As promised, I test drove the auto again...

So some of you who are regulars on this forum might remember me posting about how disappointed I was initially after testing the auto. At the time I admitted to not really getting into the throttle much but felt like the response was very lackluster at the time.
I tested the manual a few weeks later and I really enjoyed it (btw, did Toyota just lower the MPG to 20 mpg from 21 mpg highway?). It felt pretty dang responsive and shifted real nice.
I said in some of my posts I would test the auto again and I did today.I made sure to dig into the pedal travel a bit more from a dead stop and figured out how to get the truck off the line rapidly. No speed demon, but I felt like it would be perfectly ideal around town in city traffic.
It does rev high but the felt like it pulled really nice and the engine was in it's element when passing at 4k rpm.
At any rate, this post is somewhat of a "tail between my legs for being a loudmouth" post. I should have given the automatic more of a chance before I bashed it so much. Maybe I could live with the auto in a DCLB (I am going to test a DCLB OR they are getting in later in the week to see how ride differs from the DCSB I tested. I will post on this thread again after I my test.).
I am still waiting for more tow reviews to see how it might handle my 3,000 lb Casita trailer (check my profile pic). If anyone is aware of any please post below if you don't mind.



TacoJonn.

 

If your towing with your 02, then why are you worried about towing with a 16?

Don't be afraid to Take one home and hook up

 

It seems strange at first. However, once you drive it a while it's not an issue.

 

when you test it again drive in S mode and shift it manually. you will find that 4th and 5th is what you will use most. no need to be in 6th around town. in auto mode slow down like you would if someone in front of you is making a right turn then attempt to speed back up. you will find that you have to put your foot in it to get it to down shift then it high revs. in S mode just pop into 4th and speed up then shift up. thats how i have gotten over the tranny issue in mine, i never use drive. also play with the ECT mode.....

 

My 02 tows it but it but barely. It does fine on flat highways but really starts to bitch and moan on anything that isn't a flat grade. I live in Wyoming near the Colorado border so I am near a lot of topography.
You can take a tester home to hook up to a trailer? I've never heard of that before.

 

We'll let a customer do whatever they want, if it means a potential sale. I wouldn't necessarily tell them your gonna hook your trailer up and see how it tows, but some places will be ok with that. Simply tell them you'd like to take the truck home for a night. Don't go crazy but drive it a few miles and see how it feels with the trailer hooked up

 

Jon did the price go down since u saw it last?

 

This was a completely different truck I tested this time. First truck I tested was the auto Quicksand DCSB OR. The second I tested as sport access cab with the manual and the truck today I tested was a silver DCSB OR.
The salesman I rode with actually owned a 2016 that he bought a few months prior. Unlike my first salesman I rode with, this guy knew his stuff and did not try to BS me.
I didn't even check the price of the one I tested today because I wasn't going to purchase it and I am not interested in that color with the tech package.
They are getting 2 DCLB's this month and I am excited to test one of those and see how it handles differently compared to the DCSB.

 

Just out of curiousity what was the model you test drove? I know you said it was a DCSB, but was it a sport or offroad and was it 4WD? Also did you drive with ECT on? Like kahanabob said, try driving it in shift mode. I think with traction control off or something you should have better acceleration.

Either way the new tacoma will tow your trailer with ease over your 2002 tacoma.

 

Both automatics I tested were DCSB 4x4 OR's. I did experiment with ECT more this time. I did a 0-40 run with both modes. I did notice with ECT engaged it did hold the gear longer.
I think maybe my issue with testing the auto was I was just acclimated to driving my manual transmission that has a sensitive throttle. Today I dug into the throttle about 20% or so every time I acclerated from a dead stop and it seemed to get me off the line pretty well. After driving 10 minutes or so I was used to the fact that this is how they are meant to be driven. Glad I gave it another shot.
As far as towing goes, I think it should do substantially better than my 2002. Especially on the highway where horsepower comes more into play when you are keeping your speed up.

 

Ah gotcha. Does your 2002 even have a towing package...like coolers and everything or just reciever? Thought i read somewhere that the 1st gens didn't have one.

Let us know how you like the DCLB. It should drive smoother with the longer wheelbase but it will be slightly heavier so it may feel a little slower off the line.

 

Don't think my 2002 has the tow package. Rated to tow 3500 I believe. I never pull it more than 100 miles from my house and my Casita is still under the weight rating, even with water, food etc. I will post again after I test the DCLB. Funny thing is though, Toyota says there is only a 55 lb difference in DCSB and the DCLB. I would have figured a couple hundred pound difference but maybe not?

 

Not to highjack this thread, but.. How do you like your Casita? What model is it? I'm seriously considering getting one.

 

1 foot of extra sheet metal shouldn't add too much. remember the bed is composite so not as much metal as a regular bed in the domestics.

 

Yeah, man! Bow chicka-wow wow.

 

Mine is the Freedom Deluxe 17 footer. To be honest I love my Casita. For me it is the perfect size. I can get it off the beaten path on two-track roads on Forest Service/BLM lands pretty easily. Has a shower on the inside and outside, which is great for mountain biking trips. Dry weight is 2500 lbs but I really doubt I get it over 3,000 lbs even when loaded. Like Tacomas, Casitas hold their value really well. I looked for a long time before I found one used. Original owner had taken it out maybe 4 times before he passed away and his kids sold it to me. They were very grateful it is getting use and I still occasionally send them photos of me taking it out.

 

Also 1 foot of extra frame in there. The DCSB and Access cab long bed essentially use same frame because wheelbase is the same. The DCLB has to be 1 foot longer in all departments.

 

I dont think they have an extended frame for long bed models. I could be wrong

 

The DCLB wheelbase is 13.2 inches longer than the DCSB. I think it would have to be a longer frame. That extra 13.2 inches is between the wheels and cab and not behind the wheels. So I think there are only two frames Toyota needs to produce. The access fab + 6ft bed is the exact same wheelbase as the DCSB. The DCLB would be the other frame.

 

Do the guys at the dealership draw straws for who gets to test drive with you? I'm assuming by the 4th test drive it must be pretty comical to them.