New to the Taco world...

As the title says, I'm brand new to the Tacoma world. I joined this thread to research the Tacoma to see if it fits my needs and so far it does.

Let me give you the back story...
I own a Dodge minivan that I've been looking to trade for something newer. I've been loosely looking at the usual suspects another minivan and Ford and Chevy pickups. My wife took a job at a local Toyota dealership so I walked the lots just to see what was available, they also have a Dodge dealership right next door. After cruising the Dodge lot I started on the Toyota lot and that's when I saw a truck that caught my eye in a very big way. I saw a Tundra in Quicksand and I started think that was the truck. After a few minutes of looking this thing over I decided it was way too big for my needs and thought I remembered Toyota making a smaller "mid-size" truck and sure enough, in the next line was the Tacomas. After a few minutes of looking at them nothing stood out to me, that is until I spotted "The Truck".

"The Truck" is a Quicksand, Double Cab, Long bed, TRD 4X4 Offroad Tacoma.
After a while of looking at this truck I could see the potential of making it my own with a balance of practicality and fun. I get home and start looking at what options are available and what the aftermarket support was like, I was pleasantly surprised. That's when I found this site. It didn't take me long to decide to join so I could see everything.

A few of days later, I went back to the dealership to look at the Taco that was in the showroom and that's when I found the only thing that was the deal breaker (at least for now). Yes the price is a bit much but more importantly, I had a difficult time getting into the driver's seat. The seat sits too high for me and I can't bend down enough for my head to clear the door frame. I can get in but it's a bit awkward. At this point I told my wife I was going to wait for the 2020 model to come out because, rumor has it, they are giving the Taco a power seat along with a few other things that I may like.

So at this point I do not own a Tacoma but I hope that will change in the next year

Thanks for reading...
D

 

Welcome to The Forum!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to the forum sir. Whooooaaaaa…..a family member at the dealer. I'd be curious what kind of deal that could be received from that.

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome! See if you can find one with a running board or some type of a step to see if that will solve your ingress/egress dilemma.

Typically at most dealerships the discount you can get as an employee is less that the discount a "PITA customer who wants to negotiate the hell out of a deal" can get. Many, many years ago when I worked selling Toyotas I told my parents that I would be happy to help them get a better deal at another dealer that I did not work at since the dealership I worked at would give a decent "discount", but not the lowest deal the dealership would accept. The dealership actually put pressure on me to sell at a "reasonable" price. In fact, the sales manager at the time said, "Selling to family is the best way to put some money in your pocket since they will accept whatever you tell them is a good deal." Of course my parents purchased off from me, even though they could have gotten a better deal elsewhere. The biggest benefit was the fact that the entire transaction was low stress and no pressure to my parents. YMMV

 

I know there is going to be a discount but I'm not sure what that is going to be yet. I'll find out what it is when we get to that point, kinda keeps it a surprise lol

 

I did try one on for size and it did help but it was still awkward lol. Thanks for the idea

 

I didn't even know that this web site existed until yesterday but check out the web site below. Tons of different styles to choose from. One of the different styles might be better suited to your specific needs and/or aesthetics. I would hate to think a solvable problem would prevent you from getting into a vehicle you really like.

https://runningboardwarehouse.com/

 

Looks like quite a few options. Thanks
As far as I know, the 2020's should be out sometime this month. If I still have the same problem with them, I'll work start looking at the 19's again and see what I can do.

 

Welcome!

 

I guess it's time for an update...
I did look at the 2020's and I had the same problem as I did with the other Tacos. So the search begins... Tan Taco with a big box. Had to be TRD Off Road w/premium tech package.
During this time I had changed my mind and decided that Quicksand was a dime a dozen in my area and I wanted to be a little different and started looking for Voodoo Blue because I thought that looked great and I hadn't seen any in my area. I got a call from my wife saying they just took in a Taco I might like so I drove to the dealership to check it out. It wasn't Voodoo but Blazing Blue Pearl and I loved the color. Too bad it had a short box and was a TRD Sport. Hard pass so the search continues... I'm really starting to realize that what I'm looking for is a unicorn and that I may be waiting for a while. Fast forward to 4-17-21, After looking at several trucks and even going to another dealership after finding the closest thing to my unicorn to date (I tried to buy that truck but that dealer would not budge on the price) my wife called me in again to look at another truck. This truck had a great price and the mileage was within reason. TRD Off Road, no tech package and it had a short box. It hadn't gone thru the Toyota Certified inspection yet but I could see that it needed new tires and a couple of other things. I told my wife that if I was going to buy it I needed the payments no higher than $XXX.XX and I wanted a specific tires and a few other things fixed. After a couple of weeks I get the call, My payments would be less than what I was asking for, they put the tires I wanted on and they fixed some of the things I wanted so on 4-28-21 I took delivery of my new to me Taco! Then as I was walking out to the truck to give it a once over, I find that someone backed it into a light pole. Not bad damage but the rear bumper needed repairing. At this point I told them that I wanted body color bumper covers and not the chrome. They worked up what the extra would cost minus the damage that they were covering and for $500 I will have my wish. No problem as I would expect to have to pay something for the change as only the passenger side of the bumper was damaged so I would have to pay for the replacement cap and, paint and labor for the driver side. All in all I am happy with the purchase and I have big plans for it. I've already done a few things (see my sig) but more is on the way.
Sadly, after only 2 days of owning the truck, my wife tested positive for covid so we both were placed in quarantine. During my first week is when I did the upgrades but then I started feeling sick and I ended up testing positive myself so I have not been able to enjoy the truck as of yet. I've only been able to put 35 miles on it... Now that my quarantine is over and I'm barely starting to feel better, maybe I can start to enjoy my new truck...
The first 2 pictures are of the truck when I first looked at it, the last 2 are after I did the mods...

 

Welcome!

 

Now this is a story worth repeating. Glad you got your wish - definitely not a unicorn - and the truck is a Taco. You're well and so is the family. That comes first.

35 miles at last post? No sweat. They'll add up in time. Best of all, go make some memories!