted that Honda settled a class action lawsuit for the Pilot, CrossTour, Odyssey that had the Variable Cylinder Technology that was deemed "problematic". We were even notified by Honda that the powertrain warranty was covered to 100K or 7 years. The 2009 Honda is still a recommended used car pick without any mention of the "problematic" engine issues. I will never trust CR or go by any recommendations they make.

 

So you're finally on the right side of the Unicorn exchange with the 100% fully functional and problem free turd gen tacoma

 

If you read what CR wrote, they actually praise the trucks reliability. What they don't like is the ponderous handling. On both points, they are spot on. I'm not worried about the truck breaking down. But it is a 40k truck that handles like a 25k competitor

 

Haters gonna hate, I absolutely love my truck. Had transmission issues that got resolved with TSB. No more problems. Can't comment on handling, it's a truck not a racecar.

 

I went from an '11 trdORSB to a '17 TRDORLB and see little difference in handling or ride. The 17 is only different because of the added length. Braking is the same as the 11. Not the best, but all 14 of the various Toyotas my wife daughter and I have had were a little weak in braking. All that is acceptable since I've spent less than$1000.00 on repairs on all of them combined. They have all gotten me where I'm going and back. Consumer reports is like MSN in perennially bashing Toyotas. Granted, the power is lacking a little in the Tacoma, but I didn't buy it for speed. It's a truck.

 

My truck is harsh over larger bumps. So was my 3/4t Ram. Neither of them handle like my BWM Z3 roadster or my Honda RC51 sport bike.

But both of my trucks could carry a load, pull a trailer and keep me warm in extreme sub zero temperatures better than my other two vehicles.

My Tacoma won't do wheelies and my Taco lean which I haven't identified yet won't allow me to drag a knee in corners. I hit my head when I wear my full face helmet in the truck.

 

Tacoma won't haul much of a load but it's not a full size

 

It must be a utility thing, the bearded taco thread is full of happy people.

 

Own a 2017 trdor and love it.

Disagree with consumer reports completely.

 

superior braking? Uh my 2nd gen TRD offroad took 145ft to get from 60-0, my new one does it in 125ft thanks to the new upgraded brake booster and ABS actuator. Saying the 3rd gen has worst braking is empirically false, that's not even something subjective like handling, you're just flat out wrong.

I still prefer the 4.0L engine and 5spd transmission combo, but understand why Toyota needed to make that change, not only for CAFE standards but also because people like you keep bitching about an offroad truck's gas mileage lol. Keep complaining and soon enough you'll have what you want... a Toyota Ridgeline.

I feel like I'm one of the only guys on here that understood I was buying an offroad truck and what that entails (high departure angles + more ground clearance = less aerodynamic, more noise, less mpg... all things CR rips just like on the wrangler).

You CANNOT have it all, if you want the Tacoma to be capable offroad out of the box, which it very much currently is, you're going to sacrifice ride quality, NVH, and MPGs. You can have a great handling smooth riding small truck with better MPGs.... a Honda ridgeline (which I'm actually a huge advocate of), just don't take it offroad

If you want an offroader really your only choices for 2017 are the F-150 raptor, Tacoma, 4Runner, and Wrangler. I've already pulled out too many chevy colorados with ripped off front bumpers to take them seriously on the trails. I was just in Borrego springs this weekend and it was a sea of wranglers and tacomas. I didn't see a single Colorado or Canyon out there the whole weekend, I wonder why?

If you're buying a 2wd then sure, I think the only reasons to get the new Tacoma is the anticipated resale value/reliability (we'll see if it hold ups as well as the last gens) or you just really like the new design. If you're not going offroad then I personally think the Ridgeline is a much better choice, on paper so is the Colorado but I just don't trust the long term reliability. For those of us that offroad, the Tacoma is really the ONLY choice right now, and if the Toyota bean counters have their way we won't even have the Tacoma anymore if they neuter it in the name of MPGs and "ride quality"