Looking for advice on buying 05 Tacoma - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

thunked · 04-13-2005, 12:29 AM

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a little advice on buying an 05 Tacoma. I'll try and bullet my questions so it's easier to answer.

1. What is the TRD package, and is it something worth getting if I will be offroading only occasionally? I like being able to fit say 33" tires on a truck - but is it more affordable to just buy a lift than the TRD package.

2. I find myself struggling between manual and automatic. I'm looking at the 4x4 V6, and I think it'd be fun to drive manual with etc.. but I also have a commute that involves stop and go traffic. What are the negatives of owning and automatic? What's a good way of determining what would suit me best? I'm pretty sure I WANT a manual, but I think an automatic makes more sense with the type of driving I do. Which have higher resale values?

3. Anyone here from California? Is there any advantages to buying my truck out of state- say like in Nevada or Arizona? My friend did this with his Dodge, and I don't remember the reason.

Thanks for any assitance you may be able to offer,
thunked

95G ATL · 04-13-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunked

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a little advice on buying an 05 Tacoma. I'll try and bullet my questions so it's easier to answer.

1. What is the TRD package, and is it something worth getting if I will be offroading only occasionally? I like being able to fit say 33" tires on a truck - but is it more affordable to just buy a lift than the TRD package.

2. I find myself struggling between manual and automatic. I'm looking at the 4x4 V6, and I think it'd be fun to drive manual with etc.. but I also have a commute that involves stop and go traffic. What are the negatives of owning and automatic? What's a good way of determining what would suit me best? I'm pretty sure I WANT a manual, but I think an automatic makes more sense with the type of driving I do. Which have higher resale values?

3. Anyone here from California? Is there any advantages to buying my truck out of state- say like in Nevada or Arizona? My friend did this with his Dodge, and I don't remember the reason.

Thanks for any assitance you may be able to offer,
thunked

#2. If you live in San Diego (I did for 25+ years) get the AUTOMATIC. Traffic sucks in all of Southern Cali and is only getting worse....! Glad I moved.

#3. They probably did it to avoid the 7.75% sales tax in SD, CA. They were also probably military where they can get away with it. Not a good idea to do that in Cali, sometimes they will tax you on the vehicle anyway. Cali Nazi DMV.

***Bakemono*** · 04-13-2005, 04:18 PM

# 1: the TRD package of great for off-roading but they do have a little bit stiffer ride than the non TRD 4x4s. If you are going to be spending the money for a 4x4, why not go all the way and get a TRD? That way you will have something that is practically unstoppable in almost all conditions.
# 2: If you do a lot of stop and go city driving, I would go with the automatic. You might think its cool to shift yourself, but working the clutch gets very tiring after a while, especially in city traffic. Also, city driving can be very hard on a clutch. Considering that it costs at least $600 to replace a clutch, the added cost of getting the automatic ($900) is worth every penny.
As for resale value, an automatic will hold its value better and will be easier to sell. Anyone can drive an automatic, but not everyone wants a manual tranny.
Cap'n

98wrangler · 04-14-2005, 02:01 PM

That means the truck has a rear actuated locker a bigg plus, heavy duty springs,bilstein shocks. Only used mine once in deep snow going uphill ona job site. If you want a lifted truck to offroad with get a newer wrangler they are solid axles front and rear and have tons of coil lift kits like Rubicon Express. I think a lifted taco would be cool but gas mileage and drivablity with suffer. Im running 33s on my jeep and the extra weight is alot. Im of the opinion TRD makes a taco worth $1400 more in my eyes. Stock springs are way to soft and even the trds are almost to soft try hauling a 1500lb load in one i have.

***Bakemono*** · 04-14-2005, 03:35 PM

No offense, but everyone I know who has a Jeep has almost constant problems with them.
My parents used to own a Grand Cherokee and that thing was practically worthless in the snow. I also wasnt impressed with the overall quality of that vehicle. I can tell you this, they only had that Cherokee a year before they traded it in on another Ford Explorer.
You are saying the springs are too soft for hauling 1500 pounds? Thats all the more payload that truck is rated for.
Cap'n

tacojet · 04-14-2005, 06:00 PM

The Rubicon is pretty a pretty sweet off the shelf 4wd machine. I'm not a big JEEP fan, however I have a lot of respect for that model. Too bad it's:

Just Everyone Else's Parts

An oldy, couldn't resist!

***Bakemono*** · 04-14-2005, 07:41 PM

You may or may not be aware of this, but Jeep owners and 4Runner owners have somewhat of a rivalry.
A common phrase that is used when one of Jeeps breaks down is, "Oh, its a Jeep thing. I understand."

Dont get me wrong, I dont discriminate anyone regardless of what they drive. No matter what you own, (even if its the same make and model as what I have) mine is a little bit prettier, faster and the exhaust sounds better than yours. Make no mistake though, win lose or draw the beer still tastes just as good at the end of the day and no matter what happens, I cant wait to go racin'/muddin' again!

Cap'n

98wrangler · 04-14-2005, 09:23 PM

I cant really say my 99tacoma,trd,4x4 is an offroader with 31 inch tires but for a truck it is good far better than a Ranger,zr2,mazda,nissan thats a given. But i like both vehicles and have found the Tj wrangler to be very reliable i understand some pit falls of the cherokes auto tranys but the 4.0 liter engine is the shiznack one of the best engines off all time. Wonder why you dont see yotas in moab with the ifs front end? Its all good both are cool dont let this be a pissing contest mine will win hehe.

95G ATL · 04-15-2005, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Toyota

No offense, but everyone I know who has a Jeep has almost constant problems with them.
Cap'n

I concure, -owned 3 Jeeps in my day. The 4.0 liter engine is great, though everything else will give you issues sooner or later. I had tons of issues with my 3 Jeeps from oil leaks to no start conditions.

My parents also owned a Grand Cherokee & before that a regular Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee has the rear end go bad, major engine oil leak, ABS issues, and cracked exhaust manifold right after 70k miles. This was a vehicle that never saw the off road and was driven by my parents in their 50's. JEEP = WORTHLESS. Just my 2 cents.

I have never had major issues with any of the 6 toyota trucks we have owned in the past 15 years. Just normal maintenance and gasoline....that's it. TOYOTA = RELIABILITY.

NEVER WILL BUY ANOTHER JEEP AGAIN.....NEVER!

98wrangler · 04-17-2005, 01:09 PM

Everyone says that jeeps arent reliable which ones they talking about lol. Im still on my original battery my 99 taco has crapped out and dont get me started on ford explorer crap had one done that. To date ive replaced rotors,pads and soon the starter contacts oo and ive got this nagging check engine light been on for 6 months and cant figure it out

. I agree the yotas are great but to say there better than jeep haha. Ive owned 7 wranglers for a reason resale,4x4,convertible does it all and i tow my 2200 lb boat. Yotas brakes win that one. Wrangler is the number one resale vehicle and tacoma came second. Toyota service is the worst going bar none and i would not purchase a new one for this reason had warranty issues under the 3 year 36 and they gave me the serious run around i say screw Karl Malone Toyota may they go bankrupt.