Help Me Choose My First Truck

Thanks - I’m interested. Do you know if he posted it on here?

 

Thanks for the warm welcome. Appreciate your input.

Your advice about “better to have it” resonates. And yes, I’m working on test driving all the options I’m considering, it’s just hard because there’s such low stock they don’t have much on the lots to test out. What a crazy situation and a complicated time to be trying to buy!

 

I've owned both the Sport and OR in the 3rd Gen. I prefer the OR. The suspension is more comfortable and while you can certainly off road in the Sport, the OR is much more at home on the trails. Plus, you get more for your money with the OR. I do a fair bit of camping and there plenty of room in the short bed for all my gear. I sleep in a hammock or tent though. If I didn't need a double cab, I'd love to go with the access cab, long bed configuration.

 

It's a joke. That truck had a serious issue.

 

I think you got most of the input you need I am also driving a manual offroad dbcb short bed.

I am in a similar situation its my daily driver and family has a place in the mountains I go every weekend I can, big hills, muddy dirt roads and in the winter plenty of snow. Never wished I had anything different since I bought it. I also have a diamondback cover which can accomodate a rack for bikes, kayaks, etc. leaving the bed open for storage. For sleeping that leaves you with a hammock or tent.

I will say given the price of things now maybe you can find an SR5 and put some after market suspension on it and still be under the price of a new OR nowadays and still have money leftover for some other upgrades or gas.

 

Oops, got it - haha

 

if you dont plan on keeping long term - i think in terms of resale market most ppl gravitate towards dcsb w/ 4x4

 

Exactly what I did. I settled on an 2021 4x4 DCSB SR5 premium (tech package, blacked out tail/badging, premium entune/nav, red interior) and spent the money I saved on an assortment of aftermarket upgrades

These were my considerations when I went taco shopping:
- I wanted a new truck because ive always purchased used ones in the past
- Didn't want a manual for a daily driver
- Didn't want a DCLB.
- Didnt want to pay extra for a rear locker that i was likely never going to use
- Didnt want to pay extra for leather seats and a moon roof (bad experiences with moon roofs in Oregon)
- Didn't want army green, blue, or red. Then I saw cement in person and added that color to my do not want list too lol

Overall I'm happy with my SR5 and how its turned out so far. That being said, a cavalry blue TRD Pro would have been cool too but they didn't make those in 2021

 

+1 vote for SR5 4x4.
That's what I decided on after saving up over 2 years to be able to buy my first new vehicle and almost a year of going to car shows and dealerships to look at several vehicles. I drilled down to a mid size truck and to Pherd Ranger or Toyota Tacoma. I was in a Jeep Liberty CRD for over a decade so I was already used to the type of 4 wheel drive system and had an Outback previously.

I tow a pop-up camper and go around my area with bikes, kayaks and gear. I really didn't think I'd ever use the rear locker in the OR as my Jeep Liberty didn't have it and the times I'd been off road it was never needed.
The Sr5 is good because for me it had all the things I needed for a daily basis and no extra stuff. Heated seats are really the only option I miss a little.
I didn't want a sunroof as I've had issues with them. Didn't want leather cus it's expensive, it's too hot or too cold. It's been working for me so far.
I never drove the OR. The first Tacoma I test drove was a silver sr5 and I bought a Cement one. I can't compare how different the suspensions are. I'm told the sr5 is closer to the sport.
I think in this market you are going to need to be a bit flexible in terms of colors and trim but that doesn't mean you won't find the perfect fit

 

Update:

Thanks for all the perspectives. Super helpful. Yesterday I put a deposit down on my first truck - a new red V6 TRD OR 4x4 DCLB. Scheduled to be built this Friday at the San Diego factory.

Really thankful I thought things through ahead of time, including on this forum, and knew what I wanted going in cause this market is crazy. I walked in committed to DC/V6/4x4, hoping something would be available that would meet those needs. Was open to short or long bed, and an SR5 if an OR was impossible.

The dealer literally only had 2 Tacomas on the lot, both used SR5s, so I test drove one of them just to confirm I was open to that trim (having driven and loved an OR before). On these roads, I still preferred the OR but especially given limited options these days, would’ve been okay with SR5 if it was the right truck otherwise.

We looked at the sales guy’s computer and went through every single upcoming Tacoma delivery, most of which were already pre-sold, and many of which are really far away from production let alone local delivery. There were only a few available that met my basic needs. I considered a black SR5 V6 4x4 short bed, but it had a lot of options added I didn’t want (like, leather seats in desert heat suck!) that made it almost as expensive as the OR. So it was a no brainer to go for the truck I really wanted - the red OR with exactly the options I want and nothing more.

I’m planning to keep this truck for a while, and make good use of the extra length, which is why I was okay going with the long bed. I made my decision then was happily surprised to learn it’s being built so soon. It could still be delayed in transit, but San Diego to AZ should be pretty fast.

Lucky my dealership is one that’s signed that “fair price pledge” or whatever it’s called. So I’m paying MSRP plus $499 dealer fees that include a couple little things. Crazy how that’s a good deal, but in this market I feel great about it. The other local Toyota dealership, who haven’t signed that pledge, are charging $3,000 or more in fees above MSRP. The market is nuts. My sales guy was telling me how his dealership had to stop selling to out of town and out of state, because people/dealers would buy MSRP here then take it back home and charge more. So Toyota now requires most of their stock be sold to locals only.

Really looking forward to my new truck arriving and the adventures ahead. Thanks again all the feedback on my post. Not planning to do any major mods, but I’m sure I’ll be around here, on threads about racks, towing, etc.