New Guy From San Diego, Have Questions!

Hello! Been browsing TacomaWorld for a few days. This has been a fantastic resource for my homework. I've spent the vast majority of my weekend reading these threads. My eyes hurt like hell, but this is very much worth the knowledge. I have done my damn'dest searching here but some questions are left unanswered. Please forgive my naievity, but I am trying to spend as much time out of the dealerships as possible as I arm myself with as much information as possible before I buy. Evidently Toyota dealerships in SoCal tend to have salesmen who don't know much about their Tacomas, too.

I'm looking at procuring a 2.7L i4 4x4 Regular-Cab Manual Tacoma and working on it over time to make it an offroad, go-anywhere machine, capable of driving through (!) volcanoes, summitting Everest, besting the Rubicon, triumphing over the Marianas Trench, and mapping the moon; I've got a few questions first:

First: SR5...? I've noticed some guys rocking SR5 regular cab Tacos. This thread comes to mind:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/4-cylinder/29905-attention-regular-cab-sr5-owners.html

What is the difference between a standard regular cab Tacoma and an SR5 trim? Does SR5 have matching colors on the fenders & bumpers and a chrome grill, with standards having black plastic? Do you need an SR5 Tacoma to have air conditioning? It's SR5 that comes with power windows/locks and cruise control (for which I've no need) correct?

• I want a 2.7L i4 4x4 Tacoma; I do desire having air conditioning, but I want manual windows/locks and obviously I've no need for cruise control.
• Do I need to find an SR5 4x4?

Second: Is it wise to purchase an extended warranty if I plan on modding the truck, or will that void it? Namely, within the first few years of my owning this truck I plan on:

• Putting in an AFE/K&N filter

• Putting one of those nifty bars that bend around the front end of the truck (What is this called? HardCase has one)

• Getting the ultra-cool Toyota icon with the horns (name of this? lol). And probably painting it black.

• Getting the headlight inserts that make a Tacoma look angry - the T-Rex Angry Eyelids.

• Tinting the windows, if legal. I'll look into that when the time comes.

• Lifting the truck and getting off-road rims/tires.

Thanks very much for your time, everyone. I look forward to one day being able to hand out advice of my own!

Nolan

 

Fuck the Dealers!! Go on line read all about SR5 and TRD much more options! After Look online for the COSTCO Toyota dealer if your buy new!!! then get someone that has a COSTCO card and you will walk in and get a selling price in 10/15 min... You call the dealer and ask for the COSTCO REP!!! and that is how to get a new Tacoma!!!! Did you test drive one yet?? if not tell the dealer you want a test drive!!! Good luck!!!

 

Welcome to TW! You really should go to a dealer and at the very least test drive a couple and look at the options avaliable. Have them give you a quote and then shop it around with other dealers if possible. Look into the Costco thing and see if it works for you. Good luck and let us know

 

Hi Nolan, I have obtained 4 Toyotas from the same San Diego County dealership and they have always been terrific... 3 Tacomas for me ('01, '05, '10) and a Corolla fror the Mrs. (who would prefer a 4Runner)! Go to Fleet Sales and deal with them... Costco discount works as well... PM me if you want my saleman's name and location.

I can only stress how much smoother and happier you will be with the V-6 if you want to go 4 wheeling and AC for summer... etc. The stuff you wanted to do:

"make it an offroad, go-anywhere machine, capable of driving through (!) volcanoes, summitting Everest, besting the Rubicon, triumphing over the Marianas Trench, and mapping the moon;"

calls for the V-6, IMO. An Access Cab (xtra cab) will sure be nice to store your valuables or sleeping bag and clothes in, out of the rain and dust... plus emergency seats for extra friends or for kids are there, too.

Now, with the V-6, you can have the OFF ROAD TRD package... Or should I say with the Off Road TRD package you will get the V-6! The off road TRD is how you can get the most advanced traction system Toyota has ever created in the Tacoma... ACTIVE TRACTION CONTROL (A-TRAC) in L4... gives you the climbing and crawling ability of lockers front and rear... TRAC in H4 is also awesome for crossing deep Baja sand...

If you want the Tacoma to climb Everest, you will need the A-TRAC!

If you do get just the standard 4WD Tacoma, you still will have the most awesome mid-size truck there is!

 

Welcome to TW. For warranty items, the dealer has to prove that the modification caused the failure. Just putting an aftermarket item on the truck is not a reason to deny a warranty claim. So for example, if you were to put a lift on the truck, it wouldn't affect the warranty covering an engine problem. However, if your CV joints failed because of the lift being too high, they would not be liable for that.

For window tint, it's illegal in California to tint the front windows. There is no legal tint limit. Some get away with it though.

 

Go to Toyota of Carlsbad and talk to Omar or Duff. PM me and I will give you their number. I went in with the costco card. It was $500 about invoice price. I walked out of there and into finance about 15 mins after the test drive and I paid invoice. Very easy to work with.

 

Nice to have ya


Welcome to the World of Tacomas

 

Okay, since we are mentioning names... Duff was my salesman for my three Tacomas and Omar sold my wife her Corolla under Duff's supervision, as he was tied up on another deal. Toyota Carlsbad Fleet Sales ROCKS!

 

Dealing with them had been the best experience I had with a dealer. Also the service department has been really helpful as well. My service writer got me the TSB done before it was part if the TSB for 09-10.

 

They (service dept.) are now... I ask for David Ramstad (sp?) to write me up... However, when my 2005 had the rear suspension issues (bottoming out) that I complained about for 2 years before fixing it myself with airbags... they shrugged their shoulders and didn't offer any help. When I discovered this web site last year and learded about TSBs, it was too late.

When I brought up the TSB for my 2005 after getting the 2010, they offered to do it on the new truck, but said it would ride very rough... But, these springs are better than the '05, and I haven't bottomed-out (yet)!

 

Thanks for your responses, everyone. I can rest easy too knowing that my mods to the truck won't void any warranty. I'm still doing some homework and plan on purchasing here within the next few weeks. Busy work schedule . I'll keep you all updated!

 

welcome to the site Nolan, i just recently purchased my 2010 tacoma TRD sports package and Cant be happier... Like you, i did my homework too!! Thats how i found this site. I bought mine at TOYOTA of Chula Vista off the 805 freeway and everything went reallly smoothe.. I went to a few dealers before buying it, so i could get a better deal. I suggest you test drive 1 at a dealer

 

Nolan, Taco or not taco (at least yet) welcome to Tacoma World. Get one or at least go by the Fiesta Island on the 1st to see a bunch of Tacomians and their trucks. It's a good group of guys mostly from San Diego.

 

Can't wait to see some pics of your Tacoma when you grab it! I can already see it and it looks great! I'm sure you'll be happy which ever way you go.

 

Thanks guys. Lining up loans and dealers as we speak, hopefully I can pick my truck up this weekend. Oh yes, pics will be had. Thanks!

 

from your original question, if your looking to get AC, you are going to have to get an sr5, which does include the color matched bumpers, power windows/locks and cruise. i was 3 minutes away from buying a base 4 cylinder regular cab non-sr5 until i realized no cruise, and i put about 100 miles on a day for work. glad i caught it, only i ended up with a silver acess cab sr5, instead of the green regular cab that i planned on buying... $5,000 later

 

V6 TRD OFFROAD!,