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Car Forum / Toyota / Toyota Trucks / February 2005'04 Tacoma Early Impressions
Well, I've had my 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, 2WD (with TRD package) for about a month now. Here's my early impressions of it. This is the first truck I've owned in years after nothing but 4-door sedans, the last being a Mitsubishi Diamante. Pros Somewhat comfortable ride with seats that are not too stiff like those on the Ford Ranger but not mushy either. Half way decent gas mileage. Overall, it's getting about 17 mpg. No rattles, squeaks or leaks yet. Nothing cosmetic or mechanical that I had to bring back to the dealer to fix. Amazing that I can't find a thing wrong with it. Cons Engine or transmission howls especially at sustained 30 mph. Howls is the best word I could come up with to describe the sound. Very irritating. Air conditioner doesn't seem to keep the cab cool enough even with the fan set on high. Boring. With the bland interior and mediocre exterior styling, the Tacoma just does not do much for me. The ride is comfortable but on some stretches of the highway it has a tendency to lunge and bounce. I've never felt this before on the same stretches of highway in our sedans. Center arm rest is too small and too far back. No rear entry doors (XTRACAB). Now I know why Ford put them on the Ranger and later F150. They would be real convenient, not having to re-adjust the seat every time putting things in the back. No rear cargo light. I can't honestly say that I needed it yet but knowing that it's not there bugs me especially when other manufacturers include them. Bucket seats don't have any side supports. I find myself pushing me left knee against the door for support around turns. What is that little 2-hole platform thing in the back on the passenger side? Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from the list to match your experiences. It's a cupholder, with little fold down legs under it. I think it's really a stupid place for it, and also where they put the ashtray is a poor design. It's very unhandy to empty with the gear shift right there, but other than that I love my 2004 Tacoma Prerunner so far. Have had it for about three months. -- Cheri Steve wrote in message ... >What is that little 2-hole platform thing in the back on the passenger side? > >Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from the list >to match your experiences. Oh, so that's what it isl. Yah, stupid place for it. > It's a cupholder, with little fold down legs under it. I think it's > really a stupid place for it, and also where they put the ashtray is a [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > list > >to match your experiences. It's also a support for a child's car seat if you need to install one. The back bench isn't deep enough on its own. Susan > Oh, so that's what it isl. Yah, stupid place for it. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > list > > >to match your experiences. 04 Double Cab / TRD/SR5---1500 miles I'd agree with the howl. I'm not sure what speed it is at but I've never had a truck before either. A few months ago I drove a friend's F-150 ... What a piece of crap. If the Tacoma drove like that, I'd be driving a Camry or Avalon now. My A/C is good (upstate NY... and it has been a cool summer) so you might want to have it checked out. Quick question.... Where is your Temp Gauge needle once the engine is warm? Mine sits just past center and the service manager says it is normal unless it gets to the red area.. duh! > Well, I've had my 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, 2WD (with TRD package) for about a > month now. Here's my early impressions of it. This is the first truck I've [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from the list > to match your experiences. >Quick question.... Where is your Temp Gauge needle once the engine is warm? >Mine sits just past center and the service manager says it is normal unless >it gets to the red area.. duh! Mine does too. I've been wondering about it myself. Cheri Hard to say where center is located based on the location of the idiot light. I can say though that the needle is almost perfectly horizontal. > Quick question.... Where is your Temp Gauge needle once the engine is warm? > Mine sits just past center and the service manager says it is normal unless > it gets to the red area.. duh! > Pros > Somewhat comfortable ride with seats that are not too stiff like those on [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Nothing cosmetic or mechanical that I had to bring back to the dealer to > fix. Amazing that I can't find a thing wrong with it. I think they look great too. > Cons > Engine or transmission howls especially at sustained 30 mph. Howls is the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Boring. With the bland interior and mediocre exterior styling, the Tacoma > just does not do much for me. I like my interior, wish it had an oil pressure gauge though > The ride is comfortable but on some stretches of the highway it has a > tendency to lunge and bounce. I've never felt this before on the same > stretches of highway in our sedans. trucks tend to bounce in the rear, they'll light in the back until you haul a ton of stuff > Center arm rest is too small and too far back. > No rear entry doors (XTRACAB). Now I know why Ford put them on the Ranger > and later F150. They would be real convenient, not having to re-adjust the > seat every time putting things in the back. get a toolbox for small things and you wont have to mess with putting stuff in the back that much > No rear cargo light. I can't honestly say that I needed it yet but knowing > that it's not there bugs me especially when other manufacturers include > them. > Bucket seats don't have any side supports. I find myself pushing me left > knee against the door for support around turns. me too, bucket seats could be better. > What is that little 2-hole platform thing in the back on the passenger side? cup holder, cargo tray, you could lay a briefcase down flat with the tray extended for example > Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from the list > to match your experiences. Actually rides better with several hundred pounds in the back. Is AC set on recirculate?? My older Yota PU has the SR5 bucket sets (cloth actually says SR5 in pattern) -- they are more like costly Recaro seats with good support. Be happy you didn't get the bench seat -- its awful on long trips. > Well, I've had my 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, 2WD (with TRD package) for about a > month now. Here's my early impressions of it. This is the first truck I've [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from the list > to match your experiences. I think the lunge and bounce thing is because of the TRD package. My '93 SR5 has a much smoother ride then a friends '04 Prerunner 4x4. Mine is stock with KYB shocks in the front and he has the TRD package. It could be that my springs are old and warn out, but I can keep up a much higher speed on the dirt roads. He gets bounced around much more. Can anyone verify that the TRD package is more then just shocks and a locking rear diff? Not counting the stickers. Also, lowering your tire pressure helps a ton. I run 26psi fronts (what it says on the door) and 26 rear(says 36 on door). I don't hull rocks in the bed. :) -Eddie > Well, I've had my 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, 2WD (with TRD package) for > about a month now. Here's my early impressions of it. This is the [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from the > list to match your experiences. Hmm.. tire pressure. I hadn't thought of that. I'll check it today. > I think the lunge and bounce thing is because of the TRD package. My '93 > SR5 has a much smoother ride then a friends '04 Prerunner 4x4. Mine is [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from the > > list to match your experiences. > I think the lunge and bounce thing is because of the TRD package. My > '93 SR5 has a much smoother ride then a friends '04 Prerunner 4x4. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Can anyone verify that the TRD package is more then just shocks and a > locking rear diff? Not counting the stickers. On the 03 you got alloy wheels, were forced into power windows and locks along with SR5 package. but mechanically sping packs and front coils were softer also giving a half inch lower ride height. Shocks ended up being stiffer too for better onraod handling and work great when banging the bumps. Running lower tire pressures is good but makes the truck kinda sway in the corners. > Also, lowering your tire pressure helps a ton. I run 26psi fronts > (what it says on the door) and 26 rear(says 36 on door). I don't hull [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] >> Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from >> the list to match your experiences. I have 8,400 miles on my 04 extra cab 4x4 TRD with manual trans. I've had it only since November of 04. I'm getting about 20-21 MPG. My daily commute is about 90 miles from 3,500ft to sea level and back. Not much city driving. I use the AC 50% of the time. That's my contribution to this. > > I think the lunge and bounce thing is because of the TRD package. My > > '93 SR5 has a much smoother ride then a friends '04 Prerunner 4x4. [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > >> Well, that's it for now. Please feel free to add or subtract from > >> the list to match your experiences. |
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