Discussion: What Features Do You Think Are Missing From The Tacoma?

[TacoFreak]

I am surprised that Toyota didn't include the locking fuel door on a premium grade like your truck @HoptownBob. My truck's gas door is locked until I release it inside my truck and it is a big oversight IMO for them to not include that on every truck.

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[SpartanCaptain]

To be honest, I hate locking fuel doors. Crime isn't huge in my area so I kind of prefer the ease of a normal fuel door. If anything why not just get locking fuel caps if you need them?

 

[bresna]

To be honest, I hate locking fuel doors. Crime isn't huge in my area so I kind of prefer the ease of a normal fuel door. If anything why not just get locking fuel caps if you need them?

Why would you hate locking fuel doors? They're operated using a simple button on the dash.

Locking gas cap? You think having to dig a key out of your pocket to unlock your fuel cap is easier than pressing a button on the dash? And who has a keychain these days anyway? If I had to have a key for my gas cap, it would be on a keychain with one key on it.

 

[evlfred]

I am surprised that Toyota didn't include the locking fuel door on a premium grade like your truck @HoptownBob. My truck's gas door is locked until I release it inside my truck and it is a big oversight IMO for them to not include that on every truck.

I wonder what the reason behind only putting it on the hybrid is

 

[SpartanCaptain]

Why would you hate locking fuel doors? They're operated using a simple button on the dash.

Locking gas cap? You think having to dig a key out of your pocket to unlock your fuel cap is easier than pressing a button on the dash? And who has a keychain these days anyway? If I had to have a key for my gas cap, it would be on a keychain with one key on it.

Because a locking fuel door does literally nothing. You can pop them open with anything from the outside. They are more a hinderance having to remember to press that button to fill up. I don't use a locking gas cap but it is more secure than a fuel door.

 

[bresna]

Because a locking fuel door does literally nothing. You can pop them open with anything from the outside. They are more a hinderance having to remember to press that button to fill up. I don't use a locking gas cap but it is more secure than a fuel door.

Of course it does something. It's a deterrent. If a person looking to steal some gas goes up to a car with a locked fuel door, they'll move on to another car until they find one like a 2024 Tacoma.

 

[SpartanCaptain]

Of course it does something. It's a deterrent. If a person looking to steal some gas goes up to a car with a locked fuel door, they'll move on to another car until they find one like a 2024 Tacoma.

You can pop open a fuel door with any flat object, its a pretty shitty deterent.

 

[bresna]

You can pop open a fuel door with any flat object, its a pretty shitty deterent.

Maybe in the older models but newer Toyotas (after ~2015) have a piece of plastic over the latch. I think it was actually done to prevent someone from hitting the latch when inserting the nozzle of the fuel pump but no matter the reason, I'm pretty sure you'd need a screwdriver to get the gas cover open on a new Toyota.

 

[bresna]

I wonder what the reason behind only putting it on the hybrid is

They have to put it on the hybrid model because the gas tank is pressurized. When you press the dash button to release the gas cover, it de-pressurizes the tank.

 

[evlfred]

They have to put it on the hybrid model because the gas tank is pressurized. When you press the dash button to release the gas cover, it de-pressurizes the tank.

so why is it pressurized and the non-hybrid not? Like keeps the fuel pressure up tot he injection for faster start stop operation?

 

[-Strike-]

Of course it does something. It's a deterrent. If a person looking to steal some gas goes up to a car with a locked fuel door, they'll move on to another car until they find one like a 2024 Tacoma.

It's a good thing the 2024 Tacoma they found didnt hold much fuel to begin with

 

[zachavm]

If I could design my perfect Tacoma there are a lot of things I would change/add. I'll do 3 categories.

• Easy/Likely - Realistic and Low Cost
  • Memory seats - Both the Ford and GM vehicles have this and it is very strange that they left it off of the higher trims. It is there on the 4Runner so the development and tooling is all done. The cost would only be the parts/install and it would only affect the higher trims
  • Rear Vents - This one seems like it was purely a cheeping out cost savings. Very annoying. Once again the 4Runner has it so cost to add is not bad.
  • Rear Center Arm Rest - Once again, this feels like purely a cost savings. Little reason to not have it. 4Runner again does.
  • Larger Gas Tank - This was just stupid. Find the room and fix it Toyota.
  • Blackout Trim for Limited
• Medium - Not to hard to add, but these are less glaring omissions. Maybe when a refresh comes.
  • Power Folding Mirrors - Simply a nicety, but it would be good to have on the high trims. Again already developed for the 4Runner
  • Power Adjustable Steering Column with Memory - Another nicety. 4Runner has it. Noticing a trend here?
  • Grab Handles all around - This was just a stupid cost savings. This is basically a 1990s full size truck here. Grab handles would offer a TON of value.
  • Full Time 4WD available on more models (especially off-road)
  • TRD package for the limited
  • Flat Floor Backset with seats folded up
  • Higher Power Inverters. With the Hybrid there is no reason they could not have a 2KW output and more outlets.
• Difficult/Unlikely - High Cost or Rework Required. May require a redesign to happen.
  • Larger backseat - This is not happening until a redesign unfortunately, but the back seat is too cramped. This seems mostly because the nose is so long and takes away space from the cab. No idea why it was this way.
  • Shorter hood - The hood is INSANELY tall. It feels like this was purely a styling thing and it REALLY hurts forward visibility.
  • Panoramic Moonroof - This type of thing ain't happening in the US because the manufactures consider the Full Size the higher segment and want to push you to it. It annoys me. Best chance for this would be a Lexus version of the Tacoma
  • Roll Down Rear Window - Again, this likely ain't happening due the Tundra having it, but one can wish.

 

[zachavm]

how are you getting that mpg? im at 1200 miles on my TH and I get 17. Im babying the drive.

Turbo engines can have pretty massive fluctuations in MPG based on the driver and it is all dependent on the acceleration. If the turbo activates it will guzzle gas. I believe the Tacoma has a boost gauge that can be displayed. Put that on your instrument cluster. The more you limit it the better your MPG will be.

 

[bresna]

so why is it pressurized and the non-hybrid not? Like keeps the fuel pressure up tot he injection for faster start stop operation?

Toyota classifies their hybrid vehicles as PZEV (Partial zero-emission vehicle) which requires them to control the fuel emissions from the gas tank.

 

[zachavm]

I have the Limited with hybrid and comes very well equipped. I must say I was shocked when I found out no programmable front seats. Both front seats are power so it comes down to just software. Small truck, which is what I wanted but having the seat move back automatically would really help the entry exit. $60,000 and no programmable seats, My Prius has auto slide back seats for goodness sake.

Like the other suggestions about 2 good grab handles up front.

Also like the larger hybrid battery for better MPGs, instead of 23-24 this thing could easily reach 27-28.

More storage in the bed, say like use the side finder wall space for nice addition of sealed storage.

This is not true. There is additional hardware for memory seats beyond normal power seats. You need sensors on every seat (or side mirror) movement to tell exactly where it is. That then feeds back into the controller for it to know when it has moved the seat/mirror to a specific location. Normal power seats don't need the sensors as the user is controlling it.

That said, it is not that big of a difference. They have already designed the hardware and tooling for the 4Runner and it is pretty standard tech. The only cost would be materials and slight changes to the build process. I would wager it is probably well under a $100 in cost for Toyota to include it. Maybe even less than $50.

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