Well guys, I have been researching and contemplating this for a long time and I think I'm ready to get a new Tacoma.

I will be selling my 4Runner to ADH8796 here on the boards and I will hopefully be getting a new Tacoma to fill it's place.

Now for the questions, and yes, of course, I have searched.

I am wanting to wait until the '08s come out because I want to see what changes are going to be made to make sure that I'm not going to be shortchanging myself by just going out and getting an '07, however I don't want to risk them getting rid of some options that I would like to have. I have heard rumors that they will no longer offer a Locking Rear Diff, which I can't really believe, but it's always a possibility.

My main questions are:

1) Do any of you know of any changes that are going to be made to the '08s? Only serious answers please, I have heard a lot of BS floating around.

2) I have heard positives and I have heard negatives about the VSC and TRAC systems. I know they would be great for only on-road driving but hopefully one day I will have the guts to take it off-road...is it worth the extra $950? I am coming from a true 4x4 with open diffs.

3) Is it worth the extra $350 or so for the "Vehicle Shield Package?" I will be taking extremely good care of this truck, as in washing it WAY too much, cleaning it out WAY too much and doing a lot of other OCD things.

I think that's about it. I have decided on going with the TRD Sport package. I would love to have the rear locker but the Sport edition looks to damn good and if I eventually grow the cojones to off-road it then I can add one later on. Even the Limited Slip Diff will be better than a completely open setup.

Now I just have to figure out what my expenses are going to be in the new house, I moved in with 3 buddies into a huge house, ADH8796 being one of them, so I need to see what our expenses are going to be for sure before I commit to a $300/mo.+ car payment.

Any other advice you can give me on what to look for in a Tacoma would be appreciated, once again, I have searched but I wanted to ask these specific questions as a search for them hasn't yielded very many true opinions.

Thanks guys!

Fink

 

I haven't heard that, but I find it very hard to believe.

Still unknown at this point. The truck design tends to last longer than other cars, so if anything is changed, it might be cosmetic stuff like hood, grill, lights, fenders, etc. But sales are strong, so why change a good thing. Maybe more luxury/convenience items as well. Rumors about V8's or Diesels are nothing more than rumors (although it would be really nice if one or both came true)

If you don't plan on taking it off road, then why do you care about the locker (previous quote)? Is VSC/TRAC worth $950 - NO. Is it a good and seemless system? NO. But VSC is a safety feature, so if you want added on-road safety, go for it.

God no. Might as well toss 350 bucks out the window.

Sport is a good choice if you don't plan on off-roading, as is the base SR5. But the Sport seats are pretty nice, and far better than the standard seats. I chose the OR package because I wanted the locker. Other than that, you can do better in the aftermarket world for parts and accessories to outfit the truck.

 

I plan on going camping and stuff like that but definitely no rock crawling or mud or anything. Tight trails are a no go, especially since I'll probably be going black.

I don't really have a problem spending that much more on the VSC and stuff but I've heard you can't turn the TRAC system off so if I do just wanna have a true 4x4 and want to be able to power through something without the computer beeping at me and turning on the ABS then I'm screwed. So I'll probably opt to not get it. Although I've heard the Hill Assist is pretty cool but I don't know if I want to pay the extra dough.

Thanks for the input Jacket, you were somebody I was hoping would reply.

Fink

 

yea - the TRAC is "interesting" to say the least. I haven't got used to it yet. I know it is designed to assist and aid with traction for the open/open diffs, but as you noted, it's not the same as using the gas pedal to work through something. I'm going to give it more time before I start pulling fuses or modding the wiring.

I think the 07 Tacomas have a switch to disable VSC (which is a very nice addition by Toyota that I wish I had), but I don't think it affects TRAC.

I've actually been using the DAC quite a bit on some of the steep trails here, and I kinda like it more and more. It's a pretty good alternative for the auto transmission so you don't have to ride the brakes all the way down.

 

The switch on the '07 trucks has three settings. The first is obviously full VSC and TRAC on, followed by VSC off, TRAC on and then VSC off, TRAC off. I'm still trying to figure out the wiring to see if I can have the locaker engaged with TRAC. I know the FJ Cruiser Forum has figured this out so should be possible.

Scott

 

Well I think I've decided to go with an '08. I'm going to go talk to my Dad to see if he can hook me up with a good size down payment and then I will just pay him interest instead of having to get a loan.

I will go up to the dealership on the 4th and place my order. My salesman said that it should take about 2-3 months for the order to be finished and then I'll have myself a brand new '08 Taco Double Cab!

As far as options go, after seeing a bunch of different Taco's. I think I'm going to with:

TRD Sport Package
V6 Towing Package
JBL Premium Stereo
Security System Upgrade
Skid plate
Truck bed extender

Hopefully it will all pan out like I hope.

If you guys have any suggestions or things you would do different if you had to do it again, let me know.

Thanks guys!

Fink

 

Congrats, looks like you're set!

Which bed? What color? The Long Bed is a unique animal with the Sport Package, and looks killer in Speedway Blue. Longer than the last Tundra, curtain airbags available and standard mechanical limited slip (less intrusive than A-LSD or TRAC).

Have a CYA clause on the purchase order state: "All dealer and customer incentives to apply at time of delivery", or something like that. Have the new vehicle manager initial it. A few months from now it could save you another $2K+.

 

Black Double Cab 4x4 V6 Ash Interior Short Bed

This is my first time buying a new car so I guess I don't understand what a CYA clause is and what it does, could somebody explain that to me? I'm assuming it means whatever deals we decide on now will stay that way when I take delivery of the vehicle?

Thanks man!

Fink

 

Ya, Cover Your A**. If it isn't stated in the sales agreement and you take delivery during one of the sales thrust months loaded with dealer and customer cash, you're stuck with previously negotiated deal. I'd think a fair dealer would work with you. If not, go buy the truck for less at the next dealer over who will transfer the car from the first dealer for you.

 

Will they even agree on a price before the vehicle shows up? I'd like to know how much I'm going to be paying before I order it so that I'm not out the $500 deposit I had to put down to order it.

Thanks for the advice, any more would be greatly appreciated so I don't get screwed.

Fink

 

Sure, you get to specify the price...it's your money. Write on the agreement either something like your agreed upon amount "plus price increase, if any, from Toyota on the 2008's", or "agrees to pay $XXX over net invoice including all dealer and customer incentives".

If the dealer balks, move on. It's not like Tacomas are limited production or are in short supply on the lots.

Keep in mind incentives may not apply to '08's until late December though, so you could plan to delay delivery until then.

I don't know how it works there, but around here your deposit is refundable.

 

I guess my question was, since I am ordering an '08 Tacoma, which isn't out yet, will they be able to give me a price?

The plan as of now is to walk in and tell them I don't have a trade-in, what is the best deal they can give me on the truck by itself. After that, tell him that I'll have $12,000 to put down after selling my rig for $10k to ADH8796 and building up about $2,000 in savings between now and the time the Taco arrives.

The only options that I *have* to have is the trailer hitch but I think the Taco's look weird without a TRD package so I will get the Sport package. I also figure, it's a $30k vehicle why not spend 1% of the vehicle price on a security system upgrade. The only other option that I thought about adding was the JBL Premium Audio upgrade...does anybody have this? Is it worth the extra $360?

If I did my math right, it'll break down like this:

Price of vehicle: $30,000
Down Payment: $12,000
Interest Rate: 7.2% (might get it lower but I'm going worst-case)
Term: 72 months

My payments will be around $310/month...that is doable. Now that's not including all the various stupid fees they throw onto it but I am going to try and negotiate the price of the truck around those fees so that I am not out any more money because of them. Sales tax is a different thing.

That's the plan as of now, what do you all think? Anything I'm not thinking of?

I'm going up there tomorrow to tentatively place my order...

Fink

 

Good luck. I love my truck, i have a red trd sport with the grey interior. The LSD is really nice in these trucks and is "tight" enough that I can hear my oversized tires scrub going around turns. I wouldn't hesitate on anything except buying new. With good credit you should be able to get virtually the same interest rate (or less) on a used one and save yourself a ton of money. Unless you just want to buy new.

 

No '08 specs or pricing yet.

I'm thinking the dealer will have better finance rates than those above, and no matter what they quote, it's negotiable. There were some good rates last month, most likely again soon.

 

I bought my '06 Tacoma used (at a Chevy dealer), with 15,000 miles. Looking at various dealer websites at new Tacomas with the same basic equipment, I bought mine for more than $5000 under the MSRP for a new one. There was $1000 cash back on the new ones, so I still saved over $4000. They also gave me more for my '06 Wrangler Unlimited on trade than what I was offered by a Toyota dealer on a new one.

With plenty of negotiating, I might could have found a new one for less than MSRP. But it still wouldn't have been as cheap as the one I bought.

After trade (I owed a bit more than I was offered on my trade) and $18,000 down, my payments are $329 for 4 years (including a 5/75 extended warranty).

One thing I would suggest is that you not finance for 72 months. Unless you have a real big down payment, at some point in time you run the risk of having the vehicle being worth less than what you owe on it. Plus, you will probably pay a higher interest rate.

I wouldn't finance a new one for more than 60 months if at all possible.

 

Order has been placed. I decided to go with an '07, according to the dealer the '08s will be identical to the '07s and the '07s are cheaper and are already available, obviously. If I had placed an order for an '08 there was a chance it would have come in as an '07 anyway. Toyota said that I would have to wait until the end of this month til the middle of August (when they're going to be released) to order one, that's a month away plus the 3-4 months production time.

I placed an order for a Black 2007 Tacoma Double Cab V6 4x4 Auto TRD Sport, should be here by the end of the month or early August at the latest.

The only options that I got that are factory installed are:

-Upgraded Security System
-V6 Towing Package

Other ones that I will add as soon as I take delivery are:

Husky Liners
Truck Bed Extender
Bed mat

I'm pumped, to say the least.

Thanks for all the help!

Fink;devil:

 

I LOVE my TRAC setup... you should have seen the uproar at TTORA when I said my taco has OEM ATRAC ... It works really really well, in playing around I have found times when it is better than the locker, like when crawling thru a ditch when your 20* nose up, 5* sideways and dont want to slide.. Even with 2 tires almost int he air the ATRAC pulls you clean thru, with it off I went backwords, and with the locker the ass slid, then pushed me thru... Now there are going to be many times when wheel spin will win, or when the locker is needed... but its a great tool to have when out playing..

Yes the 07+ has a switch that can disable it all....

It works like this

2wd, momentary push = Auto LSD, TRAC OFF, VSC ON
2wd, 3 sec push = TRAC OFF, VSC OFF
4wd (VSC defaults off), 3 sec push = ATRAC OFF
4wd low range (VSC defaults off), 3 sec push = ATRAC OFF


Should be a sweet rig... What did you end up for price wise? When I ordered mine it was 100 over invoice.....

 

Mine ended up being about $500 over invoice. I knew the salesman and he had been good to me in the past and he already worked with me a lot so I didn't wanna nickel and dime him and he said the lowest the manager (douche) was going to go was $400 over invoice so I told him to give it to me for that and I would cut him a check for $50, split the difference.

Still an expensive truck though, sales tax is a ...pain.

Fink

 

Good deal.. cant complain about that price... and yeah tax sucks

 

You won't need the bed liner. The bed bottom, sides, front, and the inside of the tailgate are made of a very strong and stiff plastic. No paint to get scraped or scratched, no steel to rust.

Unless you just happen to want a spray-in liner to keep stuff from sliding around, no bed liner is needed.

A bed mat isn't needed either, except to keep stuff from sliding around.