New to Toyota and Tacomas

Hey all,

For the last 40 years I've been driving Fords. I'm moving out of a 6.4l powerstroke and if things go well I should be taking delivery of a 2022 Tacoma SR5 in the next week or so. I got a call today that one was coming available and went ahead and committed to it.

I was out looking for a new F150 or Ranger last week because I sold my fifth wheel and no longer needed a diesel. Couldn't find anything that was available that worked for me... so I was on my way home and I drove past the Toyota dealership. I thought what the hell... I've never been in one, I ought to go at least take a look. That particular dealer didn't have anything available but they did let me drive a 2018 around for a bit. They showed me some customers 2022 models that were ready for delivery and I was really impressed. I went home and got online looking for a CPO that fit my needs and shot off a bunch of emails. Spoke to a handful of dealers within a 200 mile radius and came up with one that I think will be nice for me.

The build is:
SR5 5ft bed. V6 4x4
16in Black Alloy Wheels
SR5 Dynamic Navigation Package
All weather floor liners and door sills
Bed lighting kit.

Basically I was offered it at MSRP of $39,177 with no market adjustment. It was pretty much a take it or leave it deal. It's supposed to come off the truck somewhere between the 14th and the 16th.

I'm excited to get it. There are a few options I'd have liked to have added if I were ordering it like a tube step, but I'm sure there are lots of aftermarket options or places to purchase things myself.

I'm here to learn about the truck. Where to look for parts and upgrades. What's worthwhile and whats not. So point me in the right direction. I know nothing about the motor or the truck at all, but I enjoy cars. I like my cars nice and clean. I will likely call them tomorrow and ask them to do the minimal prep and I will wash it myself by hand when I get it home. I have a friend who owns a high end detail shop in... well Tacoma... and it will go to him for a detail and it's first photos.

I'll be lurking around and reading up... point me in the right direction

Rusty

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Welcome to the forum and to Tacomas! My SR5 is also my first Toyota and my first Tacoma and after a year and a half I am in love.

These are the side steps I bought, since you said they are on your “want” list.

https://realtruck.com/p/ionic-pro-series-3-black-nerf-bars/v/toyota/tacoma/2021/

They aren’t the cool guy rock sliders everyone has and not from a big brand name overlanding company, but they're a great product. $150 and I installed them in my driveway in about 2 hours with basic hand tools.

I’ve used them multiple times a day over the last year and they’re still in great condition. That site says they’re unavailable but maybe you can find them somewhere else.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome!

Wow! 40 years and a dramatic brand change...that's Amazing.

I've had my Tacoma for almost a year now and just looked at pricing...OMG! What a difference from May 2021.

Look forward to pics of your SR5.

 

Thanks for the welcome and the link. I've watched a couple of videos which pointed out that many of the Toyota step bars really are too high and end up being unusable and more of a step-over bar...I'll do my research and certainly find something that is usable for me.

I hear what you are saying and completely understand your points. I've been guilty of starry eyed buyers remorse in the past myself, but I'm pretty particular about my purchases these days. My powerstroke has reached the end of its useful like to me and I needed to do something. Supply issues have put me somewhat at the mercy of the market. As I mentioned I have been a life-long Ford buyer for the most part and have had a Ford truck in my driveway for 3-4 decades. I've been a car guy all of my life and for the most part have always had a sports car in the garage as well which I am much more particular about than my daily driver.

I will certainly go over it closely, but I do expect it to behave more like a truck than a Cayman. I was aware of the drum brakes as it was one of the first things the salesman at the one dealer I visited pointed out as something they could improve on. Being honest, coming from a 56 year old's perspective the tech is something I just really don't use that much. I have a life subscription to XM that I have verified and am 95% sure it's transferrable to any rig for a token fee and thats about all I will care about. I don't know anything else about the bluetooth system as it's just not that big of deal to me... I know that sounds odd in todays world. But you certainly make good points regarding the new car smell and buyers remorse. I don't have too high expectations regarding body gaps and assembly, it's a _relatively_ inexpensive entry level truck and not a luxury line, but I will go over it carefully and take note to look at everything before handing over the cash.

The build was a dealer ordered car. I just stumbled upon it in my search and it was offered to me as I had called on a CPO that they had listed, but had sold. It is the celestial silver which is fine, the only thing I wouldn't own in a truck is black, dark blue or a radical trendy color such as lime green. It's got a cloth interior and while I might prefer leather... I'm not willing to pony up the cash to pay the price to get it.

I like that Toyota has a decent reputation as a capable off road rig, holds their resale , and for the most part are relatively trouble free. There is a strong aftermarket market and I kind of like the fact that this is a blank canvas so to speak.

Prices are up everywhere, and supply is limited. So it is a sellers market that is for sure. I've owned a lot of cars in my life and had stuck with Ford primarily because I was able to get good pricing using X-plan and stacking other promos that were available when I would purchase. Along the way I have also owned a couple of C5s and C6 Corvettes, a handful of classic Porsches and Mercedes. So it hasnt' been just exclusively Ford.. but this will be the first Toyota product.....spare a very old LandCruiser as a teen. As we speak now there are three Fords in my driveway.

On the flip side to what they are charging for new cars... they are also paying a premium for used cars as well and that had some bearing on my decision. The value of my truck on the private market is up about 6k$ more than I expected to get for it. I stuck it on Craigslist for a few thousand more and I've got two people who want to come look at it today. I have a firm trade in number that works for me and if I can sell it privately with margin to offset the sales tax credit and make a bit more I'll do that and pocket the change. It's amazing how many people go out and buy a half ton truck... then they want a 40 foot fifth wheel. When you own a large fifth wheel you are pretty much married to a 1-ton truck.. preferably a dually. The guys who bought those trailers now just can't go on a lot and buy that Diesel rig.. so they are in a bind too. What's worse is the guy who has the half-ton and bought the trailer thinking that was going to work for him only to find out later that he can't get the Diesel.

I'm fortunate to be able in a position to just pay cash if I want for the new truck and be free and clear of a car payment. I realize not everybody is in that position.

Thanks all again for the welcome. I'm looking forward to getting this rig and learning a bit about it.

 

Where you from?

 

Southwest Washington State

 

I paid $38,803 for my BLACK TRD SPORT (I noticed you said you wouldn't be interested in buying a Black colored truck...lol) and the same dealership is now selling them for $44K+.

I've heard stories of how people stay with one brand due to family/friends pricing. I've owned (NEW) a '93 Isuzu Rodeo (when SUVs started getting hot), '96 Honda Accord & '03 Pilot and wife currently drives a '17 Elantra.

This is my first Toyota and first NEW truck. I had a 90s Isuzu Pup long bed in Hawaii as a transitional daily driver in 2003.

Seems like you enjoy fast rides too!

Thanks for mentioning that financial situation. Preferences are unique to everyone.

 

Yeah, I'm a certified car nut and have a lot of buddies that are the same way. I spent 5 years on the island of Hawaii in the early 90s myself. Great place to be, but growing up in eastern Oregon I started feeling trapped on an island after awhile.

Regarding my other comment, I'd had some other thoughts in there about why people sometimes make some poor decisions when they get emotional over cars/payments that I had deleted... I'm not sure why I left that in there as it was irrelevant, out of context... but it wasn't my intent to brag. I'm a normal guy, I've just worked hard all my life and am probably a little older (56) than the typical Tacoma buyer. I've made my share of poor financial decisions along the way... as they say a good education is expensive.

Brand loyalty is a strange phenomenon. I don't have a specific reason why I purchased so many Fords over the years as they certainly haven't been trouble free or possibly the best choice. The majority of time I worked with a couple of specific people and I could make a deal over the phone, the salespeople and dealerships treated me good, they took care of the problems and went to bat for me with corporate a couple of times. I felt like they appreciated my business and we didn't waste each others time. As time has passed many of the dealerships have changed hands and contacts have passed or retired. The other day I just didn't feel like they really wanted to keep my business and were just focused on getting me to place an order and hand them the keys to my trade... so I decided to sit on it for a bit. I literally had this epiphany moment as I passed by a Toyota dealership that I needed to at least go take a look... and, well here we are. My buddy is a Toyota nut and is elated that I decided to go this route.

 

I was assigned to Hickam AFB on Oahu from 1999-2003 and loved it! Of course, I'm a beach nut from SoCal/LA...I didn't get island fever during our tour. But my red-headed Scottish wife never enjoyed the beach life even with 100spf sunblock! "Gee honey, why don't you put all your freckles together so you don't get so red!" lol

I mentioned the financial situation because it stirs lots of discussion here about which way to go when buying a NEW vehicle. Everyone is in a different financial situation and like you said, we all make poor decisions at first but learn as we go! And you'll know if you sound like you're bragging if you proof read your text a couple times before posting.

Personnel turnover in all industries is affecting everyone. Finding businesses that pay attention to customer's needs is the tipping point in today's market. Sounds like taking a different route worked out for you too!

 

Welcome to TW