Tacoma Journey

Just sharing some thoughts about my recent Tacoma upgrades.
I bought my first Tacoma in 2009 after getting a job as a residential framer, I needed to be able to haul stuff and I was living in the mountains of Western NC, so I needed something dependable. After a lot of careful research, I found one on Craigslist down in Wilmington, NC. A well taken care of 1998, black with tan fender flares and a bottom stripe, extra cab, 5 speed manual, 4x4 with the manual locking hubs, sunroof, this thing was the tits. Close to 150K on the odometer but it ran beautifully. The fella I got it from took incredible care of truck and I was proud to carry that tradition. I had all kinds of awesome adventures in that truck and it did some impressive work. I used only Genuine Toyota parts for all repair work, ran high-test gas, Synthetic Mobile 1 oil, kept it clean and running strong. I work now as a RN so I don't use a truck like I used to, but I still love taking care of my beautiful, reliable Tacoma. August 2018, a lady tried to beat a stop light and wiped out the front of my truck. A devastating blow that hurt all the more as I had probably driven 6,000 miles after having just completed the timing belt/water pump service, new rear drums and brake master cylinder. Tires had less than 10K on them. Michelins, natch. Everyone in the wreck was okay, and the driver of the other vehicle took full responsibility but insurance totalled out the vehicle and I was going to lose my truck. I'm not ashamed to say that while tears did not spill down my face, they may have, if only for a second, welled in my eyes as I watched my proud vehicle, loved and spoiled, ride away on the back of the Jerr-Dan truck. Eager to replace what I had just lost, and finding myself all of a sudden without transportation, I submitted myself to the stealership and went in for a 2015 TRD Sport, Access Cab, 6-speed manual, 4x4. I will say, I did end up with a decent deal and contrary to what some other's experiences have been, I got out okay. To go from owning a 1998 to a 2015 is to witness incredible changes in vehicle technology, and I was, to my own surprise, a big fan. I bought WeatherTech mats and window visors, new Michelin Defender tires, Wet Okole seat covers, I was really getting in to the beginning, infantile stages of customizing my Taco! My first big project was an aftermarket stereo system; I'd always wanted one and never really done it to my satisfaction. After tons of looking diligently for many weeks, eBay provided and I found color matching factory rear door interior panels with the speaker grilles molded in from a salvage yard in Massachusetts so I could have 4 real door speakers instead of those stupid ceiling speakers, think they came off a 2012 PreRunner. I hadn't seen any other images of 2015 TRD Sport ACs with rear speakers with factory speaker grille interior panels, so mine was going to be a little unique, at least in my own head. It was going to be kick ass and stealth! I put in Memphis VIV 6.5" components in front and coaxials in back. Before I go any further, do not sleep on Memphis speakers; the VIV line of speakers sound absolutely spectacular at 100W per channel, incredible! I also put a JL Audio Stealthbox in the center console, comes loaded from the factory with a 10W3v3, which produced impressive, deep, clean bass with 500Ws. Everything was powered with a Memphis VIV 900.5 amp and a JVC KW-V940BW head unit, which is a great stereo. The stereo sounds amazing, crystal clear, powerful bass, well balanced, clean install. But I realized I was trying to capture the spirit of my old '98 Tacoma and it just didn't translate into the 2015 model. The manual transmission wasn't the same, the cab was different, it just didn't have that same feel as my '98. Obviously, right? Duh, haha. Besides, I needed more room and this new exposure to what technology could be added into a vehicle made me start thinking I needed something different. So I traded in and got a 2016 TRD Sport, Double Cab, Long Bed, 4x4. Automatic. After 20 years of driving stick. 25 year old me was scoffing at now 40 year old me, driving this fancy new truck with all these luxury accessories. But I am loving it... and it feels like what I need in a truck, now. I'm looking forward to customizing this truck and have been using all of the great info and experience to find here on TacomaWorld and YouTube channels to pick out exactly what I want. I'm going for "spaceship" theme, there are some awesome electronic sensory accessories out there! Integrated radar detectors, parking sensors, anytime cameras, super cool! Anyway, if anyone ever comes across a 2015 TRD Sport AC with that stereo system, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for letting an older guy yap for a minute. Thanks for making this a great site!

 

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