New to TW and buying a 2018 TRD Sport

Is there anything I should be on the look out for when buying a 2018 Tacoma TRD Sport with a manual transmission. I’m smitten with the truck, but should I get a reality check?

 

I have a 2021 sport, I love it and would have gone MT if my wife knew how to drive stick. I sometimes wish I went with the Offroad though.

 

timing cover, it's a topic beat to death. Not every truck will experience that, poorly maintained ones tend to suffer from it.
take a look and if it's leaking. If leaking, try to get it fix under warranty.

another note, test drive see if you like the manual transmission. It is weird if you aren't used to accumulator/dampened clutch.

 

What do you like about the Sport Vs the Off-road? They’re both amazing trucks either way but the Manual only comes in the Sport trim

 

I have an off road manual... all of the TRD's you can get in a manual.

 

18 sport auto here, no problems at all.

 

Going off @kyledamon's photo/trucks listed - he probably commented that you can't get a manual off road because he has an access cab. You can in double cab though.

 

18 sport manual here.. Love this truck! Just finished up the toyotacare maintenance plan but did not have any non-standard maintenance events yet with this truck.

 

I have a manual sport. No problems with how it drives. What are your concerns?

 

had a 16 sport that had some minor issues. Leaking 3rd brake light, water-filled license plate lights, low transmission fluid from the factory, and a squeaky belt at around 45k miles.
I have a 21 sport now and had vibrations on decel from 30-10. It was fixed under the TSB. They replaced my leaf springs, added a steering damper and checked the diff angle
I believe they got the majority of the kinks worked out by the 18 model year. If it has a lift I would see if it has the vibrations in it in 2WD to see if the needle bearing needs replaced with the ECGS one. If its stock shouldn't be an issue.

 

Fuel pump recall and 3rd brake light leak

 

2018 sport manual here. Excellent machine, none of the TW issues. Love driving this thing! Will keep her till wheels fall off.

 

When you're smitten you should ALWAYS get a reality check.

 

Spot on! Haha.

 

I'll second the third brake light leak, mine was in the cab and starting to cause some light mildew before I noticed (2016). I've heard it was fixed mid year 2018 so it may or may not have an issue but it's something to keep an eye on. Automated carwash or a hose around the light makes it pretty obvious or just checking behind the back seats for water streaks in the dust, that's how I first found mine.

MT should save you the headache of the AT shifting nonsense, at least sans tune. If you do purchase, I'd highly recommend checking out the community tunes here. I'm unable to flash until a new tool is released but I hear rave reviews of the hard work members have put in tuning this truck here.

I'm 78,000 miles in so far and no real mechanical issues, just lots of small stuff but mine is a 10/2015 build so I'd bet by 2018 you're getting one with most of the kinks worked out. Enjoy the truck!

 

I have an '18 manual Sport, it's a great truck. Only issue has been squeaky clutch pedal, replaced twice under 2 tsb's, so far so good on this one.

Oh, there was a fuel pump recall, but I didn't notice any issues before it was replaced. Check to see if that was done.

If you have a trusted mechanic, get it checked out before you buy it.

 

If you don't need the locker on the OR, the sport is an awesome truck. Don't really care for the other features on the OR.

 

2019 manual sport 32 k miles , daily driver . Enjoying every ride .
The 4.30 rear is a bonus . Only issue was the squeaky clutch pedal ,
Replaced by tsb . No off roading but i work the taco hard .