20K miles, Eight Months, 3rd Gen Thoughts

A different "review" if you will:

• Stock front bumper is fine for hitting what it was designed to hit... bugs.
• I tried and am not able to "overdrive" my headlights, even on low beam. They work well. My challenge is living in the hills. The cutoff on low beam means i never can see what is beyond the bottom of the hill.
• Fog lights are fine. Light up low and to the sides, exactly what they are designed to do.
• Fake hood scoop performs amazingly well, from that sparkle in the sunlight to keeping the water out of the hood as designed. Well done Toyota...
• Windshield is no worse or better than the 30+ vehicles I have owned since 1976. It chips, cracks and scratches just like any other piece of glass. The angle of the windshield is a bit more upright than many other vehicles and that angle will make it a bit more susceptible to a chip or crack.
• Windshield wipers are slower than some of the vehicles I have owned and faster than other vehicle wipers I have had. No problem seeing in the rain.
• My paint (mgm) is fine. It chips and touches up well, just like every other vehicle. I think that the leading lower corner of the bed should have a much bigger black plastic protective cover. That area really gets chipped.
• The Entune system works and sounds worse than some vehicles, better than some vehicles. The navigation system could be better but I think of it as a challenge. You will eventually get to your destination though, you just have to push through the pain...
• Seats are comfortable for 10+ hour drives. I'm a big guy at 6'4" and 250 lb. I fit fine. It did take some time to figure out entry/exit and seat position.
• Sunroof is not applicable on my truck. During multiple test drives I knew that would have to go for my noggin to fit.
• After 20K miles, my seats show no appreciable wear. They are cloth and unstained. The first day I bought it home and scotchguarded the seats.
• The gauge cluster lens can scratch easily. A slightly damp microfiber gently used is.my method for cleaning. A Swiffer would work well too. Any dry rag or.cloth is gonna scratch it.
• The engine pulls well once you learn how to use it. 4K RPM is fine.
• 10K oil changes with 0W-20 and it has not blown up yet lol.
• I have a manual transmission so no issues except being able to go 85 mph in reverse...
• Original tires were not so good. I put.some AT tires on there.after about 3K miles. Much better.
• I get about 20 mpg on the highway and 17 mpg around town. I don't drive it easy.
• The 4WD system works well. I do take it off road (don't tell the OR owners) and if the obstacle is too tough, I stack rocks, go around or go back. Simple. I don't need to prove anything anymore.
• Rides and handles well on the road. Not much body roll. I like to think of the truck as athletic... goes good, handles well, etc... for a truck.

All in all I am definitely happy with this truck. But, I am smart enough to use it as designed. I don't jump it nor do I do high speed washboard roads. I also don't have unreasonable expectations like it should accelerate like a Hellcat or handle like a Porsche. It can't haul or tow like a one ton full size. Gas mileage goes to about half when towing 5K lbs. Oh well.
As you can read, some of my comments above are tongue in cheek based on some threads here. I mean no harm and I'm sure some will not agree with me. But, I consider myself to be Joe Average about this truck. I keep my expectations real. I also know, unfortunately, every now and then someone has a true problem. I understand and sympathize. Just remember that just because you have a problem does not mean others have that problem. This is my 20K review and opinion.

 

based.

 

Good read. Hopefully another good 20k miles are on the way!

 

A good review, pretty much encapsulates what I've felt about all Toyota trucks. They aren't perfect but altogether seem to do most things better than the rest of the competition in the midsize segment.

BTW, I reported your post due to lack of drama, you know better!

 

Enjoyable read with a lot of light hearted truth in it with a dash of humor . I also am satisfied with mine after 2 -2/3 years .

 

Every MT owner should understand that line...

 

I agree with most of what was said. Minor differences for me:
* Stock seats were not tolerable for 3+ hr drives. I'm smaller, 5'11", 155lbs. I had to get some memory foam to make it tolerable. No complaints since then on long drives.
* Fog lights don't do much for me. I wish they were brighter. ONLY because the stock headlights perform so poorly. Driving in the dark, backcountry roads, highbeams are a must. Even the neighborhood side roads.
* Entune. I'd have to say it's the worst of every other "smart" HU I've used to date. Not "intolerable", but I would've expected better in 2017.
Again, minor things.

But agreed on all other points. I am overall happy with the truck. Does what I need it to do. Spring time mulch hauling, once every other year trailer towing, fall time hay ride with the kids, family camping excursions to San Rafael Swells, etc.

BTW, please quit lying about off-roading in your Sport. I heard the x-case knob is fake, like the scoop, and only turns Pandora on to "The Strokes" station for your bro mall wheeling sessions.

 

You went off road in a Sport? Blasphemy!!!

 

Yeah I know. A few weeks ago I took a look at the road I was supposed to go out to get to a logging site, parked and called them to send out a skidder to pick me up. There was literally a creek with steep banks with trees in it that I would have had to cross. I got up there and saw several pickup trucks parked. I asked the guy how in the Hell those trucks made it through that creek. He said "Oops, that creek wasn't there this morning when those guys came in!" He went on to say that in a few hours they would move the creek bed back to its proper course and clean up the trees. Sure enough, when I rode back out to my truck that evening it was like none of that ever existed. So yeah, call me a poser lol.

 

gonna have trade my Off Road in for a Sport now, love The Strokes

 

Great little write up . I too am at 20k miles with my MGM DBCSB Limited 4X4 at A little over a year...I whole heartedly agree with all your points. I don’t pretend it’s anything other than a reliable, durable well built midsize truck. Love affair started with a 1st gen for a while, went to a 2nd gen did that for a bit as well then got caught up in the sports sedan thing for a bit and came full circle back to a Tacoma . My needs changed and needed something that can haul my small family, take me to some pretty sweet spots to fly fish and other andventures, haul wood and deliver furniture, yet be comfortable for my highway commute to work. Really couldn’t ask for better fit for my needs. I’m 6’3 and 215 (on a good day) and find the seating comfortable even with the sun roof...did take some time to dial in right seating position tho . Had a lot of makes and models of other manufacturers and Toyota has by far been the best to us. Thanks for sharing!

 

As in you CAN go 85 in reverse right? Isn't the manual reverse gear really tall?

 

...well, maybe not 85 mph, but more like holy shit this thing is fast in reverse!

 

Reverse is designed for Jason Bourne style chases. Use as intended.

 

What kind of mpg's you getting in reverse?

 

FYI

You actually gain fuel because the motor runs in reverse too.

 

That plus it goes on treadstones tab so who cares