Talk of Tacoma powertrain upgrade from head guy at Toyota US...

No worries. I didn't take it like that at all.

 

You might want to think about that statement a minute haha.
1. There is a huge difference between an "electric powered" vehicle and a Hybrid.
2. Trucks that see much more abuse than a Tacoma are already hybrid.
3. A hybrid appeals to me, and I am probably the furthest away from the person you described above, and I hate granola. I also design off highway mobile equipment for industries that cut the trees, drill for oil, mine for coal, copper, phosphate, trona, and pretty much everything else that the save the world types hate.

Now, why would I love a hybrid? Torque. Gobs of torque. At one rpm. At high rpm. Anywhere in between. A hybrid system could really improve our trucks in general if designed for the application. The engine we have now would be a great fit with the hybrid drive.

 

Yeah, the bling comfort crowd sure has ruined pickups. I have always had trucks ever since I was 16 (now 45)...only owned cars as play things. Truck fits the "do-it-all" vehicle nicely other than having crappy mileage. I prefer basic interiors and the rough ride, so I am a-ok with that compromise. But man...over the years watching trucks go from a basic thing to haul a load gravel or cow shit in...to these luxo barges they have evolved into...it is kinda funny how soft handed people have become, yet use their giant blinged out trucks to "appear" macho.

Like most things in life, things change...sadly 90% of the driving I do in my Tacoma is now commuting. While I certianly can afford to feed it, doesn't mean I want to. Of course my wife tells me not to get so hung up over mileage, it is only money! If you like your truck, just drive it!...and quit looking at everything else. (which is true, there really isn't anything out there I like over a Tacoma...silly as it seems)

For some damn reason I like "running the numbers" even if it drives me nuts, and perfectly content with what I already have. Why is there this constant need to compare, and browse the classifieds? ha ha!

 

Dude, just buy the Ecoboost F150 already. You've been tormenting yourself for I think as long as I've known you.

 

Well said and very true. I've talked with many Toyota executives who claim they are looking at a 8sp transmission in the near future, thats about it. I'm told, the Higlander transmission is what they are looking to modify for the Tacoma. When? Million $ question. My bet 2020 because that's when I'm buying another Tacoma ; )

 

Bada Bing!

 

Diesel is the way to go, but all the emission equipment is way too expensive and way to problematic. All the new American Market "little" diesels are having reliability issues. I don’t think most people are willing to add 5g’s to the cost of a 37k Tacoma just to get a diesel.

The Tesla’s are successful becasue they realized they couldn’t make a good affordable electric car, so they turned it into a status symbol and made a completely high-end vehicle, I don’t see that happening with a Tacoma.

 

That would be the main issue, making a diesel meet the EPA rules isn't getting any easier. From that standpoint if I see the complexity of a hybrid as an issue (not that /any/ modern truck is exactly simple), then the issues with urea systems and that can't be ignored.

 

Ha ha!

No manual trans... c'mon Ford... Ecoboost Rangie with a manny!

No idea why I do so with vehicles...(why is there this constant need to compare???)... don't torment myself with the dirt bikes, maybe because they make exactly what I want. Wear them out, and just buy another pretty much exactly the same as the last.

 

We just bought a new Highlander for my wife. The eight speed is a cool transmission but, like everything, has it's drawbacks. If people think that a six speed shifts a lot...

It's really simple if you look at the big picture and don't get hung up on your own wants. The vast majority want efficiency. Toyota has two good arrows in their quiver right now they could use: Hybrid drive and different transmission. They are going to use them.

 

As soon as they make one in Quicksand!

 

Diesel's emission equipment is the main reason I am very leery of owning a diesel long term. Hybrids seem to be proving themselves reliable.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...-600000-miles-batteries-last-apparently-video

 

I think I found the best place to buy a Hybrid truck!

 

Damn, I'm late to the party.

I'm on the hybrid boat. It's the only logical path Toyota would take.

Also, EVs are the future. Get them gas burners while they last, it won't be long now. And rest assured it'll be better, no doubt about it. I personally am looking forward to it.

 

His death is unsolved, actually.

Fuck that tinfoil hat nonsense. "Free Thought Project" is anything but, it's a bunch of chemtrail enthusiasts altering reality to fit their narrative that we're all living in an alternate reality and our brains are programmed to see only what we're allowed to.

 

I drove a new hilux with the 2.8l d4d (330 ft lbs of torque). During the week I had it, never got over 22 mpg. Mostly in hills driving around 45mph. Sure the motor never struggles to hold gears, shifts great. But I would've got 20mpg easy in my 3rd gen on the same drives. I would never want a diesel Tacoma. The 2gr has so much more power and pull.

 

Same 4.0L displacement but it's a more powerful, dual VVTI version. FWIW, I average 20-21 MPG in my 4Runner, I don't know anybody with a second gen Tacoma getting near that, and I'm surrounded by them.

 

Hybrid? yes. that's about the only reasonably improvement that would actually make me want to sell my current truck.

 

GM has been selling hybrid SUVs for years, and they sell so poorly they've been killed off. 500 hybrid units, 70,000 regular units. $13k more in base pricing for the hybrid, and the only return is 5 MPG city/2 MPG hwy for the trouble.

 

Doesn't seem that majority automatically rules in this country anymore so this shouldn't matter...........