Honest opinion on the 3rd gens?

Mine, driving Colorado mountains.

2006 TRD ate the hills up with barely a change in transmisión shifting. Solid.

2017, today was first trip up, its different, really wants to REV. Seems to be a big drop when tranny shifts.

Towing my trailer, Eastern Colorado, no issue, pulled it way better than my 06.

Day to day driver, loving the 17.

I've had multiple BFG s on my tacos. Wow, the C rated ate the hills up today breaking trail in 6 inches of snow. They just sound like traction! Way better than the AT E rated from BFG I had before.

2017 is weird when no traction, i.e on a slope.... kind of sliding back acceleration it starts clicking.... weird to say the least. Happened in my angled driveway too.

My 2006 was a great truck, sold it at 200k. Put two bearings in that, u joint, and it wanted another bearing change prior to getting rid of it.

Paint, roof was rusted. Blue in second gens had a lot of paint issues. When you see one, look at the roof. RUST/Clear coat coming off.


End of the day, still very happy with 2017 purchase. Keeping an eye on things but it is a blast to drive.

 

Mine started howling right at about 300 Miles and it did not get any louder so I just lived with it, around 7500 Miles it started to get louder but that may also just be due to colder weather, when I go in for the 10k check I will mention it to the dealer.

 

Clicking is likely the ABS part of the hill start assist.

 

Howling is usually a sign of improperly set back lash, low oil or bad bearings. I would get that checked ASAP.

 

+1 for an MT because I'm sure it's already been voiced in a thread like this and I'm not reading that much. Haha

Does wheelies. One handed.


Honestly, I enjoy my truck every day. I think transmission selection has a lot to do with it. That, and I drive the truck the way it was intended to be driven instead if they way some drivers feel it should drive. 3600-4000 it scoots, smoother.

 

There is a Thread on hear about Howling Diffs, it is a very common occurrence on the 3rd Gens, I am curious if the 2018s will be cured of the problem.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...oise-howling-when-feathering-throttle.442341/

 

Seems the V6 is revv happy.

 

I have heard about it. I hope so. I wonder if they goofed and put the diff fill port too low causing all the noise.

On my 5 lug I do a 1/4 quart over the Toyota USA recommended level.

 

They seem to replace the rear on many guys trucks and the result is hit or miss, some get better and some get worse, would be nice to see a definite fix.

 

If by that you mean the motor was designed to operate at a higher rev ranges than most of the trucks of past years, yes.

I roll with traffic on very busy highways just fine shifting traditionally. I can also hit 70 by the end of an on ramp by shifting where the power is no problem.

I'm less concerned about the design of the motor being conventional, and just base it off my own driving experience. And that's compared to the 2 second gens I've owned as well.

 

Mine drives great.Ive had the 1st.2nd.and now a third gen.It was built 6/2017.

 

I've had a 2010 OR, 2016 Sport and now a 2017 OR Tacoma. My 2010 was a manual and one of the best engine/transmission combo I've ever driven. Unfortunately it was totaled so I bought a 2016 when they first came out. Honestly, it was the automatic engine/transmission that drove me to trade it in for a 2017 manual. The 3rd Gen automatic hunts for gears and down shift at the worst times. When my 2016 was on the differential leak recall and sat on the dealer parking lot for 3 months waiting for parts, I was done with it. Traded it and went to a 2017 manual and OR package. Driver satisfaction is back up and I'm enjoying my Tacoma again. Good luck OP.

 

I have a 2016 Cummins and a 2017 AC OR.

No complaints. 6k miles. Push the ECT button and it gets up and goes just fine.

Get better mileage with the Cummins on the highway. Combined average is better with the Tacoma.

 

My first Toyota truck was an '87 single cab 4x4. I've had at least one of every generation since, and 3 2nd gens. Several Tundras and a T-100 that so badly wish I still had! My 2017 DCSB OR with premium tech is pure awesomeness. Fantastic 4x4 and traction in mud, snow and rocky terrain.It is solid, no noises, no shudders, great paint, great brakes, and yes, it hunts for gears. I've tried repeatedly to get the dealership/corporate to do something and I guess they ain't gonna. But, I will just live with it. Absolutely no regerts.

 

I'm very satisfied with my SR 4x4 with 2.7 I4 5 spd manual trans. 8000 miles on the odo.

Compared to my first gen Taco, The brakes work great. It's not setting any land speed records.

But the 4 banger can hold it's own.

 

2017 DCSB OR. About 6500 miles with no issues. Tranny shifts a lot, but I figure with six speeds, it's gonna shift more than the three or four speeds I am used to. Took it offroading at Hidden Falls Adventure Park and it did serious trails very well. First Tacoma. Very Happy with it.

 

I've had my TRD 4x4 Offroad with the shortbed for almost 2 years and 21k miles now. Significant mods are sliders and a canopy. It's averaged about 16mpgs in mostly city driving. Best tank was just over 20mpgs of all highway.

My boat/trailer weighs about 2500lbs. It gets about 13mpgs when it's towing. It tows best in 4th gear on the rolling hills in my area. On flat ground it can do it in 5th. I bought it with the goal of being able to upsize to a 4500lbs boat. As a comparison my wife's MDX which weights about the same as a Taco gets about 16mpgs towing the same boat.

The only repair work I've had done was getting an alignment. My transmission oil was checked twice and it was good. I'm not happy with the way that transmission and engine interact but it's not a mechanical problem, per se.

It's smooth, quiet and when driven at less than 6/10ths it's awesome. It's still tight, solid no squeaks or rattles except my stuff in the cup holders, etc.

The main issue is that when it's being rushed, it's really unhappy. The transmission and engine don't get along. It sounds like the OV tune more or less fixes this - I'll be getting this sometime in the future.

My personal pet-peeve that nobody else seems to care about is the engine is coarse and the exhaust is loud when it's getting worked. And with this engine, it feels like it's working all the time. Even if that's cruising on the highway at 65mph into a 20mph headwind. It rarely, if ever feels effortless.

 

I had a 16 and now a 17. No issues with either. I was coming from an 04 Frontier though, so my standards were not too high lol

 

Pros. Perfect size for me. Fits in the garage and I don't have to scrape windows every morning. Decent gas mileage, have been averaging 20-21 mpg in mixed driving. IMHO the best looking mid-sized truck on the market. Decent overall comfort, not the best I have owned and not the worst. Great handling in inclement weather. Drove home this morning though 50 miles of ice covered interstate. Saw 4 cars in the ditch, 2 jackknifed semis and one jackknifed van with a trailer. Keep my speed under control and didn't feel a single slide.

Cons. I hate cruise control with this truck. The transmission is bipolar when using cruise. It does much better without but that can get tiring after 3-4 hours. Rattling in the A piller (I just need to get around to having it fixed). Rattling somewhere in the headliner as well, this one is more annoying. I get the horrible Kazoo noise driving in a cross wind, luckily it is rare because that will drive a person insane after an hour.

 

I should cut and paste what I've said in 5 or more similar threads. I'm a broken record.

I LOVE this truck!!

I'm a long time Ford guy, but I'm not looking back after getting to know this thing.

After spending (way, way too much) time perusing threads on TW, I'm convinced that the manual transmission is the key to really enjoying this 3.5L engine out of the box (though @St.Germain swears by the manual OVtune). I love that I can go light on the pedal, shift early, and get really decent gas mileage, or choose to lay into the throttle, activate that Otto cycle valve timing, shift later and rev it out, and really squeeze some power out of this little guy. It's just so much fun. It's like having 2 trucks with 2 very different personalities.

Get you three pedals and a stick, son. You'll be happy (and you'll save a couple grand).