I’m happy to introduce the latest project vehicle for ImportMeet.com – my 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road!
I picked up this truck in October 2017. The main reason was so that I could have a reliable/safe daily driver in the winter months and vehicle to use for events. It has significantly more storage space than any of my other vehicles and can tow a small enclosed trailer in the future.
As an import enthusiast I’ve always had admiration for the Tacoma. I knew that if I ever got a truck that it would be hard to pick something different. I did consider a Honda Ridgeline but the price for a similarly equipped version was significantly more.
The specific model I went with is a double cab short bed TRD Off-Road with the 3.5L V6 and automatic transmission. While these are offered in a 6-speed manual (which many people recommend over the auto) the ease of driving in traffic and future resale were what made me want to go automatic.
This model is of course 4X4 and is loaded with the same main features as the TRD Pro model (Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Mode, and an electronic locking rear differential) without the cosmetic goodies and markup.
The V6 is new for this generation and makes 278 hp @ 6000 rpm. Gas mileage is decent for a truck this size at 19 city and 24 on the highway. With the included tow package it can tow up to 6500 lbs.
It was difficult to decide on the color but I ended up going with Super White over my second choice, Magnetic Gray Metallic. I’ve also always been a huge fan of white Tacomas in older generations and I also particularly like the black/white two-tone look with the unpainted overfenders.
I went to the local dealer that was making crazy deals on the last of the 2017 models they had on their lot. Being a popular truck, they had nearly every version available to test drive. In comparison the TRD Sport had more interior options, painted fender flares, and a faux hood scoop that make it more visually appealing. However, with the Premium and Technology package the Off-Road can get the heated seats, blind spot monitoring, painted rear bumper, and sunroof. This is in addition to the better Bilstein shocks and other off road options mentioned previously.
I was able to drive the 6 foot and 5 foot bed trucks back to back and I was amazed at how different they felt. The longer bed just seemed like a bigger truck (the wheelbase is 1 foot longer) and visually looked more like a grandpa truck.
It was a tough decision between the Sport and Off-Road but the dealer had a fully loaded Super White double cab 5 foot bed TRD Off-Road already on order. I figured if I ever needed more length I could get a bed extender or drop the tailgate. The dealer estimated a week for delivery but it took a full two weeks to get after signing the paperwork. The wait was hard but worth it as I got the exact truck I wanted. I also saved $4K over MSRP since they sold it before it hit the lot.
One option that I had to settle with was the tri-fold tonneau cover. This is a factory-installed option so it was already on the truck and couldn’t be removed. I didn’t like it primarily because of how it looked but I’ve learned to appreciate it for hauling stuff under cover. It’s easy to remove by myself so it’s not a huge deal and I’ll probably store it in the garage during the summer months.
Overall, I’m very happy with the purchase. After driving the Tacoma for 3 months and putting about 3500 miles on it I feel like I’m used it now. Going from driving a small sports car most of the time to a vehicle much higher off the ground was weird at first but I’ve been enjoying it on longer trips. The only gripe I have is that the automatic transmission can get annoying at times hunting for gears but I think this is common on newer vehicles tuned for fuel economy. It has gotten better over time which can be attributed to me getting used to it or the transmission learning my driving style.
I’ll be sharing upgrades I perform on the truck (big and small) and might even start a video series. Stay tuned!
Photo credit: Gauge cluster, climate control, and seat photos from Toyota.
1 Comment
Hi Matt. It’s been a while since you made this post. I’d love to see how far along your truck has come and meet you at Sping Fest in Kent this March. If you are in the Seattle or Kent I’d very much like to meet you and interview you about the Toyota Tacoma scene and what it means to be a driver here in the PNW. Hoping this message finds you well and you’re enjoying the 4×4 Off-Road features given the soggy weather and flooding we’ve been having recently.
Beyond
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