First Impressions After 8 Weeks

My 2011 Silver SR5 DCSB celebrated it's 8 week (2K miles) birthday this week. Chose a 2011 over a 2012 for a number of reasons:

• Many more 2011's to choose from over 2012's in my area.
• Was looking for Silver or Red color, but opted for the Silver after seeing the Red appeared a little "off" in certain lighting conditions. Other colors didn't appeal to me becaue how easily they show dirt and road salt.
• Think the 2011's front end is a bit more "beefier" looking than the 2012's.
• Less cost for a comparable 2011, and 2011 rebates at the time.
• Ability to get accessories without having to wait (weathertech floorliners, etc.).
• Didn't need the TRD type packages which most of the 2012's were in my area.

After 8 weeks of driving highway and back-and-forth to work, here are my pros and cons.

Pros:

• Very solid, few noises from the road.
• Good pickup.
• Manuevers well, little drifting in the turns. We'll see how it does after the first snow fall.
• Confortable seating front and back.
• Respectable audio system for an OEM with 6 disk player (I noticed the 2012's only do single disk now).
• Very good heating in this colder weather. Haven't done full A/C yet.
• Nice set of creature comforts I didn't have in my base Frontier.

Cons:

• Was hoping for a bit better mileage (roughly 17-20 combined), but it is a 4WD and my previous Frontier was 2WD.
• Orange backlighting on most of the dash reminds me of my '86 Mazda 626. Blue or green throughout would be better in my opinion.
• Too much silver interior trim on the center console (dark grey or black would be nice).
• Needs lockable glove compartment.
• Integrate the antenna like other vehicles so there's no exterior one to bend up in a car wash.
• Light up dial on the 4-wheel drive knob.
• No lockable tailgate.

I don't do off-roading and use it for running errands with my wife, taking elderly parents around town, yard work and home projects. So far, it's a keeper. Currently have:

• Weathertech floor liners
• Extang SolidFold tonneau
• Bedmat
• Extra rail hooks

Plan on:

• Hood Bug Guard
• New wheels w/wider tires
• Upgrade audio system (probably head only in the spring)
• Pop-n-Lock for tailgate
• LED strips for running lights
• Any other non-offroad type improvements to consider?

 

Nice choice, although your cons are easily fixed with a bit of searching around here. Cheers.

 

This ^

The first thing that I was thinking as soon as I read your "cons" list was that all of these are easy mods to do with instructions on this site.

 

i think 17-20 mpg avg. is good, especially for an engine going through break in period, ..plus it's a 4WD..

 

Yepp all those cons can be easily solved You say yard and home projects? Id look into some Wet Okole seat covers to keep your seats from getting dirty and ruined. Maybe the mag lite mount mod... Um... thats all i can think of Maybe a 7" Double din to keep the wifey occupied...

Unless your one of those lucky guys that get R.H. and if you do you must have taken her to see "Wicked" Bro!

 

not bad

 

Agreed that I could do the mods myself, but wouldn't it be nice if Toyota just took some clues for what its customers like from all our wishlists and incorporated them?

As much as I'd like to do a bunch of things myself, it's going to be hard squeezing in the extra time at the moment. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

 

I've had my Tacoma for almost eight weeks also and like you I chose the 2011 model. I didn't want the entune on 2012 models, didn't want a nav system that relied on my phones data plan which charges for extra usage. I guess if you had an unlimited data plan it would be ok but I still didn't see a $2000 dollar value there.

The best deal I could find on a 2012 was invoice, I got the 2011 for $1000 under invoice. So far I'm very happy with it.