Will hold off for 2015

Nobody is disputing that higher mpg's are possible in modern automatics with more speeds and taller gear ratios. The mpg gains would be awesome combined with the weight advantage of a Tacoma. I just don't think it is likely in a heavier full-size truck that only has 3 more lb-ft. of torque than a V6 Tacoma.

Car and Driver tested a 2wd Ram 1500 V6 8-speed auto and got 15 mpg. (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-ram-1500-slt-v6-8at-test-review-eight-is-a-lot-page-2). I don't think there's a v6 auto 4x4 Tacoma that CAN'T beat that, even with "a couple people and some stuff in the back."

The worst mpg I've gotten in my 6-speed manual Tacoma is 15 mpg, and that was on a trip in cold weather with two people, two dogs, camping stuff, lots of highway travel at 75-80 mph and lots of time in 4Lo, all on the same tank of gas. I'm sure under ideal conditions the Ram 8-speed auto can top the Tacoma's mpg, but in real-life usage I'm not convinced.

Factor in the Tacoma's lower price, better reliability and better resale value and I don't think there's a way to come out ahead financially on a Ram 1500 V6, even if it could reliably beat a Tacomas fuel economy by 4 or 5 mpg. I think we can both agree that the 3rd gen Tacoma will kick ass, though.

 

Actually I just said the Taco's automatic is dated and it's MPG would benefit (perhaps in 2015 per the OP) from a modern higher gear count transmission like other automakers. KenLyns took exception to that statement and KenLyns insisted the Ram got worse gas mileage. When proven wrong, KenLyns then insisted the Ram had "4 cylinder" power (again wrong).

I just posted EPA ratings was all.

Uh, I think both trucks run about the same 0-60 and quarter times.

So according to to KenLyns the other manufacturers V6 truck is "underpowered". But since BOTH V6 trucks do the same 0-60 and quarter mile times does KenLyns also think the Tacoma is "underpowered" too? Or was here merely underscoring his level of ignorance again? Let's see...

So let me get this straight. In KenLyns world - We can only compare the benefits of transmission technology from other trucks IF we have some sort of very precisely calculated correlation between the two vehicles power to weight ratios?

But wait! While KenLyns likes to blindly ignore emperical fact based data while repeating his "real world" mantra. Hmmm, both trucks have pretty darn similar 0-60 and quarter times in "real world" testing. Let's see what his next move is to deny the benefits of higher gear count transmissions...

That's interesting because just yesterday KenLyns seemed very pedantic about "tall gears" in earlier posts... but OK.

I own a 7 speed automatic equipped car. It pretty much nails even sometimes exceeding it's EPA mileage estimates. OTOH my Taco consistently falls a wee bit short of it's EPA estimates by 2 or 3. NO biggee - I knew what to expect from all the fuelly sigs here.

Now what was that you were saying? Oh yes, something about "gaming" the EPA estimates.

Benefits to overall increases in vehicle efficiency range from saving a little (or a lot) in our pocket books at the pump to helping contributing to the U.S. becoming a net exporter of petroleum based energy for the first time in decades. Pretty impressive definition of "limited benefits" ya got there KenLyns.

Do you have any facts or data to back any of this up? Cuz my 7 speed automatic equipped car stays in, well, uh, 7th on a road trip with cruise set usually until my bladder needs relief and/or the fuel needs a topping.

My 7-speed auto hits 7th in mixed driving and almost exclusively stays in 7th when I set the cruise on the hwy. Perhaps that makes me some sort of statistical outlier in the KenLyns world.

But what KenLyns is referring to as Hwy driving above is actually by EPA standards mixed or combined driving at best where you have only 2 lanes and must accelerate to 'pass'. Heck should stop and realize that any automatic, even vintage 3 speed and 4 speed autos will down select gear selection for passing. 8 speed or 3 speed - that's what they do by design.

 

This thread derailed long ago.

 

I have to assume that the final gear ratio is going to be about the same with 4 gears or 9 gears. additional gears will most likely allow u to get to the next gear at a lower rpm, and create a search when towing among the top 2-3 gears. I assume there will be 2 that have a better than 1:1 ratio(overdrive) and that usually isn't ideal for towing because of torque being very low in low rpms in gassers.

 

I heard it will only be in the SB, but, it will have paddle shifters...

 

You think incorrectly. The Taco V6 is faster than the Ram V8 Hemi. No amount of technology is going to hide the face that the Ram is about 1000 lb heavier. (Well, not until they start building trucks out of aluminum, like Ford will be doing with the next-gen F-150...)

 

I like turtles

 

^I agree

 

edit: fuckin love turtles!!!

 

Jesus Christ.... I didn't even know I liked turtles.

 

Yeah, I drove my new 2014 200 miles across nd at 85mph and got 14mpg.

 

FIFY

 

Oh? Curse that technology eh!? Another example of your logic on display?

A quick search with another amount of technology (google) for a single source testing both vehicles revealed the following results:

Edmunds.com
2012 Tacoma 4.0L V6: 0-60 7.7; no 1/4 provided
2013 Ram 3.6L V6: 0-60 7.8; 15.7 @ 87.0

TruckTrend
2012 Tacoma 4.0L V6: 7.6; 16.0 @ 86.4 mph
2013 Ram V6: 3.6L 0-60 7.4; 15.7 sec @ 88.3 mph

Call me sloppy and imprecise but those figures seem kinda sorta the same. But you may argue the finer points...

KenLyns, ya haven't skipped a beat yet on your parade of ignorance. But I do respect your consistency.

 

Wouldn't matter if Ram got 100MPG, I've never known anyone to have a pleasant ownership experience with any Dodge/Chrysler product aside from Wranglers, and even then only amongst enthusiasts and off roaders...

 

My 7 speed auto has 5th as 1:1 and the top two gears are both OD at .862 and .771 respectively.

I think Ram's 8 speed is similar to my 7 speed car in that regard but also has a really low 1st gear. This should allow for a taller differential ratio without giving up low end 'pull' from a stop. I would expect the GM and Ford units to be similar as well.

In the next gen Taco referenced by the OP, I'd like to see a 'next gen transmission' myself. The new technology employed in transmissions on full size trucks has made for some impressive real-world results IMHO. Hopefully some will trickle down to the the future next gen Taco.

 

Isn't the tacomas final .68? All I meant by my post is get mileage won't go up any because of additional gears.

 

Going from memory of my 5 speed manual tranny days probably something like that or maybe in the .7s...? (and yet my Taco isn't constantly downshifting like KenLyns warned.)

That's a good point you raise. Modern high gear count trannies open up more differential ratio options. So I guess one has to look at them together for final drive ratios.

 

Tacoma V6 DCLB by Car and Driver
http://media.caranddriver.com/files...-4x4-v-6-long-bed0702-toytac-ltinitial-ts.pdf
0-60 mph in 6.9 sec
1/4 mile in 15.6 @ 87 mph

Ram Laramie V8 by Car and Driver
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/final-scoring-performance-data-and-complete-specs-page-5-1
0-60 mph in 7.1 sec
1/4 mile in 15.6 sec @ 88 mph

 

Yep, like the 3.4L V6, looks like the V8 is also about the same. So dude, like why are you so fixated on Ram V8s anyway?

But the real story here is someone has figured out how to take a heavier truck, get great gas mileage and still deliverable comparable real world performance. A huge piece of that formula is newer transmission technology - that's something I hope Toyota looks at for the next gen Taco like the OP's 2015.

 

I had a 2005 Tacoma double cab. Sold it in 08. Best PU I ever owned. Went to look at the 14's and it was deja vu all over again. I felt at home as it is really the same truck!! What is it with Toyota and keeping models for centuries. I am awaiting the 15's and hope they do not delay it another year. The Colorado could take market share if Toyota is asleep at the wheel.

Bruce