Newbie looking at '16 Tacos

I'm a Nissan guy and am thinking about upgrading to the new TRD 4x4 Sport. I drove a sport and OR so far, and am disappointed with the power compared to my Frontier. It is acceptable, but doesn't have the torque my truck has. Granted, I have been dyno tuned and have some bolt-ons, but I am worried about whether I will be happy with the power. Also, I am hearing less than desirable things about the auto trans. My daily right now is a 6spd manual, but I can't find a 6spd Taco within hundreds of miles of me to test drive. Someone give me real world experience and either point me towards which trans you prefer, or tell me the auto gear hunt problem is all a myth. 75% of my driving will be 75-80mph. BTW, here's my current toy I'll be selling to get the Taco if I decide to:

 

Any reason for wanting a new truck? Your truck looks to be in great shape and you seem happy with it. I believe Toyota will eventually put the 8 speed auto that was put in some Lexus's in 2014, but not before the Tundra gets it, so probably a few years off

 

The new 3.5 and 6 speed in the 16 Taco was designed to meet the Federal fuel efficiency requirements. To meet towing requirements, Toyota designed the ECT button and a manual portion to the AT. Pushing the stick to the left puts it in manual mode where you only use the first 4 gears. Toggling the shift up or down changes the gears to be used. So you could toggle down and only use the first 2 gears...etc.
With that said, yes the Taco is lithargic in every day driving. It gets better once it starts breaking in. But if you hit the ECT button and go to manual and use only the first 4 gears then the truck if pretty peppy. I use it when I have the need for speed. It all grows on you after being driven awhile.
The manual does not have the issue as much but you have to still remember that this is an atkinson/otto cycle motor.

The only issue with the trans that I have is when in cruise control it shifts when going up a hill and takes a while to shift back to normal. again a product of the atkinson cycle.

 

hell, every toyota with auto trans ive ever had has done this.

 

I only have hills to drive here, condo at 6500', house at 9300' and 11,000 passes in between. The manual is the answer. I pass Tundras every day.

 

I've had it since 2005 and it has a good many miles. Its about time to move on and start over.

Thats what I'm thinking too, but I really would like to drive the 6MT first. Looks like my only hope is to wait for someone to get it in stock, or hope an extremely generous forum member will let me go for a ride.

 

Keep your Frontier. You will miss it. It is better in a lot of metrics......But the worse part about it....It's not a Tacoma. That goes to resale and Toyota in general who outsells Nissan

 

Thanks for the honesty. I didn't expect to hear that on this forum really. I was expecting the typical "Sell your dumb Nissan now and get a Toyota or else..."

 

I am admittedly a Toyota Tacoma "fan boy" through and through since the 90's But I know to compete with Toyota, Nissan (and others) need to offer MORE of everything and do.

Toyota realized they have a loyal base. Nissan needs to offer more to get. As with the GM twins. (I would never buy a GM vehicle) My neighbors across the street have Nissans and love them. I never seem they needing anything and they go mudding like crazy. Price to features the Nissan is hard to beat.

"
"the uprated Nissan V-6 is stronger than the Tacoma's, and feels like it. The Frontier also has better (though not great) ride quality, while matching the Tacoma for ultimate towing capacity of 6,500 pounds. While we wouldn't clamor for either available four-cylinder engine, we'd point out that both trucks continue to offer them, for small gains in gas mileage.

The Frontier also has more comfortable trappings for passengers and more interesting ways to tie down cargo. Available in extended or four-door form, it lacks the regular cab offered on the Tacoma, but the Frontier's seats have more support and offer a more natural seating position, at least in front. Of the pair, the Frontier's back bench offers a little more seat comfort."

Frontier costs significantly less than the Tacoma,

 

I don't have a 3rd gen...but I can tell you having an auto for a daily driver is nice. I drove a 6 speed GTO as a daily for 5 years. I never really minded shifting, but its nice to not worry when theres traffic. I also prefer a truck to be auto, I've never liked shifting in a truck, but to each their own.

I test drove the frontier when I was looking. Although I didn't like the truck, it had good torque and acceleration down low (at least thats the feeling from the driver's seat). From my test drives it felt best off the line (compared to the 2015 Tacoma and the new Colorado). With new technology and MPG's in mind, things are going to be different. You just gotta go with the flow. I am sure you will like the Tacoma a lot more than the Frontier, overall.

 

I honestly wish I could put the Nissan VQ engine and its trans into the Tacoma. I drove the Colorado and me and my wife couldn't park it and drive away fast enough. The seating position and ergonomics are awful to say the least. The problem I have with the "new" Frontiers is that they are very dated. For some reason, the rest of the world has the new body style while the US is stuck w/ the 05+. I'm thinking right now I am going to stand by and see if the issue gets a resolution, or if a 6 speed pops up I can drive.

 

Isn't a new Frontier supposed to come out in 2017 or so? I don't keep up on it too intently since in not a fan of the Frontier in general. If you've loved yours, you might as well hang onto it until a new one presents itself.

 

I think they are holding the U.S. market Frontier from production until they fully release the new Titan XD with the Cummins. My thinking is that they are focusing their attention and efforts on that project, and then will go ahead with the Frontier. It supposedly is going to have a 4cyl Cummins option which should be interesting.

 

If we could get a dclb manual in canada thats what id choose! Manual is the way to go...

 

Can't get that here either, that's why I have a dcsb.