quote:

Originally posted by mod29:

I have also read of problems with the auto trans shifting up and down excessively, hunting for the right gear. The 3.5 liter engine is happiest when coupled with the 6-speed manual, from what I have read on the taco forums.

I had a 2013 6 speed Tacoma TRD OffRoad and while I loved the truck the only problem with it was constantly having to downshift and change gears for any slight incline or speed zone change. It was so annoying I severely regretted getting a manual transmission.

Same relatively short hill, same road my 2014 Honda Accord with 6 speed will drive right up at speed in sixth gear only sometimes needing to go down to fifth to maintain speed if I came in a little slow. In the Tacoma, I had to shift from sixth down to third no matter what to maintain speed up the same hill.

I'll never buy a manual transmission truck again based on the Tacoma experience. Everything else about it was awesome though.

They shouldn't let their reviewers test drugs before writing about trucks. Writers have something against the Tacoma. When I was researching trucks they kept praising the Colorado over the Tacoma for things like quarter mile times, factory sound system, stiff ride, etc. Unreal the bullshit people will say just to randomly hate on something.

I just picked one up. Very happy with it so far. The only thing I wish was that the dealer listened to "Consumer Reports" and priced the truck accordingly !

Consumer reports absolutely despises anything made for off-road use.

They have, for years, dogged any model of Jeep you could rate, based on fuel economy, interior space, noise, pretty much every metric they have.

What they ignored is that there is absolutely nowhere else that you can buy an out of the box off road vehicle as capable as a fully optioned Wrangler Rubicon with a factory warranty, and the Wrangler was until recently essentially in a class by itself (and may still be, depending on who you ask). And that's why people buy them.

They would put a Wrangler Rubicon up against a car-based SUV and declare the car-based SUV the winner every time - whether or not it was even possible, much less feasible, to turn the crossover into a competent off-roader with aftermarket parts. Much less factory option packages.

If I need a pavement bound people shuttle I might consult Consumer Reports. They look very specifically at their data without considering other uses that justify purchases not substantiated by their metrics.

While I agree with them that Chrysler, Fiat and Dodge are nothing but garbage, they're out of their minds with respect to the Tacoma. The Tacoma's not reliable?! Really! What's more reliable, the Chevy Canyon? The Tacoma is the only choice in that segment until Ford produces the new Ranger and Toyota will still likely remain on top.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
They're trying to maintain themselves as a serious, consumer advocacy magazine yet, they thought it was a good idea to put an ogre with a nose ring on the screen?

As for the Taco....low consumer satisfaction and reliability? We're talking about a Tacoma...the successor to the original SR5, the Hilux for overseas users, the truck Top Gear couldn't kill. I know things have changed with Toyota but, they're not exactly bottom of the barrel here.

So she's not a trustable source of information because of her appearance? Interesting...

Get rid of the nose-ring distraction. Her presentation and style were fine, however, her appearance was taking away from her talking points. No different if she was very chesty wearing a tight or, plunging top or, overweight with breathing issues.

The reliability rating went south in a horrible way in 2016 for the Tacomas. Being Mfg in Tijuana isn't all that evidently. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2...mps-out-tacomas.html I have always love Tacomas, but need reliably as #1. My son had a buddy with a new 2016 and he hated it for a long list of reasons. I was surprised to hear a complaint about one. After driving both that and a Ford, went with a Ford F-150 and it turned out to be both a fantastic truck with lots of bells, whistles, and comfort: AND shockingly it was cheaper than a similar TACO. Tacomas around here sell for list price. Got $11,750 off MSRP on the F-150

quote:

Originally posted by pessimist:
While I agree with them that Chrysler, Fiat and Dodge are nothing but garbage, they're out of their minds with respect to the Tacoma. The Tacoma's not reliable?! Really! What's more reliable, the Chevy Canyon? The Tacoma is the only choice in that segment until Ford produces the new Ranger and Toyota will still likely remain on top.

+1. Thanks, you saved me a lot of typing...

I think the lesson here is don't let Consumer Reports be the final say in what your looking to buy. CR has always had its agenda. With the internet it's easier than ever now to do your homework on purchase decisions.

quote:

Originally posted by jimb888:
The reliability rating went south in a horrible way in 2016 for the Tacomas. Being Mfg in Tijuana isn't all that evidently. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2...mps-out-tacomas.html I have always love Tacomas, but need reliably as #1. My son had a buddy with a new 2016 and he hated it for a long list of reasons. I was surprised to hear a complaint about one. After driving both that and a Ford, went with a Ford F-150 and it turned out to be both a fantastic truck with lots of bells, whistles, and comfort: AND shockingly it was cheaper than a similar TACO. Tacomas around here sell for list price. Got $11,750 off MSRP on the F-150

I wasn't aware that they were assembling some Tacomas in Mexico. I'd definitely opt for one from the Texas plant. However, as you experienced, you can get a full size truck for similar or less money. Also, the Tacoma doesn't offer any real benefit with respect to mpg. Yet they can't make enough of them.

I test drove a GMC Canyon - it seemed like a much nicer vehicle than a Taco. Much better ride, etc.

My Taco was made in Baja in 2011. It has been PERFECT. My only complaint is that our family has outgrown our 4 door TRD Sport Taco.

I'm thinking about getting a Sequoia, LX470, Tundra or Raptor next year and keeping my Tacoma. It's that good of a truck.

I've got a Baja 2012 and I love it.

What did they say was the BEST truck? Curious.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeGLI:
Bullshit.
Bull.fucking.shit.

THIS

No other small truck could have survived the last 7 years with me. None.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
Could be people don't list them for "a reasonable price" because they paid too much for them when they were new and don't want to take the loss.

People pay closer to MSRP than with other vehicles, but its because of the demand for the truck. We shopped for three months looking for a pre-owned Tacoma for my elderly father. Eventually, it made more sense to just buy him a new one given we found few used ones to even look at, and the ones we did find were close to new pricing anyway. Shop for a Tacoma and read their forums, and you'll find that Consumer Reports review misses the mark by a mile.

quote:

but this report is also taking specifically about the 2017 model.

I have two co-workers would bought 2017's and they absolutely love them. Again, I think this is more a reviewer issue than a bad product issue.

Agree with the comment in bold...
I looked for a used Taco but everything I found was at a nearly-new price. The one exception:
A ten year old Taco with 400,000 miles on it for a bargain price of $10,000. I told the salesman "You've got to be kidding".

Consumer Reports is terrible for cars and trucks. They really hate on Jeeps usually. I have a 2012 Liberty, my dad has a 2005 Wrangler, my sister has a 1999 Grand Cherokee with over 320000 miles, and my father-in-law just sold a 2007 Liberty with almost 300000 miles on it. None of our Jeeps have had any major problems.

The Wranglers and Libertys are made here in Toledo... nice vehicles that seem to hold up and hold their value on the used market.

...... unless you write for consumer reports.... then they are junk.

Ever since Consumer Reports purposely rolled a Suzuki Samurai, I haven't believed their "testing", even for toasters.

It's not just CR, I subscribe to several car and truck magazines and they all rank the taco at or near the bottom.

quote:

Originally posted by jimb888:
The reliability rating went south in a horrible way in 2016 for the Tacomas. Being Mfg in Tijuana isn't all that evidently.

Mine was made in TX. No issues.