Do all new vehicles suck..?

The only 'new' cars I'd have interest in are appliance based touring oriented. They serve a purpose. For me that's comfort, economy, reliability. I don't need a lot of whiz bang stuff. No in dash nav, just a basic AM/FM/CD/USB is fine. No proximity key. Please.

That said, used fun vehicles aren't too hard to find, even ones that are fairly simple. A 1990-2004 well kept Miata fits the drop top roller skate bill, with a pile of aftermarket support. Maybe more than Toyota trucks. For $40k or so you can get a turn key LS conversion in one that will leave you grinning, your friends drooling and your competitors behind.

While my '13 has more complexity than I really like, it is a base 5 lug. So I have a dipstick for my transmission, decent MPG, and capacity wise it does exactly what I want it to. If I had a need for a 4wd (and I don't) I'd have been looking for an older version.

 

I'm 34 and totally agree with the OP. My second car was a 68' Chevelle with a 550hp 454 but always wanted an old 4x4. I just bought a 12v 98' Ram 3500 5 speed for a work truck and I love the fact the engine is totally mechanical. My 97' Taco has about all of the computer I'd ever want in a vehicle. My 92' Toyota PU is OBD1 so I can find CEL codes with a paper clip. My 74' Bronco isn't running but all I need is a fly wheel and starter I could do my self in a day. My 72' Scout II got a 4BTA swap and needs an injection pump rebuild and a few other parts to finish the swap which I can also do my self. EPA and MPG? My 4BTA Scout should get 28-32 MPG highway because I built it to. My 5.9 1 ton gets 22 MPG highway and my 2.7 Taco gets about the same. A lot of emissions controls and computers can hurt efficiency. Lower MPG's for less emissions but more fuel burned maintain speed/power output. Seems counter productive to me. Before computers ran the vehicle in the mid 70's to mid 80's things like smog pumps and other emissions related equipment could rob 3-5 MPG from a 6 or 8 cylinder. I'll keep my classics that can be built to compete power and MPG wise with most new vehicles in their class and still have acceptable emissions.

 

First of all, well said and your opinion is well respected.

While I'm not that far behind you OP, at 57 years old, I have to disagree with you. I love all the new technology! Back-up camera, BSM, Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Sonar, NAV, Bluetooth etc, etc in my opinion are luxuries that make driving more of a pleasure. When I saw what was included in the Gen 3 compared to my Gen 2, I couldn't get to the dealer fast enough to trade my '13 in and get my hands on a '16!

I was a "gearhead" too in my younger years, but it was more out of necessity than interest. Did I change timing chains? yes...rebuilds carbs? yes...adjust valves? yes...heck, I could go on for hours. But here's the thing, that was on motors that had 50-60 thousand miles on it, if that. I can remember my younger years when getting 100,000 miles on a vehicle was almost unheard of, but in today's age that's just "broken in". Modern engines, although that much more complicated, are simply built better. Tolerances are tighter, materials are better, and advances in technology have all produced an engine that, with only minor maintenance, tends to live for a relatively long time.

I agree with you on the gas mileage part. Don't really care what my mpg is on a daily basis. Big deal, I was easy on the gas today and saved 1 mpg, don't care! I know it gets lousy gas mileage, but I didn't buy a Prius to save fuel. So when I'm low on gas, I go fill it up, and drive it 'till I need more.

Do I want a self drive car, HELL YES!! But one that allows me to take over when I want. There are times on some long journeys when I'd like to just hand over the reigns for a while, or maybe stop and go on the freeway would be a good time for a break too. Personally, I like all the new technology, but to each their own, and I respect your opinion.

 

I have 2gen Tacoma (among other vehicles) and I have none of the crap 3 gen has. and 2gen trucks are drive by wire too. I test drove 2016 and it was just horrible, and massive difference from 2gen.
Let me tell you something else, I bought Crosstrek as commuter and that thing comes with 4 cylinder, AWD CVT 2.0 L (probably most underpowered setup imaginable). That thing feels like a rocket comparing to 2016 Tacoma. No lag no problems climbing hills, and I am averaging 28 MPG. So not all cars are the same. You just happen to buy one that was designed by Seatbelt bracket Mike (where is that guy, how many people got dinner from him ?)
2016 Tacoma is "special"

 

It is an issue. It's rare for a GM or Dodge gas engine now to make it much past 100K miles without some issues due to the 4 cylinder mode causing lubrication issues. I know quite a few people with ring issues. This is just my humble opinion, but really the only reliable V8 left is Fords 5.0 L. It doesn't have the displacement changing technology or cylinder deactivation tech. Still gets about the same mileage too.

On the other hand I think the points made here are mostly true. There is a lot of nostalgia value in old vehicles. Overall I find today's trucks a lot more fun. While the older trucks were bulletproof is some ways, mostly because of how easy they were to fix, they also had limited control of AFR's and other things in general that modern vehicles can dial in tight. I mean, my modern F150 5.0 L puts out almost double the power for displacement of the 5.0 L from the 80's and you can feel it.

Not to mention capability. A 80's half ton was lucky to tow 6,000 lbs. Most were rated far lower than that. Now you can't get a half tow with less than 8,000 lbs of towing and some are pushing 12,000 lbs. Wow.

The Tacoma is just a mismatch of engine and vehicle for some because Toyota definitely made sacrifices to appeal to a larger crowd this time around. This isn't the same sort of truck as a 2nd gen. It can still wheel ridiculously well with some of the modern features it has like crawl control but it has trouble getting around once the larger tires are on. It was built for DD use more than OR fun where the last Tacoma was a better balance of the two.

 

Go

Sounds like you need a motorcycle.

 

I've made a lot of money selling cams and lifters on GM cylinder deactivation engines. We have one in our shop right now and the irony is he got rid of a 2012 Tacoma to buy it. The early 5.3, 4.8, and 6.0 V8's have very few issues and the ones they had were minor. Cylinder deactivation on a truck doesn't seem to help fuel economy in real world driving either.

 

Had several.. Harley's, Ducati, Crotch-Rockets. Failing old body dictates 4 wheels now..

1975 FXE "Shovelhead'

 

Yeah OP, I'd suggest if you want fun you look at something overpowered next time. A small version of the F150 Ecoboost or a small version of the GM truck with the 6.2 L. Both fly and would likely make you feel a lot better than the commuter weekend warrior crossover that the Tacoma is.

 

Now that's the ticket...."Training wheels"....lol.

 

A lot of good points by the OP. I'm just a bit younger, but have decided that I don't really need fun from my truck any more, I get the fun from the journey, the destination and my companions. But, I do have a few motorcycles and bicycles for real fun however, I disagree with people who say that the fundamental problem with the '16 is the engine /trans combo. I've only had mine a week and haven't been offroad or up at high elevation yet, but I think it's fine. It's just very different than a 4 cylinder MT mini-truck, or even my 3.4 4 speed auto T100. The new 3.5 is quieter, better economy, smoother shifts, and yes, faster; but also less direct and engaging. Different, but not bad at all. I've driven a few 4.0 Taco's and frankly I wouldn't call them fun either.

I do have some concerns about the whole Entune etc system. This is our first car with modern gizmos and I am finding it hugely distracting. Honestly, I think it's safer to use a handheld cell phone while driving (illegal here) or spin a radio tuning knob, than to poke around all the menus. But I presume I'll learn. I started driving in the early '70's with a 4 speed, drum brakes, manual choke and no power brakes or steering. You pressed a button on the floor to get high beams, and rolled down your window to adjust your mirror, and had separate keys for door and ignition. I'm mostly OK with progress, though I would like to ditch my tailgate key ...

 

Perhaps I overstated my disappointment with the new Tacoma out of some frustration. I do like it. I live in a hilly area and drive mostly back roads (under 60mph). I mainly drive in manual mode 5th gear non-ETC mode. It works fine, except for hills. An engine with more torque would be of great benefit. Still hunts for gears more than is pleasant. I would have been happier and had more fun in a manual it seems.
Backup camera is fine. NAV is fun but mostly unnecessary. All the other tech i would gladly do without.

Hoping for a trans re-progam from Toyota or aftermarket.
Too bad they stopped the TRD supercharger, again maybe aftermarket?

 

Nothing yet that's plug and play.

 

I hate social media too, i am never on it, but i play tons of music thorugh my phone and other yechnology such as blind spot make it easier to drive

 

Do all new vehicles suck? No way. There are so many choices today; if "fun to drive" is the goal there are too many to list (and definitely NOT any truck). But it does seem they all come stuffed with a bunch of gizmos that are unnecessary.

I'd gripe about technology too, but I think it's important to understand that as of today - "you aint seen NOTHING yet!". We are zooming toward driverless vehicles at a fast pace; this is all just a prelude to that time. And I'm not against that. Young people don't care about driving the way us geezers do - to them driving means being cut off temporarily from being connected. Or worse, they simply can't drive and not text, instagram, snapchat, tweet, check emails, social media, etc. It's distressing to me to see the number of people I do hurling down the highway while looking down at their phones. Add to this overcrowded crappy roads, drunk drivers, etc. and tens of thousands of people are killed and millions more injured in auto accidents each year just in the US. We have the technology today to reduce this to statistically zero. Plus, if computers ran the show, cars could operate at much faster speeds while also reducing congestion. So, while I gripe about today, I'm OK with where this is headed.

In the meantime, I'm happy with my thoroughly old-tech '10 taco, with it's ancient but epically reliable 4 banger and 5sp manual transmission. From what I hear, the "new" version of my truck is basically the same, plus all the added gizmos and about 500 extra pounds to lug around. I think I'll keep it for a while...

 

Simplest answer for you, gas prices and MPG #. They build their vehicles around this.

 

Driverless vehicles....sigh! Well at least it will give us more 'in-car time' to check on-line to find our the latest news on Kim Kadashian's butt before we hit that tree.

--------------------
Tech and performance cars.
Ever watch "Top Gear" where Jeremy, James, or Hamster 'launch' one of the new super cars.... They go through a sequence of control settings, (that even they seem totally confused about) and often get it wrong.
Do folks really want 5-6 'settings' (sport, race, comfort, blah-blah) never knowing exactly what they want (or what it is in). OH wait... I am coming to a corner, lets choose sports mode, OH wait a straight away. Let choose....er...er... Sorry, that takes away from what i call 'fun of driving'

Modern affordable fun cars...

Mazda Miata
VW GTI
Subaru WRX

For me:
My first sport car a 1959 Alfa-Romeo Spider

 

That is why I have always had a Vette or now Miata as a second "fun" to drive vehicle and why I drive the Tacoma like a limo. Right tool for the jobs. I believe the Tacoma is fun to drive but not spirited driving. Just "floating" from place to place in in comparison