From Wrecked M3 to Tuned TRD Pro — My OTT Experience (and why I'll never drive a stock Tacoma again)

[Quez]

Hey guys! Quez here. First time poster on this forum but I've been in the Toyota game for around 10 years now.

So, long story short — a big rig decided it liked the front end of my 2023 M3 Comp xDrive more than I did (that’s a story for another thread). This all happened not long after I sold my 2017 3GT — the dealer offered me $25K for a truck with 90K miles and a full Christmas tree on the dash. How could I say no? It's pictured below.

Anyway, with the M3 out of commission, I grabbed a rental from the local enterprise — a new 4GT TRD Off-Road, bone stock 2.4L Turbo. Nothing fancy. Just your typical fleet truck. But since I knew I’d have it for a couple of months, curiosity got the better of me: what would the OTT tune do for this thing?

Well, you can guess what happened next... I tuned the rental. I mean, why not? I can put it back to stock when I turn it in lol.

And WOW — night and day difference. It went from “nice daily driver” to “why didn’t Toyota ship it like this?” territory. The throttle response is razor sharp, the torque hits instantly, and the shifts? Absolute butter. It just feels alive. The tune made commuting something I actually look forward to with a rental. Because, let’s be honest, nobody likes driving a rental car.

After a few weeks behind the wheel, I knew I wasn’t going back to a third-gen. I had planned to pick up another low-mileage 3GT, but after experiencing the 4G platform firsthand, that was it. I test-drove a stock 2.4L hybrid, and that sealed the deal. Even stock, that setup felt stronger than the tuned rental. I was sold.
So I began the hunt for my perfect truck…

After way too many hours of online builds and comparisons, I locked in on a Mud Bath TRD Pro. The color, the stance, the aggressive look in its stock form — all of it. Found one two hours away, matched exactly how I built it online, and managed to negotiate a deal from $70K down to $64K (I think the upcoming ‘26s helped that a bit).

Fast forward to delivery day — I signed the paperwork, stepped outside, and with 6 miles on the odometer, I had the OTT tune flashed right there in the dealership parking lot. Forgot to grab a pic of that, but here's 11 miles LOL

And let me tell you… This thing is insane.
The torque hits instantly with the hybrid, and the shifts are so smooth it’s like gliding across a glass lake at sunrise. It’s legitimately damn close to being on par with my old 2025 TRD Pro Tundra — maybe even better in some ways. Sport/Tow mode are absolutely wild. The throttle response is perfectly dialed in. It just begs to be driven with a wide-open throttle. I don’t think I was this excited when I first drove my M3. I almost feel at home being back in a Tacoma. The added power behind the throttle is just the cherry on top

Massive shoutout to OTT for continuing to deliver what consumers ask for — transparent data, rock-solid development, and another top-tier calibration that completely transforms the experience.

If you’ve been on the fence about tuning your 4G or 4G hybrid setup, seriously — do it. You won’t regret it.

Thanks for sticking through my rambling. Happy to answer any questions anyone has — until then, I’ll be over in the mods section planning what’s next.

 

[rustytaco]

Welcome! Quite the story and lineup. Looking forward to diving more into tunes for these new turbocharged engines.

 

[Quez]

Welcome! Quite the story and lineup. Looking forward to diving more into tunes for these new turbocharged engines.

Yeah without a doubt. They're a blast to drive stock, tuning it only felt right. The torque it has now is pretty wild.

 

[Amorak]

Happy to answer any questions anyone has — until then, I’ll be over in the mods section planning what’s next.

Hi Quez,

I had OTT tune on my 3rd Gen. Literally saves that truck - MY GAWD did it need it. Huge fan of OTT

Love my 2025 Pro. It goes, as you know. Quantum leap from 3rd Gen.

So... this turbo 4 cyl is already being pushed - "devil's advocate" - w/ it being so good and powerful stock (really) - why would I want to push/stress it further and drop $650 bucks or so for the privilege? Also I realize the tune on hybrid won't be near as drastic w/ the 3rd Gen....

 

[Quez]

Hi Quez,

I had OTT tune on my 3rd Gen. Literally saves that truck - MY GAWD did it need it. Huge fan of OTT

Love my 2025 Pro. It goes, as you know. Quantum leap from 3rd Gen.

So... this turbo 4 cyl is already being pushed - "devil's advocate" - w/ it being so good and powerful stock (really) - why would I want to push/stress it further and drop $650 bucks or so for the privilege? Also I realize the tune on hybrid won't be near as drastic w/ the 3rd Gen....

I hear you — the 3rd Gen really comes alive with an OTT tune, it was a night-and-day difference in terms of power delivery and throttle response. It’s a huge improvement, especially once you've modded out the vehicle like myself, and many others have.

As for the 2025 Pro, that turbo 4-cylinder is already pretty impressive. But the OTT tune isn’t just about adding raw power as much as it's about refining what’s already there. By adjusting the torque curve, improving throttle response, and optimizing transmission shifts, the tune helps the truck drive smoother and feel more responsive, especially when towing or off-roading. I wasn't exaggerating when I talked about sport and tow/haul mode. It's a beast.

I wouldn't go as far as "stress" on the engine though. It’s not about pushing the engine to its breaking point, but rather balancing power, efficiency, and reliability to suit your driving style. If you’re after a more dynamic and enjoyable driving experience, the OTT tune is a solid upgrade without over-stressing the motor. It’s a natural performance enhancement that feels purposeful, not forced.

OTT offers tunes across multiple tuning platforms for the 4GT, giving you flexibility depending on what you're after. One platform is solid for basic performance boosts, but the other takes it to the next level with a wider range of maps, offering a much more comprehensive tune. With this option, OTT can really dial in everything. This includes refining the torque curve to optimizing throttle response and transmission shifts. If you're after a more complete, dialed upgrade that starts to scratch the surface of the engines potential, that second option through one of their authorized retailers is where you want to go.