BUYING MY 17 TRD SPORT Access Cab

I did, think my discount was $2,450, below sticker. Not great, but not bad either, my OTD price was about 1K under sticker.

 

Nice to hear that you got a fair price and good service.

 

Got my Toyota survey this morning. Think I'll wait a bit before sending it in. Like to get a few miles on the truck first, still has under 100 and I've had it almost a week now!

I started my letter to the owner of the dealership, pretty much in final draft at this point, so it should be done before the week is over.

I did finish my letter to Toyota Customer Relations and I'll fax it out next week. It's just a quick thank you to one of the gals for helping me out incentive wise!

Lastly I'll start my draft letter to Yoshihisa Nagatani, President, Toyota Motors Manufacturing Texas, Inc. We went back and forth a while ago. I thought it was very nice of him to answer my questions directly.

I can only imagine how busy he must be plus the responsibility of his position has to be tremendous. So I'll send him a quick thank you as well. Plus some Before and After pics of The "MUTANT TACO"

Looks like I'm more or less done with my mods. I'll stop by a shop hopefully this week to get their opinion on a leveling kit. I did go out and take a quick measurement. It looks like the rear end is one inch higher than the front, so I'm not sure $500 on the leveling kit is worth the money.

Next stop will be window tint, and an eyebrow. I'll go as dark as Massachusetts law allows.

Lastly I'll go by the leather install shop. That won't be until next week most likely. I have decided that I'm only going to do the Driver and Passenger seats. Nothing to the back, see no point since it's an Access Cab.

 

Had some free time yesterday so I fired off a few more letters. Finished the one to the dealership owner. Thanked him for calling me at home and inquiring as to how I liked my new truck as well as letting me know that if I have any concerns or questions to feel free to contact him directly. Thought that was very him of him. Oh, and sent a courtesy copy to my sales girl.

Also fired off an email to Yoshihisa Nagatani, President. Toyota Motors Manufacturing, Texas. I said thanks, and when he gets a chance to thank all the plant shift workers for us! We Love our new Truck!

LastLy, an email to Toyota Customer Relations, the Rep/Gal that was so generous and helpful prior to us ordering.

I'm one of those people who takes the time to not only say thank you, but I will usually contact the supervisor/manager and let them know how pleased I am with the above and beyond job their employee did for me.

Let's see what else; oh I called the auto leather place and inquired about gett'n seats with the TRD Sport logo. The guy informed me that he needed a letter from a dealership manager authorizing them to use Toyota logos due to trademark rules.

Said to give him a call back late Monday or anytime Tuesday. He will contact one of the dealership managers and try to get an authorization letter.

Hope it happens, I really like that little extra touch with the embroidered TRD Sport logo. Not sure on the color combo yet, but I want to keep it calm/subtle. Kinda like this one:

 

Forgot to mention, I have an appointment Monday to get the driver/passenger windows and an Eyebrow tinted. I'll post a pic when done. Going with the darkest tint allowed by law. Don't want to "fail" come next inspection sticker time because they're too dark.

 

ugh that TRD PRO emblem on the tail gate

otherwise, looking good!

 

But that's the entire point of its name: The MUTANT TACO

It looks to be part Sport, Off Road, and TRD Pro......so what the heck is it? The MUTANT TACO of course!

 

Well much to my surprise I got an email response this morning from the Toyota Motors Manufacturing Texas Plant President, Yoshihisa Nagatani. That was fast, and on a Sunday morning, then again it is a 24/7 plant. Still I have say I was impressed.

Anyway, his letter was very nice and he told me he will post it, along with my pics, for all the employees to read.

 

Got a call this afternoon letting me know my window tint was done. So I asked them to price a leveling kit, 2" front, and 1" back.

So an hour later I get a message. The guy said there isn't a leveling kit yet for the TRD Pro model. After I stopped laughing I called them back and told them how and why my truck is named The MUTANT
TACO.

Thought that was pretty funny. I guess I did a pretty good job, but to be honest they specialize more with Jeeps than toyotas. Still funny tho. The guy got a kick out of it when I told him it's really a Sport Model.

 

Truck is Looking good!

 

Thats is funny, but honestly do you want them putting a lift on if they can't figure out what you have for a truck?

 

Hahaha, ya good one. But reality is: without someone telling you it's a Sport or Off Road model......How would anyone know???

Doesn't say "Sport" or "Off Road" model anywhere on the truck. Sure a SR model or Limited has a badge stating so......But not a Sport or Off Road model.

They went with TRD Pro for one reason only......IT HAS A "TRD PRO BADGE" on the tailgate.

They do specialize in lift kits, although the Jeeps are their number one, they do a couple dozen Jeeps a week, for direct customers as well as area dealerships. But seriously, any place I happen to take it to, even a Toyota dealership, my money says I'd get the same outcome. "Sorry, TRD Pro kit isn't available yet".

They went by what they saw: TRD Pro badge on the tailgate......No other conclusion/assumption could be made.

After all, that was the whole purpose of my build: The MUTANT TACO

 

Oh forgot to say they also said they couldn't find a "TEXAS EDITION". OMG......I'm still chuckling.

In my letter to Yoshi, TMM Texas, he also got a kick out of mine probably being the only Mutant Taco, as well as probably the only Texas Edition to boot.

He said: "I love it!" When I go and visit the plant I'll be sure to ask every employee I see if they ever heard of The MUTANT TACO. Hahahahahehehehe.

Life's too short not to have a sense of humor!

 

Look'n at a ReadyLift Leveling Kit, #69-5212

Three inches front and two inches rear.

Is that too much, three inches front, and I mean by too much, will that much lift need UCAs? I have zero knowledge in this area.

Any help/comments/suggestions/opinions greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Norma

 

Seems to lots of controversy on Leveling Kits. Half or more of the folks say don't bother, go for a good Lift Kit. Things is I really will ever, if ever, be Off Roading the truck. So the leveling kit is merely for looks.

My only concern is I don't want to have any issues. I did get a rub spot inside one of my mudflaps when I had the wheel cut hard and went over a bump. Heard the noise and checked it out when I got home, sure enough a rub spot.

I definitely don't want to remove the mudflaps. So I do need to raise it up, front, an inch or so. If I go more than an inch, say two or three, then the rear will also need to be lifted.

Also scraped the bottom of the tow pkg/assembly on a turn that immediately goes into a steep grade.

 

I love the black letters on the tail gate, looks so clean! Just got my super white last week and I think I'm gonna steal this idea from you (hope you don't mind lol). How did you do it? I'm not asking you to do a giant writeup with detailed instructions, but if you could give me some tips/advice/suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

Congrats!

Got them on eBay, from mtnrider65 2016/17 Toyota Tacoma Premium Matte Black Vinyl Decal Tailgate Letter Inserts, think it was like $12

Super easy, took like 30 minutes, clean area 50/50 mix alcohol/water, then wet area, he gives you an extra "T" to practice with, so once it's in place you gently squeegee out the water while holding it in place with your other hand. Then move to the next letter and so on......

Don't worry about gett'n all the water out first time, I went over them once again after I finished the last letter and got the last remaining water out. Just be easy/gentle don't want to use too much pressure and move it.

Super easy mod and I love the look.

 

Wow, that's great, I was gonna use plastidip, that was gonna be a big job!

What about the badges, did you use plastidip for that? If so, how did you cut the plastidip around the badges?

Thank you..your truck looks awesome btw!

 

Thanks, ya Plasti-Dipped the badges as well. The more coats the better, 8+ is good. Still didn't come out as sharp as I woulda liked. And a pain in the small centers like the "O"s and "A"s. Used a toothpick to try and get the dip out of those small areas.

If I find some extra cash I'll buy new "Toyota" ones for the doors and dip them before installing. They have them in black but I'd dip them anyway to get that matte black look. That's why I dipped the TRD Grille, didn't like that shiny black plastic look.

 

Thank you for you feedback, now I just need time to do the work lol.