From Subaru to Toyota

Hello everyone! My name is George and I'm new here (obviously)! I'm currently serving in the U.S. Army active duty, 12 years and counting. I've been married for almost 17 years and have no kids, but we have two dogs which we treat like kids.

I've wanted a Tacoma for about two years now and finally got one mid-February, a 2018 TRD Offroad 4x4 DCSB! Having come from a 2015 Subaru WRX STi Launch Edition, and before that, a 2012 STi, I felt right at home jumping into a Tacoma. I needed a truck but didn't want a Full-Size by today's standards.

The day I picked up my Tacoma.
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I had gone to the dealership a week earlier and scoped out a beautiful Magnetic Grey Metallic Sport that I had wanted. I knew for a while that grey was the color I wanted.. that was until the following week when I went to buy it, and there sat this Blazing Blue Off-Road sitting on the showroom floor. I test drove both and the Off-Road felt more stable; more what I was used to having come from two other cars with a stiff suspension (not to mention my wife has an Audi S3).

Proud moment.
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A year before, I had traded Clara (my '15 STi) for my wife's Audi S3. It was an early anniversary gift to her. She'd wanted an Audi for a long time and I felt it was time for her to get her dream car.. since I've had two of mine at that point. Since then, I'd been driving a 2013 Fiat 500 Sport Turbo around. It was a fun little city car (it was awesome for finding parking in Hawaii), but definitely not a truck, and I came to hate it.

Clara, not long after I bought her.
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I've had the opportunity to take the STi to Road Atlanta in November 2014 and it was a blast for as long as my back held up! But the time has come to ditch the wing for something more practical. I started having a need to haul things that wouldn't fit in my car (like 8 foot planks), and so I decided I needed a truck. I knew right away it would be a Tacoma.

8-foot planks? No problem!​

Unfortunately, I've lost all pictures of my 2012 STi, but the good news is, I know the guy that bought her and she's still in Hawaii. As for the 2015, I kept a small keepsake to remember her by; a clock that my sister-in-law gave me.

Clara clock.​

All that said, I love my new Tacoma and look forward to many years ahead with it. I don't like the Chrome on it so much, so I've covered it with plastidip until I can find a more permanent solution.

Black trim around the grill.


Blackened rear bumper panels.
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If anyone has suggestions on something permanent (short of having it painted professionally), I'm all for hearing it. I like the texture of plastidip and if I can find something similar (like rhino-liner), that would be ideal.

But I digress! Thanks for having me, and I'm looking forward to learning more about Tacomas from all of you!

 

Welcome to TW and thank you for your service! I too made the jump from Subaru to Tacoma, though mine wasn't as cool as yours ... just an Outback.

 

Where were you in Hawaii? I was stationed there a few years with 1-27 Infantry. I had a lot of fun there.

 

I used Duplicolor bed liner on my grille and it is holding up really well! Just used a fine sand paper to sand it down, then wiped it down and did 5 or so coats of the bed liner

 

I worked at Shafter. I avoided Schofield as much as possible.

 

A lot of us OR owners get the Pro Grill. Makes the truck look 100 times better!

 

It's been ordered.. waiting on TRDparts4U to restock it and ship it to me. I need to call them today and find out where I'm at on the waitlist.

 

You've got a good eye for color, those blues are beautiful!
I went from a 2008 Impreza to my 2008 Tacoma a couple years ago; both are fun vehicles, but I love the truck more. Cheers, man!

 

Welcom to TW!

 

If you want to black out the rims these are a great and cheap solution


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/black-wheel-vinyl-to-cover-chrome-trd-off-road.522061/

 

That sti...(insert drooling emoji)

 

Thanks! The wife and I have been picking blue for a while...

 

Thanks man! I miss it sometimes! Here's another shot for the Road [Atlanta]!

Awesome! I'll definitely consider it, but between Plastidip and LED bulbs, my wife is already unsettled. I don't know why, but she has it in her head that I should like a vehicle (as is). I had running boards and a tri-fold tonneau cover installed too, but luckily the dealership didn't charge me because they lied about when the parts arrived and my wife called them on it. So really, I haven't spent THAT much.. women.

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Howdy

 

Oh man, I would have kept the Subaru

 

Welcome!

I used to have a 05 STI...well 2. Had a 12 Evo X too. Taco is great so go over things without worries of scraping stuff. haha.

 

Congrats on your new Tacoma!