What year did they go digital?

Sorry if this is a known topic, but I was hoping to ask a weird and potential newb question:
What's the newest Tacoma that still has mechanical controls? Some cars started going digital in the early 2000's, but other's not until after 2010. Cars & with digital gas pedals still don't feel right to me...or maybe I've just driven the worst examples. Either way, I'm really curious.

Hopefully I'm in the right place to ask a question like this!

 

If your referring to electronic throttle control, Tacoma's started in 03 with a hybrid cable/electronic system on the 3.4L only.
05+ all Tacoma's were fully drive by wire throttle.

They have proven to be pretty relible altough some people still dislike them.

Some are mapped differently than others and thus have a more "lazy" feel, 05+ v6 trucks can be tweaked with a tune to be as aggressive or lazy as you like.

 

Thank you, that's exactly the answer I was looking for. So, basically, there's no chance of me getting a 4-door (not extended cab) Tacoma without drive by wire throttle, correct?

 

Yea I believe the double cab started about that same time and was only available with the 3.4L.

I've driven both mechanical, hybrid, and electronic throttle versions and I honestly can't tell any difference, maybe if I drove them back to back I could but weeks apart no.

I do know the newer 2nd gens (like 12+) have a bit lazier throttle curve than the 05-11 ones but I'm not sure if you would be able to tell unless you drove them back to back.

My 14 manual seemed like it had a flat spot right around 3000 RPM where it would stop accelerating unless I gave it more throttle but tuning took care of that.

 

I’ve definitely driven cars with drive by wire that you might not even notice…but when I hit the gas in my 2015 Kia, it was laggier than playing a video game with your TV out of game mode; I never want to own a car like that again. I’ve only driven a few Tacoma’s and they all felt fine though.

What’s really sparking the question is my wife just got a base model electric car. It’s actually very nice, but it feels like “the computer is driving and I’m just making suggestions” - The steering wheel turns by itself and the gas and brake feel very much “digital”.

I’m in the market for a truck and wanted the polar opposite of that - Mechanical controls and zero chance of the computers affecting the driving experience. I was hoping for a 4-door, manual transmission Tacoma. Maybe I can get one that’s still mostly “mechanical” with just the gas pedal by wire?

 

Can't say I've ever felt that in a Toyota other than a Prius, those things (at least the couple I have driven) feel about as powerful as a golf cart.

IMO the real shift to everything being electronic and computer controlled in vehicles started happening around 07-12 and has progressed to more and more nannies and electronics each year since. The last 5 years or so it has really gotten nuts though, it really is more like the vehicle is in control and your just making suggestions to it.

I mean there's some level of electronics in all Tacoma's, more is added every year. It just depends on the level of "electronic stuff" your willing to have.

Tacoma's were still pretty simple by modern vehicle standards through the 2nd gens (05-15), 3rd gens started adding alot more electronics and a much more complex engine.

You can get an idea of what was available each year by looking through the brochures.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-ebrochures-2001-to-2017.486957/

 

That's all great info. I'll check in the 2nd gen threads for more buying-related info.

One last completely "theoretical" question (I'm a huge nerd and thinking about stuff like this is fun for me): At what point would the Tacoma's be controllable externally? I've seen quite a few tech demo's where white-hat hackers asked people in the audience "Does anyone have a car newer than 20XX that would be willing to be part of a demo?". Then they go out to the parking lot and control the car without keys. It used to require access to the inside, but the last demos were done completely wirelessly - Cars were backed out of their parking spots and driven around the parking lot with a laptop and no one inside. This requires full digital control of the transmission (they were all automatic), steering, gas, brake and ignition. There's ZERO chance this could be done with my 2000 Ford Ranger, but 100% possible with the new electric car. To be clear, I'm not actually worried about someone "hijacking" my future Tacoma...once again, I'm just a nerd and think stuff like this is really interesting.

Based on your info, my guess would be this kind of computer control would have been added around the 3rd generation or later. It would be fun to know for sure though.

 

I don't think adding DI makes it much more complex engine. There also really wasn't that big of a jump in the early 3rd gens electronics wise either. In 18 they got TSS and in 20 Entune 3.0 which allowed remote start and the truck to connect to the internet.

2020 is the first year the Tacoma offered an internal internet connection. But they still can't be "driven" remotely. They still have a shifter cable and the steering is hydraulic. I suppose someone could possibly control the engine though.

 

Drive by wire generally refers to a disconnect between the part that a human operator interfaces with, and the other end, generally being driven by servos, etc.

I don’t know on the 4th gen, but all other Tacomas would not meet this criteria
They, and almost all other vehicles until they went drive by wire, have a cable that physically connects the gas pedal to the throttle body. There is a sensor on the throttle body that tells the ecu how much it is open, to command the injectors to provide the appropriate amount of fuel. Obviously that works together with other sensors, such as mass airflow, oxygen sensors to make sure it’s efficiently burning, etc.

electronic throttle body and injected vehicles have been around for a long time, are very reliable, and have no perceivable throttle lag 99% of the time. They honestly can adjust the fuel delivery faster and more efficiently than a carburetor. That’s why a Camry has more power than a stock 60s muscle car

 

Ha, some even stuck with points. Fuel injection was the end of the world.

Yes the newest cars can be remote controlled to the finest degree. There are laws in effect mandating such in recent years. Its technologically in some cases thats driven by government overreach.

Technology is fun, useful and usually efficient. Still everyone has a sweet spot. I personally like the early 2000's era car. Once they hit 2010 up or so they truly are overthought/underbuilt. Planned obsolescence? Funny thing is down the road opinions tend to change. I still love the late 60's early 70's cars and still own them along with a mix of new. My old 83 diesel will be alive long after the wives Pruis dies.

 

I can't say I've ever experienced any delays in a drive-by-wire car that weren't related to the engine itself. This also being the case for my last drive-by-cable car which was from 1998.

 

It's very possible the problem with my Kia Soul was the engine...but as a gamer who's really sensitive to input lag, it felt exactly the same. I'd heard other people make the same complaint, but once again, maybe it's just the motor.

Very cool to see the Tacoma's didn't have remote app control until later years. I LOVE the "Voodoo Blue" color I've seen on some 2019's (I think that's what it's called) and wish I could afford one. The prices in the north east are insane though.

 

Yeah, I mean it still takes time for air and fuel to be increased and sucked into the engine and the RPMs to then wind up. But it is even more noticable in smaller engines since they have more power to weight issues, generally.

 

I think somewhere around 19-20 was when internet connectivity was added if that's what your asking.
As far as hackability I couldn't really say, haven't heard of any wireless hacks on Toyota's yet. There was a CAN bus hack on a Toyota with the smart key system ahwile back (can't remember the model) where they accessed the CAN wires behind the headlight, hacked in, and were able to start and drive the car without the key fob.

 

Drive by wire you say?
We’re at electronic steering now.

Not that it bothers me. Personally, I don’t mind it.
Less maintenance if built right.

 

It's certainly much more complex than the 4.0L, the 4.0L has single VVT, only port injection, and a simple 2 speed fuel pump.
The 3.5L has dual VVT, both port and direct injection, a high pressure fuel pump, and a variable speed low pressure fuel pump with it's own control module.

I'm not saying it's the most complex engine out there but it's certainly well beyond any previous Tacoma engine.

 

Of all the things I hate, I hate electronic transfer cases. Give me a f'n lever and let me engage it.

And the stupid electronic parking brake. They get noisy and people complain. Bugger off with that as well. We dont need parking brake engagement every time we park.

TPMS is an easy hate. I wish it was wheel speed calibrated, not sensors.

Throttle, steering and brakes are fine by me. All are rock solid, at least in Toyota land.

 

What's really gona be fun to watch is when there's a bad over the air update (don't think Toyota does this yet) and it bricks a bunch of vehicles (GM already had an issue where an OTA update caused dead batteries).

 

01-02 are still cable and 01-04 all 4cyl double cabs are cable, but also 2wd only.

 

The dumb thing about the wheel speed calibration is a lot of manufacturers use it as a fallback but still turn on the TPMS fault light. My BMW you could actually go in and disable the pressure senders with a BMW specific flash tool and it would use rolling diameter instead and be okay with it because that's how it is sold in the European market.