Poll: Are you happy with your Tacoma?

Cmon man, 4-wheel discs are the industry standard for 99% of modern vehicles of all classes. And disc pads are much easier to replace than drum pads.

The drum on a rear disc is for the emergency brake, a no-maintenance item, you replace the disc pads and never even fool around with the drum emergency brake. I've heard a lot of people say "Best in class braking!" So what. Think how much better the braking would be with rear discs.

Other than that, a couple nit-picky things - the rear step bumper should be an inch or two longer so one can get more than toes on the thing. The rear slider should have a wider opening. The Access cab windows should vent. A heavy duty stock skid plate. Real mudflaps.

And the motor is weaker than should be, put one of the top V6's in it instead of the weakest V6 Toyota makes.

 

Our trucks tend to be kind of front heavy due to the light box which throws off the dynamics a bit. I noticed i got whipped around a lot before i added my topper + load, which helped a lot in the wind but it still gets pushed around. Bilstein shocks definitely helped and was worth the price. (I diy'ed the task over 2 days) yheres also a beefed up stabilizer bar that looks like it could further improve the ride. Has anyone tried this?

 

Shoes are changed by removing the drum (held on by the wheel) and two springs. Much easier than calipers and pads.

No maintenance e-brake? You can't just slap new pads on an old worn, rusty, warped rotor. That disc/drum combo has to be changed with the majority of rear brake jobs and they are way more expensive than a standard front rotor or a normal drum.

As I stated earlier, rear discs won't improve braking power as the rear only does about 10-20% of a vehicles overall braking. Drums can handle that, and more, with ease. The huge advantage discs have over drums is their ability to reduce brake fade, an fairly non-existent issue on the rear of street vehicles.

The reason why a lot of manufacturers have gone to rear discs is because they can charge more for them. Unknowing people assume drums are old technology and weak. For front brakes, yes, drums are inadequate but for the rear they can easily handle the load.

If it aint broke....


Now the lack of power every Tacoma and pre-Tacoma has been dealing with is something else. Why do 4-runners seem to get the better engines?

 

i voted on this some time ago but thought i would revisit this as i had stated my opinion when the truck was pretty new.

mine is a 2011 four door 4wd trd and is my 3rd tacoma. i use it for going to my hunting lease with a utility trailer and four wheeler. it is our trip vehicle because it is quiet, safe and gets decent mileage. i can haul four people and their luggage across some pretty rough terrain with absolutely no fanfare. i can haul a load of lumber in the utility trailer just fine. this taco has been totally reliable. non of the trim is falling off. the paint still looks really good. some may complain about the gen 2 tacomas but i think mine is just fantastic. i also own a 2008 mustang and 2007 mazda. those who complain about toyota build quality have not owned a recent model ford.

 

Or worse yet... a Chrysler product!

I agree with all your points. I couldn't be happier with my truck. Sure there are a few things that I would change (there always are). If I owned a Ferrari I'm sure I would change a few things on it also. But all in all this is one of the best vehicles I have owned. Is it perfect? Nope. But no vehicle is. But it is reliable and it looks good and I enjoy getting in and driving it every day. I can't say that about other vehicles I have owned.

It has taken me and my family across the country 2 times in 2 years without issue at all. Started every time and gets in the low to mid 20's in mileage. What more could you ask for?

 

Funny u start out by downing Chrysler, then use ferrari as an elite vehicle since fiat now owns them both, but definitely agree. I work out of gms and fords and cant wait to get off and into my truck everyday at 4.

 

I think you and I would both agree that a Ferrari would out compare a Chrysler no matter who owns them so that is kind of a moot point you have there. The point I was making was no vehicle is perfect. Just some more than others and you take that into consideration when you buy said vehicle.

 

160,000 miles on my truck. I have only put 15k miles and i love it!!!! would buy another one for sure.

 

A couple of minor squawks, but overall very happy with my Tacoma, especially the mpg versus my prior F-350.

 

I LOVE IT!!!

My boss bought a '13 Ram Sport and all I hear about is how the Ram is so much better and you know what Bang for Buck in terms of features it is BUT...when reliability comes into play and personal preference there is no match

I LOVE MY TACOMA!!!

 

I love my taco, though I wish I purchased a used one and used my other money for a sports toy ... But I cant complain.

 

Door locks don't work, dealer never let me have a remote fob thing, it wont shift itself. I have to open my door for myself, Toyota needs to fix that. I can hear my engine, its not quiet enough, spiders left my truck to go dangle on jeeps.

It has 4 tires, an exposed antenna, and a old reciprocating engine.... how 1940s is that, Toyota needs to get more modern. sparkplugs have to be changed every 120k miles or so, wth? modern turbines have no spark plugs proving Toyota's complacency. I expected more for $19k.

Word to the wise, the more you have the more you want.



seriously now. Paid for, keeping it, still looks good.

 

I love my truck, but spent the week driving my wife's jetta TDI and now I love my truck alittle less since its like driving a tank compared to the car

 

I like mine, and I'd absolutely love if the standard engine horsepower could have been enough for at least a 0-60 time of 6.5 sec (with driver only) with 87 octane. The 4.7 V8 probably could have been an option, but it would have detracted Tundra sales...

Same reasoning was applied to removing the V6 engine option from the now-current Rav4, as potential Highlander buyers were purchasing the V6 Rav4 instead.

 

I had to have the rear diff replaced twice in the first year but no problems since. I have almost 150 k on it. Very pleased.

 

Very reliable runner A few small problems over the last couple years Rear bumper is starting to rust pretty bad And what's up with the wimpy tailgate

 

Yes. But wish I could lock my tailgate stock from the dealer lot without having to do anything to it. Like my other trucks.

 

18k miles now, just over one year new off the lot. No shudders, shimmies, shakes, pings, knocks, rattles, whistles, leaks, squeaks.

The electronic 4WD works better now than it did brand new after actuating it quite a few times. That was my big original complaint - I had a hard time getting it into and out of 4LO. Now it pops right in and out, I guess it just needed some exercise.

Been through a summer and winter with it, she seems like a worthy successor to my previous two Toy trucks.

 

Wish there was factory hid option. Factory tailgate lock. Factory glove box lock. And lastly wish there was a crank windowed base model option.