Buying new 2015 Tacoma - Help me understand these options

I get your reasons for playing it safe, but I will say, the new motor going in the Tacoma is NOT Toyota's first attempt at gasoline direct injection. That motor has been in Lexus's for almost a decade now, maybe more. The Toyota system is the best DI system made right now.

In a regular (non-Toyota) DI system, fuel never hits the top of the valve, so carbon builds up and clogs in the intake and no amount of "Italian Tuneups" will help it. The Toyota system uses a combination of port and direct injection that has the beneficial side effect of washing the carbon off the top of the valves, resulting in no intake clogging.

I expect that the new Tacoma will be just as reliable as the current gen, with most of its issues intact. I suspect the only change will be better fuel economy.

 

I use a Garmin frequently in my 2015 Taco. I started out mounting it to the windshield and have found it works just fine laying down in the cubby in front of the console. There have been many times when I could not see the radio screen due to glare. I am glad I avoided the factory nav. system as the Garmin is very easy to use. Also, as someone else mentioned, I can set my route up sitting on the couch.