Who actually likes their 3rd gen?

Apparently not anymore…

 

We’ve always had fun in ours. Same with the Hilux, 2nd gens, etc.

 

Yes!

 

Ok guys, we need to continue the conversation why Tacoma sucks balls and jeep is the shit.

 

@americancheese.

 

Omfg. How did you know?! You player.

 

You bastard!

 

Toyota is a global brand. Perhaps you should do you research.

 

Okay this is sad but true

 

Like the plastic bed since I camp out of mine, not such a heat sink like the metal one is my first gen. Did my first camping trip in the 3rd a couple weekends ago, brought my heater, didn’t need it keep toasty with just a sleeping bag, even woke up to frost on the ground.

Love my 3rd Gen. Used to be one of those curmudgeons that thought the old stuff was better, not anymore. It may of created a monster, can’t wait to see what they do with the 4th.

Sure there are few things I would change, but not much. Think the only thing it is lacking is a turbo diesel option. But very happy with the current gasser V6, plenty of power for me, and gets decent fuel economy if you keep your foot out of it.

 

Mines blown up and I still like mine!

 

Ok. We are specifically talking about Tacoma’s, not Toyota brand in general.

 

Yes, we were talking about Tacoma's; however, what is missing in your thought process is the fact Tacoma is not 100% Tacoma and it does share some of its DNA, design and parts from its big brother the Hilux. It is okay to discuss both the Tacoma and Hilux in the same breath. I love them both. Cheers

 

So true. My 3rd gen was the worst truck I ever owned. As much as I wanted to like it, I hated it. The Atkinson engine was just a terrible idea in a truck and then trying to make up for the power loss with the gear ratios and poor tuning was just a disaster. I should of known better before buying. Just wanted to down size at the time and needed something cheap. Tacoma was the only real option back then, but honestly I probably would of been happier with a ridgeline sadly. I’m sure it could of done just about everything I did with my Tacoma. Perhaps they dialed it in better now. I think the next gen will be a lot better though. But I also think the next gen of the competitions trucks will be as well. Only reason I could see myself going back to the mid sized market would be because of price and MPG. But I get almost the same in my Titan as I did with my Turd gen

 

I own a 2nd gen. I'm planning on skipping 3rd and going to 4th, or 6th gen 'Runner.

 

Lol, that pretty much sums it up.

 

New to Toyota and a midsized truck. Had a couple F150's(1995 & 2014) and a 2007 Titan as a comparison. Only had it for jus over a month now but I do like it so far. 2022 trd sport manual, doesnt have the growl or feel of the v8 but having a manual makes it abit more exciting to drive. I do notice it is more sensitive to payload than my half tons but I sold my camper so didnt really need the towing capability any more and wanted a DD with better fuel mileage. With daily commuting I am getting ~19-20 mpg and my best tank to date was 24 mpg. Comparing it to my 2014 f150 the pros are better mpg, maneuverability and getting a manual again. Cons are interior space and the stereo.

With the local inventory of trucks around me (east coast Canada) it was luck that I found this 'used' tacoma with 35kms on it. (someone ordered it an didnt take delivery) Was looking at the frontier, ranger, gm twins and another f150. Out of those I only test drove the frontier ( SV long box) and the tacoma. Sat in a used ranger and a new gladiator but wife/kids both preferred the seats in the tacoma.

 

Has plenty off power just makes it at a higher rpm, as do a lot of gas engines. Think the peak torque of the Ford 7.3 Godzilla is around 4000 rpm. Massive amount of power, yet that thing also has to scream under load.

Is it the transmission or is it the cruise control? Mine only hunts with the cruise on to maintain speed and a certain rpm for fuel economy. Doesn’t hunt with the cruise off.

Have owned Toyotas for 30+ years driven all kinds of vehicles anything from diesel VW Rabbits, to 1 Ton pickups, to Tri-Axle Dump Trucks. Sure the 3rd Gen could use a turbo diesel option for guys who want that, the 3.5 gasser seems more than adequate for the majority of owners. Guys who mod the shit out of their trucks sure aren’t going to be happy, they are never happy…why they mod the shit out of their vehicles. Modders seem like a bunch of miserable old sods who are never satisfied.

 

That made me laugh out loud!! My goodness, I did a lot of things to hurt my back in my youth, but never anything like that!! If that was my son, I'd take him behind our barn and beat the crap out of him!

 

lol - JFC you guys must own different 3rd gens than me!
Brand new to Tacomas and Toyota overall and after driving a Ranger, owning a JK and a Ridgeline (first gen) and renting a Bronco I can safely my 2020 DCLB is amazing.
Feel bad for you guys with that many regrets.
We just got done towing our 3,000lb off road trailer 2,900 miles to NM in April and JUST got back from towing it right under 2,000 miles up and through the UP in Michigan......it towed and performed AMAZINGLY well. The only issue I had was averaging 13.5 or less (depending on wind and how much water we had) MPG.

I have no fanboy attachment to Toyota, the Tacoma nor any other brands, I just report on my own personal experience.
Having said that, I truly feel bad for guys that have had that many issues with their 3rd gens.
So far it's (literally) been the best vehicle I've ever owned. Towing on the highway was awesome compared to my JK.