Looking to purchase...2011 Tacoma

Hello,
[Long time lurker, first time post] Long story short, my Subaru was damaged in a recent hail storm and the insurance company is writing it off. Getting a good deal and I've been looking at getting a truck for some time, so now is my opportunity. The truck is not really for work purposes, but merely the occasional weekend adventure in the mountains, for the winters here in the prairies (Canada), and will not really be expecting to be towing anything at this moment. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the Tacoma and just wanted some opinions on the packages from fellow Tacoma owners before I sign the dotted line: (the 2011 vehicles aren't available here until late Sept anyways)

> I'm considering of just getting the SR5 Power Package instead of the TRD Off Road Package - the difference in price is approx $4500CAD. Having what I stated for my purposes, the main differences in the added engine oil cooler, transmisson cooler, A-Trac, and rear differential on the TRD package -- would I be remiss of not seriously considering this package?

> I'm looking at the Access Cab 4x4 V6. Just driving around town I've noticed most Tacomas on the street are Double Cabs. Having no kids at the moment and really don't forsee this for some time the Access Cab is a great fit, but just wondering about the resell value of this truck down the road?

> Lastly, looking at booking a test drive as soon as the 2011s come in, what should I be looking/hearing for?

Thoughts, advice and opinions would be greatly appreaciated for this newbie!
Thanks in advance,
KN

 

Congrats on picking a great truck!!

#1- TRD vs SR5 - I've had both. You are right, you can live without alot of the stuff. The one thing I'd say I really like about the TRD that I didnt have before was the interior materials, specifically the seats.

#2 - Access vs Double - I've had both! (I had a 08 access and now a 2010 double). The double is WAY more versitile. I understand you dont have kids YET, but I'm sure you have friends. The space the double cab makes is huge. By far, it's the smartest thing I've EVER done - upgrading from access to double. Access cab's do look go though and they give you the bigger bed.

#3 - Deal with the dealers. I created an email about the specific truck I wanted and for the price I was going to spend. I sent it out to 10 dealers, and waited to hear back. I got a great deal, and I know you can to!@

 

The TRD seats are more comfortable in my opinion but I've had an SR5 for 3 years now and am perfectly happy with it, even on long trips. I use mine for similar things so I did not opt for the TRD package as I do not have a use for the features it comes with. I went for the double cab for the extra space (I do not have kids or expect them either, but I came from a full size extended cab and liked the cab space). The short bed is a killer, if I could do it again, I'd go for a long bed double cab.

Good luck with the purchase and post up some pictures one you get her home!

 

You will get as many opinions as posts here. All are probably credible.

My opinion is: If you can swing the extra cost...get the most loaded truck you can. Few people regret having options they rarely use, but some regret not having a few. And it never hurts resale value (especially in a private party sale)

On the other hand...I've had many...many loaded out trucks and never use half the options.

If costs are a concern, get the truck that fits your honest needs...not your ego needs. You will be happier in the long run.

I also am a believer in the double cab. After owning both a Chevy and Ford with extra cab/supercab style "suicide doors"...they are a real PITA, especially in parking lots.

I went with SR5 DC 4x4 with steelie wheels. It is exactly what fits my needs. I gave up on impressing others many moons ago.

Of course...spend any time on this site, any like most you will amazed at some of the builds here. Many of these guys/gals have AWESOME trucks.

The mod fever is one that's hard to resist.

 

Like said, I prefer the TRD seats myself... it's preferance I'd just try both at the dealer to see if it's worth it to you.

With the winters and little bit of off-roading you'll have... a locker and a-trac can prove to be invaluable... however you may not need it either. Either way if you do get a 4x4 sr5 and determine you do need a locker... you can get an aftermarket ARB for less than the TRD package.

Double vs Access... I've had both too. 08 and '10 as well lol. I loved my 08 access... looked great, 6' bed, useful back area (ok even with 3-4 adults on a short lunch trip). However with the 09+ redesign that made the access cab fail hard. They made it less useful by making the seats higher, adding in a useless center console that makes it' less useful for cargo storage (05-08 you could fold the seats down for a large flat area), and the JBL package really kills with the flux capacitor in the center.

I will say the double cab is nicer though, a lot easier with 4 adults, short bed thus far hasn't stopped me much but it's early to tell. I like the looks of a modifed double cab though with some 285's and 2.5-3" lift/armor/ect more than a stocker access.... all depends on your tastes and needs. I'd say for resale the doublecab will probably do better than an 09+ access.

 

I love my SR5, my only regret is that I didn't get a 4x4.

 

SR5 double 4x4, only a week in, but almost 2K miles on and I love it. Went for the Double, cause I do have kids. I would like the long bed, but this will do. I have already hauled my motorcycle in the back(see gallery) and I will do the tail gate upgrade before I do it again.

 

Aside from the year "2011" ... have you taken a look at the 2010s ..... $$$$ would be a lot lower .... for a truck just as new?

Not a hell of a lot of differences .... just thought that I would ask.

 

Just to note all the 10's and 11's should already have the re-enforced gates. Sucks they had weak ones to start with :/

 

If I were in in your shoes, I would buy a cheap $2000 car and drive that for a year, then buy the re-designed Tacoma in 2012.

 

Folks, thanks for the replies.

I didn't even consider the seats -- we sat in a TRD at the dealership and they were quite comfortable. Hmm...I should really compare the 2 but I'm not extremely picky so difference in price might still not be worth it.

So it seems like the double cab is the popular choice. Yesterday I was set on the Access, today the Double Cab seems to make more sense. Hmm...okay I think I still need to think on this one. All in all, it still seems that the SR5 package would be sufficient for now and from what I've read and talked to with other owners, I really can't go wrong with either choice.

I definitely did consider the 2010's however the 3 dealerships that we visited basically told us this model is very hard to find now and that I should just wait for the 2011s. That's why I've been fixated on the new trucks.

Anyways, thanks again for the feedback.
KN

 

Complete speculation with no evidence the redesign is 2012...

 

Careful with the 'short supply' crap... they make a higher profit margin off the 2011's than the 2010's, so of course they'll try to push that.

 

Thing to consider. You can get a double cab long bed in either the SR5 package or Sport package. Just not with the Off Road Package (no atrac no locking rear).

Best of both worlds IMO.

I was torn between the SR5 and TRD packages before I ever drove one. 30 seconds in each one and the comfort of the seats sold me on the sport package.

 

look at trying to deal the 10's on the lot prolly get a better deal than an 11

as for sr5 and trd i have trd OR seats are comfortable but sr5 wouldve been way cheaper

i like the fact that i have a locker just in case i need it... like they say better to have and not need than to need and not have

 

Link?

 

Wow! What a difference 2 weeks can make.

So I pulled the trigger last night and purchased the 2011 AccessCab V6 w/ TRD Sport Package. Two weeks of negotiating/stalling with the dealership, they finally gave me what I pretty much wanted in price (if the data from CarCostCanada is correct, the dealer's profit is around 2%).

Apparently production doesn't start until Sept. 1 so I won't get the truck until end of Sept -- I'll post some pics then!

Thanks again for the info from this forum!
KN

 

So the dealership phoned me this week and advised that the truck will be arriving in 10 days! (It's actually the O/R package I'm getting) Been reading the forums to pass the time this month and reading the TSB on the leaf springs has me a little concerned and confused.

I've always thought that the next years model would have corrected the TSB issued in the past?! So with my 2011, will I need to address this with the dealership? I don't plan to be doing any heavy hauling or towing in the immediate future but would like to make sure I won't have any issues either down the road. I haven't given them full payment yet (just the deposit), perhaps I could use this to make sure everything is checked out? However, I think I read one of the threads that stated the trucks for Canada might have the TSB addressed in the new trucks.

Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
KN

 

No worries my friend. In Canada, the Tacomas come with the four-leaf rear suspension. This is only an issue in the US.

The only TSB that I have had done was the transmission shifting TSB. I'm not sure if the 2011 have this corrected before shipping or not. Perhaps someone else could chime in.

I have the Access Cab and I love it. Personally, I don't like the look of a four-door truck. I can understand why people buy them if they often have more than one passenger though.

I do wish that I bought the TRD because of the increased towing capacity. I don't have a travel trailer at this point in time. But I have been toying with the idea so my trailer options are more limited.

Hope you enjoy your new truck as much, or more than I do!!

Cheers.