furious taco

[AzScorpion]

Wow. I never thought much about tacos until I joined this forum. After a lifetime working in a GM plant, I just kinda check the N/A box when it comes to considering Toyota lol but you folks have really enlightened me about the whole cult of personality surrounding those things.

I've never been one to tolerate fanbois either so I do tend to smile a bit when I hear someone have problems with the almighty and undeniable quality in a marvel of bland styling.

I mean sure I like to support my brand of choice, but when it shits the bed I man up, admit it, pay the price and move forward.

There's fanboys for every company but what I found funny (sad) was the way most Taco owners justified things. When I first bought my '16 and realized how bad the drivetrain was I went on TW so see what others thought. 95% were either ok with it or made the dumbest excuses for it. I remember one saying something like "I don't see what the big deal is, you just have to drive it at 5,000 rpm for it to make power". ?‍

Jeep is another one which I honestly think is worse than Taco fanboys. Now I know they have really good sales so of course their issues will be higher but some were just head scratches. One in particular that made me nervous to even move my front seat forward were they would break at the slide mechanism. There's a plastic piece which will eventually break leaving your seat in the forward position with the seat back forward. You can't move it and obviously can't drive it when this happens. Instead of Jeep fixing this with a metal part they continue to use this cheap plastic one. The fix (besides having to keep replacing it) was to carry around a spare 3" - 3/8" socket extension to release the seat back to a reclined position. ?‍

Sponsored

 

[RedlandRanger]

There's fanboys for every company but what I found funny (sad) was the way most Taco owners justified things. When I first bought my '16 and realized how bad the drivetrain was I went on TW so see what others thought. 95% were either ok with it or made the dumbest excuses for it. I remember one saying something like "I don't see what the big deal is, you just have to drive it at 5,000 rpm for it to make power". ?‍

Jeep is another one which I honestly think is worse than Taco fanboys. Now I know they have really good sales so of course their issues will be higher but some were just head scratches. One in particular that made me nervous to even move my front seat forward were they would break at the slide mechanism. There's a plastic piece which will eventually break leaving your seat in the forward position with the seat back forward. You can't move it and obviously can't drive it when this happens. Instead of Jeep fixing this with a metal part they continue to use this cheap plastic one. The fix (besides having to keep replacing it) was to carry around a spare 3" - 3/8" socket extension to release the seat back to a reclined position. ?‍

That is a good example of "planned obsolescence"....

I think it is human nature to try and justify our decisions - it just seems some people REALLY need to justify their decisions more than others. (like deep down they really don't know if it was a good call, so they very loudly proclaim how great it is to try and quiet those deep seated insecurities).

For me, I liked some things about the Taco, but I just could not get over the drivetrain - it was HORRIBLE. I never noticed the seating position that many refer to, but maybe I was just so horrified by the drivetrain I didn't notice it.

I hope Toyota ups their game with the new gen - it is good for everyone when there is lots of competition.

 

[AzScorpion]

That is a good example of "planned obsolescence"....

I think it is human nature to try and justify our decisions - it just seems some people REALLY need to justify their decisions more than others. (like deep down they really don't know if it was a good call, so they very loudly proclaim how great it is to try and quiet those deep seated insecurities).

For me, I liked some things about the Taco, but I just could not get over the drivetrain - it was HORRIBLE. I never noticed the seating position that many refer to, but maybe I was just so horrified by the drivetrain I didn't notice it.

I hope Toyota ups their game with the new gen - it is good for everyone when there is lots of competition.

I honestly don't know which was worse, the seating position or the drivetrain? Honestly they were both horrendous but the seating position would leave you need a chiropractic visit if you drove it longer than 30 minutes. It was so bad when we went on vacations I would rent a car to drive just so I could be comfortable.

After owning it for 3.5 years I can honestly say the only good thing about it was the resale value. That's what got me into my '19 Ranger with a very low loan. The Ranger drives better, is WAY more comfortable and IMHO off roads better. At least all the trails/areas that I've been with both. Another thing I don't like (and it's a personal nit pic) is the black plastic around the fenders. I know why they do it (to protect from scratches from brush) but to me I think it looks cheap. Oh, while I'm on a roll I also hate the square look around the wheels....Wheels are round! ?

 

[Jason B]

Hey folks had a good one last night I thought the group might enjoy....

wife and I were in my truck at a light and when it turned green, a Taco was coming from the other direction and when he hit the gas it made all kinds of noise and fury and grunting and groaning and took off at about, oh, roughly the speed of stink.

I wasn't gonna say anything because she is a girly girl and doesn't pay much mind to that stuff, but she turns and asks "what the heck is wrong with that truck???". I just said that is a truck for dudes with low self regard, feelings of inadequacy, and concerns about their virility. and then we finished up the rest of the chores and had a general feeling of contentedness because i don't drive a shitheap like that.

You forgot dudes with 'man buns'. Now that shit is funny!

 

[Friday yet?]

dudes with 'man buns

 

[subquark]

Owned a 19 ranger. Now own new Tacoma.
They both feel the same on full throttle acceleration. The ranger sucked in every way so i got rid of it. Love my new truck, it runs and drives great, unlike the ranger. They are both basically slow, I needed a reliable utility truck, if I want to go fast, I have something else to drive for that.Always cracks me up that guys think a 278hp 4500 lb brick is some kind of rocket ship street racer.

You forgot to mention the Ford Ranger design flaw of the "too-tall-rake".

I've been biased toward Toyota since 1976 and still think my old FJ and my wife's Corollas were outstanding vehicles.

BUT ... I love my Ranger and feel it's outstanding as a mid-sized truck. My only complaint is the sheet metal because I have dozens of tiny acorn dents. But I'm okay with that since Soupie is a premium rocket-ship dump runner. =D

And I really enjoy the truck (so much so that I detailed and graphened it yesterday—something I never did much in the past). I find it fun to drive, love it for summer day trips, and grin like a little kid when I look at it.

As for Tacos, I like them on Tuesdays with sour cream and extra cheese.

 

[Max Crafter]

Isnt there a simple fix for the seating position though?
some block that tilts the front of the seat back?

When a mod "fixes" a problem on our Rangers, we all rush out and buy it just to be part of the cult, and I think you all know what one I am referring too.

 

[subquark]

Isnt there a simple fix for the seating position though?
some block that tilts the front of the seat back?

When a mod "fixes" a problem on our Rangers, we all rush out and buy it just to be part of the cult, and I think you all know what one I am referring too.

Seat Jackers!

I learned about them from Chloe on YouTube and her Taco mods but do like them in Soupie. Two long trips (9 hours in a single stretch two different trips) proved to me the comfort of Ranger seats. I don't think the seat jackers changed that very much on Soupie, it does allow us to have a deeper bucket seat feeling without losing too much height (we're both short).

Plus we have XL seats which are supposed to be a lower grade and have neoprene seat covers but they are as comfortable, if not more comfortable, than any other cars we've had.

https://desertdoesit.com/collections/ford-parts/products/front-seat-jackers-2019-2021-ford-ranger

And I have no idea who you're referring to as a so-called brainwashing cult leader. By the way, how's @AzScorpion doing on his forum-funded two-week long vacation? =D

 

[AzScorpion]

Seat Jackers!

I learned about them from Chloe on YouTube and her Taco mods but do like them in Soupie. Two long trips (9 hours in a single stretch two different trips) proved to me the comfort of Ranger seats. I don't think the seat jackers changed that very much on Soupie, it does allow us to have a deeper bucket seat feeling without losing too much height (we're both short).

Plus we have XL seats which are supposed to be a lower grade and have neoprene seat covers but they are as comfortable, if not more comfortable, than any other cars we've had.

https://desertdoesit.com/collections/ford-parts/products/front-seat-jackers-2019-2021-ford-ranger

And I have no idea who you're referring to as a so-called brainwashing cult leader. By the way, how's @AzScorpion doing on his forum-funded two-week long vacation? =D

Do well, thanks for asking! ??

 

[mtbikernate]

Isnt there a simple fix for the seating position though?
some block that tilts the front of the seat back?

I rode in a Tacoma last week when doing a shuttle for a river float. I don't think there is a fix for that seat position. I'm only 5'8, but that was weird AF. sure, I guess blocks or something would address the leg position, but that wasn't the worst of it. It was truly bizarre how HIGH the hood (and the probably fake hood scoop) was and how much of the view out the windshield that it blocked.

I'll take the Ranger rake any day. visibility is SO MUCH BETTER.

Sponsored