tacoma

Cooley's Logbook: 2012 Toyota Tacoma Baja Edition

I wasn't sure what to expect when we got the Tacoma in -- we don't review trucks very often and have no idea what we're doing when we take them off-road. But I approach the Tacoma Baja Edition like I do every car: As an everyday ride with some special talents.

The head unit in the Tacoma is more limited than what Toyota is capable of -- in fact, it only offers Bing search and Pandora radio apps, not the full complement of Entune apps like OpenTable and MovieTickets.com. Disappointing and, I feel, an ill-advised segmentation … Read more

Toyota boosts Tacoma production at Texas plant

Toyota could be on the way to bouncing back from a year of recalls and civil litigation.

The Japanese automaker today announced a $100 million investment in Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, boosting its total investment in the 7-year-old plant to $1.4 billion.

Toyota began production of the Tacoma pickup truck began last month at the San Antonio, Texas, location, but the event was marked today with a ceremony attended by Texas Governor Rick Perry, San Antonio community leaders, and Toyota officials including Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President Atsushi Niimi.

Almost a year ago, Toyota recalled the Tacoma because … Read more

iPad finds a home in the dashboard

I'm not saying that this is a good idea, but I am saying that I saw this coming. The freshly minted Apple iPad has found its way into the dashboard. Installers at Sound Man Car Audio have modified the dashboard of a Toyota Tacoma to accommodate Apple's tablet, which will serve as the brains for a much more extensive installation.

It appears that the iPad will still be removable, which is good for security. Also, because until the Apple iPad 3G goes on sale, there isn't any GPS functionality for nav and Pandora Radio streaming will only … Read more

Suspect named in Tacoma house-trashing incident

We all remember the story of the giveaway house in Tacoma. Somebody posted an ad on the Seattle area Craigslist inviting folks to take away whatever they could find inside an otherwise unremarkable home. The response was eager and effective. Woodwork and fixtures vanished out the door. What was left was trashed. The incident aroused much online interest.

There was some police interest as well. Tacoma police told CNET News.com there would be criminal charges filed. And now the accused hoaxer, the person who invited the world to trash, has been charged.

Police have accused Nichole M. Blackwell, 28, … Read more