New Tacoma - Help me Configure

Hello all,

I am getting ready to buy a new Tacoma at the beginning of the year. I wanted some input from you all

I currently have a base 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 6-sepped. This vehical will be kept and made into a 3rd vehical/dog taxi. I will be using the Tacoma as a daily driver and weekend camp vehical. I work as a Project Manager for a construction company. My daily commute is 50 miles combined. I routinely visit construction sites as part of my duties. On weekends I am usually at my cabin fishing, hunting, or just relaxing. I do pull trailers and boats regulary, but nothing much over 2000 lbs.

Here begins my delimas:

1) Base Model vs SR5 vs TRD - I really like the way the base model looks with the black grill and fender flares, I also believe the vehical will age better without the paint on the bumpers and fender flares. Having said that I do want intermitent wipers, compass/temp read out and cruise control. Crusie control is avaliable with an Convience Package. I believe I can get intermittent wipers and a compass/temp read out in the after market.

Would love to have a TRD Off Road, but the 4k add doesn't seam rational.

I would really like to hear from someone who has 'optioned up' a base model.

2) Quad Cab or Access Cab - I am keeping a 4 door jeep so I don't know if a quad cab is needed. Dose the Access Cab gain any significant MPG's?

3) 4 or 6 Cylinder - I have owned a 1995 hilux during college and addored the 22re. But with the tacomas size, I believe I will be going 6 cylinder.

4) Auto or Manual - If i were to be convinced to go 4 cylinder, I would get a manual. With a 6 cylinder it will be the auto.

5) 4x4 - yes, its a must have

6)Mods - other than the possible additions to a base model listed above, about the only mod will be slightly more agressive tires (BFG AT's).

7) Options - I want the trailer tow package and the carpete delete. The carpet delete seem to be rare.

8) Ordering - Last on my list is Ordering a Tacoma. How long is the typical wait time? And, are special vehicals even avaliable...ie SR5 without apperance package?

Thanks for any replys.

 

Now that's a list. Have been to the Toyota website ? You can build your truck there.

 

Sr5, bumper... just check my build

 

oh yeah...I have built many on the website. I just can't decide.

 

Not sure about the paint on the bumpers with the TRD Sport package, since I haven't owned mine long enough, but I will say that the rear chrome bumper on my 2005 SR5 Tacoma did start to rust a bit. (Of course I live in the mid-Atlantic, where everything rusts).

Here's the only problem I see... If you choose to go base model with specific upgrade packages, you'll probably be hard pressed to find the exact truck you're looking for. Not sure what the ordering process is (or the wait time associated with it), but I'd imagine you will have to wait a considerable amount of time. Sure the TRD package(s) may not be worth the full value they are quoted on the sticker, but they do come with a lot of great options, and it's not like you can't negotiate the price of the vehicle at time of sale to help recoup some of that cost. Granted, if you're trying to work with a strict fixed budget, this may not be the way to go...but if you're trying to get into a new truck sooner rather than later and you definitely want the options, the TRD package is certainly the easier way to go, vs. searching high and low for a base model with all the options you specifically want.

 

Thanks...that is type of feed back I am wanting.

I do have the luxury of driving a vehical that I am going to keep. So a wait is not going to kill me (yet). I do know myself well enough that the minute I decide/order...I am going to want it NOW.

From what I have read about ordering a Toyota, is that it is almost nonexistant. It seems there is not a line between the plant and the dealer, just a search of existing inventory between dealers. The stuff i have read was about 5 years old.

 

My family has been driving Toyotas as long as I can remember...and my dad was always the type who wouldn't buy a car unless it was exactly what he wanted. He'd do all his research and drive around to dealerships, order catalogs from the factory, etc... (this was all before the Internet existed). Usually, from start to finish, it would take him a 6 months to year to finally actually buy a car. I mention this because I've witnessed how long it can take if your needs are very specific, although this was some time ago.

Now, I believe there is a process that exists to actually order a vehicle to your specifications*, but I have to imagine it would take a while to get to you...a long while...and most dealers probably don't want to go anywhere near that process either. What most dealers will do is exactly as you mention, try to find the closest fit they can from other dealers.

Personally I'm the type that would rather make a short list of "must haves", and then find the best fit out of what's available...because I lack that kind of patience!

*I don't know for sure, just speculating

EDIT: A little extra research: Apparently you can't actually order a specific car from Toyota. You can go to www.toyota.com and go through the "build your Toyota" thing, but in the end all you're really doing is searching through available inventory it would seem, as opposed to requesting a specific build from the factory. May be a decent place to start though...

 

I ordered my truck. Received it 8 weeks later.

No you cannot pick and choose options. You can pick and choose packages and add on options. I.e you can get a TRD with tow package, but you cannot get a 4 cyl with tow package even though it is an "option.". Further clarified, you cannot get a locker without a TRD OR.

I got an access can for the 6ft bed and because I didn't need 4 doors. Fuel economy difference is mom existent because the curb weight difference is nil.

Toyota doesn't "special order.". They will build trucks with packages in a predetermined plan which is set up at the beginning of the model year. They will build X amount of TRD off roads, X amount of those with manual Trans, and X am mount in the color you want. If you can get a dealer to claim that truck, already planned to be built, and put it in their allocation, you have a winner.

I bought a Manual Trans, V6, TRD OR, with rubber flooring and tow package in an access cab. Hard to find, arguably hardest to find set up. It took me 6 months to find a dealer who would put the allotment claim in on a truck being made, plus the aforementioned 8 weeks wait. You want what you want and won't budge? Prepare to wait.

Wrote this on an iPhone, sorry for fuck ups.

Good luck, youll need it since 2013 model is 1 month away.

 

I wanted a specific set up and was able to get it by going a regional truck fleet manager at a large dealership. The access cab in a 6speed manual with Offroad tow pack was not available in the eastern half of the country. They were able to pull a blank unit on the production schedule and make the changes needed to create the truck I wanted to a T. And I got it in less than 6 weeks. I had several dealers try to sell me trucks that were "close" for "good deals" but I've waited a long time to buy this truck and was not going to compromise as I plan to have this truck for a while. Well worth the wait!

 

Same situation as me. Nice.

 

I plan on ordering a 2013 Tacoma in January with the hope that it will be on my dealer lot when I return from a deployment. Ordering a vehicle while deployed to another country, should be exciting. Anyway, I have been working with my local dealer and they say the expected wait from the time I place the order until it is on their lot will be 6 - 8 weeks. I'm going to the dealer today to drive a 2012 TRD Off Road & TRD Sport to see which I like better and work out a rough price for the truck. After looking at several trucks in person, I'm pretty sure I'll be ready to fill out my order form. The dealer told me no deposit is required, but I'm going to verify that since I don't want anyone to touch my ordered truck, much less drive it on a test drive! Hope this helps. I started my process with hours of research on ordering a car since this will be the first time I don't just pick something off the lot.