4.6 V8, am I the only one who see's the magic?

The full size gets a V8 because it needs one to move all that tonnage.

Mid-sizers with a V8 drivetrain would mainly be a lot of fun...but if midsizers get any bigger, they're gonna be full size too.

Vehicle creep in the US is out of control.

 

That 4.6L they have could make SO many of their vehicles so much more enjoyable to drive. I can't understand why they're not leveraging that thing, especially given that the main criticism aimed at them today from the automotive press is "boring", which is pretty accurate.

 

Meh, I've got no beef with my 4.0...I could always throw a SC on it if my needs change in the future

 

If we got the V8 in a Tacoma does that mean we get this cool button too??

 

The 4.0 is fine for the stock configuration, the problem is the stock config looks like ass. Once you get the truck looking good, you need gears. The engine would've eliminated that need.

4.0 with 33" tires and stock gears going up a hill = slug.

 

Is it really that slow? I only have like 31.8 inch tires of course, but they are way heavier than stock and my truck still has a TON of power. Maybe its because I don't have the extra 4wd components?

 

I agree that there are quite a few smaller vehicles out in Europe, but on my recent trip to Germany I saw far more V10s, SLS AMG 6.0 L, Bugatti's, Ferrari's, and Maserati's than I've ever seen in one day. I honestly lost count. Maybe they just love their vehicles more, but with gas prices at ~3

 

Get 33s, lift it for extra wind resistance, put 400lbs of steel armor on it, then a bunch of spare parts and tools in the bed.

Yes, you'll notice the difference.

Is it SLOW? No, but it's damn sure not as peppy as stock, and I don't like compromising. Gears are coming shortly.

 

At no point did I ever claim they did or should.

It just would've been nice is all.

 

You do realize Toyota has had a 3L diesel in the Hilux (Tacoma elsewhere) for many years? And, in my opinion, it does kick ass. A Gamble? I understand this is one of Toyota's best motors built, and they run forever. There would be a waiting list for these trucks if they offered them next year. In the meantime, I will be happy driving what made import trucks popular today, the classic 4 cyl, 5 spd. (or 4 spd depending on how old you are )

 

I agree with the power statement... but it seems obvious to me they DO build this vehicle knowing lots of aftermarket stuff will be put onto it. If it's not armor and 33's, it's tool boxes, a ladder rack, and/or a topper. And that means lots of gear to go inside. It goes to the nature and purpose of a pickup.

Still, if you wanna go that route and recover the power you should also know you need to add power and gears. It goes with the territory and to me, it's fair to not saddle the 90% owner with the fuel economy problems of a big V8 just because a few want to turn their vehicle into a tank.

 

IME, Toyota's (especially Tacoma) aren't boring from lack of a V8. They're boring because they are fugly (sorry... but it's true, and I have one!). Styling is worse than Buick... old Buicks at that, with bulbous, bulging sheet metal that makes the thing look like a lumbering M4 Sherman and interior styling that is just plain... blahh. Adding an old school V8 to the lineup would just reinforce the opinion.

But yes I agree: they do come with uninspiring engines too! Fuel injection, twin-cam and VVT are so old-school already. They are looking for new thought: direct injected twin turbo'd 4 or 5 cylinder maybe. Small(er) displacement (2.7-3.2 L) for economy with power on tap as needed. Like Ford's EcoBoost. Or a fully modern, refined, quiet and low-emissions turbo diesel. But it takes way to much to design, certify and build one so the price tag will reflect it and with ultra-low sulfur fuel $.10 more than premium in many states I wonder of Toyota believes enough would buy in sufficient numbers.

Even a properly optimized, i.e., not castrated with flaky ECU mappings, direct injected V6 in the 3.2-3.6 L range could give equal or better performance and far better fuel economy than the 4.0 we got.

Styling issues aside, to get away from 'boring' into 'sexy' reviewer opinions nowadays, you have to go away from uninspiring big iron solutions and move to high-tech design optimizations that give economy AND power!

 

I am not sure what Tacoma you see every day when you go out side, but I think they look great. And I enjoy my interior. Although, my Tacoma is a direct upgrade from my 88 Toyota Pickup

 

Questionable perspective...looks are always subjective. I rather like the look of much of Toyota's lineup, but they're hindered in other ways...the 4runner and Tacoma are too fat...the Tundra is absurdly too fat, ditto the Sequoia...the Camry is the most boring car you can drive (which is why it's such a good seller), they have too many SUVs with too much overlap in their lineup...the list goes on.

The looks aren't bad, but they aren't good either - they're average...and when you pair that with average engines, average interiors, and average driving experiences, you get average cars. Granted, that's kind of ToMoCo's market strategy...there are a lot of consumers under those three standard deviations from the mean...

 

I would be happy with the dual vvti motor outta the 4-runner.

 

I could not agree more... even Celica's and Supra's were rather 'average'. That's why the Scion and Lexus marques came about to break from their mundane image and compete in a different market space.

Like you say: it's that averageness that makes them so popular: to those who chafed at it, being compared to a Buick can't be all that bad as Buick is one of the last remaining GM marques. Along with the average-man's car of choice: Chevy.

But the thing that sets Toyota's apart from that crowd of average-ness: they are reliable, dependable, durable. That's what attracted me to a Tacome! That said: being compared to an M4 Sherman isn't so bad either since that's about the one thing they were best at!

 

People are bitching about V6 fuel economics. Would love to read the complaints about a useless V8 in a Tacoma. There are plenty choices for V8 vehicles if one really needs the towing capabilities. These trucks have unfortunately almost become full size as it is.

 

I didn't NEED to buy a tacoma... I WANTED to buy a tacoma. I know the tacoma doesn't NEED a V-8 but if it was an option yes I would WANT it!

 

That's why the case for diesel is so compelling... economical operation AND towing capability.

 

I'll take that in the small, economy size...

By the way... aren't those the ugliest tires you ever did see on a truck?