Package option changes from 2016

When I purchased my 2016 sr5 I was a dumb 25 year old who thought he knew everything And paid 32k for it with barely any options when a trd off road with the premium package was just sitting there for 35k. Now I look back and wish I had opted for some more luxury features offered in that trd or. So I came back to check out prices to maybe trade up for a new one and wow has Toyota really screwed up these options packages. I cannot believe the only way to get heated seats or dual climate control in the OR is to Now pay 43k msrp basically. Has covid and the shortage upped the msrp
Prices or has this trend been in place before this all. I love oem options but wow that’s insane for a few convenance features. Basically 6k for all features or non....

 

Inflation and toyota safety since increased all prices in 2018.

 

The additional safety features with the premium package , are they useful and reliable? So many disclaimers on their site for these expensive options almost makes you wonder how unsafe it might be to even rely on them.

also is it these premium safety features/sonar what are upping the price or the standard ones increasing all Tacoma prices

 

They arent as integrated on the Toyota trucks as they still don't have electric power steering, but they can prevent an accident yes.

Things like pedestrians popping out from parked cars, or a car cutting off and slamming brakes.

It can also assist with driver fatigue or driver error caused by distress like a heart attack.

It's far from perfect but I can assure you it works, just its more effective on Toyotas passenger cars right now.

 

I have a

Curious if your opinion of if it’s upgrading from a 2016 sr5 tacoma to a 2020 Tacoma trd or without the premium package. Might need to look more into the standard safety features to see if their worth it.

 

Power seats, apple car play, and the safety suite are huge changes.

I personally couldn't own a car without carplay now that I have it.

The TRD offroad feels way more tricked out than an SR5, especially a 20 vs a 16. It's worth test driving at least.

 

Does the trd off road 2020 have remote start if you don’t get with the premium package? Not really thinking 43k is worth it for me so leaning more towards the non premium version.

 

Base model TRD OR does not have remote start

 

so only premium package does?

 

I think that is what it is in, it’s the remote connect option. Looks like it is in the premium/premium audio packages.

 

I had a 2016 SR5 and a 2017 TRD OR DCSB JBL prem and tech packaged truck, which I paid $36k, with a $41k MSRP, not sure a 16 prem OR would be $35k without some significant wheeling and dealing but anywho. 2017 was similar to 2016 package wise but they added the power rear slider which upped the price another $1700 or so if I can recall. 2018 brought the seperation of tech and premium packages with the addition of TSS and leather which upped the price for these options and all trucks again. 2020 brought about additional packages such as an LED package and a dual climate / heated seat package without the leather and moonroof (forget the exact name) and an additional tech package that included the 360 cameras. Regardless a fully optioned TRD now goes for about $4-5k more than in 2016, but you now have a ton more including power rear slider, leather, TSS, homelink, apple car play, power seat, 360 camera, LED headlights/fogs, remote start, remote connect with wifi, etc. Not to mention inflation and continued demand. COVID craziness going on right now is just forcing people to either pay MSRP or take smaller discounts from MSRP, prior to this you could still get in the 10-13% off MSRP as back in 2016, price has just gone up but so has content.

 

This is very helpful and I appreciate the feedback.

 

I went from a 2016 to a 2018. Same trim level options, Sport to Sport. The 2018 did have a significant jump in price, about 4k more if I recall. However, there was a lot to show for it. The TSS suite including blind spot, rear parking sensors, collision detect, lane departure alarm, and adaptive cruise control. And also my favorite, the power rear window like TacoBuffet mentioned.

Do they change the way I drive? No, and they shouldn't. They aren't perfect, and just because the safety net is there to hopefully catch an occasional mistake, that doesn't mean you should relax your habits. Actually, I take that back. The collision detect actually improved my driving habits. My Houston-leadfoot was still an issue when I first got that car and because of that I started my ownership with a hard case of buyer's remorse. It was a rare day when the dash alarm wouldn't scream at me to start braking at least once. I was really annoyed by the car nannies nagging me with every commute. I started quietly researching on here about how to permanently disable the TSS, but a teeny tiny voice arose in the back of my mind, which led to a life changing revelation. What if the alarms were going off because I drive like an asshole? Eventually, with some deep introspection and difficult habit breaking (braking) the nannies don't nag me anymore. And I'm a better driver because of it.

Life lessons aside, I do think the TSS is worth the extra cost. And the rear window is 100% worth it. I use that daily to vent the car after sitting in a hot parking lot.

 

Those are good points. Did you upgrade to the premium package or a technology package?

 

Same package from the 2016 to the 2018, I think. Technology yes, premium no. On the 18 it came with the nicer-but-still-not-JBL radio, the parking stuff, the fancy mirrors with blind spot warning lights, and the auto dimming headlights (that I never use).

 

Here is my window sticker so you can see what options come with what packages. I do not have the factory LED headlights. The dealer did however put LED Headlight Bulbs in that work well.