TRD SPORT or TRD OFFROAD

Hi guys,

I'm about to purchase a new 3rd Gen Tacoma(DCSB) but I can't decide between the two options. Toyota in Canada has very limited options in trims, limiting the short bed sport to a manual and short bed offroad to an automatic.

Sport
- leather seats
- moonroof
- blind spot monitoring system
- more aggressive look (scoop)
- manual
- cheaper

Off Road
- cloth seats
- rear locker
- crawl control
- mts
- automatic

I will be using this truck for work and DD(limited offroading) in BC and was wondering which one is more worth the money. On paper, the sport looks like a better deal, however, I don't know how to drive a manual. Are the leather seats and moonroof worth learning a manual transmission?
I'm very interested in your thoughts.

 

I had a 2012 sport and now have a 2018 sport. I dont do any super serious off-roading that would require a rear locker or crawl mode. I also did not care for the automatic transmission on the 3rd gen and got a manual, I think you'll enjoy the manual. So I vote sport. Use the extra money you save to buy some Bilstein 5100 shocks to raise the front an inch and some BFG KO2s to beef it up. That's my opinion

 

If you're going to take it offroading get the Offroad but if the weekend mall crawl is more your style then get the Sport. However the Sport is still plenty capable offroad if you do choose to take it wheeling every now and again.

 

I'm leaning towards the sport but I'm just intimidated by the manual transmission(lots of hilly areas in the vancouver area) as I have no experience driving stick and have no one in the family to teach me.
Is learning to stick on a new truck good for the truck? How long does it take to learn stick?
I guess this is more auto vs manual decision more than anything else.

 

Have you test driven the manual yet? Hopefully you don’t have to stop on an uphill on your first time driving a manual transmission.

 

That's what I'm afraid of.

 

I got the sport because they didn't offer the offroad in m/t access cab. Only feature I miss is the locker coming from previous offroad models but I manage just fine. Truck does see frequent offroad use.

 

Is learning m/t on a truck difficult? I figured most people recommending m/t have been driving an m/t for most of their driving life.

 

No not difficult, first few times you'll be a bit shaky, but after that you don't even think about it. Have you ever ridden a dirt bike or motorcycle, it's the same thing. I ended up with a new auto, but put 170,000 on my first manual Toyota. Never even replaced the clutch.

 

What made you switch to an auto?

 

The manuals have a feature that auto breaks when your stopped on a hill and doesnt release the break until you hit the gas. Dont be intimidated, after a week or two you'll be golden. In short, no, manual is not difficult to learn. Years ago I bought a manual mustang and had very little experience driving manual, but I took it out every night for a couple weeks and learned quick. You'll love driving manual!

 

Buy a beater car to learn to drive a MT, and go with the MT Taco after that. Nobody here ever complains about that transmission, while there are numerous threads complaining about the auto.

Hills aren't really a problem, there is a hill assist (at least on 2016 sport MT).

 

I dont have the funds to buy a beater car for the purpose of just learning the transmission.
You are right about everyone complaining about gear hunting in the automatics.

 

This is very encouraging. Thanks. Is there a big difference in driving a manual car(mustang) compared to your truck?

 

Not too different, the mustang obviously had a lot more pep and that made it a little easier starting from a stop, but the 3rd manual is great, gears are easy to find, shifts very smoothly. Itll be a great car to learn on. Getting it into reverse is a little tricky at first, but you'll get used to it after a short while. Seriously, dont let the manual intimidate you, anyone can learn with a few short hours of practice and after a month or two you'll be a pro.

Edit: Chicks dig the manual

 

Seems like no one here is recommending the auto. Are everyone here in tacomaworld m/t enthusiasts?

 

I have an auto and quite frankly wouldn't recommend it. Unfortunately I couldn't find what I wanted in a manual

 

Hard to find a MT, and easier for my wife and kids to drive.

 

There was a big change front he 2nd gen to the 3rd gen with the engine and transmission, most people that have driven both feel the 3rd gen auto to be kind of clunky and "underpowered". There are guys on here that love them too though. I drove both and personally thought the manual was much better

 

Yeah I was only considering the off road because it's an automatic(easier, more convenient for me) and not for its off road capabilities. People I know who also dont drive stick also told me to get auto cause "automakers are phasing out manuals for a reason", "a/t is more gas efficient than manuals unlike before", "you[me] dont know how to drive stick" and "driving stick is tiring" cause I drive pretty far for work. They are fair arguments which makes this decision hard for me.