Sad about the new models

Couple days ago, a guy pulled out attempting to make a left turn right in front of me. If I had time to hit the brake pedal at all, it was pretty much 45MPH into him. Seat belt held me tight, so tight I had to back the seat up to unclick it. Three bystanders came over to pull me out as my poor Tacoma caught fire. I'm fine, truck total loss.

I checked my dealer's web page and was happy to see they had a 2024 TRD Sport in blue - just like I had, so perfect! ...but it wasn't. We drove there in the wife's car to check it out. I drove, my wife took the backseat, sales guy in the front. I thought it was fine, but when the sales guy asked the wife she said: "This is totally unacceptable." It was so nice in front, I thought she was joking around, but she wasn't. The backs of the front seats go all the way to the floor. There is no place for passengers to put their toes. This was sooo disappointing. Happily the dealer did have a 2023 4Runner - still has lots of room for the backseat passengers, still has the V6. So I if you have a 2023 or earlier take good care of it.

 

Oooof......

Glad you got out ok!

 

Happy you're alive and well man! You'll find a good replacement

 

does your wife wear size 15 steel toe boots? what do you mean theres no room for your toes? lol. im 6ft and my feet go under the seat just fine. Ive sat in the back and the only complaint is the backseat has no angle its like 90 degrees, but thats how all tacos been.

 

The front seats have height adjustment. Regardless, glad you're ok after the accident and hope you enjoy the 4runner.

 

My wife is a mere 5' Sure you mean the 2024 model? We all looked and the sales guy even admitted its a crappy new design. My 2014 was good, there was room for you slip your toes under the seat in front of you, but not on the new models

 

My size 11 hiking boot in my 4th Gen This is with my driving position (6' tall), I can raise the seat even more.

 

Aside from this test drive, when was the last time your wife rode in the backseat of a Tacoma?

 

Pfft.
Now do these.

 

First; glad to hear you’re ok!

I lost my 21’ Off-Road Taco back in April.
A guy slammed into the back of me while I was at a red light. Totaled.

We drove around looking at the newer model Tacomas and were unsatisfied just like you.
We ended up getting a 2023 4Runner Off-Road(in all black) with the upgraded wheels/etc… for the same price that the dealerships wanted for a new Tacoma with less features than my 2021 had in it!

One of the other things we noticed while shopping was the only color we could find was the Silver Sky Metallic.
Aside from the Blue one that you test drove, which colors did you see?

 

I’m not

Op and his wife seem like the type to do something completely backwards and blame the manufacturer. A little common sense is all that’s needed some times.


Where’s the other half of my foot?!!!

 

How did the fire start?

 

We have a pontoon boat. When we take it out, we usually have another couple, being short my wife volunteers for the back.

 

The dealer has two TRD Sports, which is what I had and what I wanted to get... both were blue. Not sure what else they had

 

As you can understand, I was a bit dazed. As soon as the car settled I tried to unbuckle and had to move the seat back to release the tension. I just unbuckled and noticed a bit of smoke in the cabin but attributed it to the air bag... then noticed some flames coming out from the front edge of what was left of the hood. Three guys pulled me out and I wanted to go back for my phone but they wisely held me back. From the photos, while the driver side took the smack, it would seem that the passenger side of the hood burned. Later when I was able to try and get my phone, I was surprised how much the interior had melted.

 

Wow, so they just don't know how a fire started?! That's wild. I thought cars bursting into flames mostly happened in the movies.

 

From the look of the first photo, engine bay, including drivers side, took a huge amount of damage. The fuel line connections are floating in free space ?7 to 9 inches away from the firewall. I could see how one of them might've snapped, leaking fuel down onto a hot manifold. It would then either ignite immediately or perhaps a second or two later there was a spark from the no-doubt mangled electrical system.

With broken fuel line connection(s) (supply, return, or both,) with the fuel pump stopped & system depressurized a good bit of fuel would leak down out of the injector manifold, a couple of tablespoons or so & plenty to get a strong fire underway.

If OP still has access to the truck & the hood can be pried up or cut away from that area it'd be possible to inspect fuel line connections directly & see whether my theory is supported. Not that it matters much anyway.

 

Glad you got out ok. My dad’s old Dodge truck caught fire years ago while he was driving to work. He jumped out and it burned to the ground.

 

From the amount of flames I was a little disappointed that there wasn't an explosion.

It was essentially 45MPH head on. My driver's side corner to his passenger side corner. He pulled out so quick IF I put the brakes on at all it wasn't much. The fire department was there amazingly quick, at least it seemed to me. If they made any attempt to the source of the fire they didn't tell me.

 

Sorry no access. I have State Farm and they were on it and the truck was gone from the tow yard quickly. From the "live" view the fire clearly started on the passenger side of the motor and traveled back, and was amazingly hot. I thought I'd at least be able to get my key ring for my house keys, it was lost somewhere in the blob of the interior. Only thing I salvaged at all was my hitch/ball.