My 3rd gen is still the best truck I’ve ever owned

Despite all the complaining about the 3rd gen Tacoma that we read everyday here on TW, my 3rd gen is still easily the best truck (and the best Toyota) I’ve ever had. And I’ve owned a lot of Yotas...
‘86 Extra Cab 4x4, ‘91 4Runner 4x4, ‘93 T100 4x4, ‘95 4runner 4x4, ‘97 4Runner 4x4 (still own), ‘98 Reg. Cab Taco 4x4 (4 cyl), ‘06 Tundra 4x2, ‘16 4Runner SR5 4x4, ‘17 4Runner Limited 4x4 (still own), and my ‘21 DCSB TRD OR 4x4 Taco (that I’ve had for 10 months).

Compared to my wife’s ‘17 4Runner Limited, my ‘21 Taco is quicker, gets better gas mileage, and it corners way better than the “USS 4Runner” tugboat class vessel. The 4Runner has a little smoother ride no doubt, but it’s also a much heavier, luxury SUV, not a pickup. Even so, it doesn’t ride really on road all that much smoother than my Taco, which I think is very smooth for a pickup truck - especially one marketed towards off road use.

We see daily hate for the 3rd gen’s 3.5 V6... “it’s too underpowered, lousy mpgs, it’s noisy, it’s a minivan engine, it doesn’t have enough low end torque”, etc... I take it the people complaining so much about this engine never had the experience of being passed up by literally everyone including 18 wheelers, going up a moderate mountain grade with their 22R or 3.slow, or even the 2.7 or 3.4 for that matter! The 3.5 seems like a turbocharged V8 compared to any of those motors Toyota used to put in their trucks... except for the 4.0, which I find very similar in overall performance to the 3.5 (I have a 4.0 in our ‘17 4Runner and also had one in my old ‘06 Tundra). I put the 3.5 and 4.0 pretty much equal in my book. I know the torque curve is a bit “better” in the 4.0, but once you get used to the somewhat unique powerband of the 3.5, I feel like those 2 engines aren’t really all that much different. I don’t see many 2nd gen Tacos passing me up on the hills... at least no more than I pass them up.

The tranny. I know. A lot of them hunt for gears. My ‘21 does not, thankfully (seems Toyota mostly fixed the issue in later models, but there’s still no shortage of ‘20 & ‘21 owners complaining about it on here). I’ve experienced the “hunt” with other 3rd gens I’ve driven and ridden in. Of course a big part of that is Toyota’s programming to squeeze every little mpg out of this truck as humanly possible. And part of that is a 6 speed tranny (more gears = more shifting), and a lot of returning Toyota truck owners are used to 4 or 5 speed trannies (and they sure aren’t used to a modern tranny that has more capability to utilize full and partial torque converter lockup as needed - which can also feel like full gear shifts to some, when it’s actually not). But honestly, I think the biggest part of all this by far, is people reading about it on here constantly, and becoming hyper focused and even obsessing over it, and looking for the issue (whether consciously or subconsciously) every time they get in their truck. I truly believe many (if not most) would never think about it or even notice it in the first place, if not for reading the complaints on here. The power of suggestion is very real and powerful. So yeah, I think the tranny thing has been blown way out of proportion. Earlier 3rd gens were worse than the newest ones, no doubt. But 6 years worth of tranny programming TSBs and a handful of solid aftermarket tunes have reduced this issue to being just about moot at this point.

Anyway, I for one absolutely love this truck. The little things that could be improved upon are just that... little. It’s a solid truck that kills everything else in its class, and will keep going long after most other trucks are crushed and recycled.

 

Ditto




...I just wish MESO had more parts in stock

 

Someone bragging on a 3rd Gen.

In before the

 

Cheers to that.

 

i am right there with you.

 

I thought this was a complaint thread.

Pleasantly surprised, OP.

In b4 tH3 iN3vit4blE

Glad you enjoy your investment, as well, however!

 

I don't have much to compare it to as I've been slated to riding scooters, motorcycles, and hand-me-down
cars so my wife and kids had decent transportation.

This is the first New Vehicle of any kind I've had in 25 years -

I love it. It looks good. It performs fine. I look good in it.
What more does one want.

 

I love my 2017. It's been the biggest pain in the ass to own than any vehicle in my adult life spanning 3 decades, to say the least. But it has never left me stranded in 5 years, it's taken us to a lot of cool places, including is the vehicle I drove my newborn baby girl home in 3 years ago, fits all my outdoor gear, isn't terrible on gas, and still looks awesome on the road.

Do I think they rushed the 3rd gens out a year or 2 before they were READY? Absolutely:

-warped rear drum from factory
-stalling at 10k miles due to faulty CKP sensor
-high pressure fuel pump replaced
-leaking rear differential - repaired twice
-loud whine on the highway, repaired
-leaking timing cover, full $4k repair job
-CV replaced at 80k
-blower motor recall
-3rd brake light recall
-3 ECU updates to fix poor driveability and shifting
- serpentine belt replaced at 75k

Currently have an issue w/ my steering rack I'll be taking in soon. Still drivable but on uneven pavement or gravel, steering wheel pulls hard from side to side based on terrain. Another trip to the dealer.

I think Toyota designed a great truck, but it certainly lacked sorely in execution for many of us early 3rd gen buyers and we've had to pay the price as they continued to work out the kinks. I agree all the complaining about the power, etc., is largely unwarranted. My truck has plenty of giddy-up when I want it to, just requires more skinny pedal than many would prefer...

 

Its disingenuous to say "I put the 3.5 and 4.0 pretty much equal in my book". Hence your love letter to 3rd gen holds no merit.
My last truck was 3rd gen and my father in law had 2nd gen which i often used, 4.0 is is leaps and bounds better than 3.5.
My wife has 3.5 in her 17 sienna, shes not a car person by any means, but hates how anemic that motor is.
Good luck with you 3rd gen

 

Ok, so “my book”, meaning my opinion (from having two 4.0s and this 3.5 to compare them to), is disingenuous to you. I wouldn’t say your opinion is disingenuous just because I don’t agree with it. I would just say I don’t agree with you. Disingenuous means that my opinion is not sincere (which it is), or that I don’t have any real experience with the 2 motors to have an informed opinion (which i do).

 

Best truck you've ever owned?

Looking at your list I don't any inspiring trucks. Get yourself an early 70's K20 or late 70's Ford F150/Ranger and then get back to me.

 

I like mine. Could do away with all the extra bs electronics, but thats the problem today. We have to save drivers from themselves.

 

Yeah me too. I'm impressed as hell with my "turd" Gen. The 3.5 motor is a peach if you understand it. It's not a luggy, V8. You have the let the motor stretch its legs and it goes. It pulls my trailers easier than my 4.0, climbs Parleys Canyon faster than my 4.0. It's quieter, shifts in and out of 4x4 smoother, gets noticeably better mileage, and when you put your foot in it, it goes pretty damn well for a pickup (no, it's not a WRX Turbo, don't compare it to such). Sure, my dads Turbo Diesel is faster, but gets terrible mileage and is always in the shop.

I really love my 3.5. It's a great little truck.

 

Yeah, dude. Had those. When was the last time you drove one? They are like buckboards. No AC. Plastic floor. loud AF. 10mpg's if you're lucky.... They are nice to look at and remember fondly though the clouded lens of nostalgia, but in reality, they were awful.

 

Did you read my post? I currently own a 2017 4Runner with the 4.0, and I owned a ‘06 Tundra (up until 10months ago) also with the 4.0.

 

My bad, my speed reading skills aren’t as good as I think they are.
You are correct, you’re entitled to an opinion.
As long as you like your truck it’s all that matters, but in a truck, 4.0 is objectively better motor

Edit: I’ll delete my previous post, as to not misrepresent what you were saying.

 

I like vintage trucks too, but I said this was the best truck I’ve ever owned - not that it’s the best truck ever made, in any class, or for any situation. It wouldn’t be the best truck for towing a 26 ft. boat across the contry, but I don’t have a 26 ft. boat and I don’t need a truck for that. So it’s still the best truck out of what I’ve owned. If my list of Toyota trucks I’ve owned isn’t inspiring to you, that’s cool. I wasn’t trying to inspire anyone with it, I was just saying I have a decent amount of experience with Toyotas, and this 3rd gen takes the cake.

 

I traded in a 2014 4Runner SR5 premium to get the wife a 2021 4Runner Limited. The 3.5 in my Tacoma actually feels a little peppier to me than either one of those 4Runners with the 4.0. Neither are fast but they get the job done.