2013 Tacoma Double Cab Advice

I am shopping for a new Tacoma double cab and would like some advice from those who have something similar.

Our family has grown to four in the last 4 years and my extended cab does not work for two child seats in the back. My current taco is a standard, and I love it for snowy conditions over the snoqualmie pass, which can get nasty.

I have not had a chance to test drive a standard, as most trucks here are automatic. How does it compare to older standards.

Would you recommend V6? I don't necessarily want a TRD as I don't do any serious off roading.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I think you would be happy with the SR5 package and I would def get the 6 cylinder. You could feel good knowing they have a good safety rating too with your young ones and space should be fine with two child seats and there's hook ups for them as well.
Probably not much help but that's my 2cents. Good luck finding one!

 

Just did the same thing! Two car seats in the back of my STi was ok, but nothing else would fit. Even our Acadia was getting too small. It's amazing how much room 4 bikes take up!

2013 double cab long box trd sport is awesome!

 

Im a die hard manual transmission guy and bought my Tacoma with an automatic after test driving both just FYI. The auto is very good... Do a search on automatic vs. manual.

 

Love my automatic V6.

 

Like another poster said, i am a die-hard stick guy, I just did't like the Tacoma's clutch, didn't feel good or right, bought the auto, works fine for me. Good luck.

 

I can't speak to the manual tranny and the 4, but after driving a loaded DCLB up to the pass 5-6 times skiing this spring, I wouldn't go less than the v6 with the auto. It has good power especially carrying 200-300 extra pounds of gear and needing to pass a semi going up to Snoqualmie or Stevens.

 

Before finding TW, I was sold on the 6-speed. My truck was already ordered. After reading TW, I was ready to call and cancel to change it to auto.

Then I drove my friend's 6-speed and I can't figure out why there is so much hate for the manual. It drove beautifully, shifted smoothly and honestly feels just like my '89. Every Toyota manual I've ever driven has had a clutch that would never be described as "crisp" and that seems to be one of the biggest complaints. The other big complaint is a supposedly short 1st gear, which I thought was actually perfect. Also some seem to want the ability to shift to first while traveling 50mph, which is not really possible in my '89 either. A majority of the complaints seem to compare it to a car transmission, which it is not. That said, it is a sports car transmission compared to another friend's Ranger. Then again, I think a Peterbuilt has less throw than that thing.

TLDR: The "new" 6-speed doesn't feel much different than my '89 and I thought it was great. Test drive one yourself, make up your own mind and filter what you read on here.


Edit: As far a power goes, I can only compare to my 22re. Yeah, night and day, but not the comparison OP was looking for.

Edit2: Backseat of the double cab fits 3 car seats just fine.

 

I also have a family of four. ( have also owned a standard cab and extra cab toyotas ) The back seat is big enough for the growing boys. One who happened to grow to a 240 pound linebacker in high school. He still can fit back there.
I have a SR5 and live in buffalo, so we tend to deal with snow.
I would highly recomend the V6, nothing replaces the extra power.
The best upgrade was the Goodyear Duratrac's tires. These trucks are great already, but the stock tires suck. The Duratracs are an all terrain tire that is also snow rated. Havent got stuck yet.
My previous trucks were manual, but this one is automatic. The automatic works great, but love it even more because it allowed me to have a remote starter. Love that on fridgit cold mornings.
<- Check out my photos if for more details. Im sure you will be very happy with the double cab!

 

I have two growing boys (now 11 and 13) and traded in my access cab 2007 (4 cyl) for a double cab sr5 (long bed) last summer. No looking back. Sometimes I miss the shifting but when it comes to a total truck for my family there is nothing else like it. I live in the White Mountains of NH and work at a ski mountain. Most days I try to get to work in 2WD just for the fun of it. I make it 7-10 times and use the 4wd only because I don't want to wreck a new truck fooling around. I have been to Snoqualimie and while the pass is quite a challenge you will be totally set in a DBcab SR5 for years to come.

 

One other thing. I picked up a set of stock steel rims and run a set of Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo for the winter season. I got 65K out of a set I'm retiring this summer. That leaves the stock Dunlops for the summer driving (should last 5-6 years).

 

I have appreciated everyone's advice about the double cab. I will definitely be going with the V6, and LB. I will have to test drive a standard and see how it compares to automatic. I think automatic makes sense, especially here in the city with lots of hills and dealing with traffic. However, as I've been driving a stick for the past 15 years, I don't want to rule them out either.

I am very happy to have gotten so much advice, I really appreciate it, especially coming from folks who know and love these trucks.

Thanks again.

 

I've always considered (right or wrong) sticks are for sports cars, auto's are for trucks!

When I traded in my 2011 STi for my Toco, a standard truck wasn't even a consideration...

Certainly there are benefits to standard trucks... But to each their own!

Good luck!

 

You can't get a DCLB standard

 

even if it did, you wouldn't want one with 2 young ones in the back.. I need a hand free if I ever need to reach back there rather than stopping the truck.. lol..

 

Get the sport I know it is more expensive but the seats are worth it alone, I know I have the off road but the sport has the same seats as the off road package and I love the support they give you driving

 

My first 3 vehicles were manuals. Unless I by a sports car I will never go back. Manuals are fun to drive but autos have many pluses. I have dislocated left ankle and broke left foot and would not have been able to drive a manual. Autos are much better in snow and mud. My 2013 was fine out the box. I had to have the 2009 reflashed. The downdhifts were driving me crazy.