newbie question- what does SR5 mean?

dsds · Dec 11, 2007

Hello. So I know what TRD means but what about SR5? What does it stand for and what is the history? I'm expecting the blasts so I've put on my toque and mittens.

Toy4Life · Dec 11, 2007

This is taken from Edmunds.com.

Fourth-Generation Truck: 1979-1983

The 1979 Toyota truck was all new and again more carlike. But it was a more significant leap forward than ever before with four-wheel drive becoming available for the first time and the debut of a sport truck version known as the SR5.

"The Toyota SR5 is a quantum jump improvement over anything in the [Toyota truck's] past, for several excellent reasons," the Motor Trend editors wrote. "The most obvious is the SR5's new ride and handling feel which can be traced directly to the new torsion bar front suspension. It lends a much smoother ride than conventional coils did and helps the Toyota corner better than it ever could have with the old suspension. The torsion bar rates are softer than those of the old coil springs, and the original equipment Dunlop SP4 radials tend to accentuate the softness even more." Considering how brutal small truck suspensions had been until then, the new Toyota was a revolution.

Still, despite its bucket seats, tape stripes, chrome-ringed steel wheels and five-speed manual (or optional three-speed automatic) transmission, the SR5 wasn't particularly fast. After all, the 20R engine used in all Toyota compact trucks still made a slight 90 hp and a four-speed manual was standard in other Toyota trucks. Motor Trend measured its SR5 test truck accelerating from zero to 60 mph in a leisurely 12.4 seconds and completing the quarter-mile in 18.8 seconds at just 70.8 mph. Scarier was the 17 feet it took it to stop from 60 mph with the rear end sloshing ignobly from side to side.

With a solid front axle on leaf springs (much like the rear suspension) and a high-in-the-air stance, the new Toyota 4x4 pickup was an instant status symbol in high school parking lots across the country. "Toyota's new 4x4 is visually the most impressive," wrote the Popular Science editors in a comparison test with the barely remembered Subaru Brat and Chevy LUV four-wheel-drive pickups. "Its body stands high off the ground and it towers over the others on massive tires that give it the appearance of a swamp buggy…. Of prime importance are two protective skid plates (one under the transfer case and the other under the fuel tank) that were specially designed to let this truck shine in off-road driving.

"For all of its ruggedness, the Toyota (like LUV and Brat) is highly civilized inside the cab. The seat is a bench type that will hold three adults in an emergency, but furnishes comfortable space for two. The seat back folds forward with the release of a lever on either side, revealing a small, handy storage area hidden from outside view. An AM/FM stereo radio, plush carpeting and a sliding rear window add to the passenger-carlike comfort….

"Not everything about these vehicles is outstanding. Their acceleration is adequate, but no more. Toyota's 0-to-60-mph time averaged only 17.4 seconds, well over the 15-second benchmark we consider excellent on our test track. LUV and Brat were slower still at 19.0 and 19.6 seconds, respectively."

Still, the Toyota 4x4 had significant advantages over its competition, the Motor Trend editors concluded in their test. "The Chevy 4x4 LUV is an excellent road truck with above average off-road capability. The Toyota is basically a rugged off-road machine with adequate highway performance plus a choice of cargo bed and wheelbase lengths and several options — including power steering, tilt steering wheel and an instrument package — not available on the LUV."

Both the SR5 and 4x4 trucks were big hits, so Toyota didn't mess with the compact truck lineup for 1980.

Engines were the big news for 1981 as the 20R grew to 2.4 liters to become the 22R and a diesel engine was offered for the first time — and then only on an SR5 with the long bed.

Car and Driver found the diesel to have some virtues. "The 2.2-liter, L-series diesel utilizes an overhead camshaft and a Bosch-Nippondenso fuel-injection system," the magazine reported. "It operates at a 21.5-to-1 compression ratio, developing a reasonable 62 hp at 4,200 rpm and 93 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The five-speed overdrive manual transmission is geared short on the low end to obtain maximum pull from the torquey diesel engine. A governor limits revs to 4,900 per minute. Basically you shift like crazy to 30 mph, then cruise in relative peace.

"Toyota's advances in diesel technology have eliminated, or at least minimized, many of the objections most of us have against diesels. For one thing, the harsh clacketing sound of most diesel engines has been virtually eliminated in the SR5 by a fabric-reinforced-rubber timing belt and increased sound insulation….

"One of the high points of the diesel is, of course, its 31 mpg (EPA city) rating which is lower than both VW's and Datsun's diesel trucks' rating but still better than the SR5 gas engine by 7 mpg. But before the diesel option will pay for itself, you have to put on at least 40,000 miles."

The fourth-generation Toyota pickup would play itself out through 1982 and 1983 essentially unchanged while selling exceedingly well.
Click to expand...

rick · Dec 11, 2007

sr = sport rally

2003greenbean · Dec 11, 2007

rick said: ↑

sr = sport rally
Click to expand...

sport rally 5 speed

deer_pop · Dec 13, 2007

Cool... I never knew what sr5 stood for either. Thanks!!!

Sport Rally 5 Speed

dsds · Dec 13, 2007

Thanks! Now I can sleep soundly. But what if you have the 6-speed manual

2003greenbean · Dec 14, 2007

sr5 doesnt mean that anymore i think it is a trim pakg now when it first came out thats what it ment

007Tacoma · Dec 14, 2007

"One of the high points of the diesel is, of course, its 31 mpg (EPA city) rating which is lower than both VW's and Datsun's diesel trucks' rating but still better than the SR5 gas engine by 7 mpg. But before the diesel option will pay for itself, you have to put on at least 40,000 miles."
Click to expand...

Yeah, but now it will pay for itself in half that.

JasonY · Aug 18, 2011

Heh, my SR5 goes up to 11.

Krazie Sj · Aug 18, 2011

You revived a thread that's as old as my truck.

Seriously?

RAT PRODUCTS · Aug 18, 2011

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 11 (9 members and 2 guests)

chadderkdawg · Aug 18, 2011

Jdaniel1274 · Aug 18, 2011

Toy4Life said: ↑

This is taken from Edmunds.com.
Click to expand...

If they would import the Toyota Diesel engine to the U.S., then we could have the best of both worlds.

myname150 · Aug 18, 2011

2003greenbean said: ↑

sr5 doesnt mean that anymore i think it is a trim pakg now when it first came out thats what it ment
Click to expand...

x2

I believe now it's just a basic package.

Color matched fenders for one I think is a SR5 feature.

Crom · Aug 18, 2011

I always wondered what the original SR5 meant. Now I know.

Krazie Sj said: ↑

You revived a thread that's as old as my truck.

Seriously?
Click to expand...

It's ironic that when new or inexperienced forum users use the search function, and they use it well, are criticized for reviving an old thread.

97yota4wd · Aug 18, 2011

Crom said: ↑

I always wondered what the original SR5 meant. Now I know.

It's ironic that when new or inexperienced forum users use the search function, and they use it well, are criticized for reviving an old thread.
Click to expand...

x2...

Maticuno · Aug 18, 2011

The article mentions that it started in 1979 for Toyota trucks, but the 1977 in my sig pic is an SR5, with the striping, SR5 badging, bucket seats, and 5 speed. It was a pretty nice truck...but I'm much happier with the new one!

JasonY · Aug 18, 2011

Krazie Sj said: ↑

You revived a thread that's as old as my truck.

Seriously?
Click to expand...

Heh, sorry about that. I was searching back-posts for towing information and happened across this one. I spend FAR too much time lurking around here. What a great resource.

Krazie Sj · Aug 19, 2011

Crom said: ↑

I always wondered what the original SR5 meant. Now I know.

It's ironic that when new or inexperienced forum users use the search function, and they use it well, are criticized for reviving an old thread.
Click to expand...

It's more so that his post made no sense to me in addition to resurrecting an old thread.

JasonY said: ↑

Heh, sorry about that. I was searching back-posts for towing information and happened across this one. I spend FAR too much time lurking around here. What a great resource.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about. I was just confuddled as fuck with your post. I still am.

4Wheelin4Banger · Aug 19, 2011

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