Live 2016 Toyota Tacoma Stream and Discussion

I'm not saying they won't increase the price at all. You just made a comparison with TRD ORs selling now for $32-35K and proposed 2016 TRD's would be at $36-38K, which is a $3-4K increase for similarly equipped truck (barring improvements/additions in the new model). I honestly have no idea how much Tacos are selling for right now. I'm just proposing that the "new" stuff doesn't seem to add a great deal in terms of engineering and production over the cost of a Gen 2 truck, and not to mention they're able continue to amortize some of the costs of the Gen 2 redesign across Gen 3 sales (the cab, bed, stuff not changed), and furthermore manufacturing processes are constantly improving such that theoretically some of the same stuff could be made for less, AND technology progresses such that often the new tech is actually cheaper/easier to produce/source than old tech (i.e. TODAY a touch screen display is probably easier to source or cheaper to make than the CD player that came in my '07)...all that to say I think, yes, they will cost more than a similarly equipped Gen 2, but not $3-4K more, and probably not much more of an increase than occurs from year-to-year without redesign.

Also, before anyone accuses me of it: I don't actually know anything about engineering, product design and manufacturing, technology costs, product pricing, or anything else I may have implied to know something about. I also don't know why I committed so much of my time to make a such a small point based on conjecture. Thanks.

 

No worries. My 2015 sticker was $34k I paid $32.5k. I just find it hard to believe Toyota wont charge $2k more minimum for what they consider an all new truck that has a lot of features that aren't currently available. They know people will be lined up to buy the newest and greatest taco, the GM twins are priced similar. People will pay more for the taco with terrain selection, crawl control and the fact its a Toyota. Kinda sucks cause I know im gonna want one in a few years too.

 

Duly noted. So a $2000 bump from '04 to '05 for that body style, much more sensible than $3 or $4000. Also, don't forget the truck got bigger at that redesign, so easier to justify the cost increase. I'll personally be surprised if we see another $2000 increase across trim levels, but I guess it wouldn't be out of the question.

 

I hear you there, people will buy. I admit shock at the price of the upper end of the GM options. I'm still hoping I can keep my '07 till the Gen 4 or 5 is available and I remain open to the possibility that by then I will no longer care.

 

The last thought I have concerning this thread is about all the talk of terrain selection and electronic traction control and all that stuff, and people lamenting about others not knowing how to drive off road or how they'd rather be in complete control or whatever. I hear you from an "off-roading" perspective, like, as a hobby. But I wonder if it's possible that a lot of people who actually drive off road are not off-roading enthusiasts per say, but just need to get some place off road, and the vehicle that can do that most easily with the least chance of getting stuck is the one they want to be in. Thinking construction, geology, pipeline, mining, farming, logging, utilities, hunting, fishing, camping. All those folks who just need to get "over there." Then it might make a bit of sense.

 

It makes a lot of sense.

Don't get too worked up with the comments around here. You bring up very good points.

 

Or they get traction control equipped vehicle than first time it snows they don't know what to do so they live everything on default, than as soon as wheel slips up the hill, truck cuts of power. Nothing like big truck stuck in two inches of snow, with the driver having his foot all way to the floor very surprised at idling engine.
That always cracks me up

 

Seems to me all these items could be changed without changing the displacement, correct? So what makes you think the 3.5 won't be a "truck" engine?

 

Sorry I call hogwash on this post.

 

1. Get in line.
2. 500 Interwebs points for using the word "hogwash".

 

Based on my experiences with the Chrysler pentastar application in jeeps and trucks, I'm sure the 3.5 will do just fine in the tacoma. That being said, this motor has DI and Toyota engineers had the opportunity to adjust gearing as necessary to ensure the torque curve is used as much as possible. On a side note, this engine talk reminds me a lot about the use in the pentastar in wranglers....and last time I check, they can't sell enough.

 

Sure, displacement does not dictate if its truck engine, its how its designed.
So yeah when you do all that with the engine that has 3.5 L than you end up with Truck engine that has 3.5L.
But That would also means brand new engine from Toyota. Brand new engine means new suppliers, new manufacturing line, training their mechanics.
New Engine on 2gen truck with facelift is very unlikely. Everything else they did is cheap, half ass attempt, so we can safely assume that "new" Tacoma engine is going to be one of the existing engines slightly modified (if that).
Those who claim that Toyota can pull some kind of miracle with that engine are absolutely out of their mind.
Engine is a means of extracting energy through chemical reaction. When you go from 4L to 3.5 you immediately reduce that capability by 12%. Sure you can play with DirectInjection and Atkinson but you could do this on 4L too.
On the end the amount of Energy needed to move that vehicle does not depend on displacement of the engine. It depends on total mass of the vehicle and the speed you want that thing to move at. The more mass the more mass needed, so when Toyota adds all those toys like moon roof, 100lb of copper wiring for various electronic gizmos all that adds up. All that on the and increases amount of kinetic energy engine needs to deliver.
So every time you drive truck with all those gizmos you are tossing dollars through the window. Not only you are wasting fuel to move that thing but all those electronics are drawing electric energy produced out of the fuel.
Hence people who demand gizmos and in the same sentence complain about fuel mileage are not very educated.
Now if you think 3.5L is going to be better for heavier truck, with more electronics, you obviously had not payed much attention in school.

 

I think this can be said for most of this guys posts... It's unreal

 

... its about producing a more efficient motor. with DI, atkinson and other improvements the new 3.5L is going to be able to burn fuel more efficiently this allows the smaller displacement to produce more power torque and more mpgs than the older 4.0L.


its plain and simple math.... apparently you did not pay much attention in school

 

lol @ Mr. Arm Chair Engineer

 

Long story short, I don't buy trucks for fuel efficiency and I add my own weight to the truck in the form of MODS. So this banter is mute...

2016 Tacoma FTW!

 

People who drive trains are engineers too. TOOT TOOT!!

 

He asked what makes a truck motor, not a performance car motor...

To those that ask, the experienced and knowledgeable car/truck experts on the internet have the most basic explanation of car versus truck motor. Very simply put a truck motor has more torque than horsepower. That is why the Tacoma has a truck motor with the same peak torque as the colorado's car motor V6.

Someone better call GM and let them know their top truck engine is really a car engine out of the Vette and isn't up to the task of towing and hauling per the internet rules.

Tyler

 

"100lbs of copper wiring". Come on dude, get real.

 

On noes the Ram must have a 3.6L Pentastar car engine since Chrysler 200 has one as well!