Who actually likes their 3rd gen?

It's decent enough. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. If the market wasn't completely nuts right now I'd probably switch to something else.

 

Not your fathers V6 engine of a few years ago.

 

unfortunately, I never took any pics - should have - my bad so certainly you can dispute. September 19, 2014 Centennial Colorado if you care to research - odd storm for the Fall season. Not as bad as the storm the first week of May 2015 in Golden/Colorado Mills Mall. All of those stones were bigger than the ones I had. Record damage to cars (about 6 dealers in that area) and it closed the Mall for about a year to get repairs done. Nasty.

 

Damn. I don’t blame you man, I would feel the same way.

 

This is my 3rd Toyota 4x4 and 2nd Tacoma - I love this truck and plan on keeping it for the remainder of its life. The 3rd Gen doesn’t seem as “stout” (very subjective observation) as my old 94 pickup (or even my 95.5 Tacoma) but then I haven’t really had opportunity to see what it can do.

 

segond gen owner here, chiming in...

I've driven a few 3rd gens. the gadgetry and CRAWL system are pretty cool, but I'm not really interested in that.

i have a beat up 2005 4.0 4x4 manual

i took a hard look at the 3rd gen and liked it, but decided there really was no reason for me to spend the $

the 3.5 definitely has better gas mileage with no load. but climbing off road with a load, was a total pita. it was an automatic, so between the transmission and the lack of low end torq, i was completely turned off.

the 4.0 with manual trans slowly creeps up a trail the same way weather the bed is empty, or I'm pulling a few thousand lbs.

the third gen gets the same shit gas mileage with a load as the 2nd gen.

the 3.5 definitely gets much better mileage at 75mph with no load when compared to the 4.0

the 3rd gen is just as good of a little trucks as the 2nd gen, but i was disappointed in the lack of actual upgrades. why tf does it still have drum brakes? the same year Colorado and ranger were a much better bang for the buck.

Toyota needs to step it up with the 4th gen and actually make it better.

not too much of a difference between a 2015 and 2016 Tacoma. i think the false mpg rating and newer body style brought in all of the trendy people that bought them and keep complaining.
i see quite a few people comparing their taco to [insert full size truck name here]
that really isn't an even comparison

 

Oh the Gladiator has competition- Land Cruiser 70, 4.5 L V8 turbo diesel front and rear locker. 37-26-27 angles. Proven world beating durability with unparalleled longevity. It would give your Gladiator the back of the pimp hand- It's just not sold in the USA!!! Come on Toyota.

 

i read something a while back about how Toyota refuses to modify their diesel engines to meet the US emissions numbers.

 

But they're doing it with a 4cyl turbo...I think. We'll see how many miles those little turbo engines last compared to ours (using it as a truck). Once that's known, then we'll be able to see if we made out as far as money saved.

 

I've owned a first gen. And currently own a second gen manual and a third gen auto. Other then the size of the trucks, they only get better each generation. In everyway (except size)

Can you really call a 2022 tacoma a (midsized) pickup? It's bigger then my dad's 1980 GMC 1/2 ton

 

I don’t like it…

 

I love it!

 

I’ve owned a JT rubicon as well, solid truck but really couldn’t get over the crappy break over angle due to the wheel base and didn’t feel like putting it on 40s.

drivetrain felt good though.

 

I'll second this - As a preface, Second gen owner here. I did look at a Third gen when I got off deployment, but the second-gen I found was less of a hit to the wallet.

That being said, this thing even outclasses some old V8's IMO - owned an 89 Bronco with the 5.0 for a while and my Taco runs circles around it. It does everything I ask it to do, and that's all I really need.

 

Wish the cab interior was 5-10% bigger but glad they offer a manual transmission.

 

Love the stupid thing. Does what I want, when I want. And like a refrigerator from the 80s, it just keeps working. Granted I've only got 9500 miles on it since I picked it up new in February of this year. With this being said, I've never had a vehicle that didn't need 1-2k worth of work in the first 6 months after buying it. All I've done is add fuel, and change the oil once so far.

《First new vehicle by the way》

 

I've owned a 1990 22RE extra cab 5 sp., 1994 extra cab auto, 1995.5 3.4L extra cab 5sp, 2012 4.0L DC auto and 2016 3.5L DCLB auto. My favorite was the 1990 22RE but the 2016 is the overall best.
The 2026 all electric plug in Tacoma will be the best of all; 1200 miles on a single charge with a 1 hour charge time- I can dream!

 

Heck this v6 outperforms my 2001 tundra 4.7 v8. Except for not as plush a ride, the tacoma will bury it in a drag race.

 

I have a list a mile long of the problems we have had with this truck...

BUT it gets us to places like this, looking this good, so we keep it..

With that said we love our Tacoma.

Sure do like the looks of the new NISSAN Frontier tho... Only if they made a 6' bed I'd consider a change..

 

Not to mention the fact that your 3rd gen has very similar dimensions to the 1st gen Tundra, I just hope many years down the road it proves to have the same longevity.