So, decision finally made. It’s to be a Toyota Tacoma in the end. They got a manual transmission in about a week ago and called me down or a test drive. It was an access cab, not the double cab I’m interested in, but it was just so I could try out the manual short-box.
It felt ….. right. Familiar, kinda comfortable, like an old shoe…. but updated by 20 years. While some things were different: like push button four wheel drive (…very strange to me), reverse is to me and up rather than over and down, and a box rather than a closed in back (truck vs SUV), many things were the same. The 4runner I have is still so similar to this little (relatively speaking) truck.
So after a good drive and some conversations about the vehicle, we went in to see exactly what I wanted and what a possible production date would be. I can’t see buying a 2009 when the 2010’s are no different and only $15 more…no, there were not any zeroes missing there. Buying Toyota is strange, there is no bargaining and that’s weird for me. I always haggle. But with Toyota, the price is the price. Period.
This is what I’m getting, this colour too. Black is too hard to keep the paint looking good, white is boring without some decal, silver grey…been there, done that, red, not likely, don’t like the blue. So metallic grey it is.
I suppose I will haggle when it comes to the accessories…
So I gave a deposit, and now find out that the production date is October 8th with delivery approximately 3 weeks later…and then of course it will need to hang about the dealership while it gets a skid plate, rock rails, a block heater, a tonneau cover, a roof rack, and a hood deflector installed.Still looks a little weird to me with the long cab and the short box, but I suppose I will get used to it eventually.
So all in all, I’ve made the decision to buy it…and now I can’t have it until November sometime….. that’s just cruel and positively painful to an impatient person like me!
I hope the 4runner survives long enough…