Agree, I am a big Toyota fan
Agree, I am a big Toyota fan with 2 gen 5 4Runners and an old LC but I couldn't get past the test drive of the 3.5L with either the auto or 6spd manual. I don't believe it is transmission it is the 3.5L motor. Take a look at the HP/Torque curves this little motor just makes no power in the RPM band that is usable, south of 2500 rpm. This forces the transmission to hunt for a gear with the slightest change in load.
Beyond the lack of power or torque the gas mileage is simply terrible and not competitive in this market segment or in the full size segment for that matter.
Instead, I bought a GMC 1/2 ton which is a bigger truck than I wanted and it cost $5K more than a Tacoma but............ 430HP and 460 ft*lbs, tows nearly 5 tons and I get 23 MPG highway and have averaged 22 MPG over the first 20,000 miles. Why can't Toyota build a better engine? They need to import to the USA the HiLix turbo diesel and tune it to about 330 ft*lbs and then they would dominate this mid-size truck market