Anyone else feeling better about their 3rd gen.

I towed my 14’ UCANCAMP, 1500 pound trailer full of cloths and more from SW NM to NW MT. Towed using ECT and not babying it. I am very pleased with the power now that it has nearly 10,000 miles on the odometer. MTG

 

I was licensed in 1963 and having been driving stick ever since.
One reason I retained my 1991 Truck after buying the 2023 Tacoma was because it is my last manual transmission vehicle.
Another reason is only driving the Tacoma in good weather < grin >

 

I also got my drivers license in 1963 and like you I grew up driving only stick shifts. I took my drivers test in a 1960 F100 with a three speed on the column.

Like you I also kept my 1990 Nissan with a 5 speed because I still love shifting those gears.

I love the 3.5 V6 and personally I think Toyota screwed up going with a 4 banger.
The weather has to be good before I drive my 2019 Tacoma. Must have been lots of bad weather because the truck only has 8200 miles on it and looks like it was just drove off the lot.

 

I was 1yr old in 1963 but, my first driving on the road (legally) was a 1972 NOVA with a 3sp on the column ! Talk about a anti-theft device ! Yes, always use the ECT and 4 sport and rare occasion use 5th and average 22 m.p.g. !

 

This is my first Toyota honestly. Last new car purchase was a 2017 Ford Escape whose long block grenaded itself at about 20k miles (but was eventually replaced within warranty.)

The Tacoma replaced an F250 that was also throwing spark plugs and had its catalytic converter stolen. Definitely past its prime.

Before that, PowerShift Focus...

All that to say anything is better than my Ford experience for the last 20+ years...