Toyota Sets Prices for Baja Series Tacoma
By Jake Lingeman
Toyota has released sticker prices for the TRD T/X Baja Series package for the Tacoma pickup. The off-road bits will tack on $5,015 to the sticker of a four-wheel-drive Tacoma, minus the current $650 factory credit. The least expensive version will sticker at $33,800 including shipping charges.
The Baja Series package adds:
-- Off-road-tuned front and rear TRD Bilstein racing shocks
-- Electronically controlled locking rear differential.
-- Active Traction Control (A-TRAC)
-- Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
-- Downhill Assist Control (DAC)
-- BF Goodrich T/A KO tires (LT265/70R-16) with bead-lock-style off-road wheels with exclusive gunmetal gray finish
-- TRD cat-back exhaust
-- Front ride height increased by nearly two inches
-- Matte black T|X Baja Vehicle side graphics
-- Exclusive TRD tailgate badge
The Baja Series was inspired by the company's racing heritage that dates back nearly three decades. Toyota's pedigree includes numerous titles at the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000. The option group is built on top of the company's TRD Off-Road package, which costs about $3,500 in 4x4 applications.
The Tacoma was updated for 2012 with a restyled front end including a new hood, grille and headlights. Inside, the Tacoma received a new instrument-panel design with a revised gauge cluster and a new steering wheel.
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma continues with the option of a 159-hp four-cylinder engine or a 236-hp V6.
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you do know that was over 10 years ago right?
No it wasn't. The recall was announced in March 2008 for Tacomas and expanded in November 2009 to include Toyota Tundras with the same problem. I don't know how you do your math, but there isn't 10 years between 2008/2009 and 2012.
Not saying their wasn't some sort of issue, only that some people are blowing it out of proportion.
Blowing it out of proportion? You're kidding, right? Over a million Tacomas and Tundras were recalled for the frame rust problem, that's a significant number. Owners like me were caught by surprise when they brought trucks that were only a few years old in for a state inspection and it failed because the frames were so rusty and were unsafe to drive. Further, some owners reported their trucks literally broke in half. Others had their trucks confiscated by Toyota when they brought them in for routine service and Toyota inspected the frames and found them unsafe. Imagine not being able to drive your truck home when you thought you were going in for just an oil change! Toyota offered customers different solutions depending on the truck and the severity of the rust. They would either pay the customer fair market value for the truck or replace the frame.......about a $15K job. Some that had their frames replaced complained that their trucks were crooked after that and couldn't go down the road straight. I'm not surprised considering they had to disassemble the body, drive line, etc. off the old frame and reinstall it on a new frame. You can't duplicate the accuracy of the process on an assembly line when your trying to do this in the service bay of the dealer. Those trucks will NEVER be the same. I'm glad they offered to buy mine for FMV and I got rid of it.
The blogs are filled with reports from owners of new Tacomas that are still reporting premature frame rusting, and even leaf springs rusting severely. This problem isn't going away. Anyone considering buying a late model Tacoma or Tundra better have the frame inspected first, or have the seller prove that Toyota has already replaced the frame under the recall. I'm wondering if the replacement frames are any better than the originals, or will they rot out in 3-4 years too?
Great post, DTOM. Nice to hear from someone with first hand experience and not just blind faith in Toyota.
I know of two people who had this problem, both trucks were bought back. One truck was only a few years old, and it was the original owner. He took it in for the recall, thinking it was fine as he had made it a habbit of washing the undercarraige in the winter months. Well, needless to say he was quite surprised when the Toyota tech brought him into the service bay and demonstrated the extent of the corrosion by pushing a screwdriver THROUGH the frame.
To those that don't have problems, well consider yourselves lucky to not live in the rust belt.
Also, while not as common a sight now (since the trucks have rotted way to nothing by this point), I remember in the 90's seeing tons of 80's Toy pickups with homemade wooden flatbeds....reason being the original beds had long since rusted away.
As far as the Baja, looks like a nice truck. However, unless the price includes the $3,500 TRD package (which is expensive in itself), 5k for that is ludicrous, you could easily replicate that with aftermarket parts for around half the price, excluding the electronic gizmos, which are uselss to someone that knows how to drive anyway. The electic rear locker is nice though, but I believe that comes with the TRD package as well.
How will this toyota baja compete against the ford raptor?
Not very well, unless you specifically need a smaller truck and /or the Raptor doesn't fit your budget.
Granted the Raptor costs at least ten grand more, but it's a much more comprehensive offroad package for your money. Besides being larger and able to work harder (towing, bed capacity), it has 160-some odd HP more (and way more torque), and a long travel, wider track suspension specifically engineered for offroad use and actually tested at Baja.
The Toyota suspension, on the other hand, sounds like a 2" leveling kit (these are available for basically ALL pickups these days - the rears always sit higher from the factory) and fancy blue and yellow shocks (Bilstein), something that you could replicate in your driveway in an afternoon for under 500 bucks.
This problem isn't going away. Anyone considering buying a late model Tacoma or Tundra better have the frame inspected first, or have the seller prove that Toyota has already replaced the frame under the recall.
Take it from someone who knows....INVEST IN RUST PROOFING!!
Sage advice indeed.
The problem I know about from a friend with an 03 Tundra was a broken frame from towing a storage trailer with a truck bed camper also. The dealer showed him the broken frame but, it was not due to rust. Stress cracks broken welds. Now I'm sure Tundras are as strong as the others.
Getting back to the Baja its too expensive, they better adjust the headlights. I'm tired of being blinded by drivers that raise there trucks but never adjust the lights. The useless CHP does nothing either. Thank you for all the lifted ones that do adjust the lights....
My faith is from a proven track record of durable, reliable, cost effective to own vehicles. They are certainly not perfect but they are amongst the most cost effective brands to own, along with Honda.
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