Question for 2016 V6 AT owners: does shifting "improve" with mileage?

Yeah, it's why I no longer use cruise control. Even in Central Texas where most everything is gently sloped, it drops into 4th on cruise. I just stopped using cruise and get the sweet spot in 6th that holds it's speed up a hill.

 

SUCKS!!!!! I hope they come out with an updated program to fix it!

 

I just put it in S-5 and leave it there on hills with the cruise on. Works fine.

G.

 

Yeah, I fiqure that's what I'll be doing one I get my wheel and tires on.

 

Yeah, we shouldn't have to do that though. 5th gear is more than adequate for my area and there is no need for fourth gear.

 

Well, I think we all agree, that it's different, but things are not going to get any better with the hoops car makers have to jump through. My Dad's new Jeep 9 speed is really horrible.

Goes right along with plastic bumpers.

G.

 

Yeah but it's also a Chrysler Corp vehicle. Having owned a 09 Challenger SRT8 and a 11 Chrysler 200, both fell apart and both had major issues.

 

The only issue I have with the transmission is when I have the cruise control on. It likes to downshift and hold a higher gear. Really annoying. My wife's 2011 Highlander does the same thing.

 

I test drove a TRDS 4x4 DCSB last night. Never owning a Tacoma (s10 and Silverado) I was very disappointed. I loved everything but the engine and transmission. Like most have described, there seemed to be wayyyyy too much shifting. And these shifts were not smooth either. Now, this Tacoma was literally just taken off the delivery truck. Still had the plastics on and odo read 5 miles. Waiting for an sr5 to show up to see it that drives any different. Went to Chevy after and drove the Colorado and boy was that smooth. But, then again it's a Chevy and I want something more long term.

Really nervous about buying a Tacoma if it drives like this. =\.

It would be helpful for future posters in this thread to mention their trim of the Tacoma. Thanks! =)

 

I have an SR5 DCSB V6 4WD, and yes, it's different, but I don't have a problem with it at all.

There is a "learning curve" for you and the truck. There are several different ways to drive it with different trans shifting techniques.

Love mine. I came from an 06 SR5.

G.

 

I chose the SR5 DCLB 4WD version. Needed the long bed, auto was the only choice. Looked at the TRDs, just couldn't see the $3500 additional. My previous Tacoma was a 2011 AC 4WD with 2.7L and manual 5spd.
Some food for thought on manual vs. auto, you loose all of the automatic goods and bads. Manuals also come with the 4.3 gears instead of the 3.9s. If you're going to go with larger diameter tires, the manual axle ratio will help keep the engine in the power zone better. Also with the manual you do not have ECT, since you're in control. Question comes to mind of: which tune do they use? The auto with ECT? Or a custom tune? Whichever, it's not an issue with the manual.
I've not experienced much in the way of problems with the auto in my SR5. A little on the "shifty" side when I first got it, but now seems to do just fine. It will still shift to 6th at a low speed in Drive, but I typically run S4 in town and S5 on back roads. I treat Drive as an overdrive on flat highway. I seldom use the ECT mode anymore.
My best mileage so far was a recent 120 mile round trip from Willamette Valley over the coast range to the coast. I filled up in town when we left, mileage in Tillamook when we arrived was 26.2. Figured I would take a hit going home, but the trip back over the coast range to home got 25.7mpg!
I'm at a loss when I read about some of the guys getting 15-16 mpg with their Tacomas. I think we would all like to hear Toyota's response to these folks who are getting such poor mileage.

 

i have found out there is a learning curve, that learning curve is learning to live with it.
i have learned to drive in S mode all the time.