Buying new 2015 Tacoma - Help me understand these options

I would seriously wait... I'd probably trade my 2015 for a 2016... Yes, it's going to be that much better.

OTOH...
Why get a double cab short bed truck? Horrible mileage, no useful bed, it's a truck, not a car. it's old. .. It's a truck.. If I used it off road instead of as a farm truck, I'd buy a comfy car, and a freaking Jeep. with a DC, 90% of the time, you're stuck with a big useless, crappy mileage car that doesn't do anything carlike well....

 

Merc11 -

I know about the 2016. I am quite intrigued in particular about the new 3.5L V6. But, there is no way I would buy one at this point.

This V6 will be one of Toyota's first experiences with direct injection gas motors. Although Toyota is certainly one of the highest (if not THE highest) manufacturers of quality vehicles, other manufacturers have had (or are having) problems with direct injection.

Plus, I am thinking the 2015 Tacomas are going to be very reliable, as the design has been stable and proven, and all the bugs worked out. At this point in my life, reliability is more important than having the latest design.

Finally, the dealers may be willing to offer greater discounts since many will want to opt for the newer version.

I had this same dilemma when I bought my 2006 Tundra. I bought it in LATE december 2006, and the newly designed 2007 Tundras were coming out. I opted for the 2006. I got a great deal, and it has been a very reliable truck. The 2007 model was more troublesome than later Tundras as well, in part due to the redesign, but also because it was being built in a new plant (San Antonio, TX)

 

Be aware you can "order" a Tacoma with a particular configuration. But it isn't so much a fully custom order as being able to make small changes to a vehicle already scheduled for production. DCSB V6 4x4 TRD OR is a very popular configuration so there are a lot of them made. I believe getting JBL and Nav is a small enough change that an "order" would probably work. But of course if you go this route you lose some negotiating ability compared to a truck already on the lot. It is getting late in the model year, so if you are set on a specific configuration and want to order one you probably need to do so soon. If you are a little bit flexible you can of course wait to see what ends up on lots.

I've certainly seen TRD OR trucks with Nav and Premium on lots. Not sure about the JBL option though.

 

I've successfully hauled full sheets of plywood, King and a Cali King size mattress, an extra large sleeper sofa, large dressers, actually there has never been anything I needed to haul but couldn't fit in my short bed with the tailgate down and plenty of ratchet straps.

If there ever was anything; then I'd just buy a small low to the ground used travel trailer, that I could easily drive my lawnmower or four wheeler onto.

 

I never cared for anything above the SR5 trim and tow package. None of the TRD features appeal to me simply because for the same price difference I can buy a better suspension/lift of my choosing over an inferior 'upgraded' factory setup. The point being, if you plan to put a lift on your truck or other modifications, there is no sense spending a couple thousand more for parts you will replace. If you don't, then opt for the upgraded trims.

Granted there are other features with higher trims, but nothing particularly earth shattering. The SR5 trim these days incorporates most of the truely useful stuff anyway.

 

The ATRAC system utilizes the servos in the booster in conjunction with the ABS system for off-road traction control. If it detects wheel slip, the servo applies brake to the slipping wheel.

Having owned both "regular" 4x4 Tacomas and now an Off-Road, I can say that ATRAC is quite impressive in terms of additional traction.

 

If you are choosing the off road for the locker but wish you could have the double cab and long bed, (I wanted a locker and the DCLB but had to choose and the DCLB won) I can tell you that if you don't do any hardcore offroading the TRAC system and electronic limited slip system you get with the TRD Sport is very good. It's not like the Sports have open diffs. If you lose traction with one wheel the system automatically applies brakes to the free-spinning wheel and that engages the wheel that does have traction. They are also slightly larger. I believe the Sport has an 8.4" rear diff while the off road is an 8".

Nice call on the 2015 as well. I agree with all your rationalization and it's interesting that after buying a 2006 Tundra, you didn't regret it and are about to do the same thing all over again.

 

Good point. I have done the yellow wire mod (snipped 1 wire behind the glove box) but haven't had to use 4low since.

 

If your needs are for off roading and a lot of dirt roads/ fire roads, get the Off Road. The suspension is a little softer and compliant.

If your needs are on road/ highways, suburbs, with only occasional off road use or not off road use, get the Sport.

If you need a double bed long bed, get the Sport.

If you have the money and desire, get the Pro. Which is a well done version of the Off Road and Sport w/ about 2" of lift. It's kinda pricey for what you get though.

If you're going to add your own tires, shocks, lift, etc., get the one that appeals to you aesthetically.

I don't have the navigation but I hear it's not very good. I have the large screen mid level stereo and it has everything I need and the large screen looks aesthetically better to me than the other stereo.

If you're considering the Limited I would just step up to the Pro unless you need the double cab long bed.

 

What the heck is a double bed long bed? I want one! Actually, I want two

 

OK, I just figured out something.

I CAN'T get what I want. It's not made.

Here's what I want:

1) 2015 Tacoma, Double-Cab 4WD, Short Bed, V6 Automatic transmission
2) Off-Road Package
3) Towing Package
4) JBL Audio with Navigation

I've been playing with the configuration wizard on the Toyota.com website. In my region (20171 zip code), you CANNOT GET JBL audio with navigation. You can only get Entune Premium Audio with Navigation.

The only way I can get JBL Audio is if I go for the Limited instead of the Off-Road. Can anyone out there prove me wrong for the 2015 model year? The local dealers are pretty worthless trying to answer this question definitively.

 

Also, if not mentioned earlier, the Sport has a large rear end than the TRD OR. Toyota went with a bigger rear axle a number of years back but retained the 8" in the TRD OR as it was already set for a locker. The newer rear is supposed to be about 10% stronger than the previous 8" rear.

 

screw built in navigation. You already have a phone. and its going to be the most up to date navigation possible.

 

So be aware that the configuration application on the Toyota.com website is just checking inventories in your geographic area. And it isn't even that accurate or up to date. So if you put together a particular configuration and it starts forcing various options on you or greying out choices it may only mean that your configuration happens to not exist in your geographic region's inventory right now. For instance I've had it force me into a particular color vehicle for a given options package with a given zip code.

There are of course some configurations that just aren't possible. For instance, if you get any trim package with the backup camera you must at least get the Etune Audio Plus or better package because it has to use the radio to display the backup camera. So they won't build an SR5 or TRD with anything less than Etune Audio Plus.

I don't know of any limitation to JBL Audio and Nav on a TRD. I expect that is a perfectly valid configuration and you could order one that way.

Your best bet is to probably contact the internet or fleet sales group at a dealership and ask if you can get a particular configuration ordered. The internet or fleet sales guys are used to working on the phone/email and doing orders and are less likely to jump down your throat and try to sell you whatever is on their lot at the moment.

And again, ordering might compromise your bargaining position a bit. So if you want to find something in stock you may need to give up Nav or JBL and go aftermarket for one of those.

 

DVExile,

OK, I just tried something...Instead of plugging in my home zip code, I used a zip code on the West Coast. Sure enough, over there I can get JBL Audio with Navigation on the Off Road version over there. I think this is why I *thought* it was available in my area - it must have changed since I started looking.

What is NOT clear to me - does the Toyota.com build tool reflect inventory, or does it reflect what is currently being built/delivered to the region in the specified zip code? I've always suspected the latter. Anyway, I am going to my Toyota dealer tomorrow to try to order what I want to see what they say.

 

I have a 2015 super white DCSB TRD off-road automatic with the locker DAC ATRAC navigation without the JBL. It actually sounds decent. I was once very much into sound systems, or obsessed with them whatever you want to call it... The JBL is overrated. It's just like the sub that came in my FJ Cruiser. It's a sub alright, but not much of one. If you decide to upgrade with the JBL it's more complicated apparently. My stereo sounds just fine for now. After my son is born maybe I'll drop a mild 10" in it and start upgrading. Probably won't though to be honest. I guess I've grown up lol if you can get the truck you want minus the JBL, jump on it. I promise you won't be disappointed!! I've had mine a month and don't think I've stopped smiling

 

DesertRatTRD:
You are right. At 54, my ears aren't what they used to be, either. Based on a search of all local dealerships through their websites, I can get everything except the JBL. So my fallback position, of course, is the Entune premium audio w/Nav, NO JBL.

One thing I have noticed, though. I've seen a few dealers offering Tacomas with TRD cat-back exhaust. Any comments on this option? How much power (if any) does this add? Does it last as long as the stock exhaust?

 

I seriously doubt it adds any power. Just makes a lot of noise, I've heard the TRD, it sounds nice but it's pretty loud. I guess I've grown up in that department as well lol I used to put a super loud exhaust on everything. All my V8 trucks had loud flow masters. Now I think it just sounds kind of silly if it's not a muscle car. I will say my taco is obnoxiously quiet. I like a little purr so I know what my engine is doing. It's so quiet I have to look at the tac when stopped to see if it's running still. My FJ cruiser was the perfect blend of sound and volume stock. I'm hoping the more it breaks in the more volume ill get. But I'll never put an aftermarket on it to purposely make it louder. I like the stealth of no loud exhaust for hunting.

 

I too wanted JBL audio...wasn't available in the price I wanted. I'm happy with the factory audio though. Worst case is I buy some quality speakers and install them myself, maybe with some sound insulation. Overall I think it would be comparable to the JBL package in terms of price, if not cost a bit less. I would miss out on a subwoofer...but I hate that thumping anyway.

 

If you are ok with the factory sound system in the Tacoma, you haven't heard a good system. It sucks...

A subwoofer doesn't only have to be thumping. In a well designed system, the sub doesn't overpower anything else. It just plays the frequencies that the other speakers aren't capable of playing. (which is a huge part of music) Cars where you can hear the sub a mile away
aren't doing it right. (usually kids that don't know better.)

If I used the Taco as anything other than a farm/chore vehicle, or I had to drive it every day. You can bet I'd change the speakers, add an amp, and a sub, and get it professionally tuned. (owned it 6 months, have 1400 miles...lol)

Done right, the first time you listen to a really good system is like a blind man seeing for the first time.