"Limited" edition for Tacomas?

I think I might prefer AWD to 4WD in a couple inches of snow. The under steer in snow is a bit of a PITB. But after 2 or 3 inches I would want to go into 4WD.

 

Seems the Tacoma Limited has a lot of different variants depending on where you are.

In Canada, the 2014 Tacoma Limited is only $410 more than the TRD Sport Premium package. For that you lose the hoodscoop and bilsteins, "gain" a bunch of chrome, 18" wheels (some say they are chrome plated alloy, others say plastic covers... I'm not sure which it is), Softex seats, and the Premium JBL Entune Audio system with sub-woofer. Everything else is the same as the TRD Sport.

The whole discussion about Softex vs. Leather is rather interesting. Many car companies are going to Softex over leather in their high end vehicles. It has a lot of properties that make it better than leather in various ways. It is interesting that the TRD Sport Premium has leather, but the Limited has Softex. I think Toyota considers it an upgrade. Judging from the condition of my buddy's 2011 Tacoma TRD Sport + Leather upholstery, it can't possibly be a downgrade. His 3 year old leather looks like it has twice the mileage of my 2011 TRD Sport cloth seats.

I actually have a 2014 Tacoma Limited on order right now and the only reason I went with the Limited over the TRD Sport Premium is the JBL Audio system. Sadly, in Canada, Toyota options are not a la carte so you can't add the subwoofer to the TRD Sport Premium. I am having them put a 3" lift on it (Icons) and 16" black rims with BFG AT KO 33's. The only reason for the wheel/tire upgrade is for looks since I don't think this Tacoma will ever leave the asphalt unlike the 2011 that I am trading in.

 

I own a 2013 Tacoma 4WD LTD DC and I would have voted on this poll, but there was no option to state how I really feel about my truck.
First of all, to call it a "Limited" is a very accurate title. For the extra money that they charge, you would think that the truck would be loaded to the hilt, but that is not so. Basically you get the navigation unit with JBL premium sound, seat heaters, leather, chrome bumper, mirror convers, grill surround, fog light trim and rear bumper, chrome "Clad" wheels and I think that is about it. Most other items (int. wipers, tow package, etc.) come with other packages that are less expensive.
What it does NOT come with is more important to me. Compared to a Tundra, the Tacoma is lacking a LOT of the extras included with the LTD package. On the Tacoma LTD there is no:
Information on the cluster other than TRIP and ODO.
Rear power window.
Power folding And/OR heated mirrors.
Power Sun/Moon roof.
Hood scoop.
Back Up sensors.
Dual zone climate control.
BU camera display in HU (not RV mirror).
Transmission temp gauge.
And a bunch of other things. I was also amazed to find that on the Taco there was:
No tachometer in the instrument cluster. (OOPS, meant to say Oil Pressure Gauge).
No rear disc brakes.
The truck bet is made of synthetic material (plastic-like) not metal.
No rear defrost.
VERY limited accessories (no rear sway bar, etc.).
No power antenna.
Limited lighting (no foot well lights, glove box light, etc.).
And other things that you would expect to find in a truck for the price. I was also told when I purchased the truck that it included the TRD Off Road suspension. Guess I should have looked for myself, it does not.
I know a lot of the things that I listed are "little" things, but as a loyal Toyota customer I have just come to expect more from them. It seems as though they are relying on their reputation to sell vehicles rather than listen to what the consumer wants. if they were serious about providing what the end user/driver would like all they have to do is monitor the forums and keep an eye on mods that owners are performing. Taco sales are high enough that they seem to lack concern though. I sold my '08 Tundra to buy the '13 Taco and boy I miss a LOT of stuff about that Tundra. Just my two cents (actual value much less).
Ken

 

Solid points Ken....hope you still like the truck....if not, you can always get a 2014 Redesigned and fully loaded Tundra!

 

Thanks AR. I can't help it, as much as I bitch about what is missing from the Taco, I still love it! BUT, I have already done a TON of mods to it. All the chrome is gone, replaced by painted to match grill, rear bumper and mirror covers. Door handles were replaced with black, but I have a set of white ones and am still toying with the idea of changing them yet again. I have already done too many mods to list, but the thing I miss the most from the Tundra (besides the extra room and horsepower) is the power rear window. That should be standard on all extra cab trucks. I will post some before/after pics, but keep putting it off for that "one more mod/item".
Thanks again,
Ken

 

I'm not sure how a power sliding rear windo is more usable....i guess it would be nice in a double cab because the driver can't reach the window to open it. But i never use my sliding window(just use it to hang air fresheners from).

 

I have a dog that lives in the back seat when I run errands, etc. I am constantly opening the window for him when I park for any length of time. I have a double cab so it is a PITA. Plus, it is nice to open with one of the front windows, it creates a really nice breeze.
Ken

 

Well that is a damn good point...there is a guy on here that makes a kit that you can put on the rear window to make it power. I think you should really look into it. If it'd make you really love your truck, i'd absolutely do it.

 

That is funny that you should mention that. It is BenWA that used to sell a kit, and tried to refine it and sell a better version but apparently lacked funding to mass produce so he had to give it up. A few of us were/are trying to do it on our own with BenWAs guidance, but I have put it on hold for a while. CR Laurence makes a power rear window, but it is like $500 or more and then you have to pay for installation.
Ken

 

Ken, are you sure you have a Tacoma? "no tachometer in the instrument cluster" ???

And the composite bed is one of the coolest things about the Tacoma. Hell of a lot tougher than metal (try to put a dent in it) and never needs spray lined.

 

OOPS, you are right, I have a Mazda. Damn. Just kidding...
I did goof though, I meant to write "Oil Pressure Gauge", not Tachometer. The Tacos had oil pressure gauges until the late '90s/early'00s, then they stopped. That is one of my gripes with Toyota, instead of ADDING more cool functions, seems like they are dropping functionality and relying on their reputation like I mentioned.
I don't care for the bed. If I wanted a bed liner, I would buy a bed liner and I rarely carry anything near heavy enough to dent the bed interior. I prefer to have Linex in the bed, that way I don't have to listen to cargo sliding back and forth every time I take a corner.

 

Sorry, but the chrome plastic wheel covers scream cheap to me. I'm really surprised they would do a lame ass thing like that. I wouldn't buy one

 

That was another thing that caught me by surprise. I thought they were chrome wheels not chrome "clad" and didn't find out until a week later when a buddy of mine who is now a salesman at the dealership told me. It is hard to tell unless you look closely. They were really good looking wheels, probably the best style I have seen in chrome, but I was going for a white/black look on my truck. Again, this is what I meant by Toyota cutting corners recently.
Ken

 

I have the 2013 TRD Sport/Trail pkg with heated Leather seats and I love it. No chrome at all....anywhere. But, I get the inside comforts of the Limited.

 

THAT is what I should have done. When I went into the dealership I was honestly just looking, I had not even sold my Tundra yet. Then I told the manager what I wanted he asked me if I would be interested in a "demo vehicle". Turns out it was a "new" Tacoma LTD that was being driven by a female pro surfer named Lakey Peterson. The truck had 10k on it and was in new condition, so I got them to sell it with the Certified Warranty and got a good deal on it so I can't complain too much.
My truck now looks like a Sport on the outside and a LTD on the inside.
Ken

 

nice...toyota of sb ??

 

I'm content with my SR5 4x4...only thing better in my mind would be a TRD off road. And that is what i hope to get in a few years.

You guys enjoy your heated do-dads

 

Yup.

 

I did this too. Best of both worlds!

(That, and I hate chrome...)

 

Yes, I'm not sure why, but chrome does absolutely nothing for me. I waited 5 months after ordering my 2013 because I held out for exactly the options I wanted (including the leather seats). I could have had a 2013 with lots of chrome the same day I walked into the dealer last January. No thanks, I said.....I'll wait. My bowhunting buddy has an F150 with lots of chrome. He loves it. So, there ya go! Each to his own.