Help, another newbie goin in debt for the Tacoma

Greetings, Newbie here, hoping to tap into some of your experienced insight.

I'm about to drop the all mighty large dollar on a new Tacoma and I am torn between the Off Road vs Sport.

I've read quite a bit about the major differences between the OR and Sport and one of my biggest concerns is the locking rear differential.

99.9% of my driving will not be off road, it will be a daily driver but if I'm dropping such a large amount of cash why not go all out and get the off road? Is the locking rear differential a bad idea for mostly HWY and City driving? I can see doing some more serious off roading in the future, distant future, like when it's paid off and I have a different dialy driver, but then I'm wondering about off roading an automatic transmission?

Your responses are much appreciated.
Thanks,
Noob

 

Welcome and these guys should be able to aleviate any concerns one way or another

 

I went with the OR, I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.


Almost forgot, welcome to TW

 

Since you're referring to the 09's.....

Honestly?

Get the Sport because it looks sooooo much better than the offroad with the color keyed bumpers & hood scoop.

If you think you'll want to do any offroading in the later future, you can always have an ARB installed.

 

welcome! i am in the same boat, at first i only wanted a SR5 pkg double cab, now i am all for the OR pkg for the rear locker. i do not off road or wheel but i do go off road into muddy situations so it will be nice to have the OR pkg. a lot of guys i know say the rear locker is a waste of money. especially since i go off road maybe 3 months of the year and normally there are dirt roads, i run into the occasional mud pit but...also if its snowing and i'm out in the fields the rear locker might come in handy... i will be doing some hauling and maybe some towing so who knows, i might need that extra push...and the deals i'm getting now? its pretty worth it.

 

I disagree. I like the chrome better and dislike the fake hood scoop. Now the door handles are nice but the offroad has better springs if you're not going to upgrade.

Its also much cheaper to change those things than to get a locker put on.

 

With all the troubles people have had lately, I wouldn't buy a manual, get the automatic. As for wheeling with it, I'd rather have an auto to wheel with anyday over a stick.

You're making the right decision by getting an off road package, just don't let the stealership rip ya. I paid 27k for mine, a sticker of almost 33k.

 

You may think you're not going to off road much but after you do, you'll want to a lot more. I'd go with the off road. I have the off road and have painted mirrors,bumper and grill.

 

you could make it your DD and tow a designated trail rig with it. Thats what I did. Got the lift on, then got an old pos jeep that i wheel the shit out of. Live and learn.

 

I bought the OR about 4 weeks ago. I didnt really think there was much difference ... other than the hood.
I am happy with it.. IT is 2wd model.
Is there any difference in daily driving with the Sport? I drive my OR as a daily driver and will almost never go Really Off Road in it.
It does feel like the transmission is in control all the time, which may hurt the gas mileage some, but I assumed the sport model was the same????

Anyway, I have OR and like mine just fine as a daily driver!

 

the locking diff will not do you any good if you are just doing regular driving, I would suggest the sport for the looks, as most will end up putting 5100's on it and new tires anyways, that only leaves you with debating on if you want the ac outlet in the box as well I believe the offroad has a transmission cooler.

 

Get the OR its much better deal. Any off road can be easily changed to sports looks and that too for cheap.... but as some said its very expensive to put a rear diff lock. I would definately recomend the OR over a sport its all about performance off the road not looks. I bought my truck saying that i wont take it off road the next very day i was at the beach testing the beast in the thick sand.... once you have it i can bet you .... YOU WILL GO OFF ROADING its too tempting...

 

Better to not need it and have it, than to need it and not have it! I have a 09 TRD Off Road and trust me! I LOVE IT! You can keep the sport...

 

If you are not going to offroad, get the Sport.

 

The towing package give you the transmission cooler, not the OR package.

 

get the off road and towing package(oil cooler, bigger alternator, tranny cooler) if you can. everytime I go on the dirt I kick myself for not getting the OR and a locker so for around $1700 I can get an ARB air locker and on board air.
but it sounds like you want the off road... get it then. lol

 

If i'm gonna be driving my truck 99.9% as a DD, i would rather have the LSD than the locker but, i don't really wheel my truck much. I tend to avoid situations where I'd get stuck.

 

1) dont get a TRD
2) put money you didnt spend on TRD package in bank
3) use said money to buy trail rig down the road.

A 4x4 without the locker is still a good rig for the light stuff, which is what it seems like you'll be doing at most.

Then, once you decide you want to get into the more advanced stuff, buy a trail rig. This way you dont risk breaking stuff on your DD, plus you wont care if it gets scratched to hell and back.


just my

 

Winner^. I got the trd sport just i think its good looking and had the LSD and bed outlet.

 

so does this mean I dont have a tranny cooler/bigger alternator if I dont have the hitch on the back? cause the dealership was going to put it on when i bought the truck but instead they took 300$ off cause it didnt have it. Is there anyway I can check to c if I have either the tranny cooler or upgraded alternator?