Looking at buying 2013. What mistakes did you make?

I wouldn't waste 300 bucks on the factory floormats. I paid 130 shipped for some Maxfloormat's (same as Weathertech's). Or you could just get the weathertechs but still cheaper than that option unless you talk them into just throwing them in.

 

getting the tan interior.

last few cars had black/dark gray interior. I work in construction and end up with drywall dust on me no matter how much i try and get it off. it would end up all over the interior.

so this time i said lemme get a light interior. which is excellent for the dust !
you dont really see it. But now i see dirt.

id rather just have dust.

 

i picked up a '13 prerunner. I commute an hour to work and back everyday and dont really consider myself much of an outdoors type of guy, more a city boy. However, I live out in the country so I had a few things that I wanted a truck for. The long bed on mine seemed to outweigh the need for a 4x4 with the shorter bed. Had a really hard time parting with the beefier look of the trd though. Still, having been on TW for a month, Im kind bummed at not getting a 4x4, too many fun looking pictures that I might not be able to partake in.

All in all i still love mine and plan on playing around with it.

 

get a bed mat and take out the floor mats. buy weather techs aftermarket.

 

It all depends on your needs. Here are a couple of quick thoughts:

Pre-Runner - If you don't live in an area with snow, and never plan on going off road.
SR5 - If you plan on extensively modifying the vehicle to be used primarily off road or don't have the coin for a TRD package. This is going to be the base model missing some of the creature comforts and aesthetics.
TRD Sport - Has the hood scoop, color matching grille, door handles, and mirrors. As mentioned before, the mirrors have blinkers too.
TRD Offroad - Same as the TRD Sport except that it's only available in short bed, doesn't have a scoop or the color matched accents, comes with A-Trac (find any post by DavidK to learn more), and the rear locker. Has better suspension and better brakes.

For me, I wanted the short bed, and I knew that adding a color matched grille to the TRD O/R would be easier than adding A-Trac and a Locker to the TRD Sport. I also liked the ride and brakes better on the O/R and had a hard time justifying looks over functionality.

For what it's worth, if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a single thing about my setup.

 

I have had 4 Tacoma's now since my first in 2000. I have tried almost every package combo (OR/SPORT/V6/TOW/4x4/Manual) and my newest Taco was a SR5, V6, Tow with a few accessories. With that being said my only regret on this one was not going with an upgraded stereo. I typically replace the audio right off the bat so I went with the standard radio on this one but as much as I hate to say it, I really like the features and the integration with the truck is amazing. I only wish it was louder because when all windows are down and the tires hum you are left with just a squeak.

On secondary notes, I enjoy the 6 speed 90% of the time and the 4x4 is great. I have never missed the outlet in the bed (used it once) and the sport seats are ok I guess.

Save the money on the packages, buy the options you want aftermarket (billies, wheels, steps) and enjoy the truck!

For those of you hunting for weathertech, I found them (factory) through ebay and they are accepting $157.00 shipped for the double cab set btw.

Good luck on your hunt!

 

Sorry for the noob question but what's the difference between the trd sport and trd offroad brakes?

 

I've never heard of them having different brakes.

 

Apparently the or has a hydroboost type system and the other is vacuum assisted.

 

The O/R has a pump assisted master cylinder as opposed to vacuum booster assisted. The pedal doesn't have that spongey feel to it. The way the brakes feel and how quickly the damn thing stops was one of the reasons I picked the O/R (that and the Locker/A-Trac).

 

X2

 

I would have gotten the Off Road over the Sport if it was available in DC in Canada as it is in US and if the price was comparable. Even though I don't have a need for a locker, maybe one day I will and it feels like more truck that way to me for the money. I would only have to change the chrome grill and maybe rear chrome bumper to make me not miss the Sport which is far simpler than adding a locker.

If I was doing it again, I would be even ok with a base DC, one step below SR5 if the price was substantially lower. Cruise and fog lights seem to be easy mods and with a bit of luck I could score a set of TRD seats down the road. I imagine most people would however start with SR5.

 

Second the stereo comment. Get the JBL!

 

i got the trd sport and love it. the sport is definitely more of an aesthetic thing while the offroad is functional. i personally i just love the look of the sport tacoma and i offroad once every... never, haha so i had absolutely no use for the offroad. like the other guys said: the skewp, the color-matched parts and the turn signals all give it a look the other models don't have but if you plan on off-roading on anything more than a trail, i'd say get the off-road, sometimes i think i should've gotten the offroad and get into some trouble but then i walk outside and see my baby in the driveway and those regrets disappear, haha. either way, good luck with whatever you choose!

 

I'll second that. The Entune is neat, but pretty worthless. The JBL, on the other hand, has been worth every penny.

 

My advice is don't get screwed on the trade-in. Know what you Jeep is worth and don't take anything less. Remember there are plenty of dealerships out there so just walk away if they give you a number that you think is not fair.

Also, take a test drive of all the versions of the truck that you might be interested in. I test drove the Off-road and Sport version in the double cab and access cab. Had my mind set on a double cab long bed at first. But after my experience at the dealership (the sales guy backed a new DCLB taco into a new corolla to take the truck out for a test drive) I bought an access cab. Since I live in a city where space/parking is a premium, the DCLB would be a pain in the ass to park around town.

Good luck!

 

Go with the TRD OffRoad 4x4. The trim package on the Sport looks good but there is only one reason to buy a Tacoma in my book and that is to either blast across the desert or smash your body on rocks. Ive used my locker more than ive used purely 4x4. Besides, all that nice trim is going to be destroyed in 6 months anyways.

 

Personally I would go with the 4X4 TRD Sport, the seats, color matching outside stuff and then add the whatever stuff you may need.

Your are in a tuff situation because not only what you owe is in place here, is what are you getting for the jeep plus whatever downpayment you gave that has to be added to the equation and the the final price of the Taco... I don't know your downpayment or apr but its likely that at this moment you are well upsidedown in the jeep the only good thing about trade in is the tax transfer...

 

I have a '12 SR5 4x4 access cab. Love it, but if I had done my homework I would have gotten the one with the e-locker rear axle. This is not end of the world, just a mod I will do soon. I may even put an ARB locker in both axles....

 

VERY GOOD POINT. If you don't need to haul a family the standard cab is a dream on tight trails and parking lots and can be had for WAY less $$. And I really think they look hot with a minmal lift and nice tires. But if you need more than 2 seats it is out....