Help a future Tacoma owner -

Ok I will soon (within three months or so) be buying a Tacoma. First let me say that I've wanted one for several years - it started with a love of how the 1st gen extended cabs looked - and now I have a deep desire for a 2nd gen double cab.

The truck will replace my aging SAAB and will be my daily driver. But I also want to be able to take the truck off-roading. Nothing hardcore, just some rides through the bumpy PNW.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it ) these things keep their value exceptionally well. So I'm going to have to drop quite a bit of cash to get what I want! And unfortunately (again) I know pretty much exactly what I want. But I have some questions to help me refine my search a little more. Let me start by telling you what I KNOW I want:

- 2nd gen ('05 or '06, anything younger will be too spendy for me)
- 4x4
- Double Cab
- Short bed
- Black, White, OR a dark color - a dark, metallic grey like Diamond Grey would be awesome. Not sure if they made them that color for these years. Do they still paint tacos in that beautiful dark green color that 1st gens come in?

Now on to the questions. What exactly does the TRD off road package include? Can I get a 4x4 with decent off-road capabilities that is not TRD? What exactly is the difference between TRD sport and TRD off road? I guess what I'm asking is, if I find a 4x4 double cab with TRD sport (or no TRD at all), is it still worth getting? Keep in mind I do NOT like sported out trucks and I may want to add a slight (3" or so) lift at some point.

I want a short bed because I decided on the double cab. I really need the extra cab space to justify getting rid of my roomy sedan. I'd love the extra bed space but having an 18 ft truck just would not work for me. I understand most double cabs ARE short beds - is this true?

I see tons of PreRunners for sale, and while they look nice they just seem gimpy to me. I want to feel comfortable taking this thing off the beaten path and to have it be a "fake" 4x4 just sours me. Then again, preRunners are much cheaper. Convince me they are worth it or assure me they are not

I know I'm being picky on the color here but keep in mind this is kind of my dream vehicle

My price range will be 17-19k, possibly going to 20k if I can get any kind of decent trade on my SAAB. I've seen a couple with high miles - would an '05 with 120k miles still be worth looking at? I know it's a Toyota, but it's still a machine and things do go wrong with that much use.

Oh, and for shits & giggles I'll tell you want I want to (eventually) add to my truck: Full grille guard, rock sliders (because I'm not a fan of running boards but still want the utility they provide) a ~3" lift and bigger tires. Oh and a toolbox and slightly tinted windows. The less chrome and more flat black the better

Thanks for any feedback on my first post.

 

Prerunner Gimpy? A prerunner and a 4X4 look exactly the same unless you see 4X4 on the rear mud flaps a prerunner on the tailgate of a prerunner.If you need or want a 4X4 get it or a prerunner if it is not needed or desired.You have to look very close to tell the difference.Prerunner will get slightly better MPGs.

 

I meant they 'seem' gimpy, as in, once I see the preRunner logo, my mind automatically drops it down a peg. Just prejudice my brain has picked up from wanting a 4x4 so bad I guess. They still look good for stock trucks - but a slight lift and bigger tires looks even better

 

Looks like you live in Oregon...I wouldn't go pre-runner just becuase of that. I'd think that if you could find a nice SR5 4x4 with a limited slip in the rear you would be good to go. Then if you decide you need more traction, you can swap in an ARB locker. This was the route I took as it seemed most TRD's were fetching 2-3 more thousand dollars. Good luck with the search

 

Sounds Like you are a good candidate for a sr5 Tacoma. the sr5 package is non sport and has none of the extra stuff the off road has. It's still a step up from the pre runner and base tacoma's.

 

Thanks for the info Kirkofwimbo. Dont mind my newbiness but what exactly does a limited slip mean? Or rather, what is the difference between that, an ARB locker and a "regular" differential? If that is what it's called... I dont know much about them.

 

So SR5, but no TRD to save cash. Plain SR5's still come 4wd, and ready to bump around on some old logging roads though right?

 

if you find a good deal on a trd off road get it for the e locker otherwise just get the sr5. yes it comes in 4x4

 

Yep, should serve you fine .

 

A regular differential is open, which means it is able to allow one wheel to spin faster when turning. This is good for the street, but for off-road is not. Basically the wheel that spins easiest, whether it be in mud, or just in the air continues to get the power, and the wheel with traction does not. A limited slip uses clutches in the rear diff allowing some power to move to the wheel with traction. An ARB locker, or E-locker that comes with the TRD offroad, can actually lock the axle so that both wheels have to move at the same rate and thus both receive the same amount of power. This all really comes into play when one wheel has more traction than the other.

 

Thanks! That helped a lot. To be honest I doubt I will get in many (if any at all) situations where one side is going to be in the air or in deep mud. Most of my driving will still be on pavement. Looks like just an SR5 4x4 would do me well!

 

What do you guys think of an 05 with 120k miles on it? I've seen a couple in my price range with everything I wanted. To be honest I'm a little wary of buying a 6yo car with that many miles.

 

I am in the market for a Tacoma too and have looked at the used ones, but dayum, they retain their value so much that the used are pricey. So I have decided to just get a new one when the time comes. It'll cost me a bit more up front (a few thousand dollars), but by the time I have it paid off it'll have less miles than the pricey used ones I am looking and I'll own it outright!

Generally I am a big fan of buying used so I don't take the depreciation hit... but with the Tacoma's resale values it's really tough (in my mind) not to justify just getting new and (therefore) exactly what I want instead of settling for what's available on the used market when I finally decide to pull the trigger.

Just my 2 cents... YMMV.

 

I'd love to buy new and get to choose exactly what I want. But to buy new I'd have to spend 30k+, and all I can afford right now is just under 20k. And I dont want to wait another two years - I need a new vehicle this summer, before my current car explodes.

Hasnt stopped me from going to the toyota site and building a Tacoma exactly the way I want it... drooool

 

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