I'm considering a '04 Tacoma with the V6. When I test drove it in about 55 degree weather, the temp gauge sat at slightly above the halfway mark. About the 9:30 point. There was plenty of room before the red region.

Is this normal? Where does your gauge read?

The only reason I ask is all my other Toyotas have read in about the bottom third of the gauge in normal operation. Thanks!

 

My 4runner (so take this with a grain of salt) pretty much always reads below the halfway mark

 

My 01 Tacoma 2.7 always sits at the half way point or maybe just slightly above and it doesn't matter what the temp is outside.
That temp reading you describe may be normal for that 04 , 6 banger. Take it for a longer ride after it warms up a bit and see if the gage starts climbing. If it doesn't then I would not worry about it. Mike

 

I can tell you that my 2000 4Runner sits just ever so slightly below half-way including in stop-and-go traffic in 110 degree summertime heat. My Camry and the wife's Camry are almost exactly at 1/2. Rather than driving around I would see ow it does in traffic or even sitting at idle. That is where you have the least airflow.

 

Mine has never moved! When it's dead cold, sat outside overnight in 0* weather the needle is at the very bottom and after 15 min of driving it's in the middle, right where it likes to sit all summer long at 95* even towing with the A/C on. I've watched an OBD II scanner and the hottest is got was 206* pulling hard up Parleys canyon(long steep grade)

 

If your thermostat and cooling system is working correctly then no matter what time of year it should be right around the same point on the guage. Mine sits just a hair below halfway all year too.