Leaf Springs vs Coil springs - Is it worth moving beyond the SR?

I got carried away and ordered what I thought was a good and capable truck, due to arrive in July, (but who knows how long it will actually take)
TRD Sport, Double cab 4x4 6 speed manual, with "TRD Sport Upgrade Package with Options" to include mudguards. I did not order the TRD Premium to get Softex, and kind of wonder if I should have?

So while I wait, this has me wondering how much of a downgrade it really would be to instead take delivery of a similarly sized 4x4 6 speed manual SR? Sure I would lose a number of interior comfort items, but the biggest ticket differences would be the rear window not opening, as well as the leaf spring suspension in the rear.

The difference in price between these two builds (with similar accessories bolted on) comes out to about $8,600. I wonder if it's worth those upgrades, really? I have yet to be able to test drive any 4th gen, and don't have the time to go galavanting out of state to go find some right now.

 

Is the manual available in the SR?

 

Yes. Only in double cab 5' bed 4x4 config, similar to TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road.

 

What's your intended use for the truck? if you're going to be hauling heavy loads, leafs are gonna be superior. Also if you plan to add sliders, bumpers, etc, I don't know how coils in the rear would respond to that even if you upgrade them.
Furthermore, if you already have a truck and are used to it, you might not care to spend the extra cash on coils.

IMO leafs are cheap, easy to maintain, and easy to replace. You also don't have to worry about alignment with them.

 

I haul small cargo trailers from time to time, nowhere near the weight limit of the truck. A few years ago, I dreamed of owning a 20-ish foot travel trailer of some kind, but that dream has not materialized, and I do not know if it will anytime soon. I used to camp a lot more, and want to get back into it. I thought the TRD Sport would be a good overland camping truck, and considered getting a pop tent setup going, but that's not mission critical and could probably be done on the SR too.

 

Why would coils create an alignment need on a solid axle rear? They haven't moved to being IRS have they?

 

Honestly I'm not sure. Couldn't find a lot of info on it but it is a multi link suspension. IMO more possible break points but I'm sure it will hold up on the daily.
https://www.4thgentacoma.com/threads/the-new-tacomas-coil-spring-multi-link-rear-suspension.545/

 

Wheels and tires, steering wheel material (leather vs polyurethane), auto dimming mirror, no "Auto" temp climate control on the SR, smaller instrument cluster, on the SR, no rear stabilizer on SR, without the SR upgrade you would not have park assist sensors or blind spot monitor on the SR, no power seats, no wireless charger, no JBL system, and power inverter.

I think that covers just about all the differences according to Toyotas site. What count's as "big ticket" is subjective to you and your use case.

 

You're making good points. There are lots of things the SR lacks. My comparison was with an SR with "Upgrade Package with option" that includes Blind Spot Monitoring. Not all of the items you listed are included in the TRD Sport I ordered as they're premium package offerings, but I understand what you're saying. 8 to 9k difference gets a whole lot of features added, some big some small, and is paying an extra 5 bucks a day (if that amount was financed) worth it? Probably so, especially given the additional choices of exterior color. I wish I could test drive these two to see how they feel.

 

If it's on order, you have a while to wait and hopefully can test drive. I am pretty sure everything I included is in the sport upgrade package. The premium package gets you more.

 

IMO, having to stare at the SR dash and small head unit would remind me every day I passed on something better and kill me. The Sport would be a much better experience, coils would make it just that much better.

 

I tested a manual SR and thought it to be a great truck, I also thought it rode pretty well but that was on city streets that were not tore up.

Compared to my 1st gen, there is no doubt the SR is nicer in every single aspect. Since you already have an SR, you would not be downgrading anything by moving to the new SR. I think you would be shocked how much nicer it is.

On the other hand, I personally will be spending a lot already on a new truck and will perhaps spring for a TRD model.

 

Didn't see where the OP even mentioned coils vs leaf pack at all, only in the thread title.

But to touch on this, coils are super easy to replace so technically "less maintenance" with no bushings to worry about either.

As for alignment, did they magically do away with the solid rear axle and go independent rear? That'd be news for sure but I'm 99% sure they didn't so this alignment thing is false information you're spreading.

 

Even my 64 GTO had coils, 4 links and a solid axle.

No aligment work.

But did have some airbags in the coils with independent valves so one side would be higher than the other to make it go level at launch on the strip.

And 90/10 shocks up front to help keep the nose up for that first few hundred feet.

Doubtful to be needed in Taco-land.

 

Compared to a first gen absolutely. Compared to the TRD Sport he already has ordered, oof, no way.

 

I agree, I mean trading his current SR 3rd gen he wouldn't be "missing out" on anything by getting into 4th gen SR. It would actually be a big upgrade.
Yea not a chance the 4th gen SR is nicer than a 4th gen TRD Sport though. I actually startled myself the first time I opened the tailgate and it slammed open on the 2024 SR lol, these new dampened tailgates made me forget old school ones still exist.

Putting it another way: if I was trading the 2016 Corolla L I used to have for a 24 SR, it would be a massive upgrade. Since my current car has leather heated seats, sunroof etc though I have now been spoiled and would miss some of that stuff.

 

Indeed the stock axle links have no adjustment provisions. If you install a high suspension lift, it's often necessary to install new axle links (up to 5 of them) or relocation brackets to re-center the axle, as it's been done with 4Runners for almost 30 years.

 

Your current truck can do all the stuff. camping, towing, looking baddass.

Only you know your finances.

I wouldn’t swap my ‘17 SR5 I bought with cash in hand for a new Tacoma because I need the $30k+ for all my existing and future vices. Honestly, you could give me a million dollars today and I still wouldn’t swap my truck. I’d use the million to get on some my pending vices. But that’s me.

These are existential questions of the first-world order.

 

After a 6 year hiatus it has returned to the SR.

 

I appreciate the different points of view on this. Suffice to say, I no longer have the '16 SR. I miss it. Life happened, I needed a vehicle for my daughter, and now I am back to square 1 looking for a vehicle for me to drive. The last few vehicles, I wanted an MT, and even thought I could teach my daughter to drive a MT, but caved at the last minute and got an automatic. This time, I fully intend to get a MT and commit to it. I miss it. Prior to the 2016 Tacoma, I had a '99 Tacoma with a 5 speed manual, loved it.