Toyota mechanic goes in depth on 3rd Gen

He's not saying there's anything wrong with the current generation Tacoma, just that it doesn't live up to the build quality from what one expects from Toyota of past and present. It just doesn't have the fit and finish of what a typical Honda or even current Toyota has. I have no concerns of the reliability or functionality of my truck but I'm not blind to the fact that the interior feels budget and there are exterior panel alignment issues. Just taking apart the interior to upgrade the stereo made me think back to an 87 Accord I had back in college, in which some trim pieces in the old Honda were nicer.

With that said, I don't expect the Tacoma to have the fit and finish as the Mercedes, Acura and Porsche it shares the garage with and I'm fine with that.

 

Take a drink every time he says "old school."

If you can make it beyond the point where he points at the rear diff, you're better at drinking than I am.

 

@Rock Lobster

Are we talking "shots" or swigs of beer?

LOLOLOL

 

Even those knickers need lovin'. lol

 

Bottles

 

If it's PBR, that's going to be a problem...wait, those come in a can.

If it's Jose, Ron, or Jim...fuggetaboutit!

Buahahahahaha!

 

That may also say a lot or be a reflection of the factory both of those vehicles are coming from...if Tacoma build quality has increased since 21, that may also say something as well. Mine is a 2020, it is a definite difference from the 2016 I replaced. Both were built in different factories.

I guess we will see on the next gen Tacoma, if the build quality assembly and paint is good, then I guess you could blame those issues on the plant that builds the Tundra and Sequoia vs the overall design etc.

If the next gen tacoma has the same build issues as the Tundra and Sequoia, I guess we can just chalk that up to they way Toyota is going to build vehicles going forward.

 

so basically buy as many 3rd gens as you can because after this its truly over

 

People said the same thing when 3rd gens came out.

He's gonna be right, all new models have growing pains and he'll make videos about them.

Biggest issue is going to be volume, not quality.

 

I live in Phoenix and for the three summers my 2020 Off Road AC has worked fine in the hot (but dry) weather. Been up to about 117 degrees at the hottest. Maybe hot and humid climates are the problem--like Florida and the mid west.

 

I agree with most of what he said and this is why I decided to buy a 2023 Tacoma and more specifically a manual Tacoma. Will it have the build quality of my first new 1990 Toyota pickup compared to other mini pickups in that time? No, but it’s the best new old school currently and I’m happy with that.

 

It can get in the upper 90's here with a lot of humidity but those days don't last for weeks. You definitely noticed the AC begins to suck when its those temps, but its not enough for this mod needing done. For 95% of the rest of the time the AC is fine.

 

I've haven't any issues with the way my truck performs bone stock...its exceptional, but not being able to have this S6 deal is strange, not that it really matters to me.

 

we have had a few very hot triple digit days and i have never found the ac lacking. It blast ice cubes and will burn the hell out of you on the other extreme.

 

My wife has complained about the AC once...last year. I put it on coldest setting and that settled her down. lol

It can get very hot here in Delaware and definitely includes humidity.

This is a truck (because it has leaf springs) and it does a very good job in performing its duties for me.

 

I cant get over how Tacoma owners worry about their trucks. Its a truck this pretty good across the board. I'ts not perfect, but nothing is.

 

I live in hot and humid and I have no issues with the a/c on my 2020.

 

I have a 2016, late build, and have had 0 issues. No leaks, nothing.
I had the tranny flashed and put a fox suspension on.
I had the 3rd brake light fixed under warranty which took 10 weeks because of parts issue. I was given 3 new trucks under rental for free while it was apart, 2022 and 2021's during that time. One new others with about 5K.
Couldn't wait to get my 16 back. New trucks didn't shift as well as mine believe it or not and ride was far from as good as mine, they sucked.
I had better tires on it, so I believe it's really the same truck just what suspension and tires you have. As far as the shifting like I said my 16 didn't hunt like the new ones. Response was just as good.

 

It's important to put "buy these years, not those years" into perspective. It's a mechanics observation of what vehicles show up in his shop and why. While important, don't forget to factor the population of vehicles that don't enter his shop. It's basically saying that if you buy a 2016, you're increasing your probability of a problem by 0.5%.

Same can be said with the argument of "buy a Toyota, not a jeep."