Shopping for my first Tacoma! What STYLE??

I'm excited. I want a Tacoma.

I really need the double cab (I have a big dog). These are the WANTS that I'd like to hear the experienced people of this forum give their opinion on:

Long cab - With the double cab, the bed gets sacrificed to 5'. Seems short, has it been a deal breaker for anyone else? I have never owned a truck so I don't know for sure but the 6' bed looks so much more useful.

SR5/TRD Off Road or Sport. - I test drove a sport and it felt great. I don't want to pay for it though. Should I just go for the SR5 and make the upgrades myself? I mean the TRD is generally $4k more! You get the nice shocks, bigger wheal and better tire, and the skid plate but that seems steep right?

I'm trying to stay at or under 30k..... wishful thinking I guess.

I test drove a TRD Sport long bed and loved it. Plus it had the single tone front end, no chrome. slick. I wish they all were like that.

What do you think??

Thanks ahead of time!

 

Oh its definitely what I want. It's just more than I was planning on paying. I was kind of hoping people would say, "Oh get the SR5 and do the off-road stuff yourself and save $3k!".

 

Get the SR5 and do the off-road stuff yourself and save $3k

 

Expand your budget $1k and you should be able to get a sport for around $31k.

 

For me it was almost a no brainer, the TRD Off-Road package had everything I wanted, I didn't think a 5' bed would really be a problem. But as I am using my truck more and more, I realized that a 6' bed would come in handy much more often! But, again it depends on what you want to do with it, and how sensitive you are to how a truck steers, rides, and handles.

 

I got TRD sport cause its best all around suspension. Off road suspension is a little rougher and not as nice for highway. I went with longbed but shortbed would of fit in garage. If your parking it outside and little offroad get longbed.

 

Sport alwo comes with plugs in tailgate, blinkers on mirrors, matched mirrors bumpers 17 " wheels and bigger tires. Sport is worth the extra money.

 

Sport gets you better seats, too. A lot of people around here seem to have a hard time getting comfortable in the SR5 seats. Be sure to try them on a decent-lenght test drive if you do start leaning toward the SR5.

 

I love my DCLB TRD Sport.

The 5' Bed would have been inconvenient for me. With the 6 ft, I can throw my mountain bike in the back in one piece with no fuss. The 5' would require me to have the wheel turned to close the tailgate at a minimum...possibly remove the front tire.

Without the Sport package, I'd miss the better seat fabric (though I eventually want leather anyway) and compass/outside temperature gauge and auto-dimming rearview mirror the most. I do like how it's color matched, though, and like the looks of the fake hood scoop.

IMO, I can't imagine taking this truck anywhere that I'd need a locker. ...and if I ever change my mind on that, I can always add an ARB locker.

 

Depends. If you're going to lift it right away and blow $3K+ on a lift, tires, and wheels, maybe you should start with the SR5.

You're not really "saving" three thou then, you're just spending it differently.

If you're gonna keep it stock or just put a 1" spacer lift on it - TRD sport is a nice place to start.

 

3k? I just lifted mine 3" with awesome rims and bigger tires for 1800 then sold my stock wheels for 800 so it only costs about 1000-1100 to do that. Well worth it.

 

I just bought a Sport and would be thrilled to get $800 out of my wheels/tires! Did you sell on Craigslist?

 

I guess I should have seen that coming.....

 

Well I didn't know it came with the better seat fabric and stuff, that does help me lean more to the sport. I think I'll be buying next week, I'll post what I get when I do.

Thanks for all the help!

 

Haha
That's what I did, but I didn't know that the TRD seats were better. Wish I found this site before I bought mine. I haven't sat in a TRD yet so I don't know what I'm missing. Other than that I'm glad I saved the extra. I probably spent $1k and I paid $28 for my 13' in 2012.

 

Yes. Sold in 2 hours to a guy fixing up hos 4runner

 

Go buy "the fighting chance" it breaks out all the relevant information you need to buy from a dealer, and also shows exactly what options are included, prices for individual options which will let you decide more clearly what you are getting for your money as well as asking more informed questions about suspension, elocker, towing, audio, etc etc.

I have a '14 DCSB Off Road (7594) with entune plus, navi and LOVE my truck. Plenty capable for causal off road, snow, mud and plenty of comforts for a daily driver. Added a Leer mid rise cap with all the goodies and a bed rug...expensive , but has been very useful and easy on knees.

If I had to do it again, do it the same way, maybe gone with the JBL, that's it.

Basic upgrades to consider: armor if you are going to go out into the ruff stuff and rocks. Think about a lift (Old Man Emu and/or Billstien 5100s)

You have taken the most important step, asking questions...and of course deciding on a Tacoma!

 

Sean. Dude. I don't give a shit what you buy; just make sure it's got a supercharger on it when you leave the dealership.

Be a Hero.

 

HAHAHA Awesome. That's like rich as Bruce Wayne kinda rich.

BUT I DID JUST BUY A 2012 TRD SPORT! GYEA! Pick it up next wednesday, alllright

SIDE QUESTION: If I wanted to buy sweet new black wheels and sell the stock, what do you think I could get for the stocks??

By the way, Thanks for all the help everyone! I'm looking forward to hanging out here all the time.

 

This just answered my question from above. $800 eh? Not bad