Looking to upgrade

I could use some help navigating the main differences between my current 2017 SR5 and possibly a 2019 Sport or a 2019 TRD Off-Road.

I owe around 16K on my current Tacoma but it has retained good value.

The things I am looking for are more safety features like sensors and a much better Bluetooth/hands-free experience. The current GPS/Nav/hands-free package on my 2017 is USELESS.

But I am not sure if the 2019 will be any different with the connectivity/hands-free stuff. I do know that the safety features are for sure there.

Carvana currently has 2 red Tacomas (mine is also red) and I LOVE my little red truck!

Lastly, I plan on buying an RPod or similar RV so a tow package and transmission is important for next year.

Really lastly, I am willing to go anywhere in the country for a new truck but Carvana is so easy and convenient and I believe the prices are still better than dealerships...but I am open to be convinced otherwise.

I bought my current Tacoma from Vroom and even though they went under, I had a good experience with them!

 

There are a lot fewer differences than you might think. In any case, you need to look at the options list of each specific truck. You can think of the off-road and sport trims as simply option packages on top of the SR5.

 

The entune radio is the same from 2016 to 2019. In 2020 it’s upgraded but your phone will still need to be plugged in for CarPlay or android to work. There is Bluetooth connection with the 2020, just for calls and texts. Same with navigation, got to have your phone plugged in. It’s probably still the same in my 2020 as your 2017. I don’t have the tech package so maybe that changes things.

Good luck with your search!

 

Here are the 2017 and 2019 Specs brochures. Should help you out to compare.

2017
https://cdn.dealereprocess.org/cdn/brochures/toyota/2017-tacoma.pdf

2019
https://www.toyotacertified.com/content/dam/tcuv/sections/brochures/en/tacoma/2019_tacoma_ebrochure.pdf

 

I would consider keeping the SR5 and modding it to what you want.

 

With the 2020 and up you can turn it into wireless Android Auto with a $70 converter from Motorola.

 

I can give you my personal experience as I have owned a 2016 SR5 AT and a 2020 OR MT. Besides the obvious differences between the SR5 and OR, ie ATRAC, diff lock, and transmission, my 2020 OR has a power drivers seat, Apple CarPlay, adaptive cruise control, collision prevention, lane cross alert, power rear window window, and fancier seat covers. I don’t have the advanced tech package. My OR is the base option package I think. I don’t have keyless entry, navigation, or the 360 degree camera for example.

 

After going through the financing, it doesn't make sense to go into more debt now and then again next year with my RV.

But I'm not gonna lie, how do I modify the things that I want? I am clueless!

I want a a safe way to use my phone while driving, especially considering I'll be towing next year for about 6 months a year. I cant use any of the so-called "hands free" software, I cant find a good handfree cell holder that doesn't block a vent or that will stick to the dimpled and concave dash.

My friends who have Apple Play make it seem like the safest way to communicate while driving - is that something I can modify?

Lastly, all the safety features that my truck doesn't have - lane departure, adaptive cruise control, Pedestrian Detection, and collision detection to name a few. I am a solo female so safety and dependability is paramount.

thanks!

 

You can replace the head unit with something you might like better, but I have no personal experience. Those safety features though probably require buying a newer truck. If I could, I’d gift you mine because I find them annoying.

 

unfortunately, can’t add the Toyota safety sense stuff. I never have lane departure on and rarely use the adaptive cruise control. My commute to work is about 1.15 hours too.

for a mount, have you seen It does take some drilling and taking things apart but I’ve not heard anything bad about it. I don’t own it though.

 

Adding CarPlay or Android Auto is fairly easy via having a name brand aftermarket radio with those features installed by a pro if it's out of your comfort zone. The other things like adaptive cruise and lane departure are not really so easy to add and if you're OK without them now you'll likely continue to be OK without them. The transmission you have is the same as what a 2019 - 2023 would have so I'd say adding an external transmission cooler to help shed the heat when towing would be sufficient. I'd also suggest an OTT tune and Anderson Engineering intake spacer to aid in your towing and a set of rear air bags to help support the added weight of towing a camper. Maybe look in the regional forum here and see if any locals have suggestions on someone to do the work for you if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

 

so sorry, I feel like an idiot - what is a head unit?

 

The stereo.

 

Your radio and touch display in the middle of your dash. I don’t know why it’s called a “head unit”, but that is a common name for it on this forum.

 

omg thank you! I never would have gotten that on my own lol

 

Head unit is a common upgrade ... many many threads on how and which ones. Shock upgrades is also common, and not too difficult if you get ones with the spring pre-compressed. Leaf spring upgrades also very common. "Toyota Safety" can be easily defeated by blowing snow or blowing dust, but some still swear by it instead of watching out for themselves.

 

The sensors are a nice idea for me on long, multi-day road trips, when I get spacey in the middle of the day. But I really like the crash detection if Im alone in the middle of nowhere which happens a lot lol

 

Get an OEM 86140-04230 head unit and adapter from a 2020+ truck and get the Carplay /AA you desire.

 

THANK YOU!!! This is exactly what I want! Why did I think I had to buy a new truck in order to have this?!

Just thanks, this is really helpful. Now I just need to find folks in my area who can do this this kind of work and I have already seen some folks selling this used on this forum.

 

Never under-estimate the depths TW members will dig to for making what we want, whether a solution makes sense or not.