So confusing - PreRunner vs TSS vs TRD Sport vs TRD Offroad vs SR5 vs Limited

Yes, I'm very much looking forward to throwing mulch in the bed of this thing.. Detailing the other car to keep it nice now so I can "use" this one.

A sure-enough truck! It's a great day.

Hijack over. Carry on.

On-topic, the issue with Toyota is as it's been for a long time.. Understanding the complexity of their model and package mix.. It's not like a choice of one or two cars such as Honda.

There's a bunch of "packages" and "models". It makes the trucks very ala carte. I bet the quantity of different combinations of configurations (version, cab, drivetrain, package, etc) available for the Tacoma would shock a lot of people.

This is a great thing because it adds all kinds of choice, but can be a decision nightmare to the uninitiated.

 

You don't have to drive to Oklahoma to avoid the Gulf States Toyota models. They still sell plenty of regular Tacomas too. Can't imagine it's worth a 5+ hour drive. No one is forcing you to buy a Texas Edition, TSS or whatever.

 

Sports have no additional traction systems over all other Tacomas since 2009. Sports come in both 2WD and 4WD. Only Sports have the fake hood scoop.

Only the Off Road has additional traction systems (for off roading) and the hydraulic brake booster for enhanced traction of A-TRAC. The Off Road double cab has a 5 ft. bed only. It holds all the same gear my 2001 6 ft. bed Tacoma held because the 2005+ Tacomas have a wider and deeper bed.

 

ALL Toyota's that come into any TX dealership come from GST (along with the other GST states). It's not just the TX Edition or the TSS, but all Toyotas. When I bought my 09 it had $6-700 worth of "add-ons" that inflated the price, and the dealer cannot remove as they have to pay GST for the vehicles delivered, as GST delivers them.

 

Got one of these plugs. But don't see any extra small cooler infront of the two layer radiator.

 

You're good to go. That's all Toyota there in your pics.

 

I felt the same way looking for mine. I'm not gonna lie, I would have taken the Texas Edition (I like the wheels) if it had everything the TRD Off-Road had. Luckily the "V6 Tow Package" is a true a la carte item, so no matter which base + package you choose, you can always have the tow.

I believe the tow package also comes with a beefier alternator, or maybe that's the Off-Road and Sport due to their addition of the power outlet.

 

So, along similar lines of this thread i am trying to decide. Does anyone know if the access cab ted off road package comes with the standard bed? I am about to order (find) and two dealers today said two completely confusing and different things about off road vs sport - things that I know to be wrong from this site (sport package is better off road??? Sport IS off road?? Off road has less aggressive tires?? Can only get toe package with sport?? Etc) You guys know the drill.....trying to get me to commit to truck - "last one on the east coast blah blah blah"...

I told them I wanted 5 things:
Access cab
4wd WITH locking diff ( only in off road package)
Tow package
6cyl
Standard bed (not short bed behind crew cab)

Guy at dealer who knew 10x more than the first guy at other dealer about trucks is pushing me to buy the TRD Sport Extra Package vehicle "70 miles from here"...great truck
but not what I specked so I left. Says better off road, more capable...

 

I don't think there are different bed options on the access cabs, they all come with the 6' beds. You only see talk of short vs long bed on the double cabs.

 

Forget about putting a quad in a Tacoma. I put my Polaris in my F150 a couple of times. One try in my Sporttrac and I bought a trailer. Get the how package and a small utility trailer.

 

GST sucks. When I bought my 2009 I told the dealer to find one with minimal add ons and I would buy. I almost had to order a Baja to get away from the GST crap. I thought OK was a GST state too. I was looking to go to KC to avoid GST.

 

Dealers seem to have some extra incentive to sell Sport TRDs... They are nearly the same money as an Off Road TRD but it is all cosmetic, and the Off Road is all traction... more USEFUL bang for the buck.

When I traded my '01 for an '05, my regular salesman was not there. Some other guy really pushed the new Sport... and said the locker had been discontinued and only the limited slip was available (lie). I drove the Sport... and that bump on the hood (fake scoop) was a real turn off, since I climb steep grades and tire placement is critical. The hood is too big as it is, for visibility down in front as you off road. Anyway, I came back when my original salesman was there and he got me into a 2005 Off Road (with the locker), just fine! 10 years after getting my '01 from him, he sold me my 2010 Off Road... the best Tacoma yet!

 

If it was on the used lot, then someone either slapped a "Prerunner" badge on a 4x4, or slapped some 4x4 mud flaps on a Prerunner.
If it was on the new lot, find another dealer because the two are mutually exclusive and someone is trying to squeeze a few extra bucks out of a Prerunner.
Remember, the Prerunner and 4x4 look identical. Other than the badging, you have to look under the front end to confirm that a truck is a 4x4 or not.


TSS and XPS-S are purely cosmetic packages that are port installed by Gulf States Toyota and/or SouthEast Toyota. They are not factory packages and you will not find them at dealerships outside of those territories.

 

Oil cooler is a "donut" under the oil filter with two coolant lines connected to it.
The trans cooler would be down low in front of the condensor, but you have a manual transmission, so you won't have the trans cooler.

Post a picture of your oil filter mount. It's a $500 part, so someone attempting to counterfeit a towing package is not likely to install it.

 

Basically the Tacoma packages go like this:

Base
SR
SR5
TRD Sport:
TRD off road
Limited

That's the basic list of packages and the TRD packages then have different grades on them.

 

You can get the Limited with or without the off-road package and in 2wd or 4x4, but the 2wd will be a Prerunner.
Toyota got no luvs for us 5-lugs.
The TRD packages are added to the SR5 package.

 

ok bj thanks man...thats what i wanted so, good

 

Here ya go. Thanks for the info. Do you mean the part the filter is screwed into?

I'll add maybe it's common with trucks but first time I've noticed an oil filter so high on an engine.

I know she's sure been fun driving this week coming from a dang civic. Hehe

 

You've got the factory towing package

I love that filter mount... add a Fumoto drain valve and your oil changes will be an absolute dream.

 

See. You guys are accessorizing me already. . Whoah that valve is the bomb! I want one of those on the High-Ball... My other "toy".

Thread hijack over. Sorry