Extremely interesting interview with Mike Sweers.

A really good watch. Not just for the Tacoma mentions, but for the cultural insights in having a Japanese company operating in the North American truck market, and just an interesting view behind the Toyota curtain.

I earned a lot of respect for Mike. Worth 40 minutes of my life.

Warning: contains almost zero bro content and no gear reviews.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YppBqPCbwqc

 

You don't get to that level by being a dumbass.

 

Yeah......there’s a few around here who have called him as much or worse many times.

 

There's definitely a dumbass somewhere along the chain of command that thought the gear ratio selection was a good idea.
That fucker should be fired.

 

Well, according to Mike, they managed to sell 240,000 of those trucks with the stupid gear selection last year, so I guess most of those people don’t notice or care.

 

is this just a bro code between you AT guys that you have to bring this up in every post on TW ??

 

It’s kinda like an AT fist-bump.

AT Bro 1: “Hey bro......does your tranny shift low?”

AT Bro 2: “Dang bro.....you know it.....”

AT Bro 1: “You gonna tune bro?”

AT Bro 2: “Nah brah......I ain’t got money for that tune shit.....I’m gonna fit 10ply 35s and 400lbs of armor, and then REALLY start complainin’ about gear ratios”

AT Bro 1: “Sick Bro!!”

 

Saw this awhile back. To be honest when I was frustrated with my 3rd gen's transmission early on I couldn't stand the sight of this guy or his Atkinson bullshit but after I cooled down and heard him out he's grown on me. It's clear he's got serious corporate pressure on his back to bullshitify the trucks and make them less truck and more cross-over but he's resisting the best he can.

 

I will happily debate that point.
Why? Because they gave
exactly what their customers wanted... better mpg. So if you want to blame someone, blame the typical Tacoma buyer. Don't blame the guy who gives the owners what they wanted.
Which is a good lesson on "Be careful what you wish for."

 

The other thing he gave us, which maybe doesn’t matter too much to bros in SoCal, but does matter to me in the remote areas where I like to go, is range.

If you treat the gas pedal right, these trucks will just sip at the tank compared to other vehicles in the class. It’s no Camry, but it’s pretty darn good. I still carry Jerry Cans, out of habit, but have never once had to dip into them, when my travel companions in other Toyota models and other makes all have.

 

The masses wanted better efficiency and they got it... by about 10%. That efficiency manifests in several ways. But the incredible part is they did it without sacrificing reliability and durability.
My new Toyota truck has a 400 hp V8. 300K miles with no issues is common with that engine.
For comparison, I owned a 1978 Chevy C10 4WD in the early 80's. I averaged 11 mpg with that 250 hp truck. I got 90K before engine rebuild. 60K before transmission rebuild. I put new brakes on it every 20K miles. I changed the oil every 3K miles.
My point is I have a truck now that has 50% more power, will last easily 3X longer and it gets 60% BETTER gas mileage with no trickery.
Sweers is doing a good job.

 

Agree the MPG is ok, and that’s why it has the gearing it has and constant shifting. but the range absolutely sucks, it’s the worst I’ve ever had in any vehicle, It needs a bigger tank.

 

wait. how many miles do you get to a tank ????

Its already a 21 gallon tank correct ??? No need to go larger

 

300 give or take. 360 in my Tundra, 400 in my E350 4x4 camper.

Having to stop every 300 miles on a road trip sucks balls, can’t take it to some of the remote places I’d like.

 

dang dude. out of a gen 3 AT ????? thats 14 mpg

 

You can’t use 100% of the tank capacity. I average about 17mpg. It’s 16 gal before the light to refuel comes on, I sometimes run 50miles passed that and get ~19 gal in the tank.

 

Interesting. I’ve had the opposite experience.

 

Do we own the same truck ??? (we don't, i don't own a Pro haha)

No lie, i feel like my Low Fuel light comes on and it tells me i have 15 miles until empty

Anyways, no hard feelings or anything but I think you're comparing apples to oranges here between your Taco, Tundra and ES350. Tundra comes with a 26-38 gallon tanks.

Shoot, i used to only get about 275 miles out of my 03 single cab Taco

 

Thank you @Stocklocker

This wasn't necessarily the kind of video that I was looking for but I'm glad I watched it.