YotaTech Forums - View Single Post

bktaco · 04-21-2006, 02:33 PM

warning: some gripes listed below. i'm not looking for flames, but i do think this forum can handle some negative critisisms to balance some of the hype.

i just test drove a silver decked out fjc at lunchtime. there was a line of two more test drivers when i got back into the lot, and the salesperson said its been like that all day. i thought of the log jammer at the amusement park. "next!" i liked that there is plenty of enthusiasm for this truck.

gripe 1: the cool looking hood scoop, which you would think actually directs fresh cool air into the intake, does not. in fact, there is no holes whatsoever behind the faux grill piece that sits in the "hood scoop" (none that i could see). i was tempted to rip out the faux grill just to see if i could use the indentation as a pencil holder, or *something* useful. i am a little disappointed in this tactic, especially when i consider that all of the six toyota pickups that i've owned were designed *completely* functional.

gripe 2: while i was under the hood, i also noticed that the hood does not use a post to hold it up, but rather uses shocks like the ones that hold my truck shell hatch open. they worked OK, but after a year or two, they will drop the hood on your head in a wind just like my camper hatch does. there isnt a day that goes by in nevada without gusts from the range fronts. i would immediately be working on a clamp or lock of some sort, so that those shocks dont get used to dropping on their own like a guillotine.

gripe 3: sliding into the rear seat wasnt too hard at all, but i immediately noticed that there was no "oh " handle for me to grab whilst i entered the backseat area. what are the bro's gonna grab onto when you are helling out in the desert? do these handles cost the manufacturer a fortune? my tacoma (2000) has three of them, and my cousins tacoma (2001) has only one. they appear to be disappearing.

other miscellaneous gripes that i've listed in other threads include the lack of removable top (check the 07 wrangler, toyota), and the airliner impression from the back row (no opening windows). i love that toyota has finally addressed my desire for an affordable and capable cruiser. i'm looking forward to them addressing some (minor?) design issues in the coming years, because i could tell that this truck would definately fill a place in my lineup.

btw, the truck drove really well, and all the controls felt like they were well placed. i compared the apparently limitted visibility against my tacoma (when i got back into my truck), and its not greatly diminished in the side-view mirrors, just moreso in the rear view mirror.

let the flaming begin! (jk)

04-21-2006, 02:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
bktaco Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 374	design gripes warning: some gripes listed below. i'm not looking for flames, but i do think this forum can handle some negative critisisms to balance some of the hype. i just test drove a silver decked out fjc at lunchtime. there was a line of two more test drivers when i got back into the lot, and the salesperson said its been like that all day. i thought of the log jammer at the amusement park. "next!" i liked that there is plenty of enthusiasm for this truck. gripe 1: the cool looking hood scoop, which you would think actually directs fresh cool air into the intake, does not. in fact, there is no holes whatsoever behind the faux grill piece that sits in the "hood scoop" (none that i could see). i was tempted to rip out the faux grill just to see if i could use the indentation as a pencil holder, or something useful. i am a little disappointed in this tactic, especially when i consider that all of the six toyota pickups that i've owned were designed completely functional. gripe 2: while i was under the hood, i also noticed that the hood does not use a post to hold it up, but rather uses shocks like the ones that hold my truck shell hatch open. they worked OK, but after a year or two, they will drop the hood on your head in a wind just like my camper hatch does. there isnt a day that goes by in nevada without gusts from the range fronts. i would immediately be working on a clamp or lock of some sort, so that those shocks dont get used to dropping on their own like a guillotine. gripe 3: sliding into the rear seat wasnt too hard at all, but i immediately noticed that there was no "oh " handle for me to grab whilst i entered the backseat area. what are the bro's gonna grab onto when you are helling out in the desert? do these handles cost the manufacturer a fortune? my tacoma (2000) has three of them, and my cousins tacoma (2001) has only one. they appear to be disappearing. other miscellaneous gripes that i've listed in other threads include the lack of removable top (check the 07 wrangler, toyota), and the airliner impression from the back row (no opening windows). i love that toyota has finally addressed my desire for an affordable and capable cruiser. i'm looking forward to them addressing some (minor?) design issues in the coming years, because i could tell that this truck would definately fill a place in my lineup. btw, the truck drove really well, and all the controls felt like they were well placed. i compared the apparently limitted visibility against my tacoma (when i got back into my truck), and its not greatly diminished in the side-view mirrors, just moreso in the rear view mirror. let the flaming begin! (jk) __________________ Yotas I've known... 83 pickup 87 Extracab SR5 4WD pickup 92 4WD pickup 85 long-bed pickup 90 pickup Yotas I own... 00 Extracab SR5 TRD Tacoma (3RZ) FOR SALE 85 SR5 4Runner Check the LongBeachRacers, pounding Tacos in the desert!