First impressions after reading too much TacomaWorld!

Yeah I think CAFE tightening the noose around gas consumption screwed up your auto transmission design. Maybe TW can start a gofundme to pay the CAFE penalties so we can get the truck performance we want.

 

i use S mode and do the shifting myself, for the driving you described think would be your best bet.

 

Hell I can barely ever get over 5 mph on I-25!

Glad you like your turck so far. I have almost 2k on mine and my initial report is almost a dead ringer for yours. I do have a tad of the center hood vibration. I looked underneath and the glue sure enough is not attached to the hood anymore.

I will say though that my mileage has increased quite a bit since Ive gotten a few more miles on it. As far as the interstate driving, it seems to me that 85 is going to be a good speed. I am looking forward to driving through Kansas to see just that. I also came from a Nissan Altima and it hated to go 85 as it was turning over so many rpms. But with that 6th gear in these trucks I might expect it to do a little better. I have only gotten up that fast a few times and noticed my "instant mpg" was up around the high end of the scale. I am hoping a nice long/flat/smooth/fast Kansas could yield some good numbers.

 

I do the same, no issues and no worries about the amount of shifting. The AT has four modes of operation, D mode, S mode and either with ECT so the driving situation might dictate different modes being used together.

Recommend getting over the only way to drive the truck is put it in D and live with it. I think Toyota designers might have been thinking the same thing. That might be why so many service managers are saying the truck is operating as designed.

 

I got my new tacoma about a week ago. I drove it 300 miles to Moab and 4wheeled it. It still had 1/4 tank of gas left when I topped it off to go home. 108 degree heat. I had the AC on the whole time. On the freeway I mostly was at 70 to 80mph I got 22 miles per gallon. I also passed on big hills with it floored at 100mph with no problem. I am impressed with the power and when it chooses to shift. Around town I drive pretty aggressively, the traction control comes on quite a bit Its getting 19mpg Possibly mine has diffrent transmission software because It was just built?

Also I used regular fuel not mid or premium.

 

I think this truck likes to have you dip into the throttle, it seems to respond better than just squeezing / feathering it.