SR5 or TRD Sport as a daily driver?

I am looking into selling my current two cars and buying a truck. This would be a daily driver (about 15 miles round trip commute). I would need 4x4 for the NJ winter but I do not plan on doing any off roading. The most off road the truck will see is gravel road leading to some biking trails or parking on a slight incline when camping. I am not going to build the car or get tons of additional packages.

I do not have unlimited amount of money to spend so I am looking at the SR5 model. I do like the look of the TRD Sport but the only feature it has that I would like is the push button start (kinda got used to it in my current car). Other than that, I think SR5 should be fine for the driving I am doing unless I am missing something obvious. Just want to get your opinion before vising the dealer in the next day or two.

 

A dcsb v6 4x4 on Toyota's site looks to be about $1800 more for a Sport vs the SR5 and the Sport will have more features overall as well as retaining its value better from what research I have done.

 

I'd go with the SR5 (or the SR). It'll serve you well for your intended purposes. Use the money saved for gas and trips.

If MT would've been available in the SR/SR5 trim with a V6, I'd have gone that route.

 

Since you stated you need 4x4

Then I would suggest getting a TRD OFF ROAD 4x4 and call it a day. It’s the most cushy ride and has push start. And capable of anything you might throw at it IMO. The sport will be somewhat stiffer for daily driving. But both are almost the same price in the 4x4 configuration and IMO the OFF ROAD will give you the better bang for the buck.

Unless you get the SR5 in the 4x4 configuration it’ll be cheaper sure but as far as I know it doesn’t have push start.

I paid 36,300$ for my OFF TOAD 4x4 DCSB. Before taxes of course. Look everywhere. Some dealerships were 2000$ more then others for the identical truck.

 

I was building an SR5 on the Toyota website and I think if you go 4x4 with the SR5 it's within $1k of a TRD sport. Makes sense to get the sport IMO.

 

The push start is not a deal breaker. I can live without it. My current truck has an off road package but besides speed bumps it never sees any other OR action. The $2K difference between the SR5 and TRD Sport (or OR) is considerable for me.

 

If the that’s the case. I would suggest the SR5 4x4. Seems like a great option. Being the cheapest and still getting the needed 4x4

 

2k? Okay maybe I am wrong. That is a significant difference.

 

does the TRD SPORT have 4x4 included on your price range?

 

I could be wrong. But I do remember

SR5 4x4 DCSB is around 34,000
TRD SPORT DCSB 4x4 is around 36,000
OFF ROAD 4x4 DCSB is also around 36,000

 

I built the SR5 and TRD Sport with the same specs DCSB 4x4 V6 no additional packages and the difference is little over $1800 between the two models.

 

What features does Sport has that would be better as a daily driver aside from holding better resell value?

 

The only thing I can think of is the (available) BSM. I believe you can get a rear sonar package on the SR5, but not BSM. If that's a big deal to you, you'd need to go with a Sport.

But I don't buy the better resale value argument.

 

I do not have BSM on any of my cars now. I drove rental couple of weeks ago with BSM and it was very annoying. Maybe because the light was on the A pillar not on the mirror. I guess I would have to get used to it. Looks like SR5 would be just fine.

 

Would this be your first truck, and if yes, why a truck?

Have you checked out the Nissan Frontier? It should be a less expensive alternative 4x4 if your budget is tight.

The 3rd gen. Tacoma is a great little truck imo, but not everyone here would agree- have you test driven one yet?

Like others have said, the SR 4x4 might be a good fit for your daily driving needs. Just because gas is relatively inexpensive now, it might not always be this way, and the 4cyl. engine in the Tacoma is generally well regarded as "bullet proof".

The most important consideration should be how you like any particular model, not what anyone here likes.

My SR5 is pretty near perfect for my needs, since I don't off-road and like to keep things as simple as possible.

Good luck whatever you decide, and welcome to TW.

 

I don't own one but in the market and keep going back and forth between SR5 and Sports.

The common factor with all trims is the fact that almost everyone replaces the rims/tires anyway and some replace the grill on the Sports so from my old man thinking, regardless whether you get the SR5 or the Sports, you'll still end up modding the tires/rims/grill so in some ways, the SR5 is probably the BEST package...from a financial perspective. You can save the $$$ and put that towards the mods on a SR5.

I've seen SR5's on the road fully modded with off road tires/rims/grill and they look better than stock Sports/OR models.

The only thing that still favors the TRD Sports is the fake hood, which some claim, was invented by Jesus himself!

 

I went with an SR5, it has everything I needed.
The challenge for me was finding one that didn't have a bunch of port and dealer add-ons. Things like side steps, floor mats, paint protector, etc can add up to thousands.
I was able to find one with no add-ons, made a deal, then added what I wanted later at a much lower price.

 

Its way easier to find SR and SR5's in less-optioned versions. I bought a Sport because I wanted a manual and was able to get a killer price on an un-optioned manual Sport that was coming into a dealer un-ordered. My neighbor has an SR5 in the same basic configuration and I would have been happy with it as well.

 

I got a fully loaded sport. It obviously has a lot more creature comforts than the SR5. If you don't care for them then get the SR5.

 

I have a Sport. Jesus did not invent the hood scoop it as mentioned earlier because besides just looking cool it’s kinda a waste. Jesus would have made it functional. I’m 43 and not doing much to my truck, but replacing the rims when the OEM tires need replacing. Also being 43 I like all the comforts my truck has. Heated seats, not having to take the key out of my pocket, sunroof, bed cover, and yada yada. I know for me at least if I didn’t get those things I would have regretted it later on. I have 2,000mi on my truck. I have to go another 198,000mi before I’m eligible for another.