taco time?

[Danny15l]

I feel like selling my truck. It’s a Great truck with great power. I love the styling. I loved this truck to the moon until it started to have issues…
That being said, first for the ac was making weird clunking sounds from behind the dash when turning the HVAC on/off. Sounded like a blend door catching… That fixed on its own. But really? Noises?
Sounds cheap.
Second, with 17k miles on it and the drivers side floor board is soaked with 1” of water after a few days of heavy rain. The car smells like a 20year old vehicle. I get all cars have issues, but a water leak is a very big concern for any new car and it makes me question the build quality of fords now. Don’t worry y’all, I’ve owned a Ford F-150 since 1998 and it also had water leaks. How many? Idk. But it was like a water ride at the theme park when going sharp around a turn ??

Thirdly: the well known drive shaft thumping noise from the slip yoke… to me this is unacceptable for any rear drive car. And reading about previous years having drive shaft issues is even worse. my sister, who has only driven it twice was asking “what was that noise?”. I asked if it happens when taking off and she said yes. I took it to the dealer and explained in great detail when and how it happens. The DEALER DIDNT CARE. They probably didn’t try to replicate the thumping.
Fourthly: The transmission still revvs high when first driving, even after the PCM/ECM flash around 6k miles on the odometer. I took it in because it was holding second gear up to 4500rpm for more than 2 seconds when accelerating normally.

I’m unsure of whether I should trade it in for a manual car if some sort (taco 6spd) or keep it after the warranty work for the leak is done.
Just like any vehicle on the road, they are hit or miss when it comes to problems. Sorry to be a bummer everyone. Just sharing my own experience with a new 2020 XLT sport 4x4 that’s 2 years old…
What do you all think? I’m not so hyped up on the power specs so much. Just looking for something that’ll last 20 years with TLC.

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[AzScorpion]

While it's to bad your having these issues I would try and get them fixed first. If possible try going to another dealer that will help you get these resolved because the truck really is great.

As far as getting a Taco and having it last 20 years, IDK if the 3rd Gen is capable of that. There are many here who traded theirs in (myself included) because we didn't like the drivetrain and horrible seating position. At least try and drive one first and I think you'll see why we didn't like them. Personally I'd try and stick it out with the Ranger and maybe consider getting an extended warranty through one of the online dealers who sell them for just over cost. I just added a 6/75,000 with LED lighting for $1,045.00. Good luck!

 

[NOVA_Ranger]

If you’re not concerned with power, a Tacoma might be the truck for you.

 

[Frenchy]

Yeah, so when it comes to the mid size pickups available new at this time the Ranger is at the Top!! Yes there may be a few issues here and there, but what vehicle doesnt? I had to get the HVAC Distribution box replaced on mine due to the Warping issue. Yes its a thing for the first 2 years but there is a fix.

As for Toyota..... Yeah no thanks, the Engineering sucks(both old and new). I would rather have a new Frontier and those are Fugly in my eyes. The 2016 D40 Frontier was way more reliable than the Toyota Tacoma as well!!

Thats my input on this

 

[Frenchy]

If you’re not concerned with power, a Tacoma might be the truck for you.

Lol its the only one on the market without any power!!

 

[Danny15l]

If you’re not concerned with power, a Tacoma might be the truck for you.

Excited to go look at a 6spd manual. It really brakes me hardy.

 

[Danny15l]

The manual

Lol its the only one on the market without any power!!

The ranger has wayyyyy much more torque, the Tacoma’s not even in the same ballpark as the ranger with the FP tune I’d say.
The manual transmission has a 4.30 axle ratio. So driving it would be much easier. The auto has a 3.9 or something.

 

[Frenchy]

The manual

The ranger has wayyyyy much more torque, the Tacoma’s not even in the same ballpark as the ranger with the FP tune I’d say.
The manual transmission has a 4.30 axle ratio. So driving it would be much easier. The auto has a 3.9 or something.

Even with that final drive the Tacoma is still underpowered for what it is. Plenty of individuals with the Tacoma loose quite a bit of MPG when putting lift kits and bigfer tires on. Oh and its way more than what the Ranger looses. You would also be going to a brand that does nothing for a few years when their vehicles are speeding out of control and causing massive casualties(2009-2010 Prius event and other Toyota vehicles doing the same). To say the least I have my reasons for staying away from them

 

[jflogerzi]

Hold out to see what the next Gen brings. Colorado, Ranger, and Tacoma will have full refreshes. I really wish we could get the 5G ranger with 6G interior. That would be the tits

 

[Danny15l]

Yeah, so when it comes to the mid size pickups available new at this time the Ranger is at the Top!! Yes there may be a few issues here and there, but what vehicle doesnt? I had to get the HVAC Distribution box replaced on mine due to the Warping issue. Yes its a thing for the first 2 years but there is a fix.

As for Toyota..... Yeah no thanks, the Engineering sucks(both old and new). I would rather have a new Frontier and those are Fugly in my eyes. The 2016 D40 Frontier was way more reliable than the Toyota Tacoma as well!!

Thats my input on this

Being a Toyota, I’m sure all the kinks have been worked out to make it a reliable car. I do like the multiport injection like the f150 has. I just don’t like that huge of a truck. The engine of a Toyota has been tuned to be underpowered. They have tunes for everything nowadays on the market if you want a bump.
I’ve probably dumped like $3k in mods on the ranger. Added value to the truck for shre

Now the next generation of ranger 23’+ will probably wipe the floor with the tacomas.
Everything will be 4 cylinder turbo eventually also. More parallel competition?
The Kia Sorento has a larger displacement turbo engine than the ranger 2.3 eco boost. I wonder if their turbo engine has injector noise all the time when accelerating as bad as the ranger does. I have the engine cover so it’s much quieter in the ranger now than when I bought it (XLT)

 

[Danny15l]

I

Even with that final drive the Tacoma is still underpowered for what it is. Plenty of individuals with the Tacoma loose quite a bit of MPG when putting lift kits and bigfer tires on. Oh and its way more than what the Ranger looses. You would also be going to a brand that does nothing for a few years when their vehicles are speeding out of control and causing massive casualties(2009-2010 Prius event and other Toyota vehicles doing the same). To say the least I have my reasons for staying away from them

Im aware of their drive by wire issues lol luckily none hit me behind ?

 

[Danny15l]

Hold out to see what the next Gen brings. Colorado, Ranger, and Tacoma will have full refreshes. I really wish we could get the 5G ranger with 6G interior. That would be the tits

I keep seeing a 6sp manual tranny online. They should just put a 2.7eco in it lol. Either that or buy a ford transit with the 3.5 eco boost.

 

[9zero1790]

i dont want to pop any bubbles but i have not seen a manual transmission in a new truck in years including toyota. they may exist but dealers in my area will not stock them.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Drive the Tacoma before you jump in.

I drove multiples thinking that I may have just driven a bad example but they all drove the same.

Either Toyota is way overrating their V6 or Ford is way underrating their 2.3 EB power numbers.

An OV tuned Tacoma still makes far less HP at the wheels than a stock Ford Ranger.

And torque is even more embarrassing for the Toyota.

After the 1999 Mustang Cobra horsepower debacle, you can pretty much bet that any HP number Ford releases is on the low side of manufacturer variances.

These dyno results are just for comparison as everyone knows that dyno output varies based on which dyno, the weather that day, what type of creamer was in your coffee, and how much spare change is in your pocket.

It still shows how wide the disparity is for a 278HP V6 vs a 270HP EB 2.3.

Taking the best run with premium fuel for each:

Tacoma: 239HP and 230TQ (rounded up)
Ranger: 264HP 290TQ (rounded up)

And unless the Ranger has an outright silly efficient 10 speed auto, there is no way that 270HP can get 264 at the wheels. My math shows that to be a bit over 300HP.

Dyno charts below. YMMV.

OV tuned Tacoma dyno

Stock Ford Ranger dyno

 

[JasonTremor]

The manual will be tough to find. I was looking for one pre-pandemic and all the dealers in the region said same thing. You'll have to order one because every one we get is either pre-sold or sells the day it hits the lot. Back then all said about 3-6 month wait because Toyota only allocates so many manuals for a model year.

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