First impressions of the 2016 Tacoma

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 10/29/2015 at 14:46 • Filed to: Tacoma, Toyota, Truck Yeah

1

23

I got to see the new Tacoma at the dealer the other day and the following is my 1 sentence first impression:

Overwheelmed by the sameness of it all.

I’m sure it will be a good truck and the interior looks nice...and its got some neat !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! but even I, as a staunch defender of Toyota’s “don’t mess with success” formula , came away underwhelmed by it visually.

cazzyodo > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 14:52

0

Pity. And here I was talking to my buddy about potentially sucking up my less than favorable pre-conceived notions of Toyota and sticking the Tacoma as my future front-runner. I’ll allow myself to be pleasantly surprised by the drive and such in person but your underwhelmed reaction is sobering for me.

Nibby > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 14:52

1

You parked your LC next to a catfish on wheels?

Spaceball-Two > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 14:54

0

Agreed. I drove a 2015 and 2016 the same day and I felt no real difference. The interior update on the new one is nice because Toyota hasn’t changed much over the last few years aside from the backup camera but I wasn’t seeing anything “new”. My biggest concern is the price. Is this a 40k truck? Not sure.

HammerheadFistpunch > cazzyodo 10/29/2015 at 14:54

0

I was just really hoping for a least a little visual distinction, but aside from the front (which wasn’t really in need of change) there isn’t much to it. I love that Toyota refines instead of reinvents but the only reason I see to be excited about the new truck is the interior...which does look nicer though visually smaller.

HammerheadFistpunch > Nibby 10/29/2015 at 14:56

0

no this was a Toyota dealer, they may have had a few old Tauruses on the lot though, I didn’t look.

Jcarr > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 14:57

0

I like those wheels. Car and Driver just did a comparison between the new Taco and the Colorado in the last issue. One thing I was really struck by in the photos was how terrible the approach angle is on the Colorado compared to the Taco. Even if you take the air dam off, it’s still not that great.

HammerheadFistpunch > Spaceball-Two 10/29/2015 at 14:57

0

I wouldn’t but the limited, that’s for sure. The TRD has a few nice things going for it that I like including stronger diffs and axles but the payload actually goes down...so that’s a disappointment. That being said, it should get slightly better mileage.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 14:59

0

I quite like the Offroad package ones, but the other ones are kind of meh.

HammerheadFistpunch > Jcarr 10/29/2015 at 15:00

0

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the digital version of that review, I have a few bones to pick with their testing methodology. but yeah, its clear that you buy the Tacoma for off roading and the colorado to be a “truck”

HammerheadFistpunch > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/29/2015 at 15:01

0

maybe it was just the black color on a dull day but it just looked...meh.

RallyWrench > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 15:04

0

I didn’t see it before, but the rear end is reminding me of the old Mitsubishi Raider:

Spaceball-Two > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 15:07

0

The salesman when I was taking the rides kept comparing to the new aluminum F-150 with eco. I just don’t see it.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 15:07

0

My moms partner just traded his 2013 TRD Taco straight up for a 2013 Chevy Avalanche LTZ package and I ain’t even mad. I like the Taco but if you don’t need the 4x4 capability of it there are way better more luxurious trucks in the price range. I think the Avalanche was close to 65k new and his Taco was close to 40k new and didn’t depreciate $1 during 2 years of ownership.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 15:07

0

I also quite like the base models.

HammerheadFistpunch > Spaceball-Two 10/29/2015 at 15:12

2

“dumb things salesmen say for $500 please alex.”

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/29/2015 at 15:13

0

Thats a definite Tacoma perk, you could buy one, sell it and get a new one every 2 years for nothing.

HammerheadFistpunch > RallyWrench 10/29/2015 at 15:15

0

I can see that. Fortunatly thats were the comparisons end with the dakota...i mean...raider.

OPPOsaurus WRX > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 15:19

0

i’ll pass on the Tacoma and take this

HammerheadFistpunch > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/29/2015 at 15:21

0

its taken...sorry.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 15:43

0

Do they still have drum brakes out back?

HammerheadFistpunch > Eberle-Hills-Cop 10/29/2015 at 15:45

0

they do, but the thing is...who cares? The comparison from C&D alluded to here in other places reveals no advantage to the Chevy for using disc or disadvantage to the Toyota for drum. At the end of the day, they work...so why are people making a huge stink about it?

Eberle-Hills-Cop > HammerheadFistpunch 10/29/2015 at 15:58

0

Just curious, as a person that changes their own brakes. I’d rather sit on my own balls than do drums up here after a few New Hampshire winters.

HammerheadFistpunch > Eberle-Hills-Cop 10/29/2015 at 16:01

0

and THAT is about the only legit argument against drums. That being said, almost all vehicles these days still have drums in the rear as parking brakes so you still have to do them, even if not as often.