If you knew then what you know now

i went to the dealer 6 weeks before 3rd gens hit the lot to look at the 2015. salesman told me wait the 2016 are completely different many changes. so i came back on the 2nd day they were on the lot. was amazed at the new tec'y stuff and thus bought mine. now 2 months in i can live without the missing items DS grab bar, mud flaps, 2nd gen's better console box, big deal. but the lesser powered engine and the waco tranny that shifts into 6th at 35MPH that's another story. i drive in S mode 100% of the time that tranny should not shift into 6th until at least 50MPH. it is what it is and i will live with it. understand i came from a 2008 TRD, if i could take a mulligan i have to honestly say i would have purchased the 2015. for those of you still waiting to buy my advice is to test drive at least twice and not just highway driving and if the salesman riding along is jacking his jaws about the truck tell him to shut up, you need to concentrate on the engine and tranny performance then make your decision. you do not want to buy a new truck finding out later you have to settle.

 

I test drove the demo for 30 min and hated the shifting, but chalked it up to "hey, it was really windy". I'm worried it will bother me to the extent it did to you, but still bought...I better love it when it gets in lol. I can only blame myself.

 

I test drove both, several times over several weeks. I bought the 15 DCLB. The biggest items to sway me were:
1. The auto trans seemed to never be settled, constantly shifting over the rolling terrain where I live.
2. I intend to tow, and when considering the 4.0 vs the 3.5 Atkinson, I noticed that the 4.0 reaches the same torque output 1000 rpms lower than the 3.5. Both engines are almost identical torque wise.
3. The 15 has a 3.73 rear, while the 16 has a 3.90. ie: lower rpms at cruise speed.

This is my first Tacoma, and I have nothing in this class to judge by. My last p/u was a 3/4 ton with a diesel.

 

If you think the Tacoma is bad go drive a new Silverado. Got rid of mine with just around 3000 miles on it, what a F'n joke it was. I am much happier with the Tacoma.

 

Ouch.... You must have taken a hit on that...no?

Try to find places that have 24 hour test drives before buying. Best thing ever.

 

I did, but I could not stand to own it for one more second. I was willing to take a loss and I didn't get bent over too bad. Never have I hated a vehicle so much and have bought 7+ new vehlicles over the years. The reliability also really scared me, too much to list. I will never buy another GM product again in my life and the wife is not allowed either!

 

What was wrong with it? We love our '14, only issue is a rattle behind the rear seat which will be taken care of at the next service. Plenty of power, good mpg, shifts smooth, couldn't be happier (especially for the price paid). No reliability concerns here based on past GM vehicles, with the DI though will use an intake cleaner ever few services just to make sure it won't have issues with carbon build up. Plan on keeping this one past 150k like the others.

Glad you found what you liked, sucks it took a wrong purchase to get there. Why write off all brands though? Never understood that. Have a problem with one particular type of vehicle and write of all brands and different types. That would be like me disliking a smart car and saying I will never buy an S-class. Unless the parent company just royally screwed you everyone puts out lemons, even, gasp, Toyota...

Good luck with your new truck.

Tyler

 

I can think of why you would write off all brands/models, 3 words....Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep.

 

Yeah, I love my 3rd gen and I still drive it around "just because". Its perfect for everything I need / want. Having said that, 15 years ago (roughly) I fell in love with the Gen1. Then, for the last 10 years or so I have broken my neck every time a Gen2 drives by. I decided to wait and buy the Gen3 because I didn't ever want buyers remorse on something I waited so long to buy. All that is to say that I completely understand why people still prefer those "older" models. Bottom line is that all these trucks are fucking great and 10 years from now we'll be having this conversation about the Gen4s and there will be plenty of people who go with the Gen3 over the 4 for various reasons. These trucks stand the test of time and to 99% of people they are just perfect.

 

Shifting was so bad and clunky it was unbearable to drive. GM said " that's normal", I could not believe it was considered acceptable. AFM was a joke, hated it, combine that with the shifting and it felt like it had a 12 speed transmission. You better look at getting a catch can for that DI engine, I installed one at only 50 miles and was collecting 3oz of water vapor/oil a week, looked like a milkshake. If you don't, all that is being introduced into the intake/valves, I see huge problems down the road for people that don't have one. Oil consumption was considered acceptable. Uplink head unit was terrible, also had on star coming over the head unit advertising to renew their service and you cannot turn it off, stops all sound and functions until done, god damn that pissed me off. I did not like the 100% electronic steering, that belongs on a car or mini van. Frame is not even painted, it is wax dipped and can be wiped right off with a rag. My local GM's stance on mods was, it will void all warranty. I could go on...

It may have lasted for a while before any major problem, but I accepted to just take a loss and get rid of it, why keep paying for something I hate to drive. I have owned 2 other new GM's in the past and was happy with them while I had them, but after this sour tast in my mouth is why I "will never". Older muscle cars/trucks don't count here either, I still have a early 70's Chevy muscle car that I restored and will never sell.

 

I love my 10 year old 2nd gen so much and the gen 1 that I had before it that I decided to buy one never even having seen the gen 3 in person. Drove 130 miles to the nearest dealer knowing I was going to drive one home. Would do it again tomorrow too in the blink of an eye.

 

I'm with you on that Brother! Traded a 6 month old 2015 Colorado with less than 2,000 miles.

 

I decided in 1994 that I would never buy domestic again....and ive held to that decision and have never been disappointed since.

 

Smart man. I bought a new S-10 in 1991 that was a lemon I had for 8 months. And then I turn around and buy another new chevy from the same dealer. I got rid of the Colorado while I could get most of my money back. I'm done with them myself.

 

I mean if I was rich I'd buy a corvette.
I test drove one and it was pretty life changing.

 

My 2010 shifted poorly when i bought it. It was at the dealer a month later for something I can't remember and they reflashed the computer without telling me. I instantly noticed the better shift points and was very happy ever since.

 

manual transmission

 

Tough question - in general I am happy with the truck. If I did more interstate driving, probably not - I am one of the few that has the vibration issue you can feel in steering/pedal.

But yes, I will be much more critical on future test drives. I guess I've been lucky up to this point and have always picked vehicles with no issues.

 

If somebody asked me what is the biggest single thing I do not like about my truck I'd say it upshifts way too early. The lugging at 1,000 rpms 30-35 mph sucks. It helps a lot to have a heavy foot, but I just do not normally drive that way. I know I can run in manual mode and ECT mode to reduce this problem, but I'd still like to know if there is a possibility somebody will develop a way to reprogram the shift points. I'd pay a couple hundred bucks for it.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I like everything else. I am happy with my purchase and look forward to a long term ownership.