Need help with TRD Off Road or Sport

Hello Forum members,
I will hopefully be a proud owner of either an 07 or an 08 tacoma in the next few days. The issue is that they both differ on the package that they offer. Both are decently priced according to options, and mileage.

The first one has a TRD sport option and other has the TRD off road. *Both 4*4 ofcourse)

Now a little about my situation

I used to have an 04 access cab tacoma (no 4*4) that I loved to death. I had to sell is before I moved from Colorado to VIrginia unfortunately. Now, I just gotta get myself back into the 2nd gen taco (simply love the reliability).

The vehicle will be used purely for pleasure, meaning no snow-plowing, trailers, bikes, camping and rarely any off-roading. BUT, I do wanna have the option available to me that whenever I do go on the dirt with friends, I should be confident . I will otherwise, mostly use it to commute about 2 hours one way to a different state, each week to meet with friends.

A friend suggested that I should go with the TRD sport, as they have stiffer suspension tuned for on-road capabilities (along with few other options). In my case, the TRD OFF-ROAD is slightly cheaper than the SPORT between these 2 vehicles that I've seen. Your inputs are highly appreciated
Also, I won't be modding anything and it will be left in stock form.

P.S please don't suggest me to go buy a 4runner instead because of my needs. I LOVE tacomas and that's all I will buy

 

Do you want a locker? Yes=offroad

if not and you like the hood scoop=sport.

 

If you're not going to do major technical off-roading, get the sport. It has gotten me anywhere I wanted to go without issue. Both are extremely capable truck, with the locker on the Off Rpad only getting a slight advantage in more advanced situations that can be avoided.

I personally have no need for a locker, so I went for the sport. Hands down, the color matched accents of the sport make it look better.

I had a 2011 TRD Off-Road because everyone here made it sound like that was the one to get...I NEEDED THAT LOCKER...Then once I got it, I never needed to use it. Sure, I used it a few times, but it was just to say that I used it...a little more skinny peddle would have gotten me through 99.9% of what I tried to do...needless to say, when I wanted the new front end design and made the trade...I went with the Sport.

 

I say go with the Sport cause I like more if its options then the Off-Road edition and even if you do go off roading the Sport can pretty much go anywhere.

 

I got the off road and I love it but hey the off road stuff is extra and nice to have on just in case

 

Sport FTW I have had one of each 07 SR5; 10OR; 11SP; 13SP...hands down Sport wins...

 

I love my sport.

 

Thanks alot for the input guys (Except for Gelo760 as he didn't even read my complete post..............Just kidding )

Well, it seems liek Sports it is then for me. Its just that if I have 2 similar trucks with similar mileage and price and year (one Sport, the other Off-Road) which one is worth it, even if I don't end up using all the options OFF-ROAD has to offer. Is the ride comfort the same on long drives and normal freeway driving between the two?

 

Test drive both & see what you like best.
As the other guys pointed out the differences in susp. setups & aesthetics, your seat time will determine what you like as it did for me in the test rides.
I ended up choosing the off road mainly because the skewp was distracting for me being I'm 5'4".
Post up pics of the one you buy and congrats on getting back into a Tacoma!

 

Yeah, I didn't like that skewp either. If I had one complaint against my '13 it would be the lack of visibility out the windshield as compared with my '04. The skewp made it even worse. I can't see ever using the locker, I never got stuck in my '04 SR5 4x4, but whatever.

 

Sorry for the stupid question, but what's a skewp?

I'm not sure if Ill be able to drive both as they are quite some distance from me. I know its difficult to gauge my comfort level and usage from here, but I really do appreciate all the inputs.
So basically , a truck with 4*4 will still need to use locking differential?

 

Skewp = Hood scoop

A locking diff is a factory add on that only comes on the Off-road edition.

 

I've had both 4x4 Off road and sport. I never got into any situation where 4x4 did not get me out and not have to engage the locker though it was nice to have just in case I needed it. Besides, if you're gonna lift and big tires might as well re-gear and get ARB locker while you're at it.

 

I don't think I'll be lifting or re-gearing
Thanks for the input guys. From my situation, it doesn't seem like I will really need the diff lock then.

What about suspension/ride comfort, between sport and off-road. Any major difference (while driving on pavement or dirt)? Road noise?

 

From what I've read on here, the Sport and SR5 have different front springs than the Off-Road, which are progressive. I believe people who have driven both say the Sport/SR5 drive a little smoother on the road. I know that I have put 118,000 miles on my '09 Sport in about 3.5 years (so in other words...a lot of highway like you'll be doing), and the ride is actually pretty good, especially for a truck.

 

I would vote for Sport as I am biased toward the hood scoop! I wish my Taco had a hood scoop and my SR5 has been through some adventures without problems.

 

I'll be the outcast. SR5

 

Awesome tips.

Thanks alot guys.

 

Anybody who has done their own front suspension lift before would see and know that the sport version has progressive springs.. at least this was the case with my 2012. If you want the best of both worlds OP and are willing to put a little extra money into it, get a sport and put some aftermarket ARB lockers on it.

 

Thanks for the tip 12TRDTacoma. Just need to see 'when' I will get it