This is my dream truck, but I need some help.

Hi fellas,

When I was 14 years old I lived in Mississippi and fell in love with the Tacoma that I saw for sale on the side of the road. It sat there for 2 months just taunting me before someone bought it. I'm 28 now, no kids, own my own car, and have some spare cash to buy my dream truck.

I thought this journey would be simple, because I thought I knew what I wanted. I had no idea there were so many variations and options for Tacos! I live in CA, and have a commuter car, so this truck for me is more of a toy that I want to take to the desert or to the mountains on the weekends.

2 out of 3 dealerships wanted to rip me a new one: the first wanted me to trade my car in, and the 3rd was trying to take my 13k down and give me lease with option to buy for 3 years. Which would mean I would pay 13k down on a 37 baja that they were trying to force me into, pay 15k in leasing to them for 3 years, and still owe 20k at the end of that on the truck.

No thanks. So, this other dealership in Long Beach is helping me customize a truck, but I am having issues deciding between two factors: which package and which tranny.

I love that the off-road has A-TRAC and lockers, but call me a diva, I just hate chrome. I love that the sport comes with color keys grills and side-mirror lights, but that skewp obstructs my view a bit. The sport also has some nice sporty fabric seats, yet I feel like the OR just has better OR stock settings that would be a pain to add aftermarket to a sport.

So, I'm still kind of stuck on deciding which package to get. But maybe more importantly I need help deciding on AT or stick for my tranny. The funny thing is that I don't know how to drive stick. But when that shady dealer took me for a spin in that Baja I fell in love with how it drove (my friend drove, not me).

I know that the stick gets worse MPG, but I already have a car. Mainly, I want to take this truck up trails, to the mountains and desert. Not heavy off-roading, but I do want to go on trails and "adventuring". I need to get out of the city. I've read that the AT is better for off-roading, but I feel like learning stick would just be so much more fun for me to play around with this truck.

Can anyone please help me decide on the packages and the tranny? I've put so much thought into this that I just think I'm going to tell the dealer "you choose for me!" haha.

The 4 main things that matter to me are:

• Double cab
• 4x4 with no chrome grille
• Navigation
• Blue truck

The problem is that the navigation only really comes in sport or sr5, not OR. And the colored grill appears to only come in the sports package. And blue is hard to find as it is, so it looks like I am going to have to get a custom ordered truck either way.

 

Get the SR5. Get an Auto (sorry, had a manual on these, and they are still no good).
Customize the truck you want. No chrome. Put your own lockers in. Put your own wheels on.

 

Thanks for the help! So the SR5 is more of the base option without the OR or Sport options, right? It's still a 4x4 double cab though, am I right?

 

go for the off road. It sounds like tho only thing you won't like about it is the fact that it has a chrome bumper and grill surround. Both are very fixable with aftermarket parts that are not as expensive as you might think. A new off roaring number can be as cheap as $400 and you can have your grill painted or go on here and offer to trade with someone that has a color matched or plain black one. I also have a suggestion why not looking into one that's a few years old? A buddy of mine got a trd off road for 19k that was an 07 I think. And honestly you would have a lot of fun leading to drive stick but automatic is so much easier and pretty much anyone can drive it if they want.

 

you can get the SR5 package in any setup from reg cab 2x4 to double cab long bed 4x4 just not sure if you can get it with the OR and Sport packages

 

Yes it is. Had I had the extra cash to throw the lockers and bumpers into one, I would have. Just make sure you like the seats before you go and purchase it. They are more basic seats for sure. But, you get black flares, mirrors, and rear bumper. No chrome to it. 4x4 and double cab. Automatic or manual. Just no hood scoop or locker!

 

Also, taking a look at the SR5 package, it still has the chrome surround grille. That's like the only thing that bugs me, I know it's stupid. Is there any way to replace the chrome surround grill after market?

 

Yes. You can buy one from lots of companies on-line to color match your truck. Or you can plasti-dip it black.

 

SR5 and build what you want with the extra money. The sport is not as capable Off road as the TRD OR. And the TRD OR has a weaker rear end then the SR5 and sport(they have same diff, just depends on the auto LSD or not). And yes, plenty of grills aftermarket. Lots of guys make them on here

 

Actually, looking at their website, the SR5 on it comes with a black grille. Only problems you will have is adding on fog lights (easy to do), lockers, and new tires/wheels.

 

Nice! It also looks like, from the image on Toyota.com, that the SR5 has fog lights on the bottom - or is this just a stock image?

 

http://www.toyotaofpuyallup.com/puyallup-new-cars/detail/2014-Toyota-Tacoma-4WD-Double-Cab-LB-V6-AT/1096/5TFMU4FN9EX024358/~/ModelActual_Tacoma%204WD%20Double%20Cab%20LB%20V6%20AT~ExteriorColor_/3

This is a DCLB, but it's probably what you are looking for.

 

Stick with the off road if you dont plan on working on your rig too much. Plus being on here it just gives you too many ideas (which are great, dont get me wrong.) Parts to color match arent that hard to find or just do it yourself. I had a chrome front grill and just ordered one from Camelback for 184 w shipping (dealership was trying to get 260) and im just going to derped my chrome rear bumper. Hell you can even just order color match paint from a bunch of different sites and they are spot on.

 

do you want the speedway blue? Or the indigo blue? Indigo is dark blue and speedway is really bright sporty blue

 

Ooo, thank you for pointing this out! I did not know that. I want the speedway blue. I'll make sure that the dealer knows this, thanks so much!

 

I think speedgay blue was discontinued for 2013 or 2014.

 

Get the off road package and skip the Baja! I would go for icon suspension since it is cheaper and you get a much better suspension for less money.

 

Darn. :\

Well then... I guess metallic grey it is

 

Would a sport edition do well on normal trails and basic dirting? Not looking to go on a baja run, plus I'd do after market front lockers and suspensions/tires.

 

The sport has no locker, just electric simulated LSD, and I even believe that's canceled on 4lo. It will get most places, but not as capable as lockers