BASE 2nd gen taco owners, feelings?

so how base is a base taco?(base options, not base truck)

i dont really need a lot of features, just 4x4, auto, V6, ac and the base stereo.

im coming from a jeep. power door locks and windows, and working heaters seem decadent to me.

i've noticed killer deals on the non trd,black fendered stuff

2007 double cabs for 14,000 and the like andall that really matters to me is durability.

so if you own one or have compared them closer than i have, is the base still a good choice? or is there a mechanical bit in the higher stuff (besides a locker) that i should know about?

any info or comment is welcome!

 

well, to what? i have seen the DC v6 auto 4x4 as a base on the toyota site, with no potion(ummm...option! LOL) group add ons.

so im talking options base, not model...

 

I have the base 4x4,dc, and I like it. I got because I like the black fenders and grill. But you may want to add cruise and intermitten wipers because base model dont have these features. But you can do that. Go for it!!

 

i can install my own cruise, but i wonder how hard it would be to do the wipers?

 

also, do you have any pics?

 

awesome! thanks!

 

Wiper was plug & play - very easy

Base truck w/ tint


Now with about $2 grand in mods...



See more @ http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/showgallery.php/ppuser/7913/cat/500

 

i have a 2008 base access cab with 4x4 and the 4.0L in it with a six speed tranny. i would have like to of gotten a dc but i couldnt afford it. my truck didnt come with all of the bells and whistles but it is a tacoma and i coudnt be happier. and also without it comming with all of the bells and whistles that means you can put your own options on it

 

Yeah & for a lot less than what the dealers want to charge you-plus Modding is half the fun!

 

yeah i love to mod, but my jeep takes so much of my time and money just keeping it on the road. i never get to do the fun stuff!

now do you get power windows/locks with the base? I've never had those. jeeps and scouts didnt come with those as options!

 

The double cab has power in the 2008 & I think it's been added to the access cab for 2009, but I'm not 100% sure?

 

I have an 07 Double Cab V6 4x4 base (no package option). The DC's come standard with power windows, mirrors, locks. It is a convenience option on Access cabs (unless it has changed for 08 or 09). There is nothing mechanically different except the locker or LSD or any driver assistance options that are now standard on the 09's.
I have had mine for a little over a year and I have had no problems except crappy tires.
I didn't need fogs in Vegas, but those are about a $200 add if wanted/needed. It doesn't rain much here so I didn't need intermittent wipers and the regular has worked fine for me. Too much traffic here to really enjoy cruise control, but an easy add. The stereo is the same as the TRD without the JLB, but I upgraded the stereo, cheap mod. Doesn't have the rear slider window, didn't want it anyway. The seat material is different, but I added seat covers and floor mats anyway. It doesn't come with any tint, but I added limo on all windows for $80. The TSB upgrades the shocks to 4 bilsteins that the TRD's come with. I'm going to add an alarm which will add the keyless entry option. I like not having any chrome. I upgraded tires/wheels, most expensive mod I've done. I have the 4x4 and don't plan on needing a locker or LSD as basic off roading is all I'll do and 4x4 on wet roads works fine for me.
I think that is basically the differences, not really worth the 2k to me.
If you want some of those extras but still cheaper then get an SR5 with convenience package (if you can find it or are going to order one new).
I'm sure this is where you have been looking, but here it is anyway
http://www.toyota.com/tacoma/options.html . That's for 09's, there are a couple differences from the prior years.

Here it is brand new

And now

 

man, they just look so much better without chrome!

 

I like the chrome., but also like the black plain old plastic. Does not rust, holds up well with time. I almost decided to buy the base., but for 2k more. The resale value alone makes it worth it.

 

Yup! and I'm about to debadge mine to remove all signs of chrome .

Hmm...Toyota.com shows the TRD packages to be 4k more than Base.
There are more Base models showing up on the lots out here, so I think our resale will improve also. I plan to keep mine for awhile and in a year I owe less than it is worth, just that is worth it to me.

 

I have an 07 base model 4x4 v6, I have it just over a year and its got 12300 miles on it now. It dosnt have power windows or locks or all the other fancy stuff that i would brake eventually but the wiper mod would be very nice and the fog lights too. Mine came wired all ready for the fog lights and the locker so all i have to do is just plug and play. It did come 245-75-16s on it with some crappy dunlop street tires that really suck on ice. But i really liked the black fenders and grill and bumpers cause i dont have to worry about scratches. Im Waiting for my new tires right now and may be a lift. It also came with tinted windows, and two power points. this picture is what it looked like straight from the dealer with 8 miles on it.

 

Down here in oklahoma the base was about $6500 cheaper than the same truck with power windows and cruise and tilt and an automatic. Which I can put all the mods on my truck for less than 1100 bucks and that sold it for me.

 

and thats exactly why im looking at them!

i saw a 2007 4x4 V6 DC for 14,000 around here. looked to be in good shape! had it not been a stick i would have tried to get it.

power windows and door locks,
cruise control and wipers
stereo.

are all mods i can do pretty cheap. on my own time. and i'll enjoy doing it!

right now the new is out of my price range, but Utah is full of barely used tacomas. all of which have bad resale right now (still recovering from the gas crunch i guess!)

thats whats nice about here. thanks to our harsh winters. 4x4s like tacomas and jeeps are plentiful!!!

thanks again for all the answers! if you have something else to add, please keep it coming!