2012-Specific Head Unit Install Kits

I will take some pictures this weekend, my interior is torn apart while I wire my roof lights. I just called Scosche and, just like we have all been told, the date has magically moved to the "end of October". I do have a part number

$41 TA2111B Compatible with 2012-15 Toyota Tacoma ISO Double DIN & DIN+Pocket Dash Kit Black

TA2111B, but that has already been posted here.

With this info, I'm starting to think the Metra kit is good enough. When I had the mindset of "a better fitting one is just around the corner" I was ready to rip it out ASAP. Now...I'm over both of these manufactures.

With that said, I will still get the Scosche because I'm confident it has to fit better.

To get into specifics on fit, here is my summary:
Dash kit itself - fit to tacoma dash - Fits fine. The lower clips feel a little mushy, it does not "click" as solid as the ones on top. The contours look ok, nothing to really complain about. Paint looks good, glad to have the color match w/ fleck that is on the HVAC controls.

Radio fitment - I have a Pioneer AVIC-Z130BT and without a trim ring (provided in scosche kits) there is a 1/8 - 1/4" gap around the radio. It varies from top to bottom (can adjust, but you cannot fill the entire space), and with no trim ring, in my opinion it looks like shit.
The radio sits at a steeper angle (5-10 percent higher) than the 5-11 kit. The end result is additional glare and a shitty viewing angle for the driver (again, compared to the 5-11 kit). I have a tint strip at the top of my windshield, in case anyone is wondering. Angling the radio down as much as possible leaves about a 1/4-1/2" gap at the top of the radio with the bottom being snug.

Really, this kit would have been exactly what I expected had it shipped with a trim ring to cover the gap around the head unit. I could probably deal with the viewing angle, but after trying to fill the gaps by cheating the mounting screws, it just added to my frustration.

 

I noticed the same "mush" problem putting a 2011 Scosche kit into my 2012. If my recollection is correct, you need to buy some of the longer yellow clips for the bottom rather than use the short white ones off the stock unit. I believe my stock HU came with 3 yellow ones on top and 3 white ones down below. The white ones are too short to lock into place.

 

I swapped in 2 of the yellows and yes, this made a difference but it still not feel as solid as the 05-11...but then again, I was 3 hours into making this look as good as it could, so at that point I might have been punching it to go in. =)

 

How can this be true as the double din kit for 05 - 11 kit used the factory mounting hardware as does this one too, doesn't it? Or does it have its own mounting brackets?

If it uses the same factory brackets as the 05-11 kits the angle should be the same.

I was just wondering as I have mine installed with the 05-11 kit from Metra and it fits fine ( the only issues would be the contour difference which isn't a show stopper and a very small gap ( 1/16 inch ) at the very bottom of the opening. The gap isn't visible unless you are looking straight down from the top). I may not even change the dash kit as I have the flat black from factory.

 

I put the 11 kit in my 12 and it felt mushy too. I bought the scoshe kit also. I hate the mounting brackets on it. They are flimsy plastic. My pioneer 8400 fits nice in it though the gaps on both sides of the kit are huge. As for the bottom clips, I used the white ones, just had to trim the end of the tab to get them to snap in. Anyways I want to get right kit so it fits better with no gaps on the outside of the kit. I'm a picky somebitch and I take pride in fit and finish. I work for honda of america in the the quality group and I just have standards to live by.

 

And drive a Toyota...awesome!

 

My Metra single-din arrived yesterday. Pretty fast shipping while being free even to Hawaii.

Feeling a little iffy after madcow's review

 

Hey man, like I said...it could have been messing with it for 4 hours in the Florida sun that did it for my patience level, but still not happy with it. As picky as I am about little things, I expected this to "just work" and it doesn't live up the hype we created on TW.

 

I understand man, and greatly appreciate your personal opinion about it. It probably seems Metra wanted to beat Scosche to the punch. Maybe the single-din version will be better? Idk yet and won't find out for myself for another week or so.

 

Need pictures of the kit (and/or install)! Moar pictures!!*%!

 

Saw this as a Facebook ad...

 

That is sweeeeeet! Anyone know what the price tag for that combo will look like?

 

a lot

 

~2k I was asking about it at the audio place I picked my dash kit from. 1500 for the desk 200ish for the dash kit.

 

LOL, $200 for a plastic frame. Alpine must be REALLY eager to recoup its tooling costs (they have maybe two years before the 2015 Tacoma changes the dash layout again).

 

"but its called the perfect fit"...it must be worth $200 right?......

 

IMO You would have to be a real dumbass to pay 200 dollars for a stereo face plate made of plastic.

 

I think it's all relative... people pay a lot more for things that I would personally find a lot less useful. And if you were to attempt to create or develop a face plate yourself, I'm sure you couldn't do it for $200.

That being said, yeah, plastic alone doesn't cost that much... and the other kits will likely be 1/10th the cost. But if the kit from Alpine saves you several hours of cursing, swearing and sweating trying to put in something from another company that doesn't fit right, how much is saving you that time and frustration worth? And then once your other kit is in, and it doesn't look right or fit right, how much is it worth not having to look at ugly gaps and ill-fitting pieces every time you drive your truck?

I'm not saying the Alpine kit is a bargain or that it even makes sense. But I'm not ruling it out if the other companies can't get their act together, either.

 

$200 is nuts, but its more nuts that its only for that alpine deck...