Looking to buy a Tacoma. Help?

Hello,

I stumbled upon this great website today while trying to research the difference between a few Tacoma's I am currently considering. I know many of you all are pro's. I am looking for some guidance and perhaps recommendations if possible.

Here are the 3 I am looking at

Local Dealership has this TRD Off Road 6 inch lift, 35 inch tires by DSI Customs 4 x 4- $38,995
[img=http://s23.postimg.org/5seh6l2dz/IMG_3390.jpg]

Out of town dealer had 2 to show me
TRD Pro 4 x 4 - $37,900
[img=http://s23.postimg.org/r3c1aukif/IMG_3835.jpg]

Basic Tacoma with 3 inch lift and tires 4 x 4 - $36k

[img=http://s23.postimg.org/lbbx3paon/IMG_3832.jpg]

And last there is a Texas Edition SR5 4x4 $37,995


Trying to figure out which is the better deal (if any) and which would be the best option to later add upgrades. My original plans were to buy the 1st Tacoma with the 6 inch lift already since its all under warranty but I am unsure of that being the best option.

Look forward to hearing from you all.

Thank You

 

Well that depends on what you are planning on doing with the truck, the different packages that I mostly look for are the e locker or the limited slip rear differential. Depends on terrain. The 6in lift is not so great off road, but handles near stock on road. Due to the nature of the lift, a dropped axle lift.

 

Woo hoo got a response! Thank you for the reply! I will be using this truck for work Monday - Friday and on the weekends towing, little off roading at my ranch and carrying cargo in the back. All the different styles really confuse me. This will be my first Toyota. Eventually in 3 years I plan to pass this truck off to my daughter who will be attending college by then. I've read many reviews on the reliability and durability of the Tacoma which is why I want to buy one. Plus they just look sexy as hell!

 

All of those are waaayyy overpriced. You can buy an unmodified truck and add the extras for a lot less. Generally speaking, dealer lifted trucks use cheap spacer lifts. Then they charge $3k more for the $200 lift.

 

rngr unmodified is great, but which model would you recommend? TRD Sport? TRD Off Road? Base Tacoma? Texas Edition? any other Tacoma build? 2 must haves are double cab and 4 x 4

 

37k isn't over priced for a pro. There was one fire sale this morning for nearly 48k. I still wouldnt buy it.

What year are they op?

 

All are 2015's

2 of the dealers have asked me if I would be willing to wait for the 2016's that suppose to come out in a few weeks, however I have always to preferred to stay away from any new vehicle that has completely been redesigned the first year it comes out. I figure the first year companies will sort out all the bugs...

 

Depends on your needs. The sport has a color matched grill and rear bumper, along with the hood scoop. It is a purely cosmetic package. The off-road offers a locking rear diff. If you plan to wheel hard get this package. SR5 looks like the off-road but does not have the locking rear diff.

 

Great info! Thank you!

 

Me for that price I'd do the pro. That's not bad. I don't want a dealer lifted truck so that would seal the deal for me.

The pro also has locking rear diff.

 

Sport looks way better IMO

 

Thanks for helping me scratch one option off the list.

 

Get a sport, and customize it exactly how you want it and make it your own

 

This one is not a sport but it does have the matching bumpers. It's also 4 x 4 and has the V6 Tow Package and locking rear differential rngr recommended.

Basic Tacoma with 3 inch lift and tires 4 x 4 - $36k

[img=http://s23.postimg.org/lbbx3paon/IMG_3832.jpg]

Thinking I may be able to get the dealer to go lower in the price for this one.

 

It looks really nice, I dont like the chrome bumper because thats my preference, and I really like my sport mirrors with the signals in them, but you can buy those on ebay and switch them

 

I agree. The standard sport will give you the looks and all Tacos are excellent off road. Don't go crazy over the goodies the Off Road package has. They are unnecessary glitz items if you aren't going to use them. Lift the truck only high enough to accommodate slightly larger tires beyound 265-75-16 you might want. Anything more does nothing for ground clearance and negatively affects on road handling and truck safety. Besides, it it's a work truck, how high do you want it for practical loading and unloading ?

 

Really appreciate the advice. Thank you. A good lift would be 3 inch? 4 inch? Learning so much about Tacoma's right now. No wonder so many love them.

 

If its a 4x4, do not go above a 3" lift. If you want more than that i.e. the 6" lift, you must get a "drop bracket" which lowers all of your front suspension/drivetrain while raising the front end basically.

I recommend the sport or offroad edition for the limited slip differential or the locker, respectively.

If you look on the rear axle, there should be a white sticker that says LSD or add LSD fluid, thats how you know its LSD or look at the "C#" combination, another sticker there. You want a C6 or higher.

Buying a stock height truck and adding suspension after is going to be a lot better. I do not recommend the PRO model (bro model) because it is already lifted (1.75" about) and they overcharge for not so great products. I do not recommend buy that "3 inch lifted tacoma you listed" as it is probably lifted shittily using a block spacer, which SUCKS.
A spacer lift looks like below:

And will result in:



Not Good.

 

Now if you don't want to mess with the suspension, the PRO has the best suspension out of all those trucks, without me being able to see them in person to confirm my assumptions.

Theres a ton of information and some small problems that arise with lifting these trucks, so be aware of front diff vibes and rear driveline vibes.

 

Thank you! Thinking I am going to go with a Sport. However there are slim pickings for 2015s...I may end up waiting a month or 2 and buying a 2016 Sport.