I think the real problem is
I think the real problem is the transmission/motor combo. The trend of automakers is making more horsepower and more torque out of smaller motors, so I am not against the smaller motor, but the previous 4.0 and transmission combo seemed perfect to me. The 3.5 makes roughly 40 more horsepower, but has the same torque. So the previous motor had the "grunt" where it counted, in the low RPM. This motor is a dog off the line, and then glues you to your seat at higher RPM. The transmission isnt capable of handling it correctly (see the Technical Service Updates from Toyota to try and address this), so you are left with a jerky ride and constant shifting. I would like to see the next motor make the same horsepower, but with better torque numbers. I personally don't care about fuel mileage if the sacrifice is terrible performance for a truck. I get about 17 MPG on average in my real world driving conditions. I would love to have more, but am happy enough with that. If I could get a smarter transmission (one that isnt freaked out by the slightest uphill grade) and more torque at the same time, I would consider re-purchasing a Tacoma. For now, I am looking at other makes for my next truck in about 2 years.