Save me from my new Tacoma!

Purchased my 2018 TRD Off Road Tacoma back in July and have been trying to like it the last 13,000 miles but finally decided it ain't gonna happen. I came from an 2005 Tacoma and traded it with 250,000 trouble free miles on the mighty 4.0.
I really liked the look of the new Tacoma as well as the interior and tech stuff( Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control). However, the new 3.5 and Transmission are horrible compared to my old 4.0. Constant shifting even with the recent TSB upgrade, Transmission shudder around 45-55 mph. It's just a very unpleasant vehicle to drive.
I keep my vehicles for a long time so I have to like what I am driving on a daily basis as I am car/truck guy and very dialed in to how a vehicle should respond.
Finally decided a new 4Runner with my old friend the 4.0 1GR-FE and 5 speed auto would keep me happy for another 10 years. i test drove one this week and was like being back in my old Taco but with much more room and comfort.
Only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger at this point is the lack of blind spot monitoring which I have really enjoyed and feel it will be very useful for my 52 year eyes and as my mind gets less sharp as time passes on.
Question is how difficult are the blind spots on the 4Runner compared to other SUVs. Also, is it confirmed the 2020 will have Safety Sense with BSM, if so I may just wait until they are released?

 

I’m sure blind spots are just as bad as they are on any suv. If you are continually checking your mirrors right though you should have a general idea of the location of other vehicles around you. I’m not a huge fan of computerized features telling me if an area is clear or not. Computers fail not always but they do. Drive slower and with more care if you are worried. As for the 4Runner vs Tacoma why not get another low mileage Tacoma?

 

I really don't need a truck as much as I did in the past. The 4runner will be probably be more useful at this point in my life.

 

I kept my 2017 Tacoma for 5 months. Traded it for my 2017 4Runner. I find the visibility really good out of the 4Runner, especially compared to many newer SUV styles. My wife’s Forester is probably the best for outward visibility but the 4Runner is pretty good. I never feel like I have blind spots, though I’m sure I do. Take another test drive on roads similar to what you drive and pay attention to your blind spots. It might be worth waiting for 2020 or not. Good luck!

 

I have the similar issue I came from a Range Rover with all that detection stuff. I did the RAV4 mirror swap and for me made a big difference. All though not electric it does it’s job.

 

Get a 2020 that will have all that safety stuff.

 

4runner does have a lot of blind spots.. I removed the rear seat head rests.. much better view..

 

You can put the RAV4 blind spot mirrors on the 4runner. Plug and play. It'll run you about $100.

It's the exact same mirror, but it has a blind spot mirror in the upper corner on each side of the truck. Guys on 4runner side of the forum say they work very well.

 

I have a 2nd gen Taco and the lastest Gen 4R and the 4R is just a better vehicle overall. I would buy a 4R and not look back.

Grab one before they change the engine/trans combo!

 

Are there sensors for the RAV4 mirrors or is it all self contained in the mirror assembly?

 

Sorry, just searched and see that the RAV4 mirrors are not BSM but better than stock 4Runner.

 

I popped out my drivers side mirror and replaced it with the RAV4 drivers side view mirror that has the extra mirror in top left for the blind spot. This change out is the mirror glass only, not all the housing. The change out took less than 60 seconds!! I ordered the RAV4 mirror from GenuinePartsDealer and the price was $61.35 shipped! The RAV4 Part# is 87961-42D20

 

The RAV mirrors work well. On both sides I can see other vehicles in the blind spot in the smaller mirror even after I see them with my own eyes peripherally. They do the job well. I still look over the shoulder out of habit, but I wouldn't have to.

 

I had a 2018 Tacoma for two months before trading it for the T4R. I had a bad diff howl and the engine/transmission was garbage imo. And I'd been driving Tacoma's for 20 years. It was a big disappointment. So, I hear ya OP.

The T4R is a much nicer vehicle. The only thing I miss is the truck bed.

 

Is the 2020 gonna be a 5th gen, with safety sense? If not it won't have the 4.0

 

All the 2020 "update" articles I've come across lead me to believe that it will still be a "5th gen". Several enhancements but nothing indicating that we'll be in a new generation. If they eventually do to the 4runner what they did to the Tacoma engine/transmission... man, that would suck. But I fear that time will come.

I was so pissed with the Tacoma. It's not stuff you can "feel" in a test drive. It's not until you've had the truck for a month that you realize how much shittier it is than a 2nd gen. It's like you're excited with all the enhancements and styling and you've got a "new truck". But after a month I was really wishing I had my 2nd gen.

 

lol funny cause I came from a 2019 trd offroad taco only had 2k on it. not my choice but someone rear ended me and bent the frame. totaled the truck and I ended up getting the t4r 3 weeks later. huge difference and I hated the transmission in the 3rd gen taco.

 

I had my 2019 TRD offroad Tacoma for 2 days. Yes, 2 days. The drivers seat was the most uncomfortable seat I have ever had. I had my 2001 gen3 4runner since 2005 and had put 240,000 on it. The seat never ever hurt my back. The tacoma was so bad, I could hardly walk after 20 miles to work. I unwound the deal and got into a new 2018 TRDoffroad 4runner. My back and I are really happy. Do a google search for Gen 3 tacoma seats being uncomfortable. It is a problem that Toyota should address.

 

Adjusting your mirrors as described in this video all but eliminates blind spots. It takes a little getting used to, but I was amazed at the difference (as well as the fact that I'd been doing it wrong for years!)

https://youtu.be/KwzUE6PHk4U

When you adjust your mirrors like this, you have a continuous line of sight across the back of the car. Distant objects will show up in the center rear view mirror, so you should still be able to see them. Side mirrors are frequently "tuned" by making them convex to show more of the side profile (thus the "objects in mirror are closer than they appear" warnings) so side mirrors aren't good for checking for distant objects.

 

I had a 2018 Taco for about 3.5 months. I did come to like the cruise control after initially hating it. And I liked the dash. But the rest of the safety features... meh. I traded to a 4R for the same reason, the awful engine/trans in the Taco annoyed me to no end. If they come out with the safety stuff for 2020 it'd be nice, I guess. But I'm not sure I'd risk the 2020 4R coming with that terrible 3.5l engine. If they change the engine, there will be a rush on the 2019's sitting on the lot so be prepared to move quickly. IMO.

 

All the issues with the taco seem to center around the transmission. I say this because it seems every one that has the manual trans with the 3.5 loves the truck. Drives fine. If I could have gotten the long bed with a manual I may not be in a 4Runner. The new 4Runner is most likely to be out in 2021

 

Did you just use a pry tool and pop out the old mirror? did you do both? thanks

 

How exactly did you unwind the deal?
Do you have a cooling off period in your state?

 

I think you have 3 days in most states.

 

Yes I used a plastic pry tool, and did driver side only.

 

If you adjust the mirror all the way to one side or the other, you can get your fingers behind the mirror. You literally just yank the mirror off. It feels like you're gonna break it. Get your fingers as close to the center of the mirror as you can. And then yank. It'll pop off.

You need to be aware that there is a little wire that plugs into the mirror for the heated feature.

 

I had a 2015 Taco I should have kept, but tried out the 17 Taco. Just like you, couldn't stand driving it anymore and went to a '17 4Runner TRD OR Premium. Wish I had done it sooner. Blind spots aren't any issue and it won't piss you off every time you drive it. Come on in, the water is nice.

 

Looks like they are sticking with the 4.0 for now also, learning lessons from the 3.5 Tacoma complaints I guess.

https://www.carsdirect.com/2020/toyota/4runner

 

Yes they are sticking with the 4.0 cuz it's still a 5th gen...When the 6th gen comes out(most likely 2021) the 4.0 is history.

 

The 2020 4Runner will have Safety Sense, but it does not include blind spot monitoring or rear cross traffic alert.

If you like the other Safety Sense features like automatic braking, lane departure, and adaptive cruise control then wait for a 2020.

If it's just blind spot monitoring you're after, the Rav4 mirror upgrade is your best option for a while.