Opinion: Buy now or wait for ‘20s

WTF kind of post is this. Title asks a question then you tell us what you decide.

 

I guess you made your mind up already...
I personally think that the additions to the 2020 are very nice and useful. I would have happily paid an extra $500 for power seats, CarPlay, and LEDs.

I always think it's funny when people say that they don't need certain options because they will install/come up with them themselves. (I think it's funny primarily because I used to think that way too.)

IMO, certain things are better off made and designed by the manufacturer. Plus, you get to use the warranty.

 

I decided to get a 19 and very happy with it. The one thing I would have wanted from the 2020 is CarPlay, but honestly so far the Siri Eyes Free feature on this 19 has been pretty good, and don't feel like I really need the CarPlay now. Would still be nice, but wasn't worth it for me.

One thing I wonder about is all the fuss over power seats? Is that just for people with 2 drivers? I can count on one hand the number of times I adjusted the seating position in my old Tacoma. I don't get all the hype around that feature, but sure I'm missing something...

 

People just want extra adjustability to get into a better position to drive.

 

I'm fairly sure you can't get keyless entry or keyless start with a manual - this may have changed for 2020.

 

Im sure the manual will still have a key, seems it works in conjunction with the clutch cancel switch

 

I'm definitely waiting for the 2020,but that's because I own a 2013 Nissan Frontier. If that doesn't pan out for whatever reason,19's will for sure be marked down some. It's a win-win. For me,the add ons are worth it to wait..but then again...I do drive a base model Frontier...with no goodies..everything sounds amazing to me lmao

 

Yes. I asked how my fellow community members feel but I also addressed how and why I made the decision I did. Some people may find other people’s opinions or input valuable when making the decision to purchase something as expensive as a new vehicle.

 

There’s a part of my that definitely agrees with you when you say it’s better off to have something come as stock rather than adding on yourself. My thought is if I’m going to add something afterwards I’ll make sure that it’s done at a high level of quality and come with some kind of warranty, even if it’s not as extensive as the manufacturer most third party equipment comes with warranties. I just don’t like having to pay for 5 different things when I only want the cheapest of those 5 things and couldn’t care less about the rest

 

I've never owned a vehicle with carplay but my gfs last 2 cars had it and I've used it on long road trips in rentals before. I was never too impressed with it. I'm not sure if there are different versions but the whole idea of only have certain features when your phone is connected and then not having them at all if it isn't bothers me for some reason. Like if the car has navigation then it needs to be build, not rely on my phones gps to work.

I know for sure I will be changing out my tail lights to LEDs in the near future. Not sure about the headlights yet but I also haven't done any research on them. Honestly of all the things you just listed that they addressed the highest thing on my list that I would want is the one thing that they did not address... lol I'd like to have those for sure.

As far as the seat adjusting goes - I've been looking into buying 1" spacers that other TW members are selling. My only problem is the height because I'm only 5'8" and I slouch pretty bad when driving. Plus the hood scoop is minorly obstructive but not a big deal since I primarily back into parking spots, and I plan on adding the anytime front cam soon. Other than that it's nice not having to wait 30 secs for the seat to move all the way forward/back to vacuum underneath easier.

 

OP - Trade in your Sport 2 months into your lease. Then lease a 2019 OffRoad. Trade that in 2 months later for a 2019 Pro. Then you can start all over when the 2020s arrive.
I promise your salesman will send you a Christmas card.

 

I think the idea is that people will eventually make it a habit to plug their phones in, in order to use either CarPlay or Android Auto. I think it's a huge benefit.
Case and point:

Yesterday we had a Tornado and I was rushing to get to someone's house, but I didn't remember the address. So i wanted to pull up maps and just drop a pin in the general destination. However, I didn't have service because the towers were down. I only got service when I was several miles out. At that point, I was able to find the area and dropped a pin on my phone. But this forced me to have to hold my phone in my hand to see where to go. At that point, my GPS in my truck was 100% useless. However, if I could have mirrored the directions onto my truck's display, it would have made my drive much safer.

Of course this doesn't happen everyday, but it's very convenient. Another ex is when someone texts you their address. You don't have to go through the trouble of punching it into the GPS. Instead, CarPlay would allow you to use your device and mirror it onto your truck's display. Same goes for music listening platforms. If you use Pandora or Spotify, it makes life a lot easier and prevents you from having to look at your phone to change songs or search for them.

I think that CarPlay and Android Auto should have been offered by Toyota years ago. IMO, it's a benefit you get that doesn't come with any compromises. (i.e. it doesn't make your system slower or forces you to use it, it's only there if/when you want it) I think some people mistakenly believe that CarPlay means you can ONLY use the functions of a head-unit with a smartphone.

 

Lol I told my salesman that if they call me up or send me one of those postcards in the mail about wanting to take my car back early and moving up into something brand new after like 10 months that I'd only bite if he can get me into a Pro for below $400/month or an equivalent or better OR for $25 less than my current monthly.

Honestly though I don't need the rear diff or crawl control and I really like my skewp lol I'm sure in the future I'll do some very intermediate offroading just to check it out but here in Central FL I just don't see those as necessary. Now if I lived out in Colorado or something I would've been all over it from the beginning because I've seen beautiful photos of places people have taken their Tacos out there and I feel like I would get a lot of use out of the extra off road features.

But honestly I wouldn't want a Pro because of all the things I DON'T want, I'd only really want a pro to be like "look at me I have a TRD Pro." 20years from now. I wouldn't want an OR either because I want the skewp and the color matched wheel flares, however in order to get those I'd have the get tech and prem. When I first started looking into all of the different trims of the tacoma and doing some minor research about what I would go in and ask to look at I originally wanted to look at a decked out Limited or OR. When I finally went in and looked the salesman got to talking about what I really felt like a wanted and would use everyday and what I wanted just to say that yeah I have that. We came upon the vehicle I ended up with and after 6 weeks now I couldn't be more happy with the salesman talking out of paying extra for stuff I really did not need.

I had not done a lot of research into the 3rd party market for mods and accessories before purchasing. In fact I intended to keep it totally stock because as I'm sure most of us didn't realize when purchasing our first Taco, although they are popular and you see these trucks everywhere, you really truly don't understand the amount of 3rd party support these vehicles have. It's much easier for me enjoy my "downgraded expectations" as I have come to realize that I have a great base to start from to pick and choose what I want to do to my vehicle without having to second guess myself for changing or removing that I paid an upcharge to have just to eventually get rid of.

 

Do I think it's worth upgrading from a 2019 to a 2020? Definitely not. Power seats, whoop de doo...

It's your money though. Do with it as you wish.

 

My head hurts from reading this post.

Fact is that the upgrades in the 2020 are absolutely worth the price increase when you compare 2019 MSRP vs 2020 MSRP.

Now obviously, if you buy a 2019 now, you are not going to pay anywhere near MSRP so the argument is harder to make and the upgrades are likely not worth the savings you can get on a 2019.

CarPlay and Android Auto are leaps and bounds better than Entune crap. Tell yourself whatever you want, but there is absolutely no comparison. Entune is basically stock, the navigation app is junk and you will use your phone anyway.

Power seat is fucking awesome. My wifes 4runner has full power seat and again there is no comparison to the shit manual seat in the Tacoma.

LED headlights, look cool. But wouldnt be a must have.

Upgraded cameras are also cool, but again not a must have.

You say you dont want leather seats, but than you want to purchase aftermarket leather seats.

You leased the 2019, so not sure why you are concerned with what the truck will be in 10-15 years. Once your lease is up in 3 years you will be eager to let it go and get a new 2023 truck. Tacomas hold their value very well.

Just enjoy the truck for the time being.

BTW only a sucker or someone who has no regards for saving some money would buy a 2020 the day they hit the showroom floor. Wait 6-8months and im sure you will be seeing similar discounts on the 2020 as which you can get right now. So the argument should be do I buy a 2019 now or wait a year and buy a 2020?

 

I don't have experience with Android Auto but CarPlay is meh at best. I hate my vehicles UI looking like a cheap copy of an iPhone.

Power seats are slow and only necessary when you swap drivers often, I'd be more on board with them if they came standard with driver profiles as well, thats the biggest and most desirable(to myself) advantage I see to power over manual. I have little notches on the track where I keep my seat set so when I'm in there cleaning and moving it back and forth I can put right back in 2 seconds with no problems.

I said I don't want factory leather seats, and I want after market leather seats because I can completely customize to my liking without having to pay $1500 for a sunroof to get them.

I leased it and I'm not paying any interest since rates were ridiculous anyways, plus since lease payments are a bit cheaper than financing my payment is quite reasonable for this expensive of a vehicle. In a year when I get it down to owing less than $25k to buy the vehicle outright I'll just go in and cut them a check and get my title. I'll end up getting a $38k MSRP vehicle for 29K before TTL, having never paid interest on it. I think that's a pretty good deal. I could probably turn around and sell it for profit based on resale values of '18s below 10k miles right now

 

Hahahahaha. Yea.... I've used it once. Did not make life easy.

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I thought I would be a bit upset myself with new features coming out in newer models. But, I am so so so happy with my 18. Powered seats would have been nice from the start but honestly not worth my time crying that I don't have it.

The whole camera thing-- well-- hundo bucks and some change and you have a front/rear anytime camera mod with a fancy switch. I'm just shook they took out the cubby boxes in the bed of the 19s! (not sure if for all models? but friend has OR and he doesn't have those..).

TLDR give your truck the features it doesn't have!

As per car play. I just blue-toot music. I've fumbled with car play in other vehicles (chevys and gmcs) and its "cool" but not really required. Stock nav works perfect lol. I have my dash loaded up with 67 design mounts for devices so no chip off my shoulder.

 

Not aure how the math works for you to get the lease down to 25k in just a year. Since purchase price you said you got was roughly $33k. That would put your lease payment around $700 a month. If thats true or you are anywhere close to that payment, than you absolutely have to buy it out early.

 

I see we share similar opinions. As for the bed cubbies I’m not sure how big they were but I do have one small storage area next to my outlet that’s about 8x5x6. I’d imagine the OR wouldn’t have it because they’d need more well room for the wheel with the softer suspension?

 

I think it was more of cost savings thing. Reducing that extra cost during manufacture. It doesn't appear to be in the way of.. anything IMO.