New Member- Initial Impressions

Hi all, just want to introduce myself. For about a week, I've been the proud owner of a brand new 2011 Silver Tacoma DC SB TRD Off Road. I am a 'car-convert' from a 2004 Mazda6 V6, but it was time to move on to something with much more utility for doing stuff and all terrain capability for the seriously inclement weather which has become much more frequent in the past years.

So far I've been pretty happy with the decision, which actually took me about a year. Originally I had been looking at the new 4Runner, but once the $1000+ price hike occurred shortly after the Japan Tsunami and nuclear reactor crisis, the overall cost of the one I really wanted (Trail+KDSS++ a forced Navi option in my region) which already was expensive to me became exorbitantly expensive for what it was. After much consideration on other cars/trucks/crossovers I ended up down selecting on a Tacoma TRD Off Road Double Cab Short Bed(no JBL) since it seemed to have most of the utility and off road features that the 4Runner Trail has at a great price. I saw a fresh 2012, base model on the lot and to me the updated headlights and bumper did not warrant the extra cost, headache of added haggling, and temptation to get the $2000 Entune system. I never imagined I’d be driving a truck, but during both supervised and unsupervised test drives was impressed and loved the way the steering, handling, braking felt for such a larger vehicle in comparison to what I had been driving as well as my wife’s 2010 Rav4 Sport V6. As one review I found similarly stated, it has a refined road feel up front and a typical truck feel in the rear, which I pretty much agree with. Acceleration is so-so, but at the same time I’m still avoiding ‘sudden acceleration’ while the drivetrain continues to break in. I’m on my 2nd fillup (“Free tank of gas” was barely touching F in case you were wondering), I averaged 19.6 mpg, and am hoping to see that get even better as it breaks in and becomes more of my vehicle.

My negotiated price of the truck ended up at $29,870, which included reverse-cost VIN etching + $900 worth of typical dealer add-ins (both no cost to me). I’m looking to keep the truck for a very long time, so the fact that it’s a 2011 vs. 2012 did not matter to me + they had 3 of the exact model and colors I wanted on the lot giving me some more bargaining leverage. Anyway, that’s my initial take on the truck. I can see there is already a wealth of mature information for the various Tacoma models here, and I look forward to adding whatever I can to the site.

 

Welcome to TW

 

Glad you found the site!

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to TW from Nova Scotia.

Frank

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome home. Hope you like to mod your truck. If you don't you aren't human. LOL

 

Welcome. Now, go cut up all your credit cards immediately. You'll thank me later.

 

Where were you when I joined? LOL I think I have paid as much for my mods as I did for the truck! And I am not anywhere close to being done.

 

Thanks! I am well aware of how easy it is to go all out on a new vehicle. I'm looking to sell my CP-E intake to my Mazda6 and then get an exhaust. The intake, which also had an air/fuel ratio mod for the ecu, added a true 20hp and 20ft-lb of torque throughout most of the rpm range. It was a semi-sleeper, but never had quick off the line acceleration. I had a complete suspension upgrade on my Mazda which included thicker front/rear sways, 0.75" lowering with linear springs, Koni yellow shocks..the thing handled like it was on rails. But that Mazda "quality" came through on all aspects of the vehicle almost exponentially in the last 2-3 years of the 8 years I owned it, which led me to get rid of it before it got even worse.

All I'm looking to do right now is change the exhaust and intake...the engine feels like it has some intentional restriction when you get on it and let it ride all the way up through its RPMs. I asked my wife, but the supercharger kit is a no go . Right now I'm still getting used to just driving the truck around in heavy traffic which I'm finding to be a challenge at times.

 

Yeah, I feel that being in traffic with it is painful at times. It will just take some time to get used to it. I added side marker LEDs for my turn signals right under my side view mirrors. The whole mod cost me something like $15. They are very visible during the day but at night, they really help.

Here is the link to the DIY that I used: Side marker Turn Signals

 

Welcome and TRD off road FTW!