I bought a thing, AMA!

"jasmits" (jasmits) 01/28/2018 at 18:42 • Filed to: None

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Well, technically I bought it almost two months ago, but life has been pretty busy since and I never quite got around to making a post until now. Anyway, here it is! A 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road with(yes!) the 6-speed manual.

I never thought I’d buy a new vehicle but here we are, never say never I guess! What it came down to was needing to thin down to one vehicle because of unpredictable parking situations, needing something that was reliable to a fault/not be a time pit for a long commute for a job I take seriously and can’t jeopardize because I’m a weirdo who likes shitboxes, but also am at a point in my life where I can afford something like this.

I went for a Tacoma because I wanted proper four-wheel-drive and a manual, which makes my options this or a Wrangler. I considered something sporty like a Fiesta ST or a GTI but I wanted this vehicle to be something I’d keep for a very long time. I could see myself keeping this as long as it lasts, which should be very long being a Tacoma, but I know myself and my automotive ADHD. I’ll always lust after various sporty things but a truck is a truck. I’d rather have this as a bulletproof daily/adventure/utility vehicle for a very long time and pick up some cheap/fun shitbox in a few years when I have a more predictable parking situation, or not depending on where life takes me.

If anyone’s every had a question about a stick 3rd-gen Tacoma ask away! I’ll probably write an in-depth review eventually.

vicali > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 20:03

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How is the Safety Sense? How intrusive is it? Or so you notice it at all?

My bird IS the word > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 20:12

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I’m legit thinking about getting one of these (TRD sport actually). Is there anything I should know ahead of time?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 20:14

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Congrats!

How is the clutch? I really disliked the one on a ‘14 base model I drove for a week. Absolutely no feedback. I did find out it was in a major front end collision so maybe they botched the pedals on repair, because others tell me they like the clutch on the second gen.

jasmits > vicali 01/28/2018 at 20:14

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Haven’t noticed it at all besides getting beeped at once when someone slammed on their brakes in front of me(I don’t think it applied the brakes for me, or if it did it was only a hair before I got on them myself), so not very intrusive at all I guess if you pay a reasonable amount of attention while driving.

I do actually use the radar cruise control, I didn’t think I would like it but I do a lot of long highway trips and I have to admit it’s actually pretty nice.

jasmits > My bird IS the word 01/28/2018 at 20:18

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No major surprises, it’s pretty much exactly what I expected. I would still tell two-months ago me to go ahead and buy it knowing what I know now.

jasmits > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/28/2018 at 20:19

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Thanks!!

Clutch is fine, not a ton of feedback but it’s a truck. No complaints and engagement is easy.

vicali > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 20:20

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Nice- a lot of fuss being made because some dealers are saying no lift on the 2018..

Our 17 Sport has been amaze.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 20:25

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Does it grab super high? Mine grabbed maybe 2" depressed, very frustrating 

jasmits > vicali 01/28/2018 at 20:26

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Hm, hadn’t considered it affecting a lift but I don’t have any plans to lift it for a long time if ever so I guess I’ll cross that bridge if I come to it in 10+ years.

Nice on the Sport!! They’re great trucks.

jasmits > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/28/2018 at 20:28

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It grabs on the higher side but so have all the other vehicles I’ve owned so I guess I’m just used to that. I’ve stalled a few friend’s cars on the first start because the clutches grabbed before I even thought about getting on the throttle.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 20:30

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I’ll stall any modern car. They’re all so “sporty” and seem to grab right above the damn floor. The clutch in my pickup grabs vaguely in the middle, it’s perfect.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 20:43

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How is the interior? I sat in a floor model and everything just didn’t feel as good as my 4runner.

vicali > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 21:01

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Haha- come to Tacomaworld and see..

Under_Score > jasmits 01/28/2018 at 21:11

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Do these have nice Truecar/USAA discounts? People said the CR-V didn’t have good discounts, but my mom got over four grand off of hers.

jasmits > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 01/29/2018 at 10:30

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What gen is yours again??

It’s decent enough although there is definitely some hard plastic around. It is comfortable and well equipped and fit/finish is good but yeah, a lot of stuff isn’t amazing to the touch.

jasmits > Under_Score 01/29/2018 at 10:30

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No idea, not a member of either of those.

jasmits > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/29/2018 at 10:31

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That’s kind of how this is. Honestly rather similar to how my second gen 4Runner was which I would imagine being similar to your truck.

I’ve never gotten that, it’s easier to bang out fast shifts with a higher engagement anyway.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > jasmits 01/29/2018 at 10:40

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It’s a 3rd gen.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jasmits 01/29/2018 at 11:32

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You can imagine that the only “banging” you’ll get out mine is when you carelessly toss stuff in the back of the bed.

Under_Score > jasmits 01/29/2018 at 11:48

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You don’t have to be a member of TrueCar; I was just wondering if they gave good discounts with these, like $5,000+ off MSRP. That’s very common with big trucks.

jasmits > Under_Score 01/29/2018 at 13:29

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Not really on mid-sized like Tacomas or Colorado/Canyons, the huge discounts are really only on the full sized like F150s and Silverados. Those discounts are why so many people who only need mid-size capability end up in full sizes because they only end up costing a little more after discounts. For me I have no need or interest in something bigger than this so a full size wasn’t even on my radar.

I did pay a few grand under msrp but not massively so.

jasmits > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 01/29/2018 at 13:32

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Nice! I mean some of the materials do feel a bit cheaper(like what’s up with modern cloth seats, what happened to the nice carpety material they used to use) but quality seems good overall

Under_Score > jasmits 01/29/2018 at 17:35

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That’s still good. You probably paid less than a used one haha.

jasmits > Under_Score 01/29/2018 at 21:17

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I saw used ones listed higher lol, it’s madness

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > jasmits 05/23/2018 at 09:55

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By any chance, did you test drive a manual Frontier before buying your Tacoma? Just trying to get a feel of how the manual is - not sure if I’ll be able to find one to test drive. I drove a very nice Pro-4X, but was let down by the transmission and the ride & handling (I think this could’ve been the tires). I know it’s a truck, so some harshness is to be expected, but I need it to be decent on my 30 mile commute as well.

jasmits > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/23/2018 at 10:55

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I didn’t ever test drive one. I knocked the idea around but could barely even find any manual Frontiers listed and those that were in my area were entirely too expensive for what you’re getting. Cool trucks though, especially the Pro-4X if they were priced better.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > jasmits 05/23/2018 at 11:17

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Gotcha - you enjoy driving the manual in your truck, though?

Clearly a different experience than you’d have in a Fiesta ST or GTI, but no regrets going three pedal in the truck?

jasmits > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/23/2018 at 14:59

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None at all regarding the manual in the truck, already 15k in less than 6 months haha. I just prefer the way pretty much anything drives with a manual and don’t mind the inconvenience because it’s not like my left leg and right arm have anything better to be doing. Sometimes I wish I could’ve kept my 4Runner as a trail rig alongside an ST but in retrospect I’m very happy I downsized to one car, two would over complicate my life at the moment

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > jasmits 05/23/2018 at 15:08

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That’s a lot of miles! I’m pretty much the same way when it comes to driving a manual, but I don’t like the prospect of possibly committing to buy one without getting to drive it first (none with manual on the lots around here).

jasmits > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/23/2018 at 15:23

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That makes complete sense, a manual transmission or dual clutch will make most vehicles drive better to me but better than bad can still be bad

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > jasmits 06/24/2018 at 17:24

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Coming back to this - I managed to test drive drive a Tacoma with the manual recently (a TRD Sport) and the transmission was so, so much better than the one in the Frontier! Might end up buying one very much like yours, still trying to figure out if I should pull the trigger or not...

jasmits > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2018 at 19:31

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Nice!! I’ve still been very happy with it. No surprises really, what you see is pretty much what you get. I wouldn’t recommend someone to buy one without test driving it, mostly because the seating position doesn’t have much customizability so you sorta either like it or not but past that it’s been exactly what I expected