TRD Sport vs TRD Pro

I think many would agree...for the same price it is better to have and not need, than to need and not have. (Lockers, CC, etc.) That being said, the sport is perfect for those who really like the hood scoop, or hate the soft suspension of the OR. I personally don't mind it. IMO, its a truck that should drive like a truck. That means it leans, it dives, etc. but I've also had cars on super stiff track suspension and that got old real quick. Plus there is a speed table in my neighborhood that I speed up to hit and the squishy suspension does great over it.

 

Main reason is that I hate driving cars, if I didn't get a truck I'd go for another SUV but I don't like the looks of the modern SUV, so that leaves a truck. Second is for stuff around the house that my Renegade is too small for (I had a 2003 Chevy Blazer ZR2 before buying my Renegade in 2018). I need to get my mower into a shop, can't fit in the Rene, fit just fine in the ZR2. I either need to rent a trailer or find someone with a truck to get it in. I had some fence boards that needed to be replaced this past spring, sure missed my ZR2 for that. And just a dozen or so smaller things that I've made work with the Rene but would have been 10x easier with a truck bed.

 

A truck is terrible in the snow, IMO for OP's use with more info now a truck may not be his best option unless he really has a need for a bed.

Might I suggest a nicer AWD SUV? On demand AWD systems will be much better than traditional 4x4 in snow. Truck will get shit gas mileage. SUV will actually get rear traction.

On the other hand, its really fun to kick out the rear in snow and slide it around in the winters but that ass end is so light it takes very little input and you can easily overdo it leading to a full on spin.

 

I'd go for the TRD Sport, no question.

 

That's what I was learning towards before I read this thread

 

Dont think that would be an issue, especially with a MT.

 

It's really a matter of personal opinion. Test drive both, make sure to get both up on the highway, do a hard brake check in both, take a hard corner with both, and drive over a curb or parking lot bumper with both (at slow speed obvs.). You'll definitely have your mind made up by the second drive.

 

Before I set myself on buying a Tacoma I test drove a 2nd gen OR and a 3rd gen Sport. The OR drove just like my ZR2 and I really liked that (I prefer the trucky feel, I've always had those types of SUVs in the past). There was nothing wrong with how the Sport drove, I knew I'd be extremely happy in either so that kind of set my mind on getting a Taco.

 

Also the cross trek is what? 170 hp 150 tq in a CVT? 269/280 or whatever the v6 makes will likely make up for the extra weight youre hauling around. The subi isn't really "fast" either way.

 

I drove a CVT one time, and it was horrible. I still have nightmares. I honestly thought something was wrong with the car.

 

Thanks All. A few more answers... Depending on the trim I get, I'll likely get another set of wheels with winter tires. I like the aesthetics of the stock wheels on the pro, but it's easily changeable so the wheels aren't really part of my math. Somebody had a question about why I'd want a truck over an SUV... I want the bed because I need to haul more gear around these days - I scuba dive and my crosstrek gets full fast. Because of COVID, I'm diving more locally, and, well, there you go. A note on suspension - I like the suspension on my crosstrek because it's pretty tight on the road, but it sucks on anything not slick. I'm willing to give up some handling for a smoother ride. (My pre crosstrek car was a 2002 Mini Cooper S - talk about a stiff suspension!) For sure am going to extensively test drive for suspensions... I'll just have to get the dealers let me get to Lake Shore Drive and back

EDIT: CVT's suck. My ex had a CVT Impreza and I hated it. My Crosstrek is a 6 speed MT and could never be accused of having great acceleration.

 

I just rock tires with a snowflake all year long. Always have done that and been good so far. Dont wanna deal with buying winter tires with rims and swapping them.

I never drove a pro, but im sure stock Fox's are better than sport hitachis in every way.

But you cant go wrong since pro and sport both have the skeeewp

 

I've had both and they're both good trucks. I liked my 2017 OR, but the suspension wasn't the best on-road. My 2020 Sport is better in that regard. Stays planted in corners and much less nose dive when braking. I also never had a reason to use the rear locker or crawl control in the two years that I had my OR. So as long as I have 4wd, I can get where I need to go. If I really want to get farther off road, I have a side-by-side and an ATV for that. I decided on the Sport because I liked the way it drove better on the road, which is where I spend the overwhelming majority of my time. I also like the color matched wheel flairs and such, the 17 inch wheels, and yes, I do like the scoop. People can argue all they want about more value in the OR, but if I have zero need/desire for the locker and CC, then it has zero value to me. That's why I went with the Sport over the OR. I actually priced a few Pros, but the best price I could find was still significantly more than what I paid for my Sport.

 

Funny story. My buddy only wanted the offroad because of the locker. Well guess what? He had it for almost 2 years and havent used it, ha! I joke with him all the time about it.

The places i take my truck, dont need a locker. It needs good tires and a good driver. Taco is extremely capable as is. Im not taking my 50k truck rock crawling. Its our only vehicle.

 

My last truck was a GMC Sierra 1500 All Terrain --- GMC OR version . The truck loved to run 85 which was fine but the suspension going around corners a hair to fast (with that suspension) scard the hell out of me . It wanted to roll over and the more you tried turning the more it tried to drift over , pucker up . My Tacoma Sport like @Mrtacoman88 said handles great , is fun to drive , corners and awesome 4x4 setup anywhere I want to go . The OR owners hate it when I say this but whatever . Their truck is better in the deep rough Terrain and the Sport is better on the road .

 

I wouldnt say the OR is better in deep rough terrain, but you definetily gotta go slower on FSRs if you have the sport. The stock height is identical on both.

But yeah, the sport is amazing on the road. I drove a lowered 99 E43 5 spd recently. My taco handles better, i couldnt believe it. I couldnt tell that to the guy though as he just bought it and was all excited. My taco actually felt quicker as well. I loved my taco even more after that.

 

I was convinced that I would need the locker at some point, but like you said, these trucks are very capable with just 4wd. That's all I've needed. I just put a set of Nitto Terra Grapplers on my Sport, so I actually have some good tires this go round. This truck is my daily driver, so I'm going to keep it in one piece.

 

Man, i wanted some terra grapplers but they cost a fortune here. Went with a bit cheaper KO2s again. 265/70/17 in Load C.

 

IMO there are very few places you NEED a rear locker. I went up a trail with some lifted wranglers on 35's. One of those climbs where its been rutted and washed out after all the years and leaves us with a weird articulated section where you end up with a diagonal lift. Front right rear left type of lift and you're teter tottering back and forth. Jeeps all open diffs needed momentum and a little bit of throttle to get up, but they could afford bouncing around with way more ground clearance. I was damn near touching the frame, but locked the rear and slowly crawled up that thing no issues. Point being, you will rarely NEED a locker, but its really nice to have one. I guess the alternative would have been stacking rocks...not bad, but still.

Also with the limitations of IFS, CC is nice to have. You'll end up lifting a front wheel more often than something with a solid front axle and can use CC to get power down where otherwise you would spin.

 

Pretty sporty car? /thread.. Your dead to me and you deserve a fake hood skewp (they are bad-ass )

- Crosstrek is like wearing sandals and yellow toed socks at the same time.
- Crosstrek is like having a man-bun
- Crosstrek, you are never allowed to make a ChuckNorris joke
- Crosstrek, Never and I mean never mention Chuck Norris in the same paragraph - fuck i'm dead
- Crosstrek is just "the tip"
- Crosstrek with never ever get you laid by Katie the bartender, maybe get Karen the night manager








I kid I kid I kid and yes my beer(s) taste really delicious. We, and by we, I mean wifey, own a Forester our 3rd Subie. Great cars, just don't tell Chuckie N