New Tacoma/4 Runner/Tundra - TRD Pro pkg.

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thunderfog

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Motor Trend - TRD Pro first drive

Gotta admit, I'm stoked about this. I have zero skill with suspension/lifts and the associated complications with steering and such (nor do I have the tools or the garage for it), so this is an attractive package to me. My wife an I already miss our trucks that we had, so the Tacoma could be an addition in a couple years for us!

With my Impreza, I also am in love with the new WRX that is out, but after seeing this, I realize deep down that I'm a truck person, so it's now in the lead for my impending mid life crisis.
cool.gif
 
Why do you miss your Trucks?

Are you landscapers? Or perhaps you own a small farm?
 
I'd definitely buy a Tacoma TRD. Can go off-roading, pull a boat (of reasonable size) to the lake, can go camping, haul the ATV out and do everything a car can do but suffer some gas mileage, but so what?
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I'd definitely buy a Tacoma TRD. Can go off-roading, pull a boat (of reasonable size) to the lake, can go camping, haul the ATV out and do everything a car can do but suffer some gas mileage, but so what?


Exactly. Which is why I would keep the Impreza as the DD.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: thunderfog
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I'd definitely buy a Tacoma TRD. Can go off-roading, pull a boat (of reasonable size) to the lake, can go camping, haul the ATV out and do everything a car can do but suffer some gas mileage, but so what?


Exactly. Which is why I would keep the Impreza as the DD.


Yup, I just wanted to point out why it would be awesome to have one because others it seems don't seem to see the purpose of having a truck. If you can afford it, the more the merrier.
 
I bought a 2008 Tacoma TRD brand new and sold it last year with 82k or so on the clock.

It was a good truck, but got the same gas mileage as a 5.0 V8 F-150 that I used at work. I think that would have been the better choice. I don't know what the current model has, but here are a few observations:

The BF Goodrich Rugged Trail tires that came with the TRD Off-Road package were horrible on anything other than dry pavement. Plan on replacing them if that's still the case.

The manual locking rear diff could only be activated in 4x4 low, making it useless for all but rock crawling. I spent a lot of time in 4x4 during the winter in comparison to my F-150 or Tahoe work trucks that were both equipped with automatic lockers and wouldn't spin one wheel like the Taco.

The soft suspension wouldn't allow much to be put in the bed. Although it's used as a commuter by most owners, it would still be nice to haul a load of top soil without the rear sagging so much. I had a TSB done that replaced the three-leaf rear springs with four. That helped quite a bit.

The ABS was hypersensitive. It would take away all braking power if it sensed any slip and sent me sailing through an intersection on more than one occasion. I learned quickly enough to fight it by braking less during bad weather so the system wouldn't activate. Some owners pulled the ABS fuse during winter and just went without.

Maybe those have been corrected by now. I don't know. I'd probably be looking at an F-150 or Silverado if it were me though, or perhaps the new Colorado that's due later this year.
 
I too read of the low mpg complaints on the Tacoma's, which is why I never seriously shopped them. Driving really slowly I can hit 21 in my Tundra. But I don't have off-road tires, and really have no desire to tear up paint/parts going off road (would rather tow something to a trail).

I have not been a fan of the new 4Runner look, but it almost looks ok here. I wouldn't say I like it, but it looks better w/o the chrome, and with those wheels and lift.
 
I traded in my 4Runner for a Subaru a year ago and I miss it dearly. I've started the process of looking for another 4Runner and taking the hit.
 
Toyota North America just go against the grain already and make available your 3rd World rated/capable pickups/SUVs with in-house diesels that the rest of the world beats to death on a daily basis and most in North America know nothing about.
 
Their nothing special, I'll stick with my domestic 1/2 tons. Besides you wouldn't want those diesels after they choke them for US emissions standards.

As for the OP all it is is a regular Tundra with real truck tires on it and Bilstein shocks...that I'm sure they charge you a bundle for.
 
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Originally Posted By: GenSan
Toyota North America just go against the grain already and make available your 3rd World rated/capable pickups/SUVs with in-house diesels that the rest of the world beats to death on a daily basis and most in North America know nothing about.

Toyota would have to make many design changes to meet US crash protection and smog laws.

It might make the changes to those trucks too impractical. Toyota hasn't sold a diesel in the USA in many years, and the reason may be the challenge of California smog tests.

Someone tried to market a stripped down pickup truck for the USA, and it was the Mahindra. Even they couldn't build a truck that passed US tests.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: GenSan
Toyota North America just go against the grain already and make available your 3rd World rated/capable pickups/SUVs with in-house diesels that the rest of the world beats to death on a daily basis and most in North America know nothing about.

Toyota would have to make many design changes to meet US crash protection and smog laws.

It might make the changes to those trucks too impractical. Toyota hasn't sold a diesel in the USA in many years, and the reason may be the challenge of California smog tests.

Someone tried to market a stripped down pickup truck for the USA, and it was the Mahindra. Even they couldn't build a truck that passed US tests.

Maybe mahindra will try again once the tech cheapens to meet the diesel smog regs?
I do think the market is for a simple rugged diesel utility truck is quite small as well, and getting smaller if RAM can produce good mileage from their diesel 1/2 ton. Most people don't venture where the smaller foot print of a midsize truck is an asset, and they need an advanced turbo diesel power plant to get good mileage, plus a used common 4x4 half ton is cheap enough to use as a real work truck...
I could see us buying a fuel efficient landcruiser ute as a 20 year vehicle to offset the initial cost, kind of like my tractor, but for the millions people buying trucks to go from the suburbs to work and back, a utilitarian vehicle isn't what they want.
 
I can buy a brand new half ton work truck for $18k, maybe $17k if I get lucky.

Why would I spend more or equal that money for a truck with a smaller bed and carrying capacity? Fuel mileage is a wash as well.

They don't sell them in this country because they cannot.
 
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I can buy a brand new half ton work truck for $18k, maybe $17k if I get lucky.

Why would I spend more or equal that money for a truck with a smaller bed and carrying capacity? Fuel mileage is a wash as well.

They don't sell them in this country because they cannot.

Maybe for the US they would down grade the load and tow ratings, but I think they are actually very similar as is.
Really, the two trucks are built for different jobs, and most US truck buyers don't need/want a mid-size true utility truck. That's fine, but some of us could use one.
 
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