Buying My New Taco

I went to the lot today for a test drive and to get a first-hand look at the 2011s. I knew going in that I wanted an AC OR. I've got a wife and three kids and talked to the wife and she said she didn't care if I had room in the back for kids, so it seemed the way to go.

The closest they had was an AC Sport, so I took it for a spin. Right away I knew I didn't like the scoop. I like to see as much in front of me as possible and that little rise bothered me. It was also the first time I'd seen the new back seats in ACs. On my 2005 AC I liked that it all folded flat and was a great platform for storing things or carrying rifles. These new center consoles gets in the way of that. Still I thought I could remove it and be able to live with it.

Then the wife swings by to take a look and here it goes. She takes one look and says it wouldn't be able to hold the kids- the old back seats you could at least fit 3 butts back there. So then we look at a DC. I really like how the back seats fold down and there's that nice big, flat area for cargo. But then we look at the bed and both think it's too small. I think the DC SB looks a little disproportional, and the wife is worried about it not being enough room to haul plywood- we've never had a need to haul plywood before. But the longer bed on my old AC was very useful at times. They had a DC LB Sport there, but I'm wanting an off-road. So I tell the sales guy (22 y/o, second week on the job) that I want him to find me a DC LB OR and he says 'sure thing'.

So I come home, get on the Toyota website and on here to start researching the price difference, etc, and find there's no DC LB OR.

I think I'll wind up getting the DC OR. As much as I hate giving up the longer bed, I like the storage room and seating options inside the cab, plus the off-road package and shorter wheel-base. As long as there's enough room to throw a deer in the back, it'll suit most of my needs.

 

I like this read . Goodluck finding what you want!

 

You'll have better luck finding a DC than an AC anyway...good luck.

 

Go with the SB...for only $600 you can pick up a 5'x8' utility trailer for those rare occasions you need to haul plywood.

 

I agree on the DC for interior room but what I don't get is why Toyota doesn't give the LB option in OR or with manual transmission. You can only get the manual in the DC SB, why?

 

I believe from what I read here that the LB is not condusive to Off Roading. Thus its in the Sport or non-trd models since they are more asphalt focused. Probably a market research thing.
I like my SB DC a lot & use a utility trailer when need be.
Do not know why about the manual vs auto thing.
I have an auto in my DC SB oops not a Off Road TRD, just plain jane SR5 4x4 sorry.

 

I always thought the DC LB looks a little goofy. like its butt is hanging out

and yes for off roading, a SWB almost always wins. For lots of highway and city driving a LWB helps soak up the bumps and keeps you from getting rocked back and forth.

This is defn true with my Reg cab 4x4 SR5. bounces all over the damn place (but I love the truck) My F150 drove like a dream on the highway compared to the yota. but I knew what i was getting into.

 

How about a DC SPORT LB and do the yellow wire mod?

 

i have a DCSB and the bed has never let me down before. plenty of room if you pack it right

 

I like the DCSB for many reasons. If I need to haul larger items, I use a trailer. A DC's room behind the driver is a must if you ever plan on more than 2 people in the truck. Worst case would be buy the DCLB sport and trade off the hood.

 

...or get the DC LB Sport and then trade hoods with a non-scooped, can make a few extra $$$ off of that

 

I love my DC Long bed. I'm not a big fan of the scoop on mine but I've gotten used to it.

 

I had to do some reading up on this. Not a bad option.

How easy (ie, costly) would this really be?

There are other factors in favor of the DCSB- turning radius, parking ability, price. I know it's not nearly a full-size, but I sometimes have to drive suburbans or expeditions at work and I hate them. I like the maneuverability and sight lines of smaller vehicles.

 

Update! I decided to go with the DC SB so I set out to find one with a color I could tolerate, with the right options, and for the right price. After two days of going back and forth with three different dealers, I got the best deal on a black DC SB with packages OC, DZ, TO-A, DL, AL, and CF-N. I'm stoked!

The crappy part is that it's 6 hours away and I won't be able to pick it up until Monday.

It was hard to find an off-road package that didn't include the JBL upgrade, which I didn't care anything about. But I think I got a heck of a deal with a great base price and a good price on my trade-in. If any of you are in the Lincoln area be sure to hit up Jim at Performance Toyota. This is the second vehicle I've bought at Performance and they gave me a great deal on the last one as well.

 

OP QUOTE :I think I'll wind up getting the DC OR. As much as I hate giving up the longer bed, I like the storage room and seating options inside the cab, plus the off-road package and shorter wheel-base. As long as there's enough room to throw a deer in the back, it'll suit most of my needs.[/QUOTE]

with three kids, you will be SO HAPPY you got the Double cab.

plus you can still haul plywood if strapped down correctly.

 

Really? I couldn't find but the one JBL in the whole southeast, according to the dealers anyway. On my own I did find mine as it was the only one in the state with the JBL, Sport or Off road, didn't matter. But then again there were a couple others that were pre runners, forgot about them as I wanted the 4x4 and wasn't settling. I love my JBL. Congrats!

 

I think I'll like the DC as well. As for the JBL, out of like 18 DCSB in Denver only 1 didn't have JBL.

 

I picked up the new truck on Monday! I haven't had a chance to drive it too much besides 6 hours back from the dealer and to work and back, but it feels good. The first tank of gas was ridiculous. It showed full at the dealer but I only got about 160 miles on 3/4 tank. I filled it up with 89 and I've added 250 miles with it almost to E.

The dealer kinda tried to hose me on my trade in. It was a 2005 RAV4 and from 4 little dings you could barely see they said it had $1700 worth of hail damage that would cost them $800 to repair. I called my insurance and with a $300 deductible I told him if he was right, I stood to make $600 by walking out the door and claiming it, and told him if I did there was no guarantee I was coming back. Finally, I agreed to $100 less. Then he really pissed me off because he tried to screw me out of a $500 military rebate for going with Toyota finanacial. But then when talking to the finance guy, I worked a better deal where I got another $1000 off the truck and the extended warranty for going with a different loan company. I actually enjoy buying new vehicles. I see the new vehicle price, trade-in price, and loan terms as three seperate things that I negotiate to get the best deal on each and it seems to work out pretty well.

I didn't know this, so I imagine many of you don't, but banks pay the dealers $2000 for each loan they bring them and they can use that money to sweeten the price on the vehicle or to buy down your interest rate. Toyota financial only pays them $200 for each loan. So it may be in your interest to tell them initially you're going with Toyota Financial and then negotitiate to go with another of their banks. They might have you sign something saying you'll stay with that loan for 121 days because that's how long you have to have it for the dealer to get that kickback, but after that you can refinance with someone with a better rate. If you have a loan with Toyota financial there's also something called the Encore program that will get you .25% off a second loan with them if you go that route.

I have Wet Okole seat covers on order and waiting to get the call for the weathertech group buy. I'm going to work on some of the quick and easy mods tonight and spring turkey season is about to open up so I'm going to take it for some light off-road tomorrow to scout some places. Can't wait!