Any better driveability with the '20-'21s vs older 3rd Gens???

I noticed your profile says you got the SR dblcab 4x4. I am looking at a white one just like it. How are ya liking it? What are your primary uses for the truck?

 

I love it. It's noticeably smaller and slower but other than that it beats the F150 in everything else. It drives better. Better gas mileage. Easier to drive/park. Better put together interior pieces. Arguably more reliable. Higher resale value. No turbo lol.

 

Also, there's a well documented issue with the white paint just FYI if you hadn't seen that already.

 

My only regret is getting white. The paint is shit its like 1980s GM quality. Otherwise the only truck I’d rather have is an f150 with that 2.7 or an older raptor with 6.2

 

I'm pretty well set on trading for a Tacoma. My dilemma is can I live with that short bed. Why in the hell Toyota doesn't offer the SR in a double cab long bed in the US is beyond me. In Canada, they get the long bed but no short bed. Makes zero sense to me. I can go with the SR5 and get the long bed but it's $4k more. Although that does get ya fogs, pwr drivers seat, pwr rear slider, rear bed electrical outlet and alloys along with the longer bed. I am really torn...

 

The 2.7 eco is great. The 10 speed transmission is garbage in my opinion. My father in law has had numerous Raptors and I still like the first gen with the 6.2 the best as well.

 

I haven't heard of the white paint issue. I did hear of an issue with the silver sky flaking on the roof...Hmmm.

 

My 2020 automatic is much more pleasant to drive than my '16. I had an early model 16 and it just never felt quite right. New truck still hunts a bit for gears, but I just push the skinny pedal down and use the whole tachometer that I got included with the price of the truck.

 

This is spot on. And not just for Toyota but basically any new vehicle. It’s why they say you should never buy a first year model. Even a second is sketchy. Give em time to work out the bugs...

 

I test drove a TRD Off Road long bed and parked it next to my F150 and they were nearly identical nose to nose. I didn't know you couldn't get one in the SR trim. I actually wanted the SR because it didn't have all the extra electrical stuff. My truck is my daily driver to and from work everyday and only sees the occasional mountain bike over the tailgate so the smaller bed was a non issue for me.

 

I also switched from a 2018 F150 2.7/10spd to my 2020 TRD OR AT. I drove the F150 for 2.5 years. 10spd is horrible in my opinion. The jerkiest transmission I have ever experienced. Lots of strange noises came from that transmission also. It was jerky 1-5 gears but smooth as could be 5-10 gears. The Tacoma has smooth shifts and is operates great to me. I also used to own a 2016 Tacoma TRD OR AT and I will say the transmission shifting is definitely improved now as compared to the 2016 model.

 

Thanks for the response. I haven't noticed jerkiness with my 10 speed in my F150. But damn...SPORT MODE! I have smoked more hemis and Tundras in that truck than I can tell ya, lol. Anyway, I appreciate the input on the Tacoma. Just what I was looking for...

 

That's what I was wanting to hear. Thank you!

 

So I’m kind of new to 3rd Gens, previously owned a 2019 DCSB SR5 AT, nice truck, but it did feel lacking in power and shifted harshly a few times in the winter and hunted for a gear. Took it in 2x to dealer, nothing found. I’m
really wondering if most folks problems were the fault of low trans fluid from factory and not corrected at dealership? My 2021 OR DCSB AT shifts fine, has plenty of power and I’m running 87 octane. It only has 700 miles on it but so far I’m loving it. Mine has the tow package, so why exactly would Toyota remove a trans cooler on an AT with a tow package?

 

TY much appreciated, bought it off the original owner 22 years ago.

 

I was asking the same thing . I just dont understand how stripping the 1 pound aftercooler and 2 hoses from the tow package can save that much weight .I can understand the cost savings for Toyota
That being said , Mike Squeers says everything in the transmission was beefed up to accomodate the extra heat now that they are capable of running between 250- 270 degrees . Can you imagine the end play adjustments inside the transmission to compensate for that much heat expansion ?
What does the transmission drink ? is it still Semi-synthetic World Standard from 2003 or did they introduce a new fluid ? I suggest having a look at this ? Is the transmission fluid service interval still 60K under " normal " conditions ? Whats considered normal operating conditions ? Towing , stop and go traffic , 4x4 low ?
For you guys just hopping in the drivers seat with a 2021 , do some research for us . What does the owners manual say ?

 

Just traded my 2016 TRD off road , double cab automatic for a 2021 TRD off road, double cab, automatic. Night and day difference. My 2016 had the TSB performed which helped a little bit on the gear searching but it would still down shift three gears if you have it a little throttle. The RPM’s went from 2000 to sometimes 5000.

My new truck currently has 700 miles on it and it drives much better. No gear searching at all and give it a little throttle and it responds properly.

 

Nevermind. Already been addressed.

 

The crawl control works on older model ORs!

 

FYI - I am 6'1" and had the same concern. (I am still pending my new taco delivery... with a Manual gearbox) - A few days ago, I had a Tacoma for an afternoon's test drive and tested this space issue out. I can tell you that with the seat at my ideal driving position I can sit comfortably behind myself. Not much room to spare - but comfortable enough that I would not have an issue riding in the back for a few hours...
This was the first time I drove a manual Tacoma - i had only test driven an Auto.

I have little guys, so the space issue should not come about for quite a while...

On some of the other comments above;
I was attracted to the Tacoma because it is seemed to be the "right tool for the job" - we have young boys and we like camping, Mountain biking, a bit of off-roading, etc. The fact that it was available in an MT was a very pleasant surprise and that sealed the deal sight unseen!

I realized that the Tacoma was available in a manual gearbox before departing for the USA was due to my initial search effort to find which vehicles sold in the USA were available in an MT...
Finding an MT for ANY vehicle was my first criteria! - Second was AWD / 4x4...
(We have the Hilux in AUS - no Tacomas.) So I had never driven, or even seen one in person...

I see a lot of comments about the merits or issues on the Tacoma's Auto gearbox. Personally, driving even a well performing automatic is torture - Even more offroad. So it was simply not a consideration... particularly for a 4x4 which may be taken far from any required services...
I do not wish to convert anyone - just talking about MY preference.

So the choice was a VERY easy one...