Hi, new here and was looking for tips for buying my first truck

Hi all. I test drove a 2013 Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 TRD v6 with off road package, and I really liked it. I didnt spend enough time trying all the bells and whistles and need to test drive it again (plus the dealership guy knew absolutely nothing about the car/couldnt even tell me the MPG). I just had a couple of quick questions.

1) I tried the electronic diff lock but the little red light just went on and off when I pushed the knob. It didnt seem to engage. I tried it in drive, park etc. Like I said, the dealership guy was braindead. How does one engage the diffs?
Answered: Diffs only work in 4WD low

2) The LCD dash wasnt working. I dont know why....... Dealership guy didnt know how to turn it on. Does it have navigation or is that just with the Limited package on the TRD (not the off road package)?
Answered: Entune is the added on package for 2013's that get navigation and upgraded speakers/sub.

3) The acceleration felt a bit sluggish. The only new car we've had in a decade is a 2012 Sienna v6 and it feels smooth and the acceleration is very powerful. In the Tacoma it felt like I needed to put the pedal to the floor to get the same kind of pull, where in the Sienna I can just tap it. Thoughts?
Answered: Thats just the way it is. Its a truck after all

4) Do these vehicles come out with a factory hitch installed? This one had no hitch, just a hitch receiver.
Answered: No hitch, just receiver

5) The drivers window didnt have that automatic open and close option (you know, when you push the knob down to open the window and hold it for a second, you can release it and the window opens). Is this a setting or just how it is.
Answered: TRD-OR has the driver Auto up window as a standard feature.

6) I didnt like the backup camera. In our Sienna its got its own little LCD. Ive read about hacks to get it running through the main LCD. Is this difficult or something Toyota is working on fixing?
Answered: There is a harness kit on ebay in the ballpark of ~$60-70 you can buy as a quick fix to have the rear cam show up on the Headunit screen instead of the mirror. Toyota's fix: 2014 models now have the backup cam in the headunit screen, go figure.

7) Does the LCD display MPG, current MPG, temp, total mileage, timer etc, like it does in our Sienna? That info is really useful on long trips so I can see my current fuel burn at any given speed. I like to micro manage our fuel on long trips. Gives me something to do and saves $$$.
Answered: LCD does not display MPG. Big bummer.

8) What the biggest surprise that you had after you bought the car that you were unaware of (good and bad).

9) Oh and are their major differences in the off road package vs the SR5? Ones I can see is electronic diff (can you lock the diffs manually at the back wheels without the electric diff if one gets the SR5 package?), the 115V/400W deck powerpoint (which would be a nice to have but not a deal breaker) and the A-TRAC (dont know what this is). I plan on towing a boat next year (~6000lbs), and will probably do some basic beach driving, plus a better off road vehicle would help with the snow storms (but again not a deal breaker). Im sort of on the fence between the off road package and the SR5. What do I get for the extra $1800?
Answered: SR5 model has NO DIFF LOCK. This is a deal breaker. The TRD has a better suspension which is a plus but not a prerequisite. TRD it is.

10) When the gas gets low, does it continuous beep or just beep once? Our Sienna beeps once and if you dont hear it and dont notice it again, you're screwed. But the LCD show miles till empty tank so thats how we keep an eye on gas. Does the Tacoma beep every 5 minutes or something?
Answered: only light goes on. No beeps. Damn.

11) Are there any after market options for an LCD to put in navigation? If the limited is the only one with navigation, it seems like a rip off to pay ~$3K just for that feature.
Answered: There are, but they are expensive, ~$1500. Rather use another Garmin unit for ~$80.

12) What do you guys do with your 11' surf rods haha! Just put them on the back with top pointing to the rear? Put a flag on it or what?

13) Anyone ever run a fridge off the back outlet and know about the battery capacity/if this is feasible on long camping trips?
Answered: batteries wont support a fridge when stopped for long periods

Thanks all.

 

If your wanting good gas mileage...dont buy a Tacoma.Welcome to TW

 

That doesn't sound like the kind of dealership to buy from . Find another one. You want good mileage ? Get a 4 Banger Regular Cab. Tacoma is a great truck ! Been driving them for 18 years.


greenpants.....mike

 

no lcd for mpg or anything, you cant just push diff lock

 

Damn, this sucks Re: the LCD. Why wouldnt they have that feature? Very useful when making long trips to see how many miles you have left on your tank etc. This is a real bummer. TY for info on diff lock.

 

the diff lock only works in 4wlo, as far as the LCD stuff, I don't know. I don't think they all come with a hitch, if they did then there would be no reason to walk you over to the nice shiny display of dealer accessories....
My tacoma does not have a trip computer that averages mileage and what not. I just got a blue tooth dongle ( ha, dongle) and plugged it into the OBD2 port and use an app on my phone. there are other gadgets that are hard wired and better if you want to spend the money.
As for the acceleration, that might be a different feel cause of the need for lower range power out of the tacoma engine as opposed to the more car like engine in the Van. Also everything is New. engines get better as they break in, it could also be the oil used. I found that the 0-20 oil makes the engine feel much different than 10-20. But mine is a 2.7.

 

No get yourself a double cab short bed V6 pretty quick AND spacious

 

get a scanguage2, gives you alot of good information.

 

This would be my truck of choice, the Prerunner, but with the V6 option so I can tow a boat. BUT, I have kids, so I need a 4 seater.

 

This is the one I'm looking at now

 

i get a light for low fuel no beeps

 

there are aftermarket head units that have nav, cheaper than 3k

 

Damn, K thanks. The wife has run out of gas twice haha.

 

By head units you mean the LCD that I can pop out and replace with an aftermarket one? Thats what I was hoping to accomplish. Where does one buy these new LCDs? I've been trying to find one for my Sienna forever.

 

Tacoma's are junk!!!!! Just kidding! Hope you like and enjoy your future Tacoma as much as we all do!

There is no Limited model for the Taco's. The is the base model, SR5, and TRD. Cabs come in reg., Access cab and double cab. The double cab comes with either a 5ft or 6ft bed also known as a short and long bed.

The difference between the SR5 and the TRD Offroad is that the TRD OR has an upgraded and lifted suspension and comes with a rear locker where the SR5 does not. SR5's are good if you are going to put a new suspension in and get an aftermarket rear locker (ARB makes great lockers). The TRD OR is great if you don't plan on upgrading the suspension or getting an aftermarket locker.

 

#5 my SR5 driver window goes down when I push it all the way down and let go. You have to hold it all the way to get it up though.

#10 my gas light just comes on. Never heard it beep before.

FYI - There is a limited model.

 

2) You can get Facoty Navi on any 2012-2013 model with the JBL stereo. If the one you test drove has the JBL logo on the top right of the radio it has Navi. However, if the LCD was off, you should be able to push the volume knob in to turn on the radio and tap the LCD to get it on. There is an option in the menus to turn off the LCD.

5) The drivers window should have the auto down feature, but it doesn't have auto up.

6) I've read somewhere that the 2014 model Tacoma's have the camera displayed on the LCD in the dash.

8) So far no big suprises that I've had with the truck

10) I've never gotten so low that I got beeps in the truck. I've only had the light come on.

11) There are plenty of aftermarket options for in dash Navi. I like the Pioneer AVIC series (~$1000). For $3000, you can build a really nice stereo with Navi in the truck that will sound much better than anything factory. I have the factory JBL/Navi in my truck, and I wish that I had just gotten the base radio, and spent the $2000 for the JBL stereo on an aftermarket solution.

 

Are you talking about the trip display in the dash or a touch navigation/ radio screen? cause there are new radio head units that have touch screen and navigation, but as far as gauge cluster mods, I don't know of any.

 

I guess I can see why you are miffed by the lack of a MPG readout on the LCD, but here is some food for thought... I drove a few weeks ago a very expensive late model Volvo Cross Country wagon for a roadtrip with a MPG readout, and it was extremely inaccurate. To the point where I stopped using it. I would click it to see what I had left, then if I went up a hill in 30 seconds and clicked it again it would be dozens of miles off from where it was just 30 seconds ago. I will remain happy with my fuel gauge needle.

And as said, DO NOT buy a Tacoma and expect it to be fuel efficient. It's not.

 

You need the car to beep at you to realize your low on gas...?