How my curiosity about the Tacoma got started

"Matchthebox" (teejay12) 10/27/2019 at 01:00 • Filed to: Toyota, Tacoma, TRD Pro, 2019 tacoma, Voodoo Blue, Toyota showroom, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Tacoma in a showroom, 4x4, Toyota 4 wheel drive

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First time to be writing in Oppositelock as I wanted to share my thoughts about the Tacoma. Was it due to the popularity of pickups? Even if it was, I wasn’t paying much attention to the trend at that time as I was more of a blogger and collector of miniature replicas from Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Greenlight and imports like Tomica and Kyosho to name a few. Most of my research are geared towards upcoming new releases of models that interest me. But then how did this sudden turn of event at least for me got started?

Being a car fan, my ear will usually picked up any conversation related to automobiles. However in my work place that is very rare so when I heard my colleague telling a co-worker that her husband is interested in purchasing a 2015 Tacoma, that definitely got my attention. I decided to join in and asked her why a 2015 Tacoma. She said that her husband wanted to get a truck as he used to own one and sold it a long time ago and had regretted it ever since. Plus he likes this specific style and it’s a Toyota. The fact that the dealership is 4 hours away made me wonder how cool could this truck be. When another colleague mentioned that her husband also owns a Tacoma, that definitely peaked my curiosity even more and if the saying ‘Curiosity killed the cat’ was ever true then I’m definitely glad I’m not one. A cat that is.

I slowly started checking on the internet for reviews and features. One weekend while my Toyota was in the dealership for maintenance, I was waiting at the showroom and it suddenly dawn on me that right in front was this bright shiny blue 2019 Tacoma. Oh man it’s almost like meeting a celebrity in the flesh and in this case, in the metal. Get it? With nothing better to do, I started exploring the ins and out of the truck. The first thing that drew my attention was the color that Toyota decided to name Voodoo Blue.

After a few quick glances and photo shoots of the exterior, its time to check the interior.

I sat on both the front and back and the back seat is raised so you have a good view of the front but the leg room is a bit small for me as I can barely get in and when I did there was very little head room as I can feel my hair almost touching the ceiling. Can you imagine being at the back while going thru rough terrain?

Next I pop open the hood.

I’ve notice there is a big space between the front grill and the engine.

This hood felt like it weighed a ton when I lifted it up. Either it’s because it has thicker metal on the hood or could be due to the higher stance of the truck.

Next I started looking at the info on the window sticker.

Sticker Shock!! Of course this may not be a surprise to some but for me it’s been years since I’ve check on car prices and I used to see this price only on luxury vehicles.

But then here is the reason why.

This happens to be a top of the line trim for the Tacoma and it got all the bells and whistle you can ever dream of for off roading like 3.5-liter V6 making 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, active Traction Control (A-TRAC), which prevents all four wheels from spinning out at the same time. Also comes with off-road skid plating with red TRD lettering under the front end.

And a nice black wheel with the TRD logo to match with the truck. And if your wondering what is a TRD, it stands for ‘Toyota Racing Development’.

And my curiosity did not end there. It’s now time to get a little dirty.

Getting underneath and taking photos that is.

And hidden behind the tire is a Fox 2.5-inch Internal Bypass Shocks which is considered an upgrade for serious off roader.

I check the lot and so far this seems to be the only TRD Pro that they have so I did not get the chance to test drive it.

If you’re still wondering if my colleague managed to get the truck, well.. let’s just say it didn’t pan out but this turned out to be a blessing at least for the husband as they ended up getting a brand new 2019 Tacoma in our area instead. If you will excuse me, I think they are finished with my vehicle.

PowderHound > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 01:11

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I’m half drunk so here’s my take: Love that year, Hate that price, would rather have an easier tent (it basically looks like a regular tent in the bed, give me something to either just crawl in to or unhinge and call good), and too many steering wheel controls. Touch screens are shit in a car.

Dogsatemypants > PowderHound 10/27/2019 at 01:19

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The truck bed tent is awesome when paired with a truck bed air mattress. I slept in a snowstorm and stayed toasty with 3 blankets, a sleeping bag, and an aluminized tarp acting as a second rainfly

vicali > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 03:49

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Nice smurf. You can build a better rig than a Pro for your own money. And truck bed tents are so 2007... everyone knows RTT and Skottles are the bomb  today. Or are they lit? What? My kids are yelling something.. 

SiennaMan > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 06:19

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 On the price,  welcome to 2019 truck prices.  As the popularity of trucks has grown the price tag has followed suit to where they are the profit center for at least a few manufacturers.  

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > vicali 10/27/2019 at 07:13

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TIL about Skottles.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 09:08

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The Tacoma was tops on my list for replacing my truck when it was being put out to pasture. Then I drove one....

nermal > vicali 10/27/2019 at 09:40

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You can also buy a new Power Wagon for the same $$$ that will be better both on & off road in every way , sound a bazillion times better, and cost about the same in o perating expenses. 

wafflesnfalafel > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 10:53

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Those are super cool. My neighbor down the street has one in that tan/buff color, (he got it a couple years ago - a 17 or 18, not sure.) I’d love one but me no have 47k... Looks like even a “base” SR 2wd kingcab comes in at just shy of 30k.  And i’d still prefer a manual - though it looks like Toyota has dropped those for all trim lines now...

Engineer Jaron > TheRealBicycleBuck 10/27/2019 at 11:01

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This was my sad truth as well. I drove trucks for a few years then switched to fuel efficient cars due to work. When my job changed, I started looking again and the Tacoma was at the top of my list. The 3.5 is fairly anemic and low end torque is an issue. Beyond that it hunts for gears between 45 and 60 (almost all of my driving). Guess I’m saving for a Raptor instead.

vicali > nermal 10/27/2019 at 11:23

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Or you can buy ~25 ,000 chicken parm and argue about trucks on the internet.. The are all good options!

vicali > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/27/2019 at 11:23

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Sorry about that..

PyramidHat > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 11:44

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So, used to own a gen 1 taco and loved it. I look at new tacos and see they have reliability issues? Are these significant (rear diff? Really? ) or more that if you make 17,000,000 of something, eventually some will have issues. I know that Toyota has veered from the dead solid reliable standard but not sure if it means they’re bad, or just on par with everything else.

PyramidHat > vicali 10/27/2019 at 11:45

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Skottles. For those that need Mongolian BBQ 1 mile from the paved road.

nermal > vicali 10/27/2019 at 11:49

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Wrong! If you blew your entire truck budget on chicken parms then you would have no way  to get them home.

volock > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/27/2019 at 11:50

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I love offbrand candy. Want a Starborst ?

vicali > nermal 10/27/2019 at 11:53

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I didn’t say the plan was perfect..

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > vicali 10/27/2019 at 14:43

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Not a problem. Cooking while camping is not of interest to either me or my wife, so our strategy is advance meal prep at home and warm up or minimal assembly while outdoors. Therefore, I don’t care to keep up with the Joneses on this one. Good to be aware of trends, though.

You’ll be shocked to hear that I also don’t want a RTT. Good thing, too, since the 2020 Outback roof max load per Subaru is only 176 pounds. Static or driving. Lots of people are very cranky about that on the forums.

Rabid Rotty > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 17:32

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“This hood felt like it weight a ton” should be "The hood felt like it weighed a ton"

Skip > wafflesnfalafel 10/27/2019 at 19:11

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Nope. I got a Sr 4x4 v6. With conv package for under 30.  Just gotta look 

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Matchthebox 10/27/2019 at 19:17

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can put 100k on that TRD and it’ll be worth $40k tho

Wrencher > TheRealBicycleBuck 10/27/2019 at 20:47

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I didn't even make it off the dealer lot. Hit my head getting in felt like I was sitting on the floor. It's a big truck but somehow manages to make you feel claustrophobic. Underpowered and lacking in all technology. And they want a premium for it for some reason. Hard pass.

nerd_racing > vicali 10/28/2019 at 09:20

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skittles* yep I’m old. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Matchthebox 10/28/2019 at 09:53

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Somehow, this post of yours netted over 15,000 views. Just FYI.

vicali > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/28/2019 at 11:29

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My parents camped, and still do, using their coleman stove that they got for a wedding present 45 years ago..

We got one for a wedding present in 2007 and it’s set to hit the 40 year mark as well;

vicali > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/28/2019 at 11:39

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vicali > wafflesnfalafel 10/28/2019 at 11:41

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El Manuel are usually shortbeds..

vicali > PyramidHat 10/28/2019 at 11:48

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There are a lot of Tacoma out there.. some of the attention is warranted, ie frame recall on 2005- 2nd gens.. Some of the issues are people not understanding the new 3.5 or having an auto tuned for mileage.. Some of the issues are dealers selling trucks with low diff/trans fluids.. A lot of people come from domestic bench seats and don’t like the ‘ sitting one the floor’ car style layout.

We bought a 17 after our dead reliable 05 packed it in. My experience is our toyota s work well and drive every single time you turn the key, no fuss. Right up until something big happens like the headgasket. Even then when we sold it we got a decent amount to put forward onto the new one- and if we had the time an space to fix it up we could have made out very well $$ wise.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > vicali 10/28/2019 at 11:59

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We rely on a campfire and/or our Whisperlite white gas backpacking stove.

I may someday get a Coleman like you showed . . . there are large numbers on LetGo/Cragslist/FB from people who decided to become campers, and then changed their minds.

HammerheadFistpunch > vicali 10/28/2019 at 13:06

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I been loving the ol model 413g my parents cooked on.  I guess they made them between ‘65 and ‘69.  Still running strong.

Not a Sunburst Miata > vicali 10/28/2019 at 14:20

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I have the 4Runner TRD Pro. Could I have purchased a TRD off road premium and spent a similar amount on upgrades? Yes, but I like having the upgraded capability with a factory warranty. Lots of people in the 4Runner community shit on people’s decisions to get the Pro variant at a higher cost, without fully understanding the reason that decision was made. I spend far too much money and time fixing and racing my Miata, I don’t want to have to spend money fixing my daily too. 

vicali > Not a Sunburst Miata 10/28/2019 at 14:51

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Your Miata is my Tacoma. I enjoy finding great products- BajaDesign vs getting a dealership package ie Rigids..

I’m sure the Miata community works the same..

Matchthebox > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/29/2019 at 21:55

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That’s interesting. Thanks for the info.

Matchthebox > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/29/2019 at 21:58

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H earing Toyota’s reliability and if someone plans to keep it long term I may agree with you.

Matchthebox > Rabid Rotty 10/29/2019 at 21:59

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Thank you. Will make the correction.

Matchthebox > PyramidHat 10/29/2019 at 22:05

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Toyota is still reliable at least that is what most feedbacks I heard from owners and youtubers. If there is talked of reliability issues then it could be due to the new tech that were added which are probably untested until something happens which for me I’d rather had old school tech with minor upgrades.  I guess time will tell.

Matchthebox > wafflesnfalafel 10/29/2019 at 22:09

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Sigh.. and I noticed the only thing getting cheaper are flat screen TVs. Why doesn’t that happen to cars as well. Unless of course you get a used one with tons of miles. :)

Matchthebox > TheRealBicycleBuck 10/29/2019 at 22:12

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Which truck was that?

Matchthebox > SiennaMan 10/29/2019 at 22:13

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Yeah I guess I’m way behind specially after keeping my current vehicle for so many years.

Matchthebox > vicali 10/29/2019 at 22:15

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RTT and Skottles? I’m new to these terms. LOL

Matchthebox > PowderHound 10/29/2019 at 22:17

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I’m thinking if I should get a truck and a tent to sleep in why not just get a 4runner instead . Instant roof above your head. :)

TheRealBicycleBuck > Matchthebox 10/30/2019 at 00:11

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I was replacing my Mazda B-3000. While I liked the ride height of the Tacoma, I hated how I didn’t fit in it. I had the same complaints as Wrencher - my head was too close to the roof and my feet were way out in front of me. It didn’t feel like a truck.

The suspension was also way too soft and there seemed to be a ton of body movement - fore and aft when braking and accelerating, and side-to-side on turns. It was like driving a marshmallow. I’m sure it was faster than my old Mazda, but it sure didn’t feel like it!