Trd vs. ???

Just Looking at getting a new tacoma and wanted to know the difference between a TRD and non TRD..
2005 4x4 tacoma...

 

Have you looked at Toyotas website? It will explain everything on there.

Just a few:
trd=better seats, lsd or locker depending on Offroad or Sport.

 

I disagree on seats. lol. Mine came with leather seats. I don't think you can find a TRD with this option from factory.

I have a 2005 4x4 tacoma SR5 (non-TRD). As JD said, the more obvious are the absence LSD or a locking differential. Stock tires come in 245/75/16 and not in 265's.

 

So the non trd has a leather option?

I was just saying that the trd ones are better than the regular cloth.

 

Yes. In Texas, they have bunch of non-TRD packages. One of them comes with leather seats.

I like the TRD Sport seats. The regular seats of non-TRD is not appealing to me.

 

Cash strapped? Get the standard Tacoma 4WD. You can add any of the options in the TRD package later on. In fact many of them are ones you'll replace anyway. For example.. the Bilstein suspension in the TRD is worthless as an upgrade, you'd be just as well of with the regular suspension - after all you'll be upgrading it anyway if you go off-road, and even if you don't it's pretty soft.

More cash then you know what to do with? Get the TRD Off Road. The sport package has a non-functional (aka ;useless and for looks only hood scoop) and 17 inch rims, which mean more expensive tires and less likely to have the ones you want on sale/in stock. The off-road gives you the rear diff locker (also on the sport) and the more manageable 16 inch rims for your new tires (the stock ones are cheap, but you probably assumed that).

Sure, you get sporty bucket seats, a compass, etc.. nothing big that you couldn't easily add if you wanted to..

Anyway, it is this rear locker that makes the biggest compelling reason for getting the TRD package. It would cost you a couple grand to add this option after market.. which his usually comparable to the TRD upgrade, and you get all the other niceties thrown in.

However, if you are not going to do much off-road then I'd say the rear locker is as useless as a bowl of candy for a diabetic.. and in that case the base model is the way to go.

Hope this helps.

 

The sport comes with the lsd differential and offroad with the locker.

 

Oh yeah, good point. Chris4x4 schooled me on that recently, shame on me.

That's a big difference actually.. and the LSD is arguably more useful for most situations (until you do the mod to free your locking rear diff from Toyota's 4WD Lo only 5Mph limitations)

 

05-08 Sports comes with mechanical LSD
09-10 Sport and Off Road comes with Auto LSD and Off Road with a Electronic Locker which is a beast.

 

You can get leather seats as a TRD option in Canada ,

OZ

 

I have a non-trd, non sr5, 4x4, double cab and love it.

It didn't have any factory tint on the windows so I didn't have to deal with trying to match it. Mine has power window and locks (all double cabs). I added Wet Okole seat covers and WeatherTech floor liners and love both. I added an aftermarket stereo and speakers for cheap with xm and ipod, much better than the stock one. I like not having a sliding rear window. I don't need a temp or compass, I don't need fog lights or intermittent wipers where I live, but those are all pretty easy and inexpensive to add. I love not having any chrome on the truck! I'd never use cruise control. I upgraded to 17" rims and all terrain tires, easier to find 17's that fit and the tires weren't much more pricey, but so much better that the stockers. I added a tow hitch that meets my needs just fine. The non-trd suspension was fine, nice ride quality IMO, but I have the TRD bilsteins now and the ride is just a bit more firm. I don't offroad enough to warrant needing a locker, 4x4 is fine for me. I have no regrets not getting a TRD package.

 

You just described me! But I splurged by buying a new TRD Off-Road... I might trade it in for a new Subaru WRX STI in 2 years. I love my truck, but having the Off-Road makes no sense since I never go off-roading and I commute over 100 miles/day for 4 days a week on dry paved roads. Maybe I'll sell it in a few years instead of trading it in. The TRD Off-Road is the top of the line 2nd gen, and I'm sure I'll break even. I test drove the new STI and it's freakin bad ass! But the $40k price tag is ridiculous.