I was reading in motor trend and they said Toyota is thinking about a Toyota pickup smaller than the Tacoma , has anyone else herd about it or is it just M/T toying with us 2006 January/ February Auto News Edition - News Front - Truck Trend News
I 'm happy my '05 (didn't buy it for off- road use), but this is a very valid point. Also, Toyota (are you listening?), people who really get off-road need to be able to chain the front tires!Sorry Toyota, but the new TAcoma is a pavement princess compared to your previous compact trucks.
I agree...Is it just me or does that Isuzu Dmax pickup and that Mitsubishi look light years better than the fugly Colorado.
What Toyota should do, is bring back the 3.4 liter 5vzfe V6, but give it Variable Valve Timing. It's already a proven engine design, bring it back but freshen it up to todays technology. I bet VVT-i witha 3.4 liter engine would be pushing 200-210 HP and 230-240 ft-lbs of torque. They've already built this engine, so the only R & D costs would be to give it variable valve timing. They already have the stuff to make it tucked/stored away somewhere i.e. the engine building process. Bring back the R150 manual transmission - again a proven, solid, reliable, design, that transfers horsepower and lasts forever. The gear ratios on this transmission are also very good. Either that, or give it a small displacement diesel which they should be able to get 250 plus ft-lbs of torque with 150+ HP and they will OWN, absolutely OWN the compact truck market. I seriously mean that.
Then build a truck with the frame off of the 89-95 Toyota Pickups, which is fully boxed and tough, and a great offroad platform to modify later on if you wish. Maybe give it some modern enhancements to save weight perhaps. As for interior, make it a simple, no frills, no BS design, no power anything other than mirrors. Give it high quality manually adjustable & comfortable seats, Air Conditioning, but that's it.
If Toyota made a truck like this, I bet it would also chew into their Tacoma sales. A fully boxed frame for me is a large selling point on these small trucks. I see no problem why they couldn't give a truck like this 1500 pounds payload capacity for the outdoorsman who doesn't need huge size, but values offroad capability, the potential to carry the hunting/camping/fishing loads (which may include an import camper), etc. Give it stock BFG All Terrains, a locking rear diff, some ground clearance unlike the current TAcoma, and you will have one hell of a sick truck.
They should bring this into the USA market, and call it "TRUCK" like it used to be sold as, not Tacoma or any of that crap.
The question is, is Toyota listening? Well we know they read this site.
Sorry Toyota, but the new TAcoma is a pavement princess compared to your previous compact trucks. You can't put the shocks outside the leaf springs if you want articulation. A truck is supposed to ride like a truck. WE also need some good leaf springs.
dude...no offence, but please use standard sized type....that small print gives me a headache.This is an interesting thread. I waited for 10 years until Toyota made a truck I would finally buy! Everything before they designed my "pavement princess" was too small(vs. a tundra-too big), rusted so fast you could almost watch it(I live where they say:when in doubt-More Salt!!), Didn't have enough power, and rode like a WWII jeep. At least around these parts, there are NO buying incentives and still, there is NONE on the lots! I guess there are a lot of people around here that like wimpy trucks with lots of plastic do-dads, tons of torque, and big enough to fit us "full sized" americans! I personally feel Toyota is just trolling to see what kind of reception they would get to a smaller truck. Till gas goes past 3.50/gal(for good), there will not be enough market for toyota to risk that kind of capital for such a tiny market share here in the good old USofA. Like it or not, welcome to the "new" toyota, where one size fits all and most of the owners are mostly happy.
Have you seen IZUZUS latest "truck" UGLY in my opinion.I would like one as big as my 1985 and 86 , I could go anywhere with that it was the perfect size . I am about to the point of not caring who makes a small pickup ,even KIA or Hyundai
so long as its small . I kind of hope KIA or Hyundai dont under cut Toyota and make a small truck but if they do then off I go. although I dont know if I would trust a Hyundai or KIA pickup in the places I have been
You would think in Vermont they would allow them to be street legal, or at least on roads short of the interstate. This state is so fracked up its not funny. It would be handy to have a street legal rig like that, or one of the other UTV, fit it with tracks or tires depending on the season and terrain, plow, trailer.I don't know about being street legal in all states. I live in South Mississippi, pretty much anything goes here. There's a guy at my school with a Chevy Z71 lifted so high it makes 44" Boggers look tiny.
Interesting point; I bought my '05 b/c the '04 was smaller than I wanted, and a mid-size suited me better.I deliberately bought a 2004 rather than a 2005 based largely on the size issue.
Maybe, but there is not much difference in fuel mileage between the two models. And if it becomes a serious issue, those who must have a pickup will buy a new, much more efficient truck -- which will be available at that time. Those who do not need a truck will buy a small car, which is much, much more fuel efficient than any truck.EnolaGaia said:I think the main motivations for a smaller pickup vehicle are pretty clear: (a) the fuel situation (which will only get tighter over the coming years)