Your last thread 3rd Gen V6 plus OV Tune or 2nd Gen V6 ?

I'm going to make this post in both the 2nd and 3rd gen forums. I'm 59 years old, looking to retire soon. I don't care about all the electronic gizmos except that I like my phone to work hands free. No serious off roading, I just want a 4x4 to let me get to some fishing spots I can't reach in a 2wd. And we plan to do some travel in a couple years after I retire, and would probably use this Tacoma.

I'm looking at the 3rd Gen Tacos. On paper they look great, but many of the reports and reviews say otherwise. But it sounds like most of the issues can be fixed with the OV tune, and possibly 4.88 gears. I'm too old and crippled up to row to work, so it will have an automatic.

3rd Gen Tacoma
+OV Tune
+4.88 gears
Big investment, and it may still suck.
Is there any reason not to get a low miles 2016-17 Tacoma if you intend to do the OV tune?

or just get a 2nd gen and be done with it. I had an FJ Cruiser with the 4.0 drivetrain and it was awesome. And my son has a 2008 Taco 4x4 DC, so I have some time on the 4.0 setup. I like a torquey motor, low end torque.

I'm scouring Autotrader and other sites, and am really leaning toward hitting the road to find a clean, low miles 2012-2015 Tacoma with the 4.0

Learned something the other day, Tacomas with VIN starting in 3 were made in Mexico, VINs starting in 5 were made in Texas. I'm going to pass on anything made in Mexico.

 

You answered your own question here..

4.0 is what you'll want if you want to get in it and drive it. If you like modifying things to suit you, then go with the gen 3

 

Unless you just hate Mexico, I wouldn’t worry about a quality difference. My Mexican made 14 just turned 50k and the only time it went back to Toyota was for a radio update.

 

get a 2013+.... 2012's had a slightly different programming (no shutdown purge) on the new to the v6 that year SAI system that caused moisture buildup and air valve failures.

You might of had depending on the year the higher output 4.0L (dual vvti) on that FJ of yours.

 

My FJ was a 2007.

 

OK so single vvti! Yeah the 4.0L and 5 speed auto are a great combo. I would of really liked to see the dual vvti 4.0L with the 5spd auto in the tacoma, but alas. Ill be running my 2013 into the ground, currently at just about 100k miles and thing still runs like a top and even better now with HPTuner, and a JustDSM engine tune and my trans tune.

 

4.0s w/gear swap is even torquier

 

My son has well over 200K on his 2008 DC, going strong.

 

Mine will spin the tires in 3rd merging on the hwy

 

Show off

 

Just trying to motivate you to go forced induction lol! It would be good for offroad.. I think trekker has one on his taco

 

The third gen is fine, especially if you're a mature driver. Here's the secret: it doesn't like to have the pedal mashed or to be driven aggressively.

If you mash the pedal on the 16+ Tacoma and modulate the throttle quickly, it gear hunts, it has some throttle delay and studder, and it doesn't drive that great frankly.

I learned to drive the truck (2018 auto). Just use smooth pedal movements and you can still go pedal to the metal, just don't mash it. The adaptive cruise control is terrible. If you're taking a long steep hill, take it out of cruise control if it starts gear hunting. The truck wasn't simply made to be driven aggressively. It has modest power and a modest tune with a modestly performing transmission. It's a modest midsize truck. I very much enjoy driving the truck and have 0 issues with it whatsoever, but I was frustrated with it up front until I learned how it was designed to be driven.

 

Nah not while still a DD. If I ever get the money getting dualing transfer cases then may think about boost.

 

OVtune + either gen

 

Fair enough, cant blame you, premium is expensive, that's why i barely drive mine..

 

3rd gen torque is higher in RPM.. 2nd gen has more low end torque.

And from what I felt, better response.

Either truck will get the job done, you’ll be spending more $ on a 3rd gen esp if including mods.

My vote is 2nd Gen 4.0 but don’t tell the 3rd Gen members or they might get all up in arms over it

 

Mine has gear hunted with no throttle modulation and in cruise control. Pretty inexcusable, makes me pretty wary of ever getting another toyota without putting at least 100+ miles on it first.

 

My truck was made in Mexico (2010) and I’ve had no serious problems 100k miles .One bad 02 sensor and a cracked belt and a bad door lock actuator that i fixed for $60 . other wise its a great truck i get 18-20 mpg depending on how I drive. If you’re going for a later 2nd gen 2012-2015 I would get as new as possible. Good luck with your search it took me 3 months to find what i was looking for

 

Not sure why you’d skip anything made in Mexico.

From what quick reading I did, the consensus is that the Mexico plant has more quality / solid builds coming out of it.

My Tacoma is a Mexico truck.. 162k miles and no major issues so far in its lifespan that I can see.

 

Go test drive a 3rd Gen and see if you like it. That will tell you pretty quick.

And if you can't find the right used 2nd gen, a new 4Runner is another other option. Dual VVTi 4.0/auto and it will ride nicer than any Taco. I was mulling over this very same decision but just can't live without a 6ft pick-up bed so that sadly ruled out the 4Runner. I went and test drove a new 3rd Gen and that ruled those out so I started looking and found a low-mile 2014 double cab long bed. I'm very happy with it.