how is soul quantified?

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Well said Red. I know my most “engaged”driving experience is the ‘97 Tacoma. I just like shifting gears, and rolling down my window by hand!
 
We name all our vehicles (we do custom builds, so you can only refer to a project as “the 1974 something-or-other” so many times) so that helps. Although my Tundra is about as soulless and nondescript as it gets, so it’s called “Jeff”. Most of the other ones are named by characteristics or personalities.
 
I6 engines are considerably longer than V6 engines. Those extra inches require the entire vehicle to be longer. Extra length = extra weight.
(is one theory)
Don't forget the Hybrid portion... already adds what... 12 inches?

tundra-cutaway-resized.jpg
 
Don't forget the Hybrid portion... already adds what... 12 inches?

tundra-cutaway-resized.jpg
That certainly would seem to make an I6 hard to package compared to a V6.

I'm still not sold on hybrid tech for trucks/SUVs, despite being a firm believer in it for cars and crossovers (albeit they are even more soulless than a ICE vehicle).
 
That certainly would seem to make an I6 hard to package compared to a V6.

I'm still not sold on hybrid tech for trucks/SUVs, despite being a firm believer in it for cars and crossovers (albeit they are even more soulless than a ICE vehicle).

I feel like Toyota did the trucks a disservice by not doing it the way that the cars do. They're using it to add power, rather than economy, which is honestly one of the largest downsides of owning one of the older ones. Full battery only usage on demand, additional supplemental power from a larger battery, and more regen on braking should only make the experience of owning a hybrid more palatable. If you're already going to do a hybrid, do it right.
 
I don't need hyper-economy but I do need range. With a hybrid, I might not need to regear the low range due to the added torque. The regenerative braking save my brakes and possibly smooth out the trail... don't need to two-foot it as much. The hybrid can add an additional starter (for gas engine) and battery... a battery I could maybe use for campground lights and such.
 
I feel like Toyota did the trucks a disservice by not doing it the way that the cars do. They're using it to add power, rather than economy, which is honestly one of the largest downsides of owning one of the older ones. Full battery only usage on demand, additional supplemental power from a larger battery, and more regen on braking should only make the experience of owning a hybrid more palatable. If you're already going to do a hybrid, do it right.
I agree. I would much rather have seen a hybrid system configured for efficiency (and thus range) than power, especially with so little fuel capacity.
 
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A compact pickup/SUV (3rd gen 4Runner size) would be fine with the same NA 2.5/ hybrid setup our Highlander has. It has perfectly acceptable performance in a nearly 5000# crossover and easily gets its 35 mpg EPA rating. And we've gotten over 500 miles of range on a tank multiple times. It has tolerable NVH as well.

This vehicle would be smaller, utilitarian, and probably wouldn't sell well, but would be a great 4x4 appliance.
 
Who is kidding who? Their main criteria and goal was emission standards and then they just worked back from there to end up here. It is what it is and not really their fault but nobody should be that surprised by the soulless label. Marketing only goes so far and influencers can only recite their approved scripts based on their abilities.
 
If you took the extra 12” out of the hybrid motor, a straight 6 would fit no problem. Firewall would need massaging, but length is there
 
Who is kidding who? Their main criteria and goal was emission standards and then they just worked back from there to end up here. It is what it is and not really their fault but nobody should be that surprised by the soulless label. Marketing only goes so far and influencers can only recite their approved scripts based on their abilities.
And the whole world is falling apart. I’m going to sell EVERYTHING and move to a tiny banana republic with no internet and fish / gather coconuts in an old FJ40 with mismatched wheels and tires. Then I won’t care how many mpgs my new hybrid gets or any of the new genders etc. Peace out, yo.
 
And the whole world is falling apart. I’m going to sell EVERYTHING and move to a tiny banana republic with no internet and fish / gather coconuts in an old FJ40 with mismatched wheels and tires. Then I won’t care how many mpgs my new hybrid gets or any of the new genders etc. Peace out, yo.
Lots of folks have been living a similar lifestyle for the past 150+ years down here in the Ozarks.

I have a "real" job, mortgage, 401k etc, but could easily revert to my true hunter-gatherer hillbilly self if (or when) needed. Perhaps I need a stockpile of UZJ120 parts for when the system collapses.
 
And the whole world is falling apart. I’m going to sell EVERYTHING and move to a tiny banana republic with no internet and fish / gather coconuts in an old FJ40 with mismatched wheels and tires. Then I won’t care how many mpgs my new hybrid gets or any of the new genders etc. Peace out, yo.

At least you'll also have more time to learn reading comprehension so not a complete loss.
 
I drove one of those new Ram's with the twin turbo, I-6, 3.0L motors for about a week and 500 miles. While I generally detest Ram, Stellantis, or whatever they will call themselves next month, good night that was an impressive engine. Smooth and very powerful and it was the "base" model of that engine. I'd happily take one of those engines in a GX or LC.
 
You'd also think the company that built the 2JZ could figure out how to make a good I6.

Kudos to Stellantis and Mazda for bringing them back.
 
I drove one of those new Ram's with the twin turbo, I-6, 3.0L motors for about a week and 500 miles. While I generally detest Ram, Stellantis, or whatever they will call themselves next month, good night that was an impressive engine. Smooth and very powerful and it was the "base" model of that engine. I'd happily take one of those engines in a GX or LC.
Assuming it had Toyota reliability, right? ….Right?
 
Assuming it had Toyota reliability, right? ….Right?
All Toyota needs to do is use their past success formula that made them so great.

Take a American or European idea (i.e., TT I-6 powered truck). Dissect it, learn from it. Identify the flaws and poor execution of the Westerners. Develop a new product that addresses them, and expand your cult fan base in the process by offering a Western-inspired product that lasts 2X as long and breaks half as much.

It's worked every time.
 

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