Can't find a Taco!

I just joined this forum after finding it by mistake while searching for a Tacoma.

What I want to get is a TRD Off Road with the dual cab, short bed, and manual transmission.

I've been shopping around but every dealer I call says "manuals are hard to find" and they seem disinterested when I reiterate that I want a manual, period. I get the feeling that they want to sell their auto ones and don't give much of a crap about anything else.

I have asked about ordering one and waiting, but have been told Toyota doesn't let them make orders, which seems like a load of BS. Again, I say they want to just push what they have.

I went through a similar experience when I bought a Jeep TJ back in 1996: there were supposedly very few 4.0 versions made and they kept trying to steer me to the 4 banger, with one dealer even going to the point of telling me the 4.0 looked very different and was a totally different vehicle. I walked out. Found a dealer that ordered the 4.0 and I waited a month+ to get it. That was an awesome little Jeep and I sold it with over 200k miles and still running strong.

But I digress...
I currently drive a 2008 FJ Cruiser and will be keeping it for sure. It has over 200,000 miles but I love that car. My wife drives a 2009 Jeep Unlimited Sahara, which looks cool but that's about it. My wife wants to keep that as a daily driver to work and back, and we want to get the Tacoma to soup it up for overlanding type stuff along with the FJC.

It seems that the TRD off road package is the way to go, especially because of the lockers and bilstein shocks. But this BS about the manuals being "rare" is aggravating beyond belief!

Our local dealer gave us a good deal of 36,700 out the door, but the truck was at another lot and got sold while we were discussing it. We bought our other vehicles there, so they seem to be playing somewhat nice, and say they'll keep looking. We wanted to take advantage of the 0% interest, but that looks like a bust since it's over this Monday night.

We called one dealer and they quoted $43,806.70 out the door, and would not budge on the price. Then said "Oh, it's an automatic". Another dealer was at $46,000+ out the door. Just seems ridiculous to me.

I have considered getting a simple 4x4 dual cab in manual and then do the rest later: locker, lift by Old Man Emu maybe... My problem with that is the hassle and expense of adding lockers, the lift, and then voiding the warranty or waiting until its over, and I don't really want to wait years before having the truck like I want it!

Is the TRD OFF Road worth it?

Does anyone have an idea on this? I'm thinking maybe in a couple of months more trucks will come in and it will be easier to get one, and if they still have at least the 1.9% financing it will be fine.

I've always like the Tacoma and was really hoping for one, but its getting a bit discouraging.

I'm just hoping to get some ideas here to find that TRD Offroad Dual Cab in Manual!

Thanks!

 

It's worth it. I got my OR M/T strictly for the rear locker, double cab, and transmission. Helps with the build since the rear locker is ready to go and I just need to get the front done.

My advice is be willing to drive to get a truck and constantly search all the 3rd party advertisers (Autolist, Autotrader, etc.). Eventually you will find new and used OR's with manuals you can go get. Be patient, there are plenty out there. Rule #1 is don't believe a thing a salesman tells you because they want one thing and they'll do whatever they have to do to get it.

 

Yeah less than 5% of the Off Roads built are manual transmission which makes them hard to find and the dealer is correct you can’t special order a Tacoma you can only buy what Toyota is building as allocations for your area.

 

must be regional thing cause theres hundreds of those at every dealer where im from

 

The 6MT is worth the wait. I had to order my '16 down here in Tampa, Fl.

 

I special ordered mine. Not sure if it happened to fall in line with what Toyota was building, but I sat down with the dealer, picked the truck/color/options I wanted and waited for it to arrive. Not likely an option in the current Covid-19 climate. If you really want one, be willing to buy online, fly in and drive home.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0

 

Try here

 

Maybe it's changed for the 3rd gens, but at least on the 1st gens they didn't make the doublecabs with a M/T.

They do exist, but it's because people did a swap.

Plus, you don't typically get much room (if any) to haggle on the price of a special order. Buy a truck off the lot and you can save enough money to put whatever transmission you want in it. Or pay full list price plus fees and still have to wait for god know how long to take delivery.

 

Is it worth paying $5k over MSRP? Hell naw.

Call around to dealers and drive a state or 2 away if it's worth the few grand.

Do you really need the locker? If you wheel seriously enough to need the locker then you're probably not going to be happy with the stock suspension (and perhaps lift height) If you don't REALLY need the locker then your manual transmission options open up with the Sport model.

 

Good luck! The MT is worth it.

One note. All 3rd Gens except for the Pro have the same ride height and the same stock tire diameter. The one big deal is that the MTs come with 4.30 gears, which is very close to an AT with 5.29s.

Considering what you are being quoted and your plans, a Sport with an aftermarket locker might be less than what you are being told.

Also, note that the 3rd Gen TRAC system is pretty stellar. A-TRAC on the OR is one step up, but the Sport does well with a wheel in the air (no SR / SR5 MTs):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXYFxXUcdYA

The text overlays are very inaccurate and the test methods are pretty dumb, but it gets the idea across.

Finally, Toyota builds the low take rate packages in batches. It seems that it might not be the time of year for the MT batch. A good dealer might be able to help you find out this info?

 

Toyota doesn’t do special orders. The dealer simply found the truck you were looking for.

 

Totally worth getting the OR MT. there was one on the lot near me until a couple days ago

I’d look on autotrader, theres a few around

otherwise find a dealer that will order what you want, but it’ll be a 2-6 month wait most likely. I waited 2 months for mine to come in

 

Great info!
I am currently looking in other states, a few on the East Coast and I am in Arizona. My wife has family in Florida, so we can make it a fun trip: drive out in the Jeep Wrangler and drive back towing it with the Tacoma!
Prices seem better so far.

THANK YOU!!!

 

Have a friend who is a GM at a Toyota dealership ... I wanted a cement OR MT with tech and premium package. Was told that Toyota gives dealership allocations based on upcoming production runs, plant location, etc. Dealerships will then horse trade within same region but in the end, packages and color are requested by dealer. Toyota then puts all the data together and figures out production dates and let's them know when the truck will be delivered.

You just need to find a dealer that has an allocation for that model and has not yet requested the colors and packages ... it can be done and is exactly what I did. Took about 4 months to get it but doable. Also, negotiate as if it is sitting on the lot ... a sold vehicle before delivery is a very profitable one for the dealer ... no overhead. Do not have them detail the outside of the truck or install the front license plate (if needed) ... do this yourself and will be a lot happier.

 

I found 129 on cars.com

Here's a couple.

//www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/800902224/overview/

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/808981144/overview/

 

try finding a manual, V6, 4x4, access cab...

 

I'm calling different dealers on cars.com

Now the issue is taxes. I live in Arizona and these are all over the place.
Apparently I wouldn't pay the tax there, but in Arizona instead?
Trying to find this out but the DMV is a death hold nightmare and already lost the call once after holding for 30 minutes or more!

Got one quote for 36k out the door with 0%, but not sure if that's a good price since they are not charging the tax.

 

Did the same thing ... bought the vehicle out of state. For me, I did not pay sales tax but did pay the tax when I registered the vehicle in my state. I have heard of cases where you pay sales tax in state of purchase and then pay difference when you register in your state after showing proof of what was already paid. When the difference is a refund back to you, have no idea how that would work in getting the purchase state to refund you back ... my guess it would be a nightmare.

 

I've noticed my local Toyota dealer's lot is looking pretty thin on everything these days.

 

tacomas are cool, man. Good luck getting the one you want. Welcome Aboard.