SR5 4x2 or TRD OR 4x4?

I have a deposit on a 2021 TRD OR 4x4 for $42. A dealership not far from me has a SR5 4x2 for $37k. The TRD does have a few more bells and whistles but is the upgrade really worth $5k?

I live in Texas with no snow (minus the freak storm we had last winter). It'll be on pavement 98% of the time. The other 2% will be dirt roads to go camping, kayaking, fishing. I have no real desire to go offroading... but maybe one day?

Yet, probably 75% of the Tacomas I see around here are TRD OR or Sport 4x4. Am I missing something? Are they worth the extra $$$? Am I being peer pressured into spending $5k for a TRD sticker and bragging rights?

 

Personally I would look for a SR5 with 4x4. You don't need the diff locker unless you are pretty serious about offroading. The 4x4 on the sr5 will cover 99% of the roads to campgrounds with ease IMO.

Ive got a 21 SR5 4x4 and i absolutely love it. Man these prices are fking bogus rn. Sorry brother. Paid 34 with 4.5k trade in on a highlander with a busted engine

 

Yes. TRD 4x4 for only 5k more your truck will be worth that much more when you trade/sell it.

 

2021 SR5 4x4s are impossible to find right now. I've looked all over my area. When I search Toyota.com's inventory there are none as well.

 

Why pay extra for a bunch of stuff you're not going to use?

 

does the OR have the OEM LED headlights? i'd say 5k is worth for the headlights and 4x4

 

Not sure if this is possible right now given the climate...but when i got mine in last October there were slight supply issues, not nearly as bad as now. But i worked with dealers until I found a good one. I described exactly what i wanted to get (exterior color, interior trim color, even wheels, trim level, etc), and asked them to do a locate. They agreed to do a deal at the same price of the sr5 i test drove on lot, and honor trade in value previously agreed, no deposit required. They said it would take about a week to find one. Ended up taking 2 weeks maybe 3....they were true to their word, only spec they did not get 100% for me was the wheel, i wanted black they got the gray alloy, i was all for it. For those in illinois feel free to pm me for dealer/salesperson. The salesperson literally drove 80 miles one way to pick it up. There are good salespeople out there. Take your time and practice patience and you will find your deal and your ideal truck! You got this! Good luck!

Whole process prolly took around 1.5 months to find a good dealer and work out the locate

 

Stay with the off road better to have it then need it later .

 

Good to keep in mind but I tend to hold on to my trucks for a long time. My previous truck was a Nissan Frontier that I had for 11 years before it started to become not worth i.

Yes, it does actually... and power lock tailgate. Those are two packages I actually like. It has some others too that I don't care much about. The only package on the SR5 is mudflaps.

 

And I pulled off my TRD sticker lol

 

Yes. For a $40k new truck I would think the 4 wheel drive alone could make up that difference when it comes time to sell. Not to mention the beefier differential and other creature comforts.

This is coming from a guy that always asks prospective buyers to consider the SR and SR5 models. But when it comes to 4 wheel drive I'm biased because imo an SR 4x4 has way more utility than an OR 4x2. Which is one reason I own an SR V6 4x4.

Exciting stuff for you OP.. these trucks are great vehicles!

As others mentioned above an SR or SR5 4x4 sounds like it'd easily meet your requirements

 

I'm in the exact same situation as you. Pavement 95% of the time, the other 5% a hard packed dirt/gravel road at worst, and I live in south Florida so no winter to contend with. I went with a TRD Sport 4x2 as it had the options I was looking for. Didn't see the need to pay several thousand more for a 4x4 I would never use. I don't regret my decision.

 

Similar to you I lived in Texas and bought a 2017 TRD OR 4x2 thinking I would never need 4x4. Wasn’t planning on moving. Now we have been in Washington for the last year and traded in on a 2021 TRD OR 4x4 cause we live up a hill that is a bit dicey driving home when there is snow. You never know what the future is gonna be. Shoulda just bought the 4x4 in 2017

 

No brainer

 

Honestly it depends how long you want to keep and how much you want to modify. I like the idea of an SR 4x4 or SR5 4x4 platform for modifying. But I wouldn’t personally get a 4x2.

 

I was about to say go for an SR5 4x4 but then went on Autotrader and found that SR5s 4x4s are going for the same price as the ORs...OR all day long in this current market.

 

Totally agree with you

 

I say save the 4x4 for someone who’ll hopefully use it, and get the 2wd.

 

Sell it to some idiot from up north who needs 4x4 and wants something cheaper that isn't rusted out 10 years from now. Lol

 

Just by saying you might want to go offroading in the future you should get the offroad package. As soon as you start driving your Tacoma you’ll realize how much country it opens up to explore. It’ll cut down on having boring weekends.