Poll: Are you happy with your Tacoma?

I love my truck!! Im just excited to get it in perfect driving condition so I can go wheeling with people on here

 

I love mine. The only thing I don't like are those big head rests in the rear. They create a blind spot so I just flip them down.

 

I went with whatever the second option was. As much as I love the truck and it's infinite possibilities, I fell in love with my Wife's Rubicon considering it comes stock with a lot of shit I'm buying aftermarket plus any after market add ons to a Jeep is like 70% cheaper than a Tacoma (My Shrockworks bumper = well over a grand, her Quadratec Stringer bumper = $500...new).

Now, I knew mods will come at a price and honestly the mods done to a Tacoma, I think, look a lot better than a Jeep (considering you can drive down the street and see the same things done to each Jeep). Tacoma's are just more rare to mod out.

The one thing I absolutely despise about the Tacoma (2nd Gen) is the interior. I have a 2010, black exterior but gray interior and didn't have many options to choose from. And the orange dash lighting is annoying (I know it's meant to allow better eye-adjustment, but orange is just gay). Thank God for WetOkole and the awesome LED Dash Light Mod write-ups on this forum.

 

I love how easy the mud from me and the dog wipe off of my factory heated leather seats.
I was floored to see heated mirrors on the toyota car (next one down from a camry)I rented in Florida. Florida and Alberta, their winters are a little different.
I don't think heated mirrors are too much to ask for since their putting them on $20k dollar cars.
I could have got a decent Lincoln for the same price as this truck.
I want a heated steering wheel too. When we forget our mittens we have to steer with just our finger tips till the shit warms up.

 

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Several magazines have the Tacoma owners as the happiest and most loyal pickup truck owners (excludes repeat commercial buyers).
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being a college student makes me not want to be SEMPER FIDELIS to my truck only because she is a gas guzzler.

I've though about trading it in for a small car, maybe a camry, or MAYBE a jetta with diesel engine. I know I'd completely regret it though if I ever did do it. But the thought of possible lower payment (current monthly for truck is $400) along with way better fuel economy is really enticing. I NEVER see abou 18 mpg. but of course I bought all the mods for the truck when I had a steady paycheck and back then I didn't give a damn. haha

 

This is my 1st truck that i've owned. I've had it for a few months now. And I love it. When shopping for a truck I looked at nothing else cause I knew that it was exactly what I wanted but more importantly what I needed.

 

I've had my '12 DC for two weeks now, and haven't found anything I dislike about it (except maybe MPG, but it's a truck, not a Prius). I was seriously looking at a Wrangler Unlimited, but in two weeks I've towed things and hauled stuff in the bed of the Taco that the Jeep couldn't touch. Besides, Wrangler Unlimiteds are the new mommy-wagons that have replaced SUV's (that have replaced mini-vans). I see tons of Jeeps driven by women now, with the top on and the windows up, A/C cranked. That's really sad.

 

Completely agree about the Wrangler's. I love Wrangler's (that says a lot consider I HATE American vehicles...better to buy "foreign" vehicles where the parts were made in some foreign country and assembled here than buy a "domestic" where parts were made in a foreign country and assembled here by a UNION). My wife drives one but, being that she is my wife and makes more money than I do (damn officers) she has the truck completely decked out, 4" lift, 35s, winch and bumper, etc. She flips shit when she does the "Jeep Wave" to these women with completely stock Wranglers, windows up, and A/C blasting.

I've noticed this too. I remember seeing a thread on here about a year ago about someone wanting to start a "Tacoma Wave" much like the "Jeep Wave". Now, I started to do this in Jacksonville, NC to anyone who drove a Tacoma with the slightest mod and never received a wave back. Recently, though, the smallest lift, the shittest Satoshi mod, and I constantly have people waving. Even FJs (FJ drivers do an odd head nod though).

Let me guess, you never said Semper Fidelis in the Marine Corps but say it constantly now that you're in college...Don't deny it. I just got of leave and if a "Semper Fi" lead to a free beer, than fuck it.

 

Im new here. I don't have my Tacoma yet. It's in the mail. Lol
I'm a long time jeeper . Been in jeeps for the last 22 years.I tried to buy unlimited rubicon 4 door hard top with a six speed. No dealer in south Florida had one like that just a stock plain Jane rubi to replace my 2004 unlimited. They offered evry fucked up leather interior call of duty 45,000 jeep to me. Wtf they don't care about the old school jeepers so fuck them. So the wife says to me keep your old jeep and buy a Taocoma. So I got trd off road double cab on the way.i think I'm going to be happy with the truck.

 

I've owned my truck just over three years now and the only issue I've had was the defective radio other then that it has been great!

 

If I had a chance to get another one, the only thing I would change is I'd get it in 4x4.

 

I hate that the majority of people here are complaining about leather, heated mirrors, quieter interior, and other trivial crap that drives up the cost. Buy a luxury car for that stuff.

I have a 2012. I want the ECU programming changed so there is no rev hang.
I don't want the huge smog pump in the engine bay.
Truck got too big, first gen was about the right size.
Front and rear lockers.
Don't want any of that "traction control" junk. ABS is okay though (except ours needs a button to disable when needed).
Better bumpers that don't flex when you push them with your hand.
Better tie down system (like the Frontier).
Better viability (like the first gen).
Diesel option.
Better 6 spd.
Truly washable interior.
Waterproof ECU.

Then again this is why I'm looking at getting an FJ40.

 

I've had mine for a little less than a year. For the most part, I like the truck (Silver, DCSB V6 Auto 4x4 Offroad).

Dislikes (not in any order) -

-cheap feeling interior plastics when compared to newer Ford vehicles at the same price point (Never compared interior to F150 though). Door insert material is cheesy as well, and it shouldn't need to be replaced by the owner. At least the steering wheel and shifter knob is leather.

-octane - Toyota should have come right out and said that the truck needs 93 (or 91) octane instead of regular 87. The truck runs and sounds so much better with 93, than with 87. With 87 I constantly have to give it more pedal to get up hilly areas, where with 93 the truck felt like it pulls itself up hills with much less pedal. I am the exception though when it comes to improved MPG with 93 vs. 87. I see the exact same MPG with either, somewhere between 20-21 MPG.

-power - The engine needs about 40 more horsepower naturally aspirated, or they should just put the upgraded V6 engine thats in the new 4runner into the tacoma. Toyota completely ignored how a lot of truck drivers are actually big kids who like the occasional, quick, off-line acceleration as well as sustained acceleration up to 70 or 80 just for the hell of it. It should be able to do 0-60 in 6-6.5 second with the automatic. A V8 or V6 supercharger shouldn't be needed to pull this off. The heavy duty transmission, gearing and the remainder of the drivetrain, as well as the weight of the truck, share about 50% of this problem too but should not be modified as to not detract utility or durability from the truck. Diesel also needs to be an option.

-Factory Off-Road tires - I have the BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A tires, and they are crap. In dry weather, on road, they are ok and provide acceptable driving confidence. On wet surfaces however, they are terrible, and I end up driving very conservatively to avoid getting that minute shimmying feeling..even when there is still a full fingertip of tread remaining. When you need to brake hard, its the lack of friction in these tires is what causes the ABS system to prematurly engage not the system itself. I'll probably be creeping in the snow with these things. 4x4 mode doesn't even matter if you have crappy tires. These are just terrible tires.

-Speakers and stereo sucks- nuff said here.

-Resentfulness and disrespect from Dodge and Chevy drivers (also contractor Vans that are trucks in disguise) - I can't tell you how many of the older hillbilly-looking trucks get right on my ass and refuse to pass, give me the 'hear my muffler' rev when they pass by, or glare/stare me down...its annoying, but I guess it goes along with the territory. Likewise many of the drivers that have new Dodges or Chevys don't do anything like that. Strange. Tacoma definitely is not a neutral truck when it comes to the road foodchain.

I think thats it for dislikes.

Likes:

Steering and handling - When I buy a vehicle, this is my first and foremost important factor. Truck feels very compliant and accurate in the front, and I can make it jut through cones (with a lot of steering work) if I need to, even with the Off-road tuned springs/shocks. The roll and twist in the back reduces by alot with a Helwig rear-sway bar kit.

4x4 options - I really like the multitude of 4x4 modes that come with the truck. Has the same level off-road options as the 4x4 Lexus', just without leather seats, full-time 4WD (which isn't needed), soft-touch surfaces, and a V8 engine. Just need to upgrade at least the tires for this thing to be truly go-anywhere capable.

Brakes - Brakes are also very important to me since I like to drive fast. The factory brakes and pads are very beefy and have very high clamping power. I took the rear drums off, which each weigh probably 35-40 pounds, and the rear components look extremely sufficient for rear braking. Its a shame that the factory tires don't work in tandem with the brakes on this truck. Under high-moderate to high braking, its the tires (possibly some of the front squat as well) that causes the premature ABS engagement and sliding. How do I know? All summer, I haven't had the ABS engage at all except under full braking..under moderate-high braking, I can feel the brakes strongly clamping wheels to slow down but there would be a bit of tireslip. When the road is cold, there would be more tireslip which therefore would cause the ABS to engage. This performance has caused me to change my driving habits altogether, I stay way far back from traffic in areas where I may need to slow or stop rapidly.

Sports seats - The front seats are very high quality seats. My driver seat hasn't deformed or degraded over the past year I've driven it, and the foam still feels firm as if it were new. The rear seats are as well...I have the tendancy to leave them folded down for weeks, and when I fold them back up , the foam dent on the sides always goes away.

2011 Appearance (this is where I sould like one of those first time homebuyers on HGTV) - I like the Japanese appearance front end of the 2005-2011s, and even with the refreshed 2012 front, they are all still in the same family. The designers spent some time drawing and redrawing this truck, paying attention to the details. My 2011 doesn't look better than the 2012, and the 2012 doesn't look better than the 2011....that usually never happens. I like the sharper angle profile of the wheel arches especially in the rear rather than maintaining a generic Chevy shape. I like the detail changes like the LED taillamps, the smoked headlights, single bar grill... I just hope that the headlights don't haze up like I've seen happen to some earlier 2nd gen Tacomas. The tailgate could use some more lines, otherwise its still pretty clean looking.

Would I buy again? It depends...I kind of like running the mileage up on my vehicles. I'll be holding on to this one for a while, perhaps a supercharger could be in its future?

 

I had a '93....'99...'09...and now a '12.....I love these trucks

 

Sounds like you need a new truck. This is why I love my first gen. I can't find one thing I don't like about it.

 

Love my Taco. Only thing I dislike is the MPG but hey it is a midsize pickup. plastic interior, average paint, etc....ehh no biggie it's a truck not a luxury/sport car/mini van, or a $40k+ full size truck

 

I picked up my new 012 in the middle of July so it has been almost 2 months. It is now 2500 miles and my biggest complaint is I have to duck my head everytime I climb in or the I will hit my head on the top of the opening. I am 5'9" and I can't say I've ever had this problem with any other car/truck. I have owned many different vehicles in my 35 years including sports cars. What's with the roof line of these trucks. As for the tube steps they just get in the way and stepping on them is only useful for washing the roof of the truck.

I know everyone in this forum group loves these trucks and raves about them. For me, in the real world driving where most of it is done on road, the Tacoma 4 x 4 is just not that refined in terms of ride comfort, fuel economy or power delivery. They look really cool and unfortunately, they are pretty much the only game in town when it comes to a non full size pickup.

 

Sounds like the truth to me.

 

I believe if you're taller and have the seat's horizontal adjustment set at its furthest back setting you are afforded more head room for ingress/egress. For me, the seat is adjusted half way closer towards the steering wheel. There, the roof line slopes down to where the A pillars are. That's the problem.

Now that I'm at it, the blind spot on the driver's side is enormous from where I'm sitting.