3rd Gen Owners who previously owned a 2nd Gen

Lots of great comments folks, thanks for sharing them.

 

Had a 2011 tacoma DC Off road, now have a 2017 tacoma DC Off road. Both good trucks, but the like the 2017 better.

 

I have had 2- 2nd Gen and now have a 17 TRD Off Road , I like the 3rd the best, I feel they did a good job, didn't change the look that much but refined the dive and interior.

I got the DBLCAB this time and I am way happy with it.

 

2012 SR5 AC 4x4 2.7 MT

2017 SR AC 4x4 2.7 MT

Essentially the exact same truck. The 3rd gen smells new, and the climate control and 4WD knobs are more stupid. That's about the only difference.

Now the old and proven 4.0 v the new 3.5 between the 2nd / 3rd gen V6s is probably a much bigger deal...

 

in 2004 the 4.0 was new to the tacoma as well. People said the samething you are then.....

 

Meh, I don't have a dog in that fight, but I can read the 3rd gen forum and draw my own conclusions...

 

Forums were not nearly as active in 04. There were just as many problems with 1st and 2nd gen as there are 3rd. Not much difference other than the beast that the internet has become.

I do hope your taking in account of all the non 3rd gen owners bashing them. And the consistent 3 to 4 members here who think they have to post their issues on every thread. Smitty alone has posted his review on every comment section in just about every website.

 

I don't recall that, I remember people being happy about getting a torque increase of more than 50 Ft Lbs and not having a timing belt to have to fiddle with.

 

I own a 2013 TRD 4X4 auto, and a 2017 TRD 4x4 manual. Wife drive the auto.

 

OK?

 

Yea...proof is in the pudding.

 

Some of the transmission issues I read about were happining to the 2nd gen. If I touch the brakes going down hill my gen2 will downshift 2 gears and does not like to upshift until I'm really going. I found that flicking the lever from 4th to 5th it will make the truck shift into the correct gear for the correct speed. I also find that I need to use the lever to downshift instead of cramming my foot on the pedal to make it downshift. It bothered me at first, now I make the truck do what I want, when I want.

 

I've had a pre-gen Xcab, a Gen 1, '96 Xcab, and an '05 DCSB TRDOR with a manual/V6. My first two all felt under powered even in a 6 popper. My 2nd Gen had amazing power but also had about every possible issue with corrosion and the infamous failed 3rd syncro. $10,000 later it was back to almost (minus new frame) good as new. We're talking brand new upper and lower control arms with new mounting points, steering from the wheel down through the rack and pinion also including new mounting points, and a brand new transmission. After all of that I was still on the frame recall. I was offered a trade straight across to a 2015 but opted to go with a Dodge Ram 2500 in the diesel variety. Someone had mentioned how Tacoma has a certain feeling that you couldn't explain. I can say that in a Tacoma you feel as if you're part of the truck. It's solid, it's reassuring, it's comfortable. I have not found that in any other truck. Even in my Dodge where I can sit all day with the engine running to stay warm or cool depending on the time of year, where I can literally tow anything I can attach to it, by the end of the day I'm done with the damn thing, it beats me up, it rattles, and in slick conditions I really have no confidence in the vehicle as far as keeping it on the road. That being said I'm ready to take the fuel mileage and capacity hit and move on to the third generation Tacoma.

 

^^I'm thinking a 3rd gen will get better mileage than a Dodge 2500.^^

 

The 2nd gen felt a bit quicker to me because of the extra low end torque.

 

^ agreed, the 2nd gen feels quicker because of the low end torque....which the 3rd gen doesn't have. The torque on the 3rd gen comes on at 3k rpm.

 

but once you get to to it, it is there. This truck like to get up and go, for a truck. note that I am coming from the 4 banger to the new v6.

I have a manual trans, have had 4, 5 and now 6 speed manuals. With each on there has been more shifting, so it baffles me when folks talk about the autos shifting lots. More gears, designed to stay at optimum motor RPMs, will shift more often, yes? I will say at times when I shift, I do feel it's more "clunky" than my 08 was.

 

I was pretty bummed about the gear box when it was new but its smoothing out and feels pretty good now. I am still learning to drive this truck correctly, I find the engine likes to rev after I let off the gas when the RPMS are high, like it's scavenging or like a turbo wants to keep going. I think its the akinson doing its thing or I am pushijng the clutch a split second to early before letting off the gas. I live near a mesa and a lot of blue hairs so when I find a chance to make a clean pass I let it go, ripping through the gears and letting it rev to redline. I think the manual transmission trucks have a different map, my truck just doesnt have the power I remember the limited I test drove did. I might try high grade gas and see how that works.

 

I think the multi speed automatics were just for more choices for the computer to pick from. Example might be 1-3-5-7-10 instead of 1 thru 10, and l skip gears in my manuals too, almost never use 5th, there is plenty of torque to go from 4th to 6th and occasionally l go from 3rd to 6th.