No offence, but is this whole ‘TRD’ thing stupid?

The trd naming is piontless. It was cool when it was originally relased. Now days it seems like it is just a way to charge five more grand on a truck. I saw the price on 2018's today and i am appauled that the same truck with tss is almost 5 grand more.

 

I like that.
Basically, if your truck is branded "TRD", you should at least be able to take a small jump at 65mph and not risk bending the frame or launching a shock through the mount.

 

It would be nice, wouldn’t it? Something to actually set it apart from the standard production.


At the end of the day I think most of us agree that TRD is an exaggeration when compared across the trims, and would like more from it.

 

This.

 

My wife’s Camry has ABS, traction control, and a transmission cooler. Hill decent and crawl control are not used in racing. The TRD sport has no locker, and the SR5 has a tube radiator.

The list of not applicable items goes on and on. Your points are moot, but great effort. Now back to all that race bred tech in my truck. No offence.

 

Thank you thank you thank you!

 

Omg I’m so tired but I’ve been binge watching fortitude because I’m not working tomorrow. I’ll just leave this here. Back in the day there was a massive difference in the 5 lug and 6 lug Tacoma as far as suspension. The 5 lug had the worst set up underneath... little T. Rex lower control arms and a weak front end suspension system. Unless you scrubbed the frame clean and started new, your only option was the total chaos taquito kit.

3rd gen did sway with the 5 lug, so across ALL trims, the upper control arms, lower control arms, geometry... everything was the same. So what commands the premium cost? Shocks? Fuck that shit. The locker is probably the only point of argument. Anyone can install any brand they want at any time though. So when I called around and found my SR and realized what I could get for 24k sacrificing all the things I didn’t want anyway (moon roof and premium tech [give me hardware tech not a glossier touch screen and speakers] and color matched door handles) this was my face


In a perfect world, there should be a YUUUUGE difference between a Toyota RACING development and an SR. Yet there just isn’t. In my config, I have the same size rear end as the OR. Same suspension set up and geo. Different shock brands, but same set up.

 

Tacoma w/TRD sticker = BAMF truck

Tacoma w/o TRD sticker = was that a lifted 2wd ranger?

 

Since I stirred up this discussion/trouble, and have been thinking on it, I offer this:

I guess my original point, and my only real issue with ‘TRD’, is the inclusion of the word “Racing”. Based on a lot of the comments here, maybe I’m not the only one. Racing is what I don’t see in my truck. Smallish motor, “efficiency” tuned transmission, and a lot of plush creature comforts, as well as off-road technology geared for helping the truck go slow and safe through the rough stuff. Not racing at all. Also, the things that some might say are “race-inspired”, seem to be included on the base models, or not included on other models that are also called “TRD”.

So let’s ditch the “racing” idea. These trucks are really meant to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, the “overland” crowd, and people looking for a good-looking mini truck they can also take camping.

 

I resemble that remark!

In fact, I own THREE 1990s mercedes! MUAH!haa!hah!aha!ha!ha!hahahahahaha aha ha hahhhhhhhh sigh.



(R-L, that's mine, hers and the spare which is now my daughters car)

 

Twas just marketing for Ivan the dirty Ken doll. You've pulled the curtain back for others who had pride. So cruel.

 

TRD might be pointless, but this thread delivers! (again!)

Props @Stocklocker !

 

Excellent point

 

HPD ?


http://hpd.honda.com/street-performance/

 

I understand your question, but stop short of agreeing the TRD designation is silly. Auto manufacturers have used designations for decades to differentiate trim levels and accessory parts, sometimes race or performance inspired.

Obviously, TRD has been used by Toyota for quite some time to distinguish variations in standard and optional features within the Tacoma lineup. To what extent a TRD trim has race or performance inspired features not available on other trims probably boils down to nothing more than slight variations in suspension tunning and/or suspension components.

TRD isn’t necessarily an integral part of the truck, it’s a complimentary aspect to the base form of the truck. I think it would take a Toyota engineer or project manager to detail the differences between a TRD and non-TRD trim considering you’ve been left unsatisfied with any other explanations thus far.

 

Just sharing my perspective to a direct comment made by the OP.

 

I netted a 10hp gain by adding this.

 

Agreed. That would be great!

 

HRC when I worked for them....

 

HRC is associated with Honda powersports (motorcycles, motocross, ATVs). HPD is associated with Honda automobiles.