3rd gen observations from a 1st gen owner

I'm back. I've had the 2017 for almost a month. I've put about 1,400 miles on it. It had 2,150 on October 3 when I picked it up. Today it's got 3,560. I think I'll have it about one more month.

I stand by my original observations. I reiterate how unusably slick the bed is. Also, I really don't like the high hood and fenders - it just makes ground visibility so bad. It would benefit from additional power ports (it only has one, that I can find). The way it accelerates is also a little squirrely. I think because of how aggressively it downshifts it drives a little like an early turbocharged car - it begins to accelerate for a bit, then it really launches.

On the good side - I freaking love the side mirror defroster. Also, the windshield sprayer is fantastic. Really, the 2003 sprayer is so bad that the '17 seems wonderful. I also like the steering wheel controls for the radio. I also like the electric rear sliding window.

It's a nice ride while I wait for mine to come back. I'd really like mine back, though. I'm a little rougher on mine than I feel like I can be on a loaner. They are definitely getting a used truck back.

 

Should have (2) 12v receptacles. One in the flip up center console near the bottom forward wall, one in the phone charger cubby forward.

My 2017 bed has a piece of 1/2" sheathing plywood in the bottom that I stole from my first gen... Don't need no stinking bed mat...

 

My 2nd gen was definitely reliable. 200k miles no issues. Not a single one. Many Tacoma users are in California, which doesn't have a humid climate and there are very few areas that have snow. I doubt many would have rust issues here.

I still see all Tacoma generations on the road here and I still see plenty of Toyota trucks, released before the Tundra and Tacoma badging, on the road still. Toyota earned it's rep.

I still see 90s f150s and Sierra's/Silverados on the road here as well.

However, while I still see plenty of 90s/80s Toyotas vehicles of all sorts on the road. I rarely see Nissans, non-truck big three cars, and european cars from the 90s/80s.

The 90s/80s was a very dark time for Euro, American, Mazda and Nissan cars. That's left a big impact on the market which has left a shadow to this day. Even the GM, Nissan and others have made huge strides in terms of reliability. I am still hesitant to buy cars from them because I grew up in 80s/90s. The only "classic" collectable non-exotic cars from that time are mostly all Toyotas( AE86, MK4 Supra, MR2).

It's a combination of the Toyota brand name and Tacoma user experiences that's protecting the Tacoma name at the moment. Toyota is definitely not doing a good job of protecting the Tacoma Brand currently.

 

I'll look in the morning. Thanks

 

My previous truck was a 2004 and my biggest gripe with my 2016 is the plastic bed.

 

What don't you like about the bed?

 

It already looks like crap after one year. Sides and tailgate cap are all scratched up. My 2004 had Line-X and it looked great after 12 years.

Edit: 2 years now

 

A decision I have to make every morning over coffee is which Tacoma to drive that day. 1st gen or 3 gen. Stick or automatic. What's a man to do?

 

I have a similar situation. Drive the 1997 or 2017? Love both (of course the 2017 doesn't even have 200 miles on it yet). Both are manual, both are V6, similar wheel base. 20 years apart with nearly nothing else the same.

There is no way I'd sell my 1997 Taco, other than to my son.

Fortunately in Oregon they haven't salted the roads in the winter yet (rumors flying that they might this year on major highways), but I don't live by major highways, nor drive them in the winter.

My gen 1 frame is absolutely solid.

@OP, nice write up on the differences you are seeing between the gen 1 and gen 3. The bed mat can eliminate the slick surface for sure, as would a roll on bed liner (if it would adhere properly).

 

Dana is not footing the bill Toyota is. Toyota got a small settlement from Dana which was nowhere close to the actual cost. Dana then sold the frame operation to a Mexican company.Toyota ignored most of the rust complaints until a class action was filed. Then Toyota had a "voluntary service campaign to replace truck frames in snow belt states. The frames were rusting from the inside out and was very severe, to the point frames would break in half. My 2nd Gen was part of this campaign. They had my truck for 9 months did a shittty job so I got rid of it.

Then early this year the class action was settled and Toyota now has to replace frames on Tacoma's and Tundras at the cost of 3.6 billion dollars