Help me pick my first Tacoma

Hey y'all I'm quite new here. I've been driving cars mainly let alone trucks but I do want to get a tacoma to try something new. I've been looking at the 2023 models. The trims I'm looking at are either the trd sport or the sr5. I'm looking for a smooth ride on the road/city but also a 4x4 option just in case I choose to go on trails. Which trim is the best for that? Is the suspension better on the sport than the sr5. I also want alot of the safety features and sensors if possible so school me on packages as well. Thanks

 

1st gen, 2nd gen, maybe 4th gen
as well as other models and brands

 

At 76, I'm on my 4th Tacoma in my lifetime! Never had to do more than basic maintenance to em. At my age the SR5, auto, Crew Cab, 4x4 meets or exceeds my needs. One GREAT vehicle: "Take care of your equipment and you equipment will take care of you".

 

Welcome to the forum

Test drive as many trims as you can, buy the one you like the best.

The Sport is equipped with a pavement optimized suspension and will have a firmer ride than the SR5.
Some configurations of the Sport & Off Road are available with a manual transmission as well.

 

TRD OR trim actually rides the smoothest on road. The factory Bilsteins on the off road trim are butter over speed bumps, pot holes, ect. Off road trim also has the best features for off-roading. (go figure) Best of both worlds.

 

Another vote for the sr5 unless you're planning some future serious off roading. I'm 70 now, and have had a number of sr5 Toyotas. For winter snowstorms, and muddy spring roads these trucks have been more than fine. I never was one to overbuy just to have more gadgets I'd never use.

 

- Go road test a 4WD Sport and a 4WD SR5 in order to determine which one “rides best” (very subjective)

- Only buy what you can afford

- There is no bad decision with purchasing either model. Both have identical reliability.

- Welcome and good luck on your Tacoma purchasing journey

 

As far as ride, if both have the correct tire pressure, I couldn't tell much difference if any between my sr5, and a buddies trd when he owned it. What it really comes down to that bodacious hood scoop the sport has.

 

I have had both, couldn't tell much difference in ride . I simply like the looks of the SR5 better the wheels are usually black or gun metal grey. With that being said and all things equal I would buy the SR5 for the wheels over the chrome wheels of the sport! Lol, By all means try to drive and look at both and pick the one that suits you best. You can't go wrong either way! Good luck

 

Get a long bed , DCLB 4x4

 

I was told otherwise to stay away from OR if I want a smooth ride on the road but I was also told the sport had a stiff suspension?

 

Sport is a little more stiff, but I like the handling of it at highway speeds

 

SR5 - everything you need nothing you don't. If it is lacking in some area ( ie: suspension etc ) you can customize that to suit your needs.
Big plus: It comes with an actual key.

 

Haven't driven a sport, but I've read a handful of posts stating it rides stiff. The off road trim rides nothing like its name. Very smooth/plush ride.

 

The only trims I have not driven are the Pro and the SR. IMHO the best ride was in the Sport and Limited.

My first Tacoma was a 2004 Prerunner, essentially, a SR5 4x2 on a 4x4 chassis and suspension. Loved the truck traded it in because it needed 5K+ worth of work, including 5 tires, new paint, head unit, adding a few bells and whistles I wanted. The wife convinced me a new Taco with everything I wanted would be a better investment.

So I got the 2nd Taco a 2017 Limited in 2017. Had the features I wanted, mostly and the best ride of the new Tacos I test drove for the least cost. I have done a few mods, but it is still stock for the most part. If/when I replace it it will either be a Sport or Limited. Since I do not off-road I stuck with 4x2 and the truck has done everything I have asked of it. From pulling stumps, and trailers, to plain old hauling stuff and people.

Drive anything you thinking you might like. I mean drive it, put your foot in it, make it go and make it stop like you mean it. Drive it like you stole it, drive it like you will drive it for it's life. Then buy the one that fit YOU.

 

Gotta have the hood skewp to store all your tacos…. Or if your neighbor has a ranger then it’s a must have. Kidding aside my sport rides okay, one the firmer side but not significantly noticeable. How you perceive the ride will ultimately depend on what you were driving before.

 

Ah, they got here early this time. Very helpful. When is that 2023 2nd gen coming out again?

 

I said this on a similar thread:

If you want a ute, then get one with a proper set-up... not one trying to be a non truck...

 

No, but I'm not a tall person.
I was supposed to be tall, good looking and rich but they messed up at the factory.
Take one for a drive see how it works for you.

 

The best bang for buck. Is the tacoma trd off road 4x4 base model. With cloth seats and maybe with the technology package which includes blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
that’s the trim I went for last year and got the 2022 tacoma trd off road 4x4.

however if you want the leather seat, sunroof and multi terrain monitor/camera and every bells and whistles. I would recommend you to get the trd pro since the trd off road premium is only 2k less than trd pro and getting trd pro makes much more sense.

the ride quality I have heard the trd off road has way smoother ride than trd sport one. Not sure about trd pro.
Also don’t get the trd sport one. It’s a truck there is nothing sporty about it. (SR5 makes more sense than trd sport one)

so bottom line: trd off road base if you want all the 4x4 gears without the things you don’t really need like leather seat and sunroof.
Or trd pro if you want all the bells and whistles. But you are probably going to pay around 10k more.
Or just go with the SR5 tacoma they are great trucks and the most popular trim and they are not any less than the trd versions.

In my opinion the nut lowest version to go is the trd sport version. Tacoma is a solid old school body on frame truck with leaf springs and drum breaks. This thing doesn’t meant to handle well and it’s not a sporty sedan either.

I will also say if you don’t care about power consider the 4cylander taco. That engine is so old school and most likely will outlast the v6 tacos.