TRD PRO Purchase Thoughts ... advice?

Making my deposit on a TRD Pro this weekend. I'm relatively new to this board, but not the Tacoma. Thought I'd post up a few issues I'm tossing around in my head, see if you all had any insight...

Quick background: This will be my 5th Tacoma, I’ve owned one since the early 90's, the only vehicle I've ever had. I'm an engineer by trade, use my truck for work and fun. Brutal honesty ... I will likely only use this truck maybe 2% of the time off road. Most of my time will be spent commuting and putzing around the PNW with my wife and dog. I really like the fit/trim, engineering, and assumed capability of the TRD Pro. That cement color rocks. It's moved me to trade in my current Tacoma ('14 TRD Off-Road) for an upgrade. I do realize my day to day use of the truck doesn't make sense when you consider what I'm actually buying - it's a heck of an off road truck, it carries a big price tag for that, but it's great to know when I do go off road, even for a short period of time, it can deliver the goods. I may be going out on a limb here – but I’m guessing many of you are likely in the same boat as me. Will we ever use this truck to it’s fullest potential? Regularly use it for what it's built for? Unlikely. But it’s pretty cool to have it.

Having said the above, here’s what I’m thinking –

· AT vs MT. Until by last Tacoma (’14 TRD Off Road) I always drove MT. I got AT before I moved to Seattle when I found myself sitting in a ton of mid Atlantic traffic. AT made that traffic experience easier for me and my wife could move the truck out of the driveway when she need to drive her blocked in jeep early in the morning without having to wake me up (sometimes hung-over) to move the truck for her because she couldn’t drive MT. I was considering going back to MT for the TRD PRO, but, after reading through the specs and reviews, looks like I’ll be missing out on a ton of performance without AT – including the Multi Terrain CRAWL controls. Seems like a lot of relatively advanced engineering I would be missing out on. Anyone else thinking the same way? Also, I’m in my early 40’s now – I'll admit, AT just makes things easier when driving (I know, that sounds lame). Not giving up on MT in my life, but it just doesn’t seem to make sense in this case.

· Only the Double Cab option is available. All my other Tacomas have been the access cab (or no cab in the 90’s). It’s just me, the wife, the dog – no kids. Access cabs have always been the right amount of room for me. I also think, by nature, a truck is fundamentally 2-door. It’s the shorting of the bed I’m struggle with – I really do use every bit of my 73” bed now. That 60” bed seems awfully short. Anyone use both the beds in 2 different Tacomas? Did you have any frustrations not being able to haul what you had before?

· The relatively new 3.5L V6. I’ve always thought the Tacoma had an engine that was more than enough for my needs. The last few Tacomas I’ve owned carried the 4.0L V6 (I even had the 2.5L V4 in my 1st 2nd gen, that was plenty for my needs). Anyone driven both a significant amount of time (3.5 v 4.0)? Any big performance differences you’ve noticed?

· Sound System performance & fit and trim. I’m also a huge music fan. That top of the line JBL they offer I think (think) would be great, and I’m surprised it’s not offered in the PRO model. Truth be told have never heard the “JBL” offered sound system so I don’t know exactly what I’m missing. Just feel like if I’m buying the top of the line Tacoma, it would be great to know I’m buying top of the line sound system they offer. This may sound odd, but early on when I owned 1st and 2nd gen tacomas I always liked the less is more fit and trim pilosophy to design. Those old volume and tuner knobs were large and built to use with ease when I had my work gloves on. After market radios and the new radios in the Tacoma really drive me nuts with the amount of buttons to push and how tiny the buttons there are (I know a lot is on a touch screen). I maybe old school, but all I really want is a really really great sounding stereo sound system that’s easy to use (connects to my iPhone is a huge plus). That’s it. The less buttons the better. For comparison for those that may want to look it up … I use a ROTEL receiver for my home stereo. The fit and trim of that user interface is stunningly perfect engineering in my book. Love to see Tacoma make that happen. Has anyone compared the “JBL” system to the standard “entune” system we get the PRO? Are we missing anything?

· The Fake Hood Scoop. Does this drive anyone else crazy? It might be the engineer in me, but it really bugs me to have a fake hood scoop. It has zero purpose other than aesthetics. Seems cheesy to me. Always has.

· The wireless phone charger. Just to double check … does this work with an IPhone? I’d love it if it did … but I’m thinking it does not. If not, is there a work around?

· The “Toyota” and “Tacoma” labeling. I guess I’ve always been a no lables sort of guy. Never understood the desire to have massive label – say on sunglasses or a shirt – does anyone have issues with the name on the front grill the imprint on the tailgate? Seems like overkill and little cheesy to me.

Ha … I just read through this post before submitting … sounds like I’m whining, but I’m not. This being my 5th Tacoma I really do love this truck. I’m (we’re all) just geeking-out on the nuances of buying a Tacoma. Any thoughts on any of the above appreciated.

 

isn't this a duplicate post?

 

it is ... thought it might have been buried in the other TRD thread.

 

Just bump your other thread

 

It doesnt matter whether its a Pro or SR5 or OR etc. At the end of the day these are lifstyle trucks built for pavement. The Pro isnt anymore offroad capable than the others (except for the locker). If you intend to use it as a daily driver with the occasional drive down a dirt road then you are using it to its maximum factory potential.

I have the AT and I love it, works fine for me without any of the TSBs and I can take advantage of all the fancy electronics. I plan to round it all out with a Trutrac up front, I dont see the need for a locker when a Trutrac will take advanatge of all the fancy stuff.

The Qi wireless charger does not work with iPhones...I imagine future iphones will have wireless charging though.

EDIT: Toyotas labeling and hood scoop are part of their heritage in my opinion. Many of their models have real working hood scoops (eg LC 70 series) and the Toyota on the front and back is a bit of a throwback to the old Toyotas like the old FJ40, if anything its more subtle.

 

Why not get an access cab OR? If you use your current 6' bed regularly, a DCSB definitely seems like a compromise to me. Still no JBL with the AC, but after listening to both, I personally didn't think the premium was worth it for the JBL, as neither system sounded particularly good to my ears.

 

^ This, get a 35k access cab off road and put that 9k to work on add's , like a Pro grill, some legit suspension parts, wheels and aftermarket leather. Just moved a couch and loveseat last night in my access cab in 1 trip and further cemented needed the 6 ft bed for "truck" stuff IMO

 

If you got crazy money to blow.. I guess it'll make you feel better owning a pro and mall crawling in it. That's what I read at least.

 

That is where Toyota screwed us by taking away the AC OR with Manual Trans.

 

I agree but Op states he wants an auto. They also got rid of the FJ, just not enough demand to keep that or standard trans as a huge portion of the segment.

 

I thought he was torn between Manual and Auto.

 

Also, I’m in my early 40’s now – I'll admit, AT just makes things easier when driving (I know, that sounds lame). Not giving up on MT in my life, but it just doesn’t seem to make sense in this case.

 

The SR5 is plenty capable for offroading without mods. Since you live in the dirty south I'd go with 2wd. The stock LSD system (uses ABS brakes to control the wheel that is slipping) works great. Since you commute in heavy traffic, defiantly go with the auto tranny.

Since you seem handy, pass on the JBL system and install your own for about a grand. Do sound deading the doors.

If the SR5 suspension is too soft for you, you can upgrade to an aftermarket setup for about 15 hun.

Good luck and I hope you like your new truck. I'm staying second gen....

 

Get the MT... you wont regret it.

 

thanks for the responses fellas ... with the Cement Pro being in such high demand, I'm going to let Karma take over - which ever arrives at the Dealership first, AT or MT, I'll be driving away with.

 

Sounds like you like the looks of the pro at first, but when you think about it you really don't. Hood scoop, gets your attention, gives that pro part of its look. you say you may be off road about 2% of the time which means crawl control would be used at what 25% of that 2%. Get the manual trans, that's what makes this truck a blast to drive. And as you know, the pro is not going to be used to its potential, so if the double cab is too big, step down to tha access cab, you will have to get used to that smaller bed, it is noticeable.

Now the cement grey, if I had seen that color before I ordered my MGM Sport, I would have overspent and got a cement pro.

Enjoy your truck and good luck getting what you want.

 

Tacomas have never had a v4.

The cement color is pretty cool, and I'm with you on those massive pro badges.

 

Personally I'd go for an OR Manual base model, looks like they can be had for 33-34k.

 

yep ... meant Inline 4-cyl., connected to MT. 05' if I remember correctly (1st year of 2nd gen). worked great for me especially with the MT.

 

From your original post, it sounds like you might be happier with an OR model.

I also have an aversion to fake scoops, not just because they are fake but because they impair visibility over the hood for the sake of "style".

Be SURE to drive models with both transmissions, and with the auto you might want to see if you can find a used one with a few thousand miles to try.

Many on here have been happy with the auto at first only to go sour on it after it "learns" their driving style and becomes all too eager to shift into higher gears in search of a mpg.