I think I want an OR

I had a 2017 Sport and upgraded to a 2017 OR. About the same price and OR is more capable off road. I had my 2000 Taco for 15 years before the beach rust took it. My dad had a 1987 4Runner(300k Miles when sold,still on the road) and got me hooked on the Toyota line. A great vehicle if you choose. The auto tranny takes a while to become accustomed to, miss my manual but bad knees chose for me..
The 18’s are standard with the braking, but the 17’s are not..

 

yep they just did their Rubicon testing.

 

Don't ignore this advice already given: TEST DRIVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TRIMS BEFORE PURCHASING! DO NOT LET A SALESMAN TALK YOU INTO ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT 100% ON!

Things to take into account:

Automatic Transmission BLOWS. Terribly designed. Tons of info all over this site. Some don't mind it, some have traded their Tacoma back in because of it. There is an $800 do it yourself tune out there (OVTune) that completely brings it back to life.

If you plan on slapping bigger tires on it, it will get even more sluggish (Depending on how much bigger). Fix for this is either live with it or regearing the axles (close to $2,000+labor).

With full tow package you can tow up to about 6,500lbs but she will NOT be happy.

Some have claimed upwards of 20mpg average. Here in South Florida, even when my truck was stock and I drove conservatively, I averaged about 17-18mpg TOPS.
(Now with 275/70/17 tires, averaging closer to 14-15mpg) Costs me about $50 to fill up from empty and when stock will get you about 350-370 miles per tank.

It's an amazing truck, I love mine, but I'm one of those that can deal with its flaws. Just about any of these "flaws" have a fix, but those fixes are not cheap.

 

I think beyond the TSB update..the trans and engine is NOT bad...I'm coming from a V8 Tundra saying this…and my girl has a 300HP T6 Turbo Volvo S6 and it’s FAST yet a different animal and a European designed engine. It's about the torque, a Truck should always have more torque than HP and most Japanese offerings are the opposite...My GLI & GTI with the 201HP/201 torque felt FAST & FUN..my Subaru Legacy GT felt NO FUN by comparison yet was faster 0-60.

 

I'm going to go out in a limb and say, if you like the frs keep it. Don't make vehicle choices based on someone else. If she wants a vehicle to feel safe in she can drive the Jeep.
I'm speaking from experience here and giving up a car your like to appease someone WILL cause problems . You just told her she gets what she wants and you're desires are not important to her.
Keep the frs and have her drive when it's time to go places together.
I'm trying to figure out how you have a $40k budget and that will save you $100 a month over the frs.
Im going to be in the market for an frs in the next 6 months or so as a toy to go with my truck. So that's my ultimate suggestion. Keep the frs and if your have to get a taller vehicle, get the cheapest thing you can find because a real lumbering truck or SUV will not fill the void left by giving up a little sports car .

 

@Badgerfang,

Since you’re coming from an fr-s, you don’t need a pickup. Having said that, over a period of about 6-7 months I traded a 2007 FJ Cruiser and a 2015 Macan S, for a 2018 DCSB OR and a 2015 Cayman GTS. The Macan had become my daily driver as I phased the FJ out to pasture and Home Depot duty. Now, the taco is my daily driver and if I didn’t have the Cayman, I think I’d be missing my Macan sorely. Actually, truth be told, I do miss it. A LOT. But I couldn’t justify having two P cars to the wife’s one car. She’s in a Bimmer X4M40i and loves it. That might be a good crossover for you.

If you’re in the FR-S because you really enjoy the performance, then you might be in trouble. But if you’re be kind of guy that can make whatever you have work, then the taco is a great blank slate.... in the OR trim. Soooo much you can do with it.... other than go fast.

I really do like my taco, and am slowly doing small mods to keep it interesting and fun. I’ll do a 1-2” lift in 2-3 years when I swap tires. For now, I’m doing small things with little cost.

You can’t go wrong with a taco if you enjoy it. If it’s the price you pay to have something utilitarian, then at least you win on the balance sheet if not the fun factor. But it doesn’t sound like you NEED something utilitarian if you were getting by with an FSR.

Perhaps one of the euro crossovers would suit you. My Macan S was a damn hoot. But at the $40k price point you’re definitely into ‘out of warranty’ area buying used. Unless you’re willing to go to the base model, which does surprisingly well for around town driving. A $1000 Cobb tune on it will surprise you. I’m sure the prior generation SQ5 is getting pretty affordable. If I recall correctly, it was supercharged rather than turbo. If Audi would just bite the bullet and put a real engine back in the A4 Avant (S4), thats where I’d tell you to go. But they won’t. I have this fetish for hot wagons.

If you’re committed to the taco, embrace it. Drive them all. Decide which fits your lifestyle best, and buy it. Then just ‘own that shit’ and enjoy it until you get tired of it. Lord knows there’s better than average odds it’ll last longer than you want to keep it.

 

And there you have it in a nutshell. I am driving the fr-s as a hand me down from the wife. It was much better than the 2001 Ford escape I was driving, so I've had fun driving it, but it's not my vehicle of choice.(never was)

 

So I should continue to pay $100 extra a month for a car that I'm the only one who can sit in, that makes no sense to me at all.

 

How are you going to be saving $100 a month, does that car have a high monthly payment?

 

NOPE......

 

So much hate towards me and tacomas, Damn

 

Not at all, I was a CAR guy all my life...moved out to the woods and picked up a used Tundra and fell in love with trucks, and the Toyota kin. I have drove Chevy's, GMC's, Fords, Ram's and nothing drove as nice as Toyota. Welcome.... and like I mentioned before, you can work deals in the East Coast anyways to the tune of $5k-$6K OFF with $1K Rebate out the door. It's a good time to buy.

 

Hang in there ‘future taco dude’. This forum is the internet distilled.... you’re gonna see and hear it all.

Lots of good guys here. You just have to sift through the dross. Lots of fanboys too. Sift through that love.

I had a pre Tacoma extended cab 4 Cyl 4x4. 22RE. That engine was freaking bullet proof. 200k plus of abuse. And I do mean abuse. Three years of weekend trailering of 2k pounds at ‘as fast as it would go’ on he highway. Honey badger don’t care. I’m expecting this 3.5L to do the same, though in my more mature years I’ll take better care of it.

I have no regrets driving my taco daily vs my Macan.... I will say the Macan was more fun on road as it would embarrass most cars/sedans than weren’t performance versions. The taco isn’t a fast car. But it’s comfortable, looks nice, is functional and utilitarian, and is one of those ‘smart buys’ if you keep it for 4+ years.

 

Didnt say that.

Making 100/mo lower payment isnt the same as saving 100/mo. when the term is longer.

Buy and spend what you want of course.

 

Why?

 

@Clearwater Bill of course it's not in the long run, but my point being I can get a new tacoma with a monthly payment less than for my used frs, which whilst fun is not what I need.

But I do appreciate the thinking out loud, that is why I asked this here, just surprised by the pushback

 

OP, Everyone’s different, and the Tacoma can fill different needs for different people. Don’t take anyone’s opinion to heart. It’s about what makes you happy. It’s no one else’s problem what you pay a month, what your wife’s comfortable with, etc..
People have mentioned you might miss the sports car feel. Only you will know about that. I personally sold my Nissan 370Z, and traded my Tacoma SR utility in, to afford my Pro. I am happier than ever. It’s more comfortable, keeps my CDL license out of jeopardy, and it’s way more versatile. Never looked back, here!

 

How much do you want in trade in on the FRS?

 

Kbb says 16k so 14-15k (will go for as much as I can though)

 

Drive one. If you're gaga, get it. If not, roll on. I was gaga.