2006 Toyota Tacoma SR5 from North America - Comments

What most manufacturers seem to be forgeting is that you don't need a bigger truck to haul more. Did you know that the v6 Tacoma is capable of hauling 8100 lbs of trailer weight? Not even chevys 5.3 l v8 can tow that much. Same goes for the f-150 and Ram. Neither of them can haul more than the Tacoma without having a 5.7 liter engine or bigger. Why get a bigger truck when the bigger truck can't beat the smaller one without sacrificing gas mileage? Btw... I own a hemi, and maintain it well: It's currently at 36k, maintained every 3k-4k, and if I'm lucky I get about 15 mpg on the happiest of days.

First of all I need to make a clarification for everyone concerning the Toyota Tacoma. The Tacoma was redesigned in 2005, a MAJOR redesign actually that uses a different motor/tranny among other things. So anyone referencing an 2004 or earlier Tacoma is actually talking about a different design. Now let me share my personal experiences with a 2003 Chevy Silverado and 2005 Toyota Tacoma.

I own, and have posted a review, on a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. Mine is very fast. The V6 puts out 236HP stock + the TRD exhaust I had installed that adds another 10HP for a total of about 246HP on mine. Now that's a lot of Ponies for a 6 Banger! The truck is a mid sized, big enough to haul whatever a non-construction worker would need to haul. And the quality, well with 19000 miles on the odometer let's just say I know it's a Toyota. :)

Now I use a 2003 Silverado at work. Truth is the Silverado rides like a car, nicest ride of any truck I've driven. The stock V8 will lay tire, and would probably sound awesome with some performance pipes on it. However one of the thin doors has literally fallen off this truck, long story, but it WAS a design defect and GM fixed it. The cheap plastic interior is well, GM. And the truck has had numerous mechanic problems including an oil leak, defective Airbag, and DOA A/C system. Concerning the quality, I know it's a GM. : (

In a nutshell, Toyota still makes a better product. Mine Tacoma is my first Toyota, I've also owned Fords, GMs, and even a Dodge. There really is no comparison when it comes to quality, fit, and finish. GMs are just poorly built with cheap materials. Toyotas are the exact opposite, which was the FIRST thing I noticed. Plus both are made in America by Americans. Yes the Tacoma is built in America!

The GM diehards are trying to compare a Midsized Toyota truck to a full-sized Chevy. If you want a REAL comparison put the Tacoma up against the Colorado OR the Silverado up against the Tundra. Then you guys can argue about V8s and hauling capacities.

You can't compare a work truck to a personal vehicle. Your truck is the trd package and you're comparing it to a used and abused work truck that anyone can beat on, plus its probably the lowest trim level so of course the interior sucks compared to a mid or high level trimmed tacoma...

And some of you don't understand that engines can be tuned. The Toyota V6s are tuned to be high output and therefore fuel economy is close to that of V8s. Tune the domestic trucks V8s to the same standards and your little v6s wouldn't stand a chance. However, in doing that, the V8 would give terrible mpg and therefore you get what you have now.

So stop pushing the my motor is so powerful crap.

And don't compare different model years. I could say my 87 toyota truck sucked because it rusted away in 4 years and my recent 00 F150 is much better because it's v6 has more power and it rides better... cmon.

I still do not believe this review. I own a Silverado SS and prefer it over the Tundra and Tacoma. If they drop the Lexus motor in maybe.

Ooh, here come the tuners! Why is it that every Toyota aficionado has to start talking about how they can "tune" their motor when faced with the reality that it is gutless compared to an American V-8? Do they not understand that the "tuned" V-8 will still be more powerful than the "tuned" 4 or 6 banger? Let's hear how you "read about" or "know a guy" who tuned his Toyota to have 700 horsepower "at the wheels", and therefore your Toyota also has 700 horsepower and is faster than any Silverado ever made.

To 1:57: I think I know what kind of mileage my truck gets better than you do. I just made a 600 mile trip with the tailgate down on the highway, cruise set at about 73 mph, 89 octane gas, and I averaged 25 mpg.

You guys are comparing too different trucks--midsized and full size, or, maybe even compact.

Compare the Tundra the the Silverado and the Tacoma to the colerodo. You guys are bashing the Tacoma because it's a midsized truck. You're comparing a total different class of vehicle -- one that's meant to work to one that's meant to get good m.p.g and haul a few things, not 10 tons.

I've got a base model Tacoma (no power anything) with a 6 cyl engine. Something funny, you guys are saying since the trim level on the Silverado is low, the interior sucks. Obviously, then, I'm dumb, because my trucks interior is fine, no cracks, no nothing. And, by the way, isn't that what a real truck is used for, taking abuse? At least, one with a V8 engine, that's what it should be meant to do.

I stil own my Grand Am as a summer car (it's nice now, I got new exhaust on it, and it seems like I've had replace almost everything, but it hasn't stranded me in 6 months). As of now I love it, and I think the reason for the deteriation is because I leave it sitting for the winter, while I use my Tacoma.

I've also owned a cheaply maintaned Corolla. It left me stranded, mainly because the tranny was about shot, needed a new clutch, etc etc. My first car.

OK I find myself having to clarify a few of my points to the last poster here.

First of all the mechanical problems I cited, A/C and oil leak, were from delivery when the truck was BRAND NEW. The door was a design defect, which GM admitted to and corrected, but a door should still not fall off. And to my knowledge abuse cannot cause a defective Airbag system.

Concerning the interior I was referring to the cheap plastic GM uses for their dashboard, interior components, and steering wheels. I've personally owned GM vehicles with the same type of designating plastic steering wheels, it's like the plastic just starts to fall apart after so much use. How nice the material was on the seats, doors, or any place else really wasn’t what I was referring to, I realize work trucks have the lowest quality materials in those places. However I’ve been in fully loaded versions of the same truck I use and they still have the same cheap dashboards and plastic components, minus the steering wheels because they were leather wrapped.

You're right, a work truck and personal vehicle cannot be compared easily. That is why I didn’t include the dozen or so other problems we've had with this truck that could have be caused by abuse or excessive use. Just the ones the could easily be attributed to the design, material, and build quality.

Incidentally every professional review I've read on the 05 Tacoma makes comments on its power. Whether the motor has been tuned, tweaked, or runs off of plutonium is a non-issue. The fact is the V6 is very fast and powerful, period.

At least we agree on the model year issue. Then again there really isn't anything to argue about there.

Hey 15:56, I am thinking you really do not know much about fuel efficiency. Watch the show Myth Busters some time, you may learn that dropping your tail gate down does nothing to improve fuel efficiency in a pickup. So yes, I do know more about your truck than you do.

I have gotten 21 mpg on my 2 year old Silverado with the tailgate up running 60 mph on a long trip... mods mainly the addition of a dual cat back Borla exhaust and different tires from those from the factory. There is nothing like the sound of an American V8 and to be fair although I own a GM... the Dodge is even better.

Oh now here we go about how a v-8 is so much faster then a six banger or four. Duh, even if its tuned its not gonna be a v-8. Besides, I don't need a tire smoking, gas guzzling v8 engine!

Recall Watch watch had an item about ANOTHER Toyota recall today. Now it seems the TUNDRA has a major safety problem.

A "superior" car maker?? I think NOT.

You watch too much TV. Common sense will tell you that putting the gate down means that you have eliminated the restriction of having it vertical. And whether I had it up, down, on or off, the mileage was what I said it was.

With the V8 set up right with the right gearing the gas guzzling is not applicable. In turn you get a very nice full size... take the time to drive a 2006-7 they are very nice. I own a Silverado and just bought a brand new Trailblazer LS this week. I looked at Toyotas and was not sold.

Tonights news GM sales 17% ahead...Toyota 9%