On the fence with purchase

Except one thing. ECT doesn’t do jack when you are above 65mph. It gets you there quicker and is fun around town, but you need to control 5-6 shifts with S4.

 

This thread reminds me of a Starship Troopers quote.

 

The advice to do an extended test drive of multiple trims is good. You didn’t mention why you want to get rid of the F150 besides nostalgia for your second gen.

 

I got a new f150 for a rental and the motor and trans is 100x better. The interior and exterior styling is poop, but drives way better. I think the trans and motor in the Taco is fucking awful, even post TSB. I have an 18 OR. It hunts for gears constantly, shifts funny, has no useable torque. The ECT is just an OD button and runs one gear lower usually, but equates to 4-5 mpg loss on city driving. I find it more livable at highway speeds since its only going to downshift once versus multiple times in any type of city driving to keep the RPMs down under 2k. Yes you can floor it to get power but then its shifting tons and who the F wants power in a truck only at high RPM's. Kind of defeats the purpose. There's not really any useable torque unless your in 4 low and then the transfer case is doing all the work. It feels like you're trying to turn 50'' tires every time you start off.

 

Best advice...overnight all truck options before deciding what "YOU" need/like/want.

 

Try driving with ect pwr button.

Also negotiate for the new tsb update that fixes the sluggish feeling and take it for an extended multi day test period.

That way you know you will like it for sure.

 

I would agree with the post. I got the TSB and it’s been 300 miles. Day and night difference. Huge improvement.

Is it as good as my gen 2 taco...not even close. Would I buy a gen 3 again? No....I miss my gen 2 and wish I never traded it in. The quality isn’t the same, but none the less I still do love my taco

 

I have thought about test driving a second gen taco just for the lulz is the difference that great really?

Is it just down low torque or throttle delay too?

 

My feelings exactly

 

Glad to hear it.

A lot will agree and a lot will disagree, because that fix wasn’t unilaterally successful, even for the incredibly small owner group on this forum.

Can’t say it’s make believe, or that the good override the bad, or vice versa. At the end of the day, each truck and each owner have different experiences and trying to portray the other side as having no significance in the greater picture doesn’t help anybody.

 

If I had to drive this truck every damn day on the highway at 75-80 mph type driving, as part of my job, I would trade it in on an F150. The seats are what they are, the transmission hunts because the motor doesn't really make the torque required for the high gears. I love my Tacoma but it would not be my first choice for an every day highway driving truck.

 

Yeah, full size trucks are more comfortable at speed than smaller trucks for sure. Tacoma isn't bad, though. Much better than prior gen's and any Chevy I'd driven. Actually, the Ridgeline would make a great highway cruiser.

 

Let’s keep those idiots under our tires.

 

Which is a real drag. I was hoping these TSB’s would completely solve the engine/transmission complaints once and for all.

As for the sentiments about the 2nd gen, I tend to agree. I would like my 2013 back. It was a great truck until I got in a head on with a distracted driver. I think the 3rd gen is great looking in its own right, faster, and has cool tech, but the defects start to add up on some of the trucks. I’m confident Toyota will eventually rectify the issues, but it sure seems like they are taking their sweet ass time.

Will they be resolved in the 2019 model year? I hope so. Here are the key issues I would like addressed:

1. Engine and transmission symphony - a factory solution is needed. The ovtune folks have shown it’s possible. Corp appears to be working on it as it seems to be the number one complaint.
2. Rear brake light leaks - this needs to be addressed.
3. Rear diff leak - watching to see if 2019 owners report issues with this.

 

3rd gen is UNDERPOWERED for a truck this size. You can sugar coat with ECT, bulletin fixes etc but the fact remains its a underpowered engine compared to other mid size trucks in the market. That's the truth.

I've test drove a '18 Colorado V6, '18 Taco OR (with the new TSB fix) and the '18 Jeep Wrangler with the turbo 4-cy engine. If anything, the Wrangler felt the most responsive with the Colorado a close 2nd.

But I'm ok with the 3rd gen in terms of power for MY needs.

But yes, if you are coming from a beefier engine, the 3rd gen Taco will feel underpowered cos it is. Doesn't mean it's a huge negative but just depends on expectations. If you take the engine for what is and depends on the hauling you'll do, most people will be satisfied.

My totally non biased response as I don't own the truck but might be getting the '18 Sports OR sometime soon. Most likely a short lease and then return it and go for the new Ford Ranger which should be in 2nd year by then.

 

I would hardly call the Tacoma V6 in the powerband underpowered. And there’s no such thing as a Sports OR.

 

Second gens had problems too, 10 years worth.

2 lessons learned here, easily.. Toyota QC has been on a slide for a long time, and the whole “first year of a model change is no good” concept is nonsense. Each change leaves chance of new issues arising, and in our case, Toyota still carries over issues from a truck that started back in 2006..

.. and Toyota isn’t the only manufacturer building that way.

 

I agree. The truck makes plenty of power it just lacks torque at the bottom of the curve. If I were towing regularly or wanted 35” tires I would regear the rear. For what I do with the truck I’m quite happy.

 

My truck has been great from day 1. The TSB helped mine shift better and more predictably, but it was ok enough before it. It is a sluggish combo in D but it’s good for fuel economy, much more responsive in ECT mode.

In and around city traffic all day, I think the Tacoma is a great size to park and drive. A regular 1/2ton crew cab is significantly bigger.

 

As are most.. TW is a niche owner group. Majority of owners are enjoying their economy at cost of performance, because they’re not performance buyers to begin with.