Four years in a Tacoma, a frustrating experience

all weight. I forgot the winch and Diamondback. There’s enough info on these trucks that they’re not powerful, transmission is quirky and MPG is not impressive. Not debating that. Sounds like you need full size but bought a Tacoma.

 

Pretty much. That’s been my experience with American trucks.
You will never catch me saying I enjoy working on vehicles.
If Ford, Chevrolet, or Ram could make a truck that did need work on an annual basis, I’d consider buying one. We have 2 Rams in the family fleet now. Both have warped exhaust manifolds and broken the bolts off in the head. Both need a water pump. And one ate the camshaft out of it.
They pull good and have ample power, but they get a pass from me.

 

Agree with most of your assessments. The seating situations is laughable at best for people anywhere near 6 foot tall. I put up with it because it looks cool, but now the truck is basically my wife's as she's shorter and fits in it perfectly and loves driving it.

 

6'4", sunroof in 2020 TRD OR, head does not hit headliner... Height is a combination of torso and leg lengths... So height factors in variably... For instance, my inseam is 36", I know others @ 6'4" a 32" inseam AND longer torso, no doubt their heads would rub the headliner...

 

I regularly run without those. I’ve run all sorts of configs. I have a different trifold tonneau too. They don’t really change much.

I do need a full size. Live and learn.

 

Did you get diff whine before the gear installation? Most aftermarket gears I’ve come across whine on these trucks. Also any NA engine will suck above 8000ft. You shouldn’t be getting low oil warning going downhill. I have only ever gotten that climbing very serious grades off-road and getting stuck on them. Seating position is what it is, should have figured that one out on the test drive it’s well documented. Are you running larger tires? These trucks definitely have their shortcomings. The cruise control does not like elevation and big hills that’s for sure. At the end of the day though I don’t think there is a tougher midsize. 177,000 miles of abuse on mine and it’s still drives like it did at 40,000. Sounds like you’d like the ranger powertrain better, it has better power delivery, or hold out for the turbo charged 4th gen.

 

I agree on all points, except the power....but I have a manual. The transition from gutless to powerful that happens like someone flipped a switch around 3000rpms is annoying.

I really wish I had my 2nd gen back.

Seats suck, visibility sucks, screwy torque curve sucks, stupid touch screen sucks, and 1100lb payload?....for a truck? They've gotta be joking. I use mine as a truck and it spends the better parts of it's life on the overloads...Its going up for sale soon I think.

 

I’m 6’2” and my head hits the roof depending on how long ago I’ve gotten my haircut…height isnt as important as torso length. You can be 6’2” and have a small torso and would fit just fine.

 

In my experience, test drives have been more useful ruling out a certain vehicle than knowing if I’m going to be completely happy with the vehicle I decide on.

 

Diff whined from stock. Worse with gears and lift as you’d expect, but Amsoil brought back to stock levels.

Oil warnings on inlines are very well documented. Dip the driver side down.

I might look at the turbo 4th Gen if they fix the seating. I’m weary of any year 1 model though.

 

I don't mind that you don't like your truck, but presenting your opinion as fact when you state your intentions are to provide a critique for those in the market for a tacoma is pretty biased and inaccurate.
I'm 6ft, i have zero issues with leg room or headroom. I'm nowhere close to hitting my head on the ceiling and i still have room to slide the seat back if i need to. It fits me just fine and your statement is just untrue.

 

The stock leaf springs suck. Blue Sumo Springs help a LOT.

 

8.5 years in for me. Love it. But that's because it does exactly what I wanted and expected. Maybe even a touch better.

No, it doesn't do a lot that the big brother models do, but again, it does what *I* need.

My experience will implode if my white paint starts to fail and Toyota still won't fess up to it on the Tacoma's, yet they take care of all their other models.

 

Another tall guy checking in, 6’4” with sunroof and no issues. I do agree with other critiques and will say that I disagree that fuel economy is good. I think it’s terrible for a smaller truck.

 

I can't to my first Tacoma from a Ford Explorer Sport Trac, which I was averaging ~16mpg on hwy... ("SUV" not really a truck), Tacoma better all around performance IMHO, including mpgs... Still, I didn't expect 25mpg out of the Tacoma...

 

With current and upcoming regs they have to be one of two things:

1. Gutless
2. Undersized and boosted to try and replace the missing displacement

Don't blame the manufacturers, blame the regulators. Specifically the the "Golden State" ones.

 

I kind of wonder if taller guys can get away with putting the seat all the way back and reclined a little more. I might be in a height and arm length range that doesn’t permit that.

 

I'm still in the honeymoon phase but took my first 3 hour road trip in the Tacoma last month and quickly realized I should've taken the motorcycle. I'm 5'8" 140 # and athletic but have back issues and I had to get out to stretch halfway through. I've had smaller sports cars in the past that were easier to get in and out of and were more comfortable for trips.

Fortunately I rarely take long trips and at my age along with young kids, bathroom breaks occur more frequently.

 

Good observation of additional variables...

 

Someone will be glad to buy it when you sell. Enjoy your Rivian.