If you weren't going to buy a Tacoma

Just FYI I test drove a 2014 5.3 L Chevrolet before we signed on the Ford 5.0 L. Ford has a large lead in the engine department over a lot of manufacturers when it comes to what their engines put out for their weight and size. The 5.0 L is almost touching 400 HP and torque out of the tiniest displacement on the market without the problems the Hemi and the 5.3 L are having with cylinder deactivation and yet still has the same IRL fuel economy. That's all I will say about that.

 

Our Rav was a 2007. Not the newest, but it did feel kinda cheap. Back window sounded like it was going to fall out when we closed the door. Or something was anyway. Rattled like a bitch.

My biggest complaint was the 4wd system. It turned off at 25mph (damn near useless other that pulling out a driveway or ditch you'd slid into), and any check engine light turned it off along with VSC and CC until you reset the code. That made the 4wd system useless here in NY during winter. We were getting P0430 codes randomly due to it burning oil. Toyota has a TSB for new piston rings, but only if it burns more than 1 quart of oil every 1,000 miles. We were at half a quart so they wouldn't fix it, but that still means it burned 3 quarts (about what it holds) before the 5,000 mile interval. So we were told to check the oil each time we put gas in it! What a crock of shit. I complained on FB, to the dealer, to the Customer Care line, not a damn bit of help. I didn't hear shit until I emailed 15 of the VP/CEO/VIP execs off the Toyota biography website. I got a call from the Executive office 3 days later, but I was 20 minutes away from trading it for the 08 Pathfinder (with selectable full time 4WD and 3rd row seating for our family of 7).

One of my co-workers has an 11 Rav4, and same issue when a coil pack went bad and threw a code. Really? Who the fuck engineers a car to turn off traction control and 4WD over completely unrelated issues?

The thing the drove my mom away after owning 4 Toyotas was her 2nd Rav4 catching fire in a low-speed front end collision. It didn't set off the airbags! Just pushed the front bumper support through the radiator, and pushed the radiator hose against the cat which caught fire and ignited a fuel line. She'd had it less than 3 months. Toyota didn't do anything about that either, and determined that was ok. So she's not a Toyota customer anymore either.

 

If I wasn't going to buy a Tacoma I'd buy a 4Runner or a Jeep Wrangler.

 

Thanks man.

 

Yeah, I wasn't impressed with the Rav4 at all. I do still like the Tacoma, but I think there are better options out there now, it wasn't like that years ago...seems like the domestics have caught up, and surpassed Toyota.

Too bad we don't get the Global Ranger, have a bud in OZ who's brother has one, said it is so much better than the HiLux. He works in the mining industry, doesn't even like the Holy Grail LC70's either. Tells me The 70's are being phased out because they can't pass the the 5 Star rating, being replaced with Rangers.

 

I really have mixed feelings about Toyota. I mean, they're putting around $12,000 into my truck replacing the frame after 9 yrs. On the other hand, WTF took them so long to understand salt corrodes metal in states that get snow?! They do recalls for floor mats jamming under gas pedals because people are too stupid to shift to neutral, push in a clutch, or turn the engine off if they can't control the acceleration (something I learned in HS driver's ed class for fuck sake). Yet they wouldn't fix my issue with VSC and 4WD turning off randomly mid winter. That didn't constitute a "safety issue" to them. The Tacoma is the *only* truck I know of offhand that doesn't have a cargo light in the 3rd brake light. They can put cargo lights in the trunks of cars, and the rear doors of the SUVs. But can they put one in the truck with a 5 or 6 ft bed? Nope.

All these little things are pushing me away from them. I look at the F150 I'm ordering and I see so many little details Toyota doesn't care about!

• Light in the center console bin.
• Lock on the console lid.
• Cable guides under the lid so you don't pinch the cord charging your phone.
• Aux input, USB plug and 12v outlet all under the stereo.
• They put the 110v outlets IN the cab where I can actually use a laptop, charge a tool, or run a cooler without adding my own outlet or running a cord through the back window.
• locking tailgate
• remote start
• Trailer 7/4pin harness out of the way, in the bumper, instead of under the bumper where it'll get torn off. (Mine tore off the first time I left asphalt and turned around on a seasonal use road.)
• Cargo light in the 3rd brake light *and* LEDs in the bed, with a switch by the tailgate.
• Back is slightly higher than the front. Just like those Rangers above. Toyota CAN make some trucks with rear suspension travel to handle putting a load in the back without bottoming out, but they didn't do that for the Tacoma. In fact there have been at least 2 different TSBs for their leaf springs (sagging when carrying far less than rate capacity, and now for breaking and potentially puncturing the fuel tank).
• The information it displays!!
  • Avg MPG
  • Avg MPG towing
  • DTE
  • DTE towing
  • Engine running hours
  • Engine idling hours
  • Individual tire PSI
  • Power distribution per tire
  • Trailer light status
  • Tilt meters
  • I'm sure I'm forgetting some. I'll be spending a lot of time going over all the info it can show, and tweaking the display.

 

The tundra with the Texas edition or the new chevy 1500 reaper

 

Reaper is a half assed aftermarket attempt to make a Chevy into a Raptor. Until Chevy does something out of the factory they aren't any more special than anyone of the guys on here that has thrown mid-travel and a TRD S/C on their Tacoma.

 

I'm glad we didn't get a F150 model with the full sized LCD dash display. That thing scares me for some reason. I kind of wish we had of got the Captains chairs and the 110v outlet, but we choose to stay on a budget over spending "just $50 more bucks a month" like the dealer always tries to get you to do.

 

Yeah but I just like the body on it, and that is why I bought the tacoma and supercharged it and am working on mid travel instead of buying the reaper.

 

Trust me, you'll end up with a more capable truck that way rather than going with the Reaper

 

I wouldn't stress about skipping the outlet. Lots of people are finding it problematic because Ford used a cheap inverter. I'm not counting on it to charge my tools, but it should work fine for a laptop charger.

I do like the 8 inch center display, but for me the interior space and capability while getting the same or better MPG as the Tacoma was the key. In order to survive long term, I just think the midsize trucks are going to have to get 25 MPG or so to make it worthwhile.

As far as favorite creature comforts, for me it's the cooled seats and power running boards. I actually found them very practical, especially the running boards.

 

I do have mixed feelings for Toyota....they have treated me well over the years. I never did like their cars, only like their trucks. Honestly be real hard to buy something else. The F150 does look damn nice, though I don't need all that fluff...I just want something to get me to work and back, haul dirt bikes on the weekends...and to go camping/back road exploring with. Though I rather explore the backcountry on a bike, as a truck no matter how capable it is...will never go where a bike can go.

Even though it is anemic, I can get a brand new Access Cab Tacoma 4 banger, for almost $10K less than a Super Cab F150 XL. I really only need a contractor style truck. That $10K in savings buys an awful lot of fuel...just won't be getting anywhere fast.

 

http://www.rogueracing.com/#!chevydominator/c1yny

 

Reapers out and that babies on the list

 

A big Tundra.....

 

F 150 Still number 1 selling truck in Canada

 

Video sequences like this make me hopeful the 3.5 ecoboost will make me happy, if accurate. Putting 150,000 miles on in extreme hot/cold cycles then doing the rest? I don't even have 150k on my Tacoma and the timing cover is leaking oil and the cats are fouled throwing P0420 and 430 codes. I also wouldn't even think about towing at 100mph.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQxtQqTtDmk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxrsvhanhDw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WAu5lbdpcs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-X2TZXbNx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ_7QzvNpTg

Almost forgot the wrap up where they tear down the engine after all that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZt_eSJPY3Y

 

I would buy this over the new Tacoma in a heartbeat:



http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/a25361/2015-ford-ranger-pickup-truck-first-look-details/

Shame we can't get it here.

 

Sadly they aren't coming anytime soon. Rangers would effect F150 sales negatively. That's Fords corporate stance anyways. The dealerships want them back but the big wigs don't see them as being a good direction to go in.