2017 TRD Off Road?

First...New to the forum but long time viewer/reader.

A little about myself: I currently live in VA but I am moving to Florida in the next month. I have owned several Toyota's over the years including 1gen Tacoma, 2008 FJ Cruiser and 2010 Tundra.

I am looking to get another truck and I am really thinking about a 2017 Tacoma TRD Off Road. My last vehcile was actually thr FJ and I loved it! The only real issue was small size and the rear seats. I have a wife and son and it was very hard to get my son into the back.. It was no a good long term vehcile but was great off road. I sold my Tundra because I thought it was too big and thought the ride was really rough off road.

I have found a decent deal (32K) for a new TRD Off Road but I am very concerned about the transmission issues. I personally have done several test drives and have not noticed the gear hunting. I also have a good friend who has a 2016 TRD Off Road and he has not noticed the issue either.

Long story short...Is his a deal breaker, an annoyance, or only an issue for some? I can get a new 2016 4Runner for the same price and don't want to end up regretting my decision.

Thanks for any help in andvance.

John

 

My last service they did the latest and greatest tranny flash on mine and it's a lot better than it was previously.

 

PS, if you don't need a truck get the 4Runner. You won't regret it

 

both are great, but if i didnt need the truck i think the 4r drives/handles a little better.

 

I have no issues with my 2017 TRD off road. After the TSB update on the transmission the truck shifts smooth as butter now. You are buying a late production 2017 model so nearly all the initial issues have been ironed out by now.
I have 14,566 miles on the clock on mine and every mile has been a pleasure to drive. I will be doing my 15,000 mile service this weekend and it's great going in with no issues (no howling, no leaking differential, and no transmission issues).

Make sure to test drive it throughly and see if the dealer will give you an overnight test drive.

$32k sounds like an excellent deal since used 2016-2017 models are listing for $33-34k in my area with 10-15k miles. I paid $34k for my double cab 4x4 with no premium and tech package in November 2016.

 

Reading a lot of the negative threads about the 3rd gens will do no good. I did and after reading them I was convinced I made the wrong choice. But the Tsb update fixed my transmission and I actually love my truck. However the space in the truck is a little small for a family in my opinion. At least my family anyway. I got a two year old. And I got to move the passenger seat up a little ways. And when the wife has to ride it's a little cramped. But I need the v6 cause I travel a ways for work. So I can't have a tundra. I do have the leaking dif that irritates me a little. But I'm on "the list"

 

I had an 08fj and now have a 17OR. My truck has no gear hunting issues and I love it. It lacks the presence my fj had, but it also lacks the issues my fj had, so...

That being said, if you don't need a bed, get the 4runner. It's gonna be very similar to your fj.

Edit: I also paid 32k for my truck, that's a pretty good deal.

 

The only way to know is to do a thorough test drive of the actual unit you intend to own. Before you hand over your money.

If it's wonky, don't buy it.

 

That is a dilemma that I had faced last year as to whether the Tacoma or the 4Runner was best for my family. I needed the truck bed so I ended up with the Tacoma. However, if you are looking for more comfort and leg room and don't have a need for a bed, then the 4Runner is probably the better choice. I believe the 4Runner also has more payload than the Tacoma.

Maybe it's the truck or maybe it's just me getting used to the way it drives, but the gear hunting hasn't been an issue for me. It noticed it more when it was new, but I love my truck and wouldn't trade it in.

 

Get the 4runner. The back seat size in the Tacoma is not good for your purposes. Our 4runner is much better than the Turd gen Tacoma. Also the automatic transmission is terrible from my experience. I wished I had not purchased the auto trans.

 

Good points but I think the Tacoma tows and hauls more than the 4Runner. The 4Runner tows up 5000 pounds and the Tacoma rows up to 6400 pounds in the TRD off road 4x4 double cab configuration.
Payload is about 1400 pounds for Tacoma and don't know how much weight you can put in the trunk of a 4Runner.

 

Mine was produced in San Antonio in November of 2016 as a 2017 MY and the transmission program was up to date.

If you sit here and over obsess about the transmission issue, you'll always think it should be different.

Fact of the matter is that even with all the reflashes and whatnot, the pedal mapping is weird at certain RPMs and feel pretty indirect. Can only imagine it was done that way to avoid rapid throttle position changes which would reduce mileage.

If you drove it and you liked it, buy it

 

The payload on my '16 OR is at 1155 lbs. It just depends on what options you have on your truck which will change the weight of the vehicle, but the GVWR doesn't change.

 

He loved the FJ but didn't like the small back seats. Nowhere did I see him say he needs a truck. 4 Runner is a no brainer.

 

True. If the backseat size is a big concern, then OP won't be very impressed with the Tacoma. I rarely haul people in the backseat because it's just not a very nice place to be for adults, especially for long trips.

 

I agree. If he isn't going to use the bed on a regular basis I would buy the 4Runner over the Tacoma.

 

I want the truck. My wife has a SUV for family trips but for hunting and camping we would go in the truck. For day to day I probably wouldnt use the bed but would definitley use the truck. It will not be a daily driver and will really only be driven on weekends and outdoor trips. The 4runner drove really well but I also like the Tacoma.

 

i love my Tacoma and i have a wife and 2 kids, but we have another family commuter. the compelling reasons to have a Tacoma, IMO, is either for the truck bed or the available MT. these are the things a 4R cannot provide. a 4R can provide a better passenger experience for sure. i would have one if it came with a MT. those Pros and Trails are beautiful.

 

I don't hate the transmission. I don't love it, either. I have two kids (11 and 14) and it's a little tight in the back seat in my 2017 OR double cab. If back seat room is more important than having a bed, I'd get the 4Runner. If the bed is more important or if you just want a truck, I'd get the Tacoma. It works for my family, but we also have a family SUV for longer trips. The Tacoma is more updated which I liked. The 4Runner felt a little dated in comparison. Knowing I was committing to much lower gas mileage than my GTI, I felt I better at least have the option of a bed. So I got the Tacoma. Good luck!

 

Go back and test drive it again, take it overnight if possible to make sure you can live with it.