New member from Utah. TRD TX Pro DCSB White.

I'm an FJ Convert.... In the past few years I've gone from a 2008 Trail Teams FJ in white, to a 2007 4Runner Sport (white of course) with the V8, and then to a 2010 Trail Teams FJ (sandstorm of course). All automatic, and all basically stock.

I loved my first FJ. LOVED IT. Only put 5,000 miles on it in 2 years. Was basically given a death sentence and got an offer from a brother of a friend who had totaled his up in Washington for what I paid new, so I sold it a week before a major major surgery. Came out of the surgery ok and was depressed I had sold. Bought a 4Runner Toyota Certified. LOVED the V8 and 4-Mode system, hated the fact that the dealer didn't disclose a very well hidden smoke odor that came up 400 miles into ownership on a 20,000 mile vehicle on the first hot day. Shampooed carpets, ozoned twice, professionally detailed. No luck. Sold it to a guy who smoked and said that the odor didn't bother him, had been waiting for a 2010, but realized the V8 was gone, so I broke even (thank goodness).

Got another FJ due to the comfort and the fact that a ruined/fused back likes a wide seat. Hated the blind spots, didn't like it as much as my 08 FJ for a few reasons (even though the newer engine was NICE, and it rode smooth, liked the seat pattern, and back-up camera, but missed sonar, missed the originality and such as FJ's are great, but mostly... I missed the 4 real doors as it was impossible to heft my kids in after yet another back surgery... surgery 3).

I almost bought a 2011 4Runner Trail 3 weeks ago. Dealer had a goof of a salesman who sold it ten minutes before I got to the dealership to an out of town cash buyer over the phone via credit card, even though they were holding it for me and I was 7 minutes late for my appt. to pick it up due to a massive snowstorm and the 70 mile drive to get there. Another salesman snagged it and sold it and my salesman (an internet sales guy) was furious and embarrassed and located another 4R Trail from me of my choice for the same price, but they all ended up being demos..... It caused quite a fight at the dealership and so I said "adios guys". GM got involved and said he had a TRD TX Pro on the truck from San Antonio headed this way that would work well for me, was white (which I preferred and wasn't available in the 4R) had 4 real doors which was great for the kids, did NOT have Entune which I had no interest in, and he would give to me for a ridiculously low price for a Tacoma (I had shopped them both times I had gotten FJ's and the time I bought the 4Runner). After the price he could get me it was pretty much a no brainer. It is more utalitarian, and less of a family truckster type of vehicle, which I would have liked... but my wife owns a Pilot so we'd kind of be doubling up, even though the 4R is a beast off-road and would do everything my FJ would.

Well... for about 5 grand less I got this Tacoma with everything I needed and then some. A bit less horsepower, but the same engine my 08 FJ had so I'm familiar with it. Handles great (especially for a truck). Dealer added the mats I wanted, some factory tube steps to ease getting the kids in, and will sell me any accessories from the regular or TRD lists for his price for life. So I feel good about the deal. Plus I haven't driven anything but SUV's for years, and it is nice to have a little pickup for once (even though the bed is pretty tiny). I won't use the bed much anyway. It is a great vehicle for somebody like myself with a disability because I don't have to crouch down to get in. I sort of slide straight across in and out. I had rented a Hyundai Elantra between selling my FJ and getting the Tacoma in (great little commuter by the way) but getting in and out was near impossible due to how low it was. Plus as I transition to a wheelchair/scooter as the disease in my spine progresses, it will be nice to have the bed to store my equipment for getting around. So all-in-all I think I am happier than I'd be with the 4R, especially because my payment is less than my FJ was and way less than a 4R would have been.

Now that you've heard my life story, I'm very glad to be here. I'm going to try to find a white grill surround to replace the chrome one (not much of a blingy guy) so would like some help tracking that part down if anybody knows where to look. Also considering adding some skids for offroading and perhaps turning off the DRL's, but still haven't decided. I just hate pulling into work and lighting up the front office every time I park in the disability spot and having them all watching me walk in (especially if I'm five minutes late). I'd rather be incognito.

I plan to spray the silver Toyota logo white like I did on my FJ. I like the look. And I am hoping to add Clazzio seat covers in a gray or black color to protect from kid damage, and I have some very specific little foam bolsters that are small, but I'm going to try to hide under the seat covers to take pressure off of the areas of my spine that have nerve bundling/bunching/clumping/sticking (arachnoiditis).

I look forward to any help I can get on my little projects and learning all about this thing. I'm still figuring out the blue tooth and it seems cool, and I like how it rides almost exactly like the FJ, but has DAC, and it has the nice RR Diff lock and Atrac I'm used to. Nice truck, nice price, overall I think I ended up in the vehicle I belong in.

Oh... one last thing. I want to add headrest dvd players for the kids I think... or else I'll just need to set them up with an iPad for any trips we take. My 3 year old doesn't speak and gets really cranky when riding in the car. Speech therapy helps, but in the meantime... keeping her occupied is pretty important.

Someday I'll add a rear cap as well when I find one used and for cheap.

Thanks all and it's good to be here and have already read a lot here and learned a lot. I always enjoy owning a vehicle with passionate owners who are willing to share so much information.

 

Welcome from Alabama ! Post us up some pics.

 

Welcome to TW!!!!

 

Welcome from SoCal! You've got quite a story-I spent several years fighting with my back-several surgeries later we've declared a truce. I wish you nothing but the best in your struggle, and hope that this site provides not only valuable information but a welcome diversion.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from Vt

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from the Bluegrass state!

 

Aloha

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome from Utah

Join us on the Utah BS thread.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/south-west/142717-utah-surrounding-areas-bs-thread.html

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW from Sparks, NV

 

Thanks for the kind welcome folks. I'll hop on the Utah BS thread for sure. It's nice to see so many welcoming people.... especially since my original post probably put 95% of you to sleep. I know... you didn't actually read it.

Thanks again and it's good to be here. My Tacoma has 87 miles on it now, and I like it more and more each and every day. Funnily enough... I grew up one city north of Tacoma in Washington and when they were first released I laughed and laughed that they named the truck after that city, because Tacoma is a TOUGH town... those of you from the area will know what I mean. That place can be downright scary. I've been all over the world, and never been frightened for the most part in downtown areas at night... but I can't say the same for Tacoma. To me it just didn't fit the image of a rugged off-roading vehicle, like I picture the Tacoma to be. Tacoma to me felt like a 1960's lowrider Impala kind of town. But if you see a picture of the city with the water, and the skyline and beautiful Mt. Rainier all there then the naming makes sense. It just made me laugh when it first came out that they released a truck and named it after a gang area that smelled awful when I was a kid from the mills and factories (the aroma of Tacoma was a frequent subject).

But I've grown to love the truck and the name just works. The first vehicle I ever got a ride to school in as a kid was a 1979 or so Toyota HiLux in forest green with a generous lift kit, 4x4, and a shell on the back. All of us kids would pile into the back and a lady named Kendra would drive us to school. She had two kids and had to sell it shortly thereafter and bought a Datsun B210. I was so bummed. I LOVED that truck and decided as a 6 year old that I was going to drive a Toyota 4x4 someday. I'm now on my 4th one, and this is my first "real truck" and I'm proud to drive it each day.

 

Welcome! I actually read every word of that lol. You've definitely got a story. My wife has had 2 back surgeries (she's only 30) so I can relate so the difficulties. Hope you enjoy the new ride! I've got a little over 200 miles on mine and like you every mile gets better.

 

WOW! NICE F____ING INTRO! (yes im yelling) fisrt i was gonna get some then some more what ever! welcome to TW! from iowa.

 

I can tell I'm going to enjoy reading your posts Superx2. You're cracking me up.

 

Your truck looks GREAT cbr04. Tell your wife I feel her pain... and at only 30? Yikes. There are positives though... the positive of having it done before going past 30 is there is a much better chance of full recovery. Once you hit 35, the recovery scale slides down like a waterslide or a ski jump. The odds suck.

I wish you both nothing but good luck and for a full recovery and many years of pain free livin' for her.