Need Advice: My 2016 Tacoma TRD Off Road WILL NOT BE DELIVERED - Do I order the 2017?

Okay ... I'm not really ANGRY, just disappointed. Long story, please bear with me. I'm 71 1/2, and I would like to vent a bit.

Back in April, my Toyota Dealership contacted Toyota Mfg in Texas and ordered the $3035 Premium & Technology Package to be added to the Quicksand Tacoma TRD Off-Road Longbed that was part of their May 20 shipment. They never got a confirmation, but they contacted Toyota two additional times to let them know they had a buyer.

Well, Toyota did receive the request/order ... and put the $2330 Package on the Tacoma instead. Their reasoning was that "the $3035 Package" doesn't sell well in the Southeast. At least, that's what I've been told. That truck is due in the 20th of May. My dealer has checked around the Southeast Hub and there is no Tacoma like I want in any color available.

But it's not MY "dream vehicle" so I am not buying it. I guess I get my $500 back. Hope so.

I called the 1-800 Toyota number today and spoke with a really sweet young lady ... she didn't have access to inventory but suggested I contact the "Cincinnati Hub" or the "Gulf Coast Hub" to try to locate my "dream truck."

No such good fortune. I've got a 'chat' going with Cool Springs Toyota [Cincinnati Hub], so far. I haven't yet tried the Gulf Coast Hub ... or spoken with the Southeast Hub, although my salesman at Cherokee Toyota did more than once.

SO, my question to all you guys and the few ladies who drive Tacomas ... do I keep looking for the 2016 or should I opt for the 2017 and order it exactly as I want? Do I really need the "upgrades" on the 2017? Is there another suggestion, as you read the rest of my story? Is there somewhere else "online" that I can search for "my perfect vehicle?" Have I missed a resource?

I planned to use the truck with an A.R.E. camper shell to camp in until I could find a trailer that I wanted. I had planned to use the truck this summer ....

I need your input so I can fathom my options and choose the best one for me. Realizing that this is the last car I'll ever buy and that I'll keep it until I have to give up driving. I figure around age 90-95.

1- I need 4WD for snow [yes we get some in the North Georgia Mountains and getting out of my gravel road is impossible without 4WD when there is snow on the ground] and Forest Service Roads ... I have no plans to "rock hop" ... just to drive where I might need 4WD to get me to and from some cool places to hike and camp. So, do I REALLY need the new 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro with the Fox Shock Absorbers?

2- A sun/moon roof is a Must Have, as is "back up assist" and "blind spot monitor" ... [some of you may be thinking ... Did I just read she's 71 1/2? Back in my younger and wilder days, I had a car with a sun roof and unless it was snowing or raining, my sun roof was open. In the cold weather, I just turned on the heat full blast. I love looking up and seeing the sky ... or stars ... and occasionally snow flakes. When I had an MG-B in my much much younger and even more wilder days, I'd take the top off, pull up the windows, dress warmly and drive around in the winter.]

3- I plan to buy a Travel Trailer in a few years and travel all over the Continental USA and into some of Canada. I read the Trailer Life review of the Oliver Travel Trailer [now there is a dream trailer if ever there was one] pulled by the Tacoma Off Road ... and although I may never get the Oliver, I decided the TRD-Off-Road was the best choice of Tacomas for me to pull whatever travel trailer I get. [14-23 foot, options wide open on that one, up to 6000+ "Wet Weight" Tow Limit]

4- I get 34 mpg with my Corolla and I realize I'll be cutting that just about in half with the Tacoma. That's something I can live with. Cutting it less than that is not on my agenda, or I'd opt for the Tundra.

5- I have looked at the 4Runner ... meh ... and Highlander ... meh, meh. I want the Tacoma ........

And so I need some input from the people who already own Tacomas ...
A- Keep searching
B- Buy the TRD Sport with a sun/moon roof rather than the TRD Off-Road? Short Wheel Base instead of Long Wheel Base? [As long as it has the other options and if it has the tow capacity and ability. I'm not sure if it's the best choice for a Trailer Towing Vehicle, though.]
C- Order the 2017?
D- ___________________ other suggestions?

Thank you for your input and advice ... and

Coosa

 

2017.

At your age I would get exactly what I want, you earned it.

 

Sounds like you know what you want. Why compromise if you don't have to? If you compromise you'll probably be left regretting it.

Keep searching for the one you want, or a dealer that will order it.

I think deep down you know that's what you want, and you're just looking for affirmation from others. Follow your gut.

If it takes waiting for a 2017, then do that. Just get what you want.

 

Personally I would wait to get what you want if you can hold out.
If you compromise you probably won't be happy in the long run.

Apart from the locker and crawl control there really isn't a huge different between the sport and off road so that might be a solid route to go.

 

If a main function of your truck is towing I would look at a different truck. This truck can tow but I think you'd be happier in a tundra or a dare I say it an f-150 Eco boost. If you're set on buying a Tacoma I would contact this guy. He seems to get sh*t done.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...said-5-month-wait.431260/page-4#post-12433825

 

Get what You want.

If they don't have it go so where that will get it.

 

Can't really offer any advice, but I admire ya for still going at it with a Tacoma

My dad is 60 and refuses to learn email and internet lol

 

Is the E locker a must are you going to use it ? That's alot of money right there . Now that being said is there much difference between the sport and off road asides from the locker ? I love my sport it's a double cab long box I'm glad I didn't get the short box that extra foot is nice to have when you need it . And I live in birtish Columbia and it's all mountains and I see tacomas towing trailers all over the place. Granted the full sizes tow a lot better and they don't struggle as much on the hills. The Tacoma still makes it up them .

 

Honestly, the Tundra will pull that trailer very nicely. The Tacoma will be working and I bet you will be using the warrantee.

I'm Tacoma fan first and Tundra fan second.

Pulling a camper, there will be no mpg saving. Period!

I know, I own both vehicles and do much towing. Pulling 6 k with a Tacoma will not be fun and its just not safe. The same with a Tundra will be a dream.

You sound like you have done much research except real world experience.

Consider driving a tundra and towing a trailer the weight you think it will weigh, then do the same with a Tacoma. The decision will be made for you.

The price difference between the 2 trucks is not a deal killer. I think you might be pleasent ly surprised.

 

I forgot to mention. It will be very difficult to see around a travel trailer with a Tacoma. You will need very wide tow mirrors.

For the Tundra, the towing mirror option is $70...and they don't look too bad.

 

My first question would be what are the differences between the two option packages they are talking about and are the added items in the more expensive package must haves? By waiting until 17 you eliminate a few of the bugs that hopefully are being worked out of the 2016's. As to sport vs OR, for your use, either would be fine as you won't use the locker a whole lot with what you plan to do. With the Sport you get the Hood Scoop which is a love hate thing, either you like it, or not. I have a TRD Pro which has the scoop....I'd be just as happy if it didn't as you get some reflection issues with the scoop and it adds nothing but the "Look" as it isn't functional. You mentioned wheelbase. Unless the long bed you ordered is a double cab, the wheelbases are all pretty much the same...Access Cab Long Bed is the same as DC Short Bed. Which unless you are towing a stupid big trailer the wheelbase is just fine on either, with the DC Long Bed being way long and for me, too much wheel base for normal driving, but that is a personal thing. I haven't really towed much with my Pro, but I have thousands of miles towing with my 1st gen Tundra which is the same dimensions as the newer Taco DCSB & ACLB except it is 3" wider than the Tacomas. Same Height, Length, and Wheelbase almost exactly. I've towed a 19ft. Travel Trailer quite a bit, and a 16ft. flatbed with an FJ40 Land Cruiser on it way to many miles (lots of trips to Moab) and it worked fine. All in all, get what you want. I'm 66 and wanted a Taco Pro...Inferno...with Factory Tow which was a bit of a "Unicorn" as Toyota made very few Pros with factory tow. Took me over 6 months and checking with dealers in about 6 states before I got it, but I did finally get it. Big Mike from Marlin Crawler wanted a 16 DC with the 6 speed (another Unicorn)...after almost a year he did a road trip from California to Texas but got his dream ride. It is worth the wait! The other option is that if you find a vehicle that is close, and you can add the extras you want at a reasonable price from after market sources, go that route. The fancy Entune Audio / Nav that came with my Pro is actually a so so stereo with a crappy nav unit. The nave works fine if you can get it to actually understand what you are telling it, but after doing the 30 minute talk to the system so it knows your voice it still gets it wrong most of the time. MY Samsung S6 with OK Google gets it right 99.9% of the time with no teaching curve...so I have a fancy nav that sits and I get directions from my phone...go figure! Good luck with your quest.....The internet is your friend, do dealer searchs of inventory as far away as you are comfortable going....much easier to get one from stock than to order one!

 

Well, after writing all that ... I did a google search and low and behold, I was looking in the WRONG hub ... Found exactly what I want in Huntsville, Alabama. Sent them an email. Will take up the search again in the morning. I'm headed for a nice nap.

THANK you for your help.

I'm learning as I go.

Coosa

 

The price of the vehicle is not important ... what IS important is gas mileage when not towing, as I understand the Taco and Tundra are about the same when towing 5000 pounds.

If I were going full time RV, I might go Tundra ... but for 30-40 day trips three or four times a year??? I dunno.

I'm still looking ... found the Truck I want in Huntsville ... may head over there from Murfreesboro, TN next week.

And true ... no "real world experience" just hours of online research and reading ...

Thanks again,
Coosa

 

Looks like you have a 1st gen Taco and a current Tundra? I agree, if you can deal with the size of the new Tundras it is a better tow vehicle. On the other hand, if the lady is going to be towing a small camp trailer (3-4k) and does not want a Huge Tundra, she would do just fine. My friend just got a 16 Taco and hauls an 18ft. Lance with 0 issues (he is much happier towing it with his 3rd gen vs when he used to tow it with his 1st gen Taco). The 2nd Gens are quite a bit bigger than the 1st Gen Tacos. Jerry's mileage towing the Lance has been 12-14mpg which is about the same as I get with my 1st Gen Tundra towing a 19ft. Camp Trailer. Not sure what you get towing with your newer Tundra.

 

I think for what you want to do with the truck, I have to agree that The Tundra would be your better bet. Not only that but from what I have read, the Tundras are not selling that well right now and you could probably get a really good deal on the Tundra Pro with a good financing offer.

 

Get what you want. You said this might very well be your last vehicle, so DO NOT SETTLE! Keep looking. There are several posts on here about dealers in other states who will find you the vehicle that you want. Keep trying, be patient. It is well worth the wait

 

Good luck, I hope you find the exact truck you want.

 

I live near a Ford Dealership ... I would not do business with them if they were the last auto dealership on earth. I know the F-150 drives more like an automobile. And I "could" drive forty-five minutes to the next Ford Dealership ... But my heart is really set on the Tacoma ...

I really am off to sleep now.
Coosa

 

So true.

Do the math. How much towing are you going you realusticly going to be doing? More than 50%? Might want the comfort and safety of something bigger. Other wise the Tacoma will be fine.

Sometimes the hunt for the vehicle you want is the best part.

 

The Tundra would certainly be nicer for towing, but they get horrendous gas mileage (I've owned 2 with the 5.7 V8). Sounds like you found what you want. It may not be a whole lot of fun towing 5000lbs with the Tacoma, but like you said, it should be fine if its only a few times a year.