Tacoma's 04 vs. 05, X-Cab vs. Double-Cab

[Yota87Truck]

 
If you have a 95-04 it applies to the 04 if you have a 05 and up it applies to the 05, but I am debating on buying an 04 or and 05 tacoma, I like the 04 body style best and I like the x cab best but im worried about being able to fit kids car seats in the back when I do have kids.  If i couldn't fit a car seat in the rear of the 04 x-cab my next choice would be an 05 x-cab, if the car seats wouldn't fit in that then my next choice would be a 04 d-cab, and my last choice would be an 05 d-cab. 

What are your guys thoughts on the back seat room on these different models?

What are your thoughts on the wheeling capabilites of the different models?

[BLACKDOG]

95-04 is going to be a tight fit for child seats in the xcab.  I won't say they won't fit, but its going to be tight. 

[Stocker]

Mrs. Stocker & I bought a new '05 DC 4x4 -- it now has ~33K miles on it and we have been mostly satisfied with it.

As to the back seat, we were not at all impressed with the access cab -- but the double cab (your last choice, I know) has an excellent rear seat, in size and comfort... and the rear doors are large so entry/exit is easy. Windows go all the way down, too.

We don't off-road ours (though it is the TRD OffRoad model) but it seems a bit large for that, including too long. Depends on what you want to do with it, though, and of course it can be modded. The DC short bed is the same length as the AC longbed. 

'05s came in 3 trim levels -- SR5, TRD OffRoad, and TRD Sport. Rear LSD is optional on SR5 and standard on Sport, while OffRoad trucks got an open diff with electric locker. Most people prefer the TRD seats over the SR5 seats. Sport got a non-functional hood scoop and painted mirrors, bumpers, and grill surround. SR5 and OffRoad got black mirrors and chrome bumpers and grille surround. There are also differences in some interior bits.

Each model has its own shocks and springs, with Bilsteins on the TRD trucks. SR5 and Sport got linear springs, and OffRoad got progressive springs.  Oh, and 16" wheels came on SR5 and OffRoad, with Sport models getting 17".

What else... a lightweight (and weak) tailgate that is fine if you don't overload it.  A plastic bed that seems to hold up well.  Very little sound deadening, but some people have added it.  Depending on how you drive, expect ~18 mpg. Excellent H4 headlamps. Rear drum brakes, but they work well -- though the brakes are overboosted to my taste. An all-but-sealed (and very good) 5-speed auto trans. Great power from the 4.0L V6. An overly sensitive cruise control on some trucks, but works well on others.

That's all I can think of for now. Hope this helps -- I'd be happy to answer any other questions that I can, either in this thread or though PM if you prefer.

[*** YELLER ***]

My father in law has an 04 Tacoma double cab 4X4  and its great lots of room and it has everything you could want, and is very comfortable Im 6'1" and over 275lbs and I have no trouble driving long distance there is room for full size adults and car seat. good luck on the purchase 

[Yota87Truck]

Stocker:
Wow!!  you know a lot about new tacoma's, I know quite a bit about the old stuff, but I have been trying to catch up on the new models.  I definatly want the TRD off road package and a tow package and a v6, whiether an 04 or an 05 model...  Mostly I want the locker and I will probably tow my 87 with the tacoma... and the v6 cause im sick of my truck not having enough balls...22r is just not a horse power maker

[Stocker]

Happy Hunting!  Try to test drive a few of each ('04 & '05), even if the color & equipment is wrong -- for comparison and to get a feel for the trucks & their differences.  It'll be interesting to see what you end up with. They seem to hold their value pretty well....  hope you can find one you like at a decent price!   

[Yota87Truck]

Well, I decided on the 05 D-cab, for a number of different reasons:

4.0 V6
Back seat room
Manual Transmission (04 d-cab is automaic only)
I would like the D-cab long bed, but not with trading off the manual trannie for it...

We stopped by the toyota dealership today and I looked in the back seat of the new access cab, I was hoping the 2nd gen tacoma's had a bigger access cab.  But they were surprisingly small.  I looked at the new double cabs and fell in love!  The salesman acutally has an 03 d-cab with the 3.4 on 35's so I was actually able to talk to someone with my point of view, he suggested the 4.0 because of the lack of power with his 35's.  He has some friends with a 4.0 and 37's and says it has more power than his stock 3.4.  I know its his job to sell the new and greatest thing, but it did make me think a lot about it and I would rather a little overpowered vehicle than a little underpowered vehicle.  My wife also looked at the fj cause that's what we want to get her(in 4-5 years).  We were worried about kids in the back seat of that too, but after looking at it she said screw a camry and good gas mileage and lets go straight to a fj...  So I'll hopefully have an 05 Taco D-cab, 4.0, short bed, manual, TRD off road by the end of this year!!! I can't wait!

[Stocker]

I don't think you'll regret that decision.   fwiw, the 6-speed manual shifts kinda like a truck box (go figure ) -- it doesn't have the most clearly defined gates so it can take a bit of getting used to before you're completely comfortable with it.  That's just from my experience on a test drive more than three years ago; a lot of guys love their manual boxes and would never consider an automatic.  Also bear in mind that my last manual box was in a Miata, and they are well-known for superb shifting.

Good luck finding a truck you like at a price that suits you!   

[Yota87Truck]

Stocker(or anybody else):
So far I have one question on the 05 D-cab.  How is the 4wd engaged?  I have heard it's a push button and not a stick shift type 4wd?  If so how well does it work, I know you mentioned that you don't off road yours, but even knowing how the 4wd is engaged would be nice...

Oh, one more thing, does the rear window(to bed) roll down? or is it just solid glass?

[Stocker]

While I don't off-road it, we've had it in snow several times and on steep enough dirt/gravel roads to need 4WD.... There's a non-illuminated twist-knob on the dash for 2WD, 4WD-HI, and 4WD-LO. It can sometimes take a few moments to engage/disengage, but it works very well -- though I am old school and prefer floor levers! And you can shift-on-the-fly up to 50 mph. There's a little icon on the dash that flashes if your selection hasn't yet mechanically occurred, and stays lit when 4WD is engaged, so you'll know for sure that you are locked in. 

From the factory, the e-locker can only be engaged in 4LO, and only up to about 5 mph or so....  but it can be modified to lock whenever you want it to.

The rear window has a sliding center section.