taco time?

[jflogerzi]

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.

you will not see the manual in the US. The global ranger in other countries had the 6sp option and will continue on the new 6g as well. Manual transmission in the states are pretty much dead. If you want one grab one now.

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[Aonarch]

Get your issues resolved.

Tacoma reliability is a myth in 2022.

The 3rd gen has plenty of issues, but god forbid someone complains about a Toyota's reliability.

 

[9zero1790]

i test drove a toycoma before buying a new ranger. it was not comfy, seat feels like its on an odd tilt in relation to the floor and the cab seemed cramped. but that could be just me as a tall ish fat guy lol. it was also less than impressive power wise. i liked the frontier better than the toycoma. some of the older tacos were good little trucks if you could keep the frame from rusting to dust. but, those days are long past. toyota is still selling and banking on the image of reliability it had in the 1990s and early 2000s. but they are not what they were then. toyota honda etc. have all pretty much aligned in quality and standards as the other brands. most brands get parts from the same groups of suppliers in china and a few other places. many overseas brands are assembled here now while a lot of domestic brands are made else where. if we could get a hilux here sure. or even the export ranger.

 

[MountainGoat]

I went to the Toyota site and didn't see any options for a manual transmission. That would be the saving grace for the Tacoma because it is dogshit slow. I had one and sold it in 6 months. Terrible truck. I wonder if they still have a giant grab handle blocking half the drivers view and a tailgate that dents in when you load something into the bed.

 

[Hickesy]

Sorry you're having problems. I'm 9000 in and touch wood, it's working just fine so far. If I wasn't in this, and I had a bit more money, I'd have a second look at the Chevrolet Colorado ZR1

 

[deleriumtremor]

Definitely drive a Tacoma before you buy it. If you are in the "normal" height range for a Japanese male (born and raised in Japan), then the cab and seating might work fine for you.

If you are 6' or over, pay attention to the seating position when on the test drive. For me, the Apollo 13 seating position was a deal breaker. The Tacoma and 4Runner cabs are just not designed for tall people.

PS - I have been a dyed in the wool manual transmission guy my whole life. The reality is manual transmissions generally deliver a little poorer fuel economy these days, they are not as easy to manage when off road in challenging conditions, they have a friction surface that wears out (clutch), etc. etc. etc.

 

[AzScorpion]

Definitely drive a Tacoma before you buy it. If you are in the "normal" height range for a Japanese male (born and raised in Japan), then the cab and seating might work fine for you.

If you are 6' or over, pay attention to the seating position when on the test drive. For me, the Apollo 13 seating position was a deal breaker. The Tacoma and 4Runner cabs are just not designed for tall people.

PS - I have been a dyed in the wool manual transmission guy my whole life. The reality is manual transmissions generally deliver a little poorer fuel economy these days, they are not as easy to manage when off road in challenging conditions, they have a friction surface that wears out (clutch), etc. etc. etc.

I'm only 5'7" and I couldn't stand the seating position. I probably could've found a way to deal with the drivetrain (tune?) but the seating was the nail in the coffin for me. It was so bad that when we'd go on vacations I would rent a car because driving it any more than an hour would kill my back. It felt like you were sitting flat on the floor with your legs straight out putting pressure on your lower back. Just going up to Flagstaff which is just over 2 hours I'd want to leave it there and walk back home. lol

On out trip up to Durango, CO in July of 2019 I met a woman at the gas station who just picked up her brand new Ranger, it still had the temp tags on it. It was the Saber color and we talked for about an hour and she was telling me how much she loved it already! Long story short when I got back home I jumped online, watched a bunch of videos and found this forum and within 2 weeks I bought mine right of the dealers lot. The one good thing about the Taco is that they hold their value and I got almost what I paid for it back in 2016. I have ZERO regerts! ?

 

[Aonarch]

I had a second gen taco, a FJC and two 4Runners.

They are all great rigs, but very very outdated.

The new Tacoma needs to get here ASAP and hopefully they fix the seating position, because yes it is designed for short Japanese people.

A 6'2" they are all uncomfortable. Especially the Tacoma.

 

[Danny15l]

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!

Thanks mate.

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.

can order online. Some dealers out here have them. They are very hard to come by.

 

[Danny15l]

I'm only 5'7" and I couldn't stand the seating position. I probably could've found a way to deal with the drivetrain (tune?) but the seating was the nail in the coffin for me. It was so bad that when we'd go on vacations I would rent a car because driving it any more than an hour would kill my back. It felt like you were sitting flat on the floor with your legs straight out putting pressure on your lower back. Just going up to Flagstaff which is just over 2 hours I'd want to leave it there and walk back home. lol

On out trip up to Durango, CO in July of 2019 I met a woman at the gas station who just picked up her brand new Ranger, it still had the temp tags on it. It was the Saber color and we talked for about an hour and she was telling me how much she loved it already! Long story short when I got back home I jumped online, watched a bunch of videos and found this forum and within 2 weeks I bought mine right of the dealers lot. The one good thing about the Taco is that they hold their value and I got almost what I paid for it back in 2016. I have ZERO regerts! ?

I am 5’9” and the ranger is definitely comfortable to sit in. My buddy has the 16’ Tacoma which I have driven. The high floor cabin does not go well with dangling the legs and comfort. And the seat is not power?
the new ones come optional with a 8 way power drivers seat!
His transmission is fine. I think the lower torque is what makes the engine feel light under 3k rpm. I just cleaned the throttle body and I put in a new dry high flow air filter for him. The power loss seems to be taken away by doing that. I’ve driven as a commuter: 98’ f150. 2003 town car. 2007 towncar. 15’ Jeep Patriot. And now the ranger. The Patriot had horrible seats meant to fit a little person. The 2003 towncar had the most comfortable seats I’ve ever sat in a car.
As for the OV tune, I have read reviews that it changes the way it drives drastically since it gives more power low end.

Like I mentioned in my previous comment, they are definitely underpowered from the factory, that being the Toyota stock engine tune. The components of the truck are perfectly capable of delivering more power in lacking areas. The engine is great, it just needs to be told what to do better by the ECM. And the PCM needs to catch up. communication is key.

 

[Danny15l]

I had a second gen taco, a FJC and two 4Runners.

They are all great rigs, but very very outdated.

The new Tacoma needs to get here ASAP and hopefully they fix the seating position, because yes it is designed for short Japanese people.

A 6'2" they are all uncomfortable. Especially the Tacoma.

Sometimes keeping it the same is good! Ain’t an issue don’t change it. Maybe they focus more on the backbone stuff rather than new designs.

 

[Danny15l]

Get your issues resolved.

Tacoma reliability is a myth in 2022.

The 3rd gen has plenty of issues, but god forbid someone complains about a Toyota's reliability.

I think they might replace the carpets. But the other stuff I will most likely have to deal with. I only have one year before the warranty is up and none of the issues I have with the truck are “real” issues to dealer. Yet….. Not wanting to wait to get my truck back. I usually give cars 1-2 issues before I decide to get rid of them. That is if I can’t fix it myself with a garage full of tools.
With the side rails, Tune and upgraded shocks I can get 38500 for my truck. Went around this weekend to get quotes at different lots. Also the manual transmission are super easy to find out here in WA. Everyone drives trucks

 

[Flowgod]

Why would they tune down the engine if the engine components can handle the load and more power?

 

[Danny15l]

Why would they tune down the engine if the engine components can handle the load and more power?

My guess would ultimately have to be for fuel economy. Which ultimately backfires in any situation. If a car makes less power, and the size of the car and weight are the same, then it’s going to get worse gas mileage over one that is more powerful. This being the “overpowered” engine has to work less at a lower RPM and does not lose energy from slowing down/spooling up the engine constantly. For a V6 GDI Without turbo I would expect it to be delivering around 300hp and maybe 30 extra Ft/lbs to the crank shaft. The 3.5 uses port injection under 3k rpm and then the direct kicks in. Soooo It has to explain the low end torque loss. If the number above were actually in the 3.5 then That would make it a competition for the ford 3.3 naturally aspirated engines in the Ford F-150 (base engine). The V6 3.5 Tacoma makes plenty of power, however the curve needs some attention at the low end.
No matter how powerful your engine is… you always want more.

 

[9zero1790]

i know this is pointless but as we are talking on things hard to get in trucks like manual trans etc. have yall seen the mahindra trucks over seas? man i love em. full size bed 4 doors 4x4 manual with a turbo diesel and truck gearing. i wouldnt pass off my rangers for one due to the comfy factor of the usa spec cars and trucks but if i still had land to work or a ranch the lil mahindra would be the bees damn knees lol.

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