2022 TRD Sport buy ?s

I'm hoping to get some input here as anyone buying from a dealership should have an army of lawyers behind them (or just Tacoma World users).
I'm negotiating with a dealership in Oregon for a 2022 TRD Sport and the first spec sheet they sent didn't show the bilstein suspension. After questioning them on how that works (don't all trds have bilsteins?) a different sales rep contacted me and said the following:

"The "Sport Tuned Suspension" takes the suspension used on the SR5, but tunes them to be firmer for "On-Road" driving, giving better handling and maneuverability to the Tacoma. The "Off-Road" model will have softer Bilstein Shocks, offering a more comfortable ride off the road, will sacrificing some Handling/Maneuverability."

I'm not sure that's true but today Toyota has a lot of different options on the trucks. So I told the guy I wanted the Sport Extra Value Package and he sent a spec sheet for a truck with the same VIN but a different model number (7566 as opposed to the previous spec sheet with 7566E). This new spec sheet has the Sport Extra Value Package (w/Bilstein suspension specified). Otherwise the spec sheet is exactly the same with the same options.

Does this seem fishy to you guys?

 

The sport comes stock with stiff hitachi shocks.

The bilsteins are only offered on the off-road trim, and frankly, they aren't that great.

The "sport extra value package" is the dealer upselling you. That's not a stock offering. Forget it. Save your money and get a better quality suspension away from the dealer.

 

There was no price difference.

I just looked back at my emails; the first sales rep sent the 7566E, the second sales rep emails the same spec with clarification of the "highlights". When I told him I wanted the Sport Extra Value package he sent a new spec saying:
"This one has the extra value package on it, and we could add leather and heated seats for you! We'd love to work with you on this, so let me know what you are thinking "
But it has the same VIN but the model number saying 7566.

 

7566 means TRD Sport V6 4x4 Double Cab Long Bed. Sorry, I don't know what E means, or what the dealer is including in their extra value package.

Personally I'd be weary of asking for Bilsteins. I've never heard of a dealer willing to do that swap for free. And again, while both the Bilstein and Hitachi are both perfectly good suspensions for their own reasons, I sure as hell wouldn't be willing to pay extra for either one

I strongly recommend you test drive both suspensions before negotiating that line item further. Everyone has their own preferences on the set they like better, and there won't be anybody here that can tell you which one is going to personally float your boat.



Good luck, hope you get a good deal.

 

Do you want a sport or OR suspension? They are different. If you want a sport suspension with stiffer shocks and better cornering/handling then get a sport. If you want an off road suspension with softer billies and increased off-road handling then get an Off Road. The sport does not come with Bilsteins. You will be sad when it arrives and doesn't have them if that is what you are wanting.

 

Mostly what I want is an honest transaction (I know, naïve right). So what the hell is going on with the sales rep modifying the spec sheet to show:

"TRD Sport Extra Value Package: Sport suspension with Bilstein® shocks, 17-in. alloy wheels with P265/65R17 tires, hood
scoop, color-keyed grille surround/bumpers/door handles/overfenders, color-keyed outside mirrors with turn signal
indicators, sliding rear window with privacy glass, 115W/400W deck-mounted AC power outlet, fog lights, remote
keyless entry, cruise control, variable intermittent windshield wipers, overhead console with maplights and sunglasses

storage, Sport water-resistant seats with driver lumbar support (passenger-side fold-fat feature delete), metallic-
toned instrument panel trim, leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls and shifter, dual sun visors with

mirrors and extenders, tailgate-handle integrated backup camera, TRD Sport graphics."

*side note: further down the spec sheet it says power rear window. The above quote shows sliding?

 

If you want bilsteins, you can get the TRD lift kit installed. I had this installed on my 2021 SR5 last year at Capitol Toyota in Salem, OR

https://youtu.be/2IEdMi5lMmY

 

Everything on that list (except the shocks) is completely stock on the Sport. None of that is a package.

They typed in Bilstein shocks because you asked about it, and the Sport shocks have no visible branding for the layperson to call them out on.

The hitachis are blue, the OR's billies are yellow. I bet a dollar that you'll see blue shocks when you look at it, and if you call them out they'll say " oh yeah, those are Bilsteins.". Because that's what sales guys do.

The rear window is a power sliding window. Comes stock on all TRD trims. I find it very handy for parking in the summer and leaving that one cracked open.

Also, know before you go. The Toyota Bilsteins are roughly equivalent to their 4600 series - bottom of the line. Still good shocks, but they aren't any better in quality than the Hitachis.

 

All tacomas have a horizontal sliding rear window. But like everyone else has pointed out, sport models have Hitachi shocks. Offroads have bilsteins

 

What's up with the fog lights in the kit? The video showed fog lights replaced with just black plastic cover after, I'm not sure what that has to do with the lift.

 

Lawyers. . I bet that the fogs post-lift "might" make them non compliant in all states.

 

You are smarter than a salesman. Go into the transaction knowing that. Know that Toyota will NEVER ship a TRD Sport from Mexico with Bilstein shocks on it. EVER. So if you have Bilstein shocks on the truck when you receive it, they were swapped. And from where...who only knows. The salesman doesn't know the difference between Hitachi and Bilstein...I'll put money on it. He is trying to get the sale, whether it be to you or to someone else, that's all he cares about as a salesman. If you want an honest transaction, take the train and never buy a vehicle because honest salesmen are few and very far between.

 

You know what you want. But in April I was trying to get a Sport with close to what I wanted for options and, my color preference which was only 2. No one had any coming in and didn't want an up to 6 month wait to order. Found an Off Road with close enough to what I wanted options and color wise so I grabbed it. Soooo glad, I couldn't get a Sport. But that's me.

 

Apples to a slightly different flavor apple. Just don't be posting on the hood swap thread next! JK.

 

AND there it is..... just got the proposed contract. $400 theft protection.

 

What's that for? Someone gonna come by every night and make sure it doesn't disappear from the driveway? The truck already has an immobilizer...

 

"Just sent over that Proposal with the numbers. The TRD Wheels with installation are $1,460.00, but we are going to get you a 10% discount, bring it to $1,314.00."

"Unfortunately, the TRD Wheels have gone up in price recently and the MSRP for them is $300 a wheel. If you are finding them for less elsewhere, that's totally fine!

There are a lot of things that go into "Title and Registration" costs. The major one being brand new plates that are good for 4 years instead of the typical 2 years. We aren't trying to pull a fast one or anything, simply pulling numbers from the DMV in your county and plugging them in.

The theft protection is a one time $299.00 protections that adds an etched code into all doors, trunk and hood for identifiability, and adds a theft deterrent to the front driver side window. If the vehicle is stolen and not returned, or stolen and returned as totaled, then you would be eligible for up to $5000 from us, on top of anything your insurance gives you. We've personally had a couple vehicles stolen just from our lot, so we definitely stand by this. But if you don't find value in it, no worries, I'll take it off for you!

Some dealers force you to purchase their aftermarket additions, or try to pull a fast one, so I understand that you might be a little hesitant or nervous. If you check out our reviews, I think you'll find that we are truly different, and just here to help you get into a new"

 

For reference: I bought new trd pro wheels on bamwholesale for $660 for 4 wheels. And then x4 Falken wildpeaks cost me about $1000 at discount tire in Salem

 

That looks nice! Stock height?

Bam's is 956 shipped today.

 

Seems a little spendy. You could wait or shop around. Sparks is another reputable place I have ordered from before. Just don't let the dealerships swindle you lol.

My tacoma has the TRD Lift kit. 2" front 1" back. 275/70/17 falken wildpeaks.