3rd gen tranny

Not exactly. Some prefer the manual. I enjoy driving manual vehicles as much as others do, but I've taken my old 2nd gen and my 3rd gen into the mountains and going through some crazy mountain roads. I had zero problems with this one just like I had zero problems with the last one. People bitch about every little thing now a days and expect the world in the palm of their hands for less then $5. I drove this one just like my last one. Kept it out of D and slid it over. The ones who are complaining may have a few valid points, but the majority of them are blowing things way out of proportion.

 

Is it bad to have the ect button pushed all the time? I use cruise control alot can u use it while the ect button is pushed? I drive in the mountains alot when camping hopefully it's not as bad as many say I hope it's just people complaining over nothing. I really want to like the automatic

 

No issues. Button changes shift points

 

I've had this Tacoma for more than a year now. Still cannot stand the multi-shifting on the slightest of hills and gas mileage that is no better than my Tundra when pulling a 2500 lb trailer. Ridiculous. Son-in-law bought a 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser and the 8 gear tranny is driving him crazy for the same reasons.

 

Test drive one???

 

That is what S-mode is for. I agree that the tranny could be better, but there are ways to get around the issues with minimal pain and suffering.

 

I dont understand why some people want to control the way an automatic shifts. There is no sense in that, just get a Stick shift then.

 

The transmission has not been good at all on my 2017 even after two software downloads from the dealer!

 

Have any of you driven any thing other than a Tacoma with a 6 spd auto? Guess what they all do that! Add some more gears and they shift even more! It is normal it is the spacing of the ratios the narrower they are the more they shift. Most modern ones even down shift to control the cruse control speed going down hill.

 

Yep that's the way it is I tow camper of about the same weight 14.5 max @ 50 with no hills 13 or less at 65. Buy a Ford eco boost 13 or less MPG towing 2500# It is wind drag your are towing a brick nothing gets good mileage towing.

 

Great thread revival...js

 

Seriously? You don't understand why? Because auto transmissions are great most of the time, even the one in the 3rd gen that everyone on here can't seem to stop bitching about, but there are some situations where the driver needs to be able to override them. All manufacturers recognize this and that is why they provide you with the ability to limit the available gears the tranny can use. Every single auto transmission on the road has this feature for this very reason. My old 4Runner with the 4.0 V6 and 4AT had great low-end torque and held gears pretty well, but any time I was driving up/down a decent grade, I was out of D and into the equivalent of S2 or S3 to take advantage of engine braking (downhill) or to limit upshifting (uphill). I do the same with my 3rd gen, though probably more so for obvious reasons. If you refuse or unwilling to use the tools that are provided to improve performance, then I don't know what to tell you.

And just to be clear, I love a manual most of the time, but those times that it can be a real PITA (specifically, in bumper to bumper traffic) are why I will no longer own one. I'm just over them at my current place in life. After having driven several Toyota trucks with both over the years, I can say with a straight face that nothing is sacrificed when choosing an auto over a stick as long as you are willing to use the auto to its full ability (I.e., take it out of D when the situation warrants it, which is quite often actually, if you are an active driver like I tend to be).

 

I agree, the 2016 4Runner with its 5 speed auto and dual VVTi 4.0 is such a nice combo. I hope they don't put the 3.5 in future 4Runners.

 

I based my purchase of this 2016 based on my true love for Toyota vehicles and the fact that my brother drives a 2007 Tacoma with automatic transmission and guess what, it does not shift all the time like mine does! Between my wife and I, our three children and their spouses, and my brother and his family we drive 14 Toyotas. The only non-Toyota vehicles are company cars. I can't be called a Toyota basher!

My dad taught me years ago that when an auto transmission is constantly shifting in and out of gears, it is hard on the unit. That is why many trucks have a "tow haul" mode for trailer hauling. Now, I fully admit that this Tacoma shifting might not be accelerating the wear on this modern transmission, it still bothers me due to my driving history!

Also, I had a 2007 Tundra up until this Tacoma. It would get about 12 mpg pulling my 2500 lb Casita travel trailer. Guess what, this Tacoma gets 13.5 mpg. Not enough difference to matter much for the sacrifice in size and comfort. Now, to be fair, the Tundra was 2 wd and the Tacoma 4 wd. Like I said in an earlier post, I bet I could tow a roller skate behind this truck and drop the mileage 2-3 mpg!

And by the way, my wife's 2014 Highlander goes up and down the hills around here without a hiccup. Toyota makes some of the finest vehicles on the market. It's just that this transmission bothers me. It's not the end of the world.

 

Normal.

 

I love my 17, but the only thing that bothers me is highway driving, which I do a lot of. For my truck if you are 75mph and under it's not bad, but if you got to 78 and ever so slightly hit the gas peddle it drops down to 5th. Say I'm trying to maintain 80 and drop down to 79, I lightly press the gas and it drops to 5th, I get back to 80 it takes a good bit for it to finally go back up to 6th, sometimes I need to hammer the pedal for it to drop to 4th and finally shift back to 6th instead of waiting for it to finally shift to 6th. If your at 80-85 it's constantly shifting down and than shifting up for about 2-3mph when lightly applying the gas. I laugh sometimes as I am trying to go pass someone on the parkway say at 75+, people will look over at your thinking your trying to race as the engine is screaming in 5th but your not really moving lol. Albeit I don't always drive in the 75+, just annoying at times. I won't lie I do not know much about these transmissions, I wonder if the hunting over long trips is bad? And I have the latest tranny TSB and supposedly my transmission fluids are in the green.

 

Test drive one and see for yourself. Test it on hills and on straights.
For me, I could have gotten over the constant shifting and the powerband. It was the responsiveness of the shifting that bothered me. I've owned and driven the 1st and 2nd gen Tacomas (auto) and they both drive very differently than the 3rd Gen.
In the mountains, off-road, it was great. 1st to 3rd shifting was fine with me. It was the gears beyond that, going up hill, and the shifting around turns that annoyed me.

Do you have any other vehicles you're considering? Do you need a truck?