TRD OR vs Base SR - DECISION TIME!!!

Hi All,

To preface, I have no experience with trucks, and have been using the great help I have gotten on this forum to aid my decision. Thank you to all!

I had been set on an off-road trim with the premium package.

After much haggling, I can get a base SR for a full $9000 less off the lot.

Now, I am reconsidering the OR trim. I have no intention of doing any off-roading to the extent that I may dent the truck and hurt the resale value.

My main reason for the OR trim was because it has a locking rear differential instead of a limited slip differential, which I have read is supposed to be good for getting a boat off a boat ramp.

My intended boat is 19', 3800lb wet on trailer.

Do we think the limited-slip differential on the base SR will be adequate for this weight??

And, what exactly am I missing out on with the base SR model that I cannot get aftermarket, at a better price, than the OR+premium pack?

Don't care about the heated leather seats.
Would miss the moonroof, but can live without it.
Would also miss the blind spot + rear cross alert, but again can live without it.
Don't care about any cosmetic differences between trim levels

For a $9000 savings, I figure I can rig up the SR to be an even better Off-Roader, should I ever feel like it.

What would you do? What else am I missing on the base SR? And, can the limited-slip differential tow this boat weight up a ramp??

Thanks to all. This will likely be my last post before the big decision tomorrow.

 

You don’t need a locking rear to pull a boat up a ramp.

 

Unless you are launching the boat into the Colorado River off the muddy bank then you dont need a locker. If it's a concrete standard boat ramp that sees some use, you don't even need 4wd. Alge covered? 4wd is usually needed.

You are missing a BUNCH of stuff from a OR to a SR. Simple things like keyless entry. Intermittent wipers, etc. Go to Toyota website and put both side by side dor comparison.

And no, for $9K you cannot build a better vehicle than the OR. Sure you can put a better suspension for $2.5K, tires for $1K, wheels for $1K, locker for another $1K, speakers and head unit for $1K, headlights with cool DRL's for another $1K, quality fog lights, better wiper controls, tinted windows for $1K and that puts you at about 9K.
You don't get a sliding rear window, crawl control, cruise control and a bunch of other stuff. Just get the truck you want. Some want a SR and that cool. I wanted a sport.

 

Agreed. However, most of that missing content can be added for somewhat less than $9,000. The side-by-side comparison is a good idea so the OP can see what he's giving up.

 

Don't the SRs come with a 4cyl? And they wouldn't have a transmission cooler either would they? Maybe they are options I'm not aware of. If not, I wouldn't even consider the SR since you're towing.

 

Cooler comes with the towing package. Just a small tid bit of info there for ya!

 

Get what you want - you'll be living with the thing for a while , and IMO it's better to have it (better cluster, sliding window, cruise, keyless, etc) than wish you had it.

 

Think about future resale value too.

For the money the OR is a great buy

 

This is exactly what I did, built both and saved the PDFs then opened up side by side and see what you can and can’t live with, then search these forums for what can be done to the SR from a feature stand point to add the touches you’re missing to make it unique...if it’s not worth the hassle, meet in the middle for an SR5 perhaps, but why pay for an off-road if you don’t need the suspension, crawl control and so on? Keep in mind the SR is very base...bumpers aren’t painted, no fender flares, etc...you’re comparing two very different models...you can always get an SR5 model 4x4 and call it a day...only because if your towing I’d highly recommend the V6, you can’t get that engine with an SR as mentioned above!

 

How does the resale value of the OR+premium package compare to the SR?

I wonder how much of the extra 9k I will make up?

 

You can get a V6 with the SR...

 

I can tell you this, I sure as hell wouldn't pay $9k just for a locker on the off chance it might help me get a boat up a ramp. If you don't regularly off road where a locker really helps, why spend the $$$? If you can't get it off the ramp in 4wd, you've probably got yourself into a bigger pickle than a locker will help you out of.

Now, if you off road, well then, go for it. But if your off roading is limited to throwing the locker switch every now and then just to see what it can do, or because you got yourself into a little mud, then pass. I'm saying this as a guy who has driven a 2002 SR5 4x4 (not locked) for fifteen years and countless hard off road miles. To date, the TRDOR has not gone anywhere my SR5 wouldn't take me. That's not to say it won't (because I'm sure it could, and eventually will) and not to say it hasn't been easier on the truck because I have a locker now, but the SR5 took me anywhere I cared to go. And (fortunately) never broke a damn thing on it in the process.

I can think of a hell of a lot better things to spend $9k on than a locker if I didn't see really using one. Hell, spend $1500, get an air locker AND an on board compressor, and call it a day. That is...unless you want the other goodies as well. But if you're happy with SR trim and features, why do it?

I'd sooner take the chance of suffering a tiny bit of humiliation over having a buddy hook a tow strap to me to pull me and my boat out of the pond than paying $9k for something I might....MIGHT use two or three times over the life of the vehicle.

 

Happy with my 4 banger SR. It came with convenience package, so cruise, keyless entry, etc. $25.5k.

 

Key-less entry, crawl control, sunroof, and the auto rear glass are the only thing your really wont be able to get if decide to go with the SR. Everything else I feel like if you decided you want later down the road the aftermarket probably has a better option then factory. IMO

 

Not sure.Probably too soon to tell how much of the $9k you would make up when you resell it in the future.

I started looking at the SR and now am looking at the OR for the some of the same reasons you are. Some of those creature comforts are nice to have.

I went bare bones when i bought my 2011,roll up windows,steel wheels,etc.Kinda nice keeping it simple,but on the other hand i love the OR features on the 3rd gens.Tough decision i know,but $9000 is $9000 you would have in the pocket instead of getting the OR.Hard to say

 

Transmission cooler / tow package is a thought. But one can buy a "hidden hitch" for $150, and a Hayden auxiliary trans cooler (and hoses / clamps) for about $60 and call it a day. I've towed a Jayco Baja pop up (loaded with camping gear makes it quite a heavy little sumbitch) up many a mountain grade and over many a hard trail with just that set up in my gen1. Now with almost 250k on that truck, I half way expect the trans on that thing may still out live me.

There's just something damn sexy about a bare bones Toyota 4wd pickup. They just WORK, and they work WELL.

 

You will always wish you had bought the higer model. Atleast I do. Lol... I bought an OR, and now I kinda wish I would have sprang for the Pro. Just human nature I guess. At the end of the day, get what fits your needs and your wallet. You will always want more.

 

I struggled with this decision myself when I was going to get mine too. I do offroad more now that I have a capable vehicle but that was not my original intention. It was just a vehicle that tows my crap from place to place while I move and figure my life out. I don't care about the creature comforts personally, but what it came down to is this: I would much rather have a rear locker and never use it than need it and not have it. To me it means a lot more now, having been stuck in the middle of the Arizona desert with only my vehicle to reconcile for my stupid beginner mistakes. Wouldn't you rather have peace of mind than be fucked when the time comes?

A note though if you really will never take this vehicle off road and crawl all the malls, I understand the SR or Sport models it makes sense. As far as towing goes my OR has never done bad. I've had everything from 1000lbs of beer in the bed to even a enclosed trailer to help me move to a new home. I'm sure no matter what choice you make, as long as you take good care of it, the resale value will hold. Its a great choice in vehicle for sure.

Also if you never off road this truck, I think you are missing some of the experience, and capability this truck offers. Some of the best experiences I have ever had, were started by taking this truck and pushing the limits to go places I never even thought possible. Some food for thought. Good luck with your choice and enjoy it!


(back when my truck was dead stock BTW)
Edit: picture is from a trip I did into Patagonia,AZ going up past the arizona trail about 3 hours in or so

 

Ok so you’re saying an SR Double Cab, V6 4x4, sorry I’m not sure why I assumed access cab for some reason...probably should state that so we know how much the difference is before you subtract $9k off the offroad because SR V6 4x4 configured on Toyota’s website is $31,665, an off-road with premium as you mentioned only comes with tech, you can’t get premium alone, but tech you can. So I configured with premium (not the premium w/tonneau), it came out to $39,710, that’s already $8,045 disparity because we’re only talking MSRP still, are you really thinking getting the SR for $955 off MSRP is a deal? That’s the price without negotiation lol...when you say “I can get it for 9k less” it made it seem for a second you were getting a steal or something...I hope the dealer isn’t playing you by playing reverse psychology with numbers on you...for it to be a steal you should be getting the SR for way less than $995 off...you should be able to say I’m getting it for at least $11k-$13k less from mild discount to extreme bargain depending on region and popularity. And if you meant premium w/ tonneau cover, then the MSRP for the OR is $40,360, difference is already $8,695...anyone can get this SR for $9k less even if they had to order it and pay MSRP...am I missing something here?

 

Go drive both the OR and SR and see what you can or can't live without. FWIW the SR5 get's my vote for a decent compromise.