Platinum vs TRD Pro: Seeking advice on my first Tundra (and first truck) purchase

Hi all.
I've been reading through the forums over the past couple months prepping to make my first ever truck purchase. I suppose a thanks makes sense to start for all the contributors out there. So much great info on this site. Apologies in advance for the longish post to come, but thanks to anyone who can provide some thoughts.

For anyone who doesn't want to read through the full post, here's the executive summary:

• I like the comfort and ride of the Platinum, but the look of the TRD Pro.
• What are the options I have to get the Platinum as close to TRD Pro styling as I can, without making it a stiffer ride?
• Aside from Android Auto (which is important to me), any other reasons to wait for the 2020s to come out and when can we expect those? I think I read Sept.

I'd love some input on my specific situation. I'm looking to make my first truck purchase. I'm coming off 15 years on a Land Cruiser I loved that it never needed anything outside of scheduled maintenance, oil changes and gas, and a 4Runner before that which also was never in the shop. My wife is in the German car camp and while I love driving whatever she has, her cars spend way more time in service than mine ever have.

Anyways, I'm looking to move out of the SUV world and into my first truck. I've always wanted one and while my day job is web-related, I've spent a good chunk of my non-work time DIY'ing and fixing up houses over the past 8-10 years. We just moved and bought a tear down house in the Portland area and I need a new car so I thought no better time to finally get that truck!

I drove some F150s, Ram 1500 and Tundras. While my wife and I liked the look of the Raptor, neither of us were a fan of the ride and the cost just seems excessive. We will be doing some Portland to SoCal road trips so something comfortable over the longhaul is important. We drove the Raptor, a TRD Pro and a Tundra Platinum back-to-back-to-back at the same dealership and we were both biggest fans of the Platinum ride and comfort. I love the look of the TRD Pro, but the less comfy seats and lack of seat heaters/coolers was a deal breaker for her. Not a deal breaker for me, but seems odd that seat heaters/coolers aren't even an option on a 50K truck.

Checked all the Consumer Reports and other ratings and while it looks like the Tundra lacks in some areas like mpg, it was the far out winner in reliability and I already have a ton of confidence in Toyota from my years with the LC and the 4Runner. And hey, the MPG on the Tundra is still better than my old LC!

So I'm set on a Tundra and think I'm pretty set on the Platinum, but I really do like the look of the TRD Pro. In full transparency, I'm not really doing any offroading, just like the look more. So here are some of the questions:

• I've looked a bit into what it might take to add some of the Pro styling to the Platinum (black emblems, pro grill, wheels, black dual exhaust, etc) so was interested in getting an idea if anyone else has gone through that process. How close can I get without completely overpaying? Any recommendations on places to look for the parts, or better off trying to get the dealer to do it all out of the gate?
• Might be a stupid question, but would upgrading to the TRD Pro shocks make it a stiffer ride? We did like the smoothness of the Platinum.
• I do like the hood scoop on the Pro (yes I know it's not really functional). Dealer was saying swapping out the hood, but that seems a bit of a waste and expensive. I think I saw some posts here about getting the scoop separately, painted to match and then installed. Any idea on what that might run? I'm thinking this would be spendy and wasted money, but would love to know the cost.
• The dealer also brought up the idea of going with the Pro and then getting new seats put in with heaters. I wasn't aware that was an option, but seems riskier for issues to me to add things that need electrical to a Pro vs adding more esthetic features to a Platinum.
• Was odd to me that there's no Android Auto option, any recommendations on a workaround? I know this is coming with the 2020s which I think will be here in Sept, correct? I could potentially wait for the 2020s, but we'd be having to find a way to get by with 1 car from now until then. Not undoable, but if there are more reasons to wait for the 2020 I could figure something out for the interim.
• Anything else I should be thinking about?????

Thanks in advance for any advice out there.
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I was in the same boat last month. I went Platinum because the interior just can’t be beat. It came down to the only difference being wheels and suspension. Bought the Platinum and put on some wheels tires and Icon suspension. I feel like it rides better after the mods.

 

You can actually buy a TRD Pro grill, painted bumper corners both front and rear, painted door handles (I know platinum has chrome) as body matched mirror caps and you can actually get a good price from www.sparksparts.com and they will even paint match to the color code of your truck before they sent them out. They are great people and very knowledgeable and easy to work with. Good luck on your new truck

 

Thanks guys. Appreciate the input and the links.

 

Agree with most. Get the platinum.

 

Platinum and if the ride gets to soft especially going around turns u can always upgrade the the suspension

 

How much 4 wheeling are you doing.?
If not alot pick the Platinum, if a lot pick the PRO.
I have a 1794 bought for creature comforts...either way you can't go wrong. Welcome aboard from NorCal. Good luck Sir.

 

I had the same dilemma and couldn't decide between the two. I chose the Platinum over the Pro and it's much better in my opinion. Mine is a '17 so I'm not sure what the Pro version has now, but it was lacking all the creature comforts from my year. I just got done taking all the chrome off and changing the grill and i think it looks pretty nice. Not expensive at all.

 

I did the same to mine, chrome had to go,TRD grill and some other goodies.

 

I am also stuck in a similar situation. I'm leaning towards waiting for the 2020 Platinum with the Android Auto, 8" screen, push button start, keyless entry, etc. But I would be tempted for a 2019 Platinum for a steal of a deal as well.

 

Go Platinum. If you had asked about 4 wheeling details and such, TRD might have checked a few more boxes. Platinum definitely sounds like the package for you. If you do decide to go off road a bunch later on, bolting on some suspension upgrades is far easier than duplicating the luxury and creature comforts-- and you can always swap out the cosmetic stuff. About the first pacific northwest summer evening you crank down the rear window, you will know what I am saynig is true. You sir are gonna love having a Tundra!

My wife loves the Bavarians, but they are a maintenance nightmare, and they take a HUGE value hit after the warranty expires for that reason. I love working on cars to relax, but have been touting a "no more German cars" rule after her latest one. Meanwhile, my Platinum rolls on rock solid at 188,000.

 

If it was me I'd get the 1794 hehe

 

From my buying experience the 4x4 Platinum/1794 is easily 4-6k cheaper than a Pro. Put that amount into suspension/tires and you'll have something just as capable if not more so, plus all the extra luxury features of the top trims.

 

I’m in the same exact boat. The dealer can get me parking sensors and put on bsm mirrors with the pro, but it will cost you a lot! Even with those features it still lacks a few items that the platinum has.

So, I’m either getting the platinum or waiting for the 2020 platinums that will have an 8 inch Nav screen, android/apple play, keyless entry, and push button start (or so I read). Who knows, the Toyota dealers can’t even confirm with me if their gestures will truly be on it on the 2020’s, but they may just want me to buy a 2019! Haha.

I like features, so the Pro is a no go for me although I agree that it looks better cosmetically! So I vote you go platinum!

 

I have to disagree. I have multiple builds in front of me on paper.

TRD Pro - $51,390
Platinum/1794 with basic options, and moonroof, w/o TRD Pro package - $53,135
Platinum/1794 with basic options, and moonroof, and with TRD Pro package, dual exhaust, and off road shocks upgrades - $56,580

You spend a lot more to configure a Platinum/1794 into a TRD Pro then just the TRD Pro comes stock. You still spend more with Plat/1794 even without the TRD Pro stuff. Of course you do get a few more creature comforts, certainly a step up in quality of leather seats. Just a lot for it I am thinking.

 

The trd pro I looked at was around 55k and they wouldent budge on price my 1794 was 53,780 list but I got it for 48k it was a easy choice also there are no basic options it has everything

 

You can get movement on the price on the TRD Pro's, but it generally is not great, and does take some diligence to sort through the crap dealers inflating over MSRP. But they are out there.

Here's an example. https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/770942652/overview/

 

@Texagonian nobody should be paying MSRP on a platinum/1794. A 4x4 should be in the 46-48 range depending on accessories and incentives.

 

You forgot about discounts off MSRP that are almost non-existent on the Pro while 15% is not hard the get on other models.

 

Uh thanks? I'm not sure where you feel I condone paying MSRP? I even so much as said it one post up from your's, even linked to an example of a place that deals well below MSRP on TRD Pro...

But for the purposes of comparing new values, you have to go by MSRP. Not what people think they can shrewdly negotiate them down too

 

I forgot nothing. 15% off is ridiculous. On any trim level, at any time of year.

If you have a dealer losing his butt like this constantly please PM their details!

Like maybe on an SR out SR5 at the end of the month, on the end of the quarter, during the change of model year.

 

I chose the TRD Pro, as I work for JM Family and got a 9k dscount off of MSRP. I looked at both and def agree with a few, that you will miss a few creature comforts... I wanted the Pro for how rare they are and the fact that I can add anything I miss for the most part...

 

Do the following:

 

We'll have to agree to disagree on that, since I think MSRP is totally irrelevant if the vehicle never actually sells at that. The $46xxx TRD pro is an excellent deal and I'd have jumped on that if it was available.

 

Platinum Gone pro:



Added Armor and ADS suspension. Best of both worlds!

 

46k would be a great deal but I would be skeptical of them actually selling it at that price. I had one locally for 48k and went to purchase and they claimed it was an error even though stock numbers and vin matched. They refused to sell take any money off.

 

I think you will find plenty of people that have received 15% or even more off the higher trim levels.

 

I'd wager if I saw the nuts and bolts of those deals, that 15% off they "think" they got it for, was made up elsewhere.

I'm living this scenario right now in real time, contacting dealers nationwide. Shopping hard and seeing the prices nationwide. Comparing deals.

15% off is not happening. Serious. Try and contact anyToyota dealer
in the nation. Tell them you want to pay cash, outright but you want 15% off MSRP. They won't bother with you unless they can play the shell game with your financing, trade and extras.

If anyone knows of any Toyota mainland USA dealers, blowing out the top 3 trims at 15% off MSRP buying outright please PM me their details. seriously, I've spent weeks trying for 15% paying cash. No dice. Save me the frustrations.

 

I've been only able to find an average of about 12% so far

 

If you want the 15% off or more you should shop at the end of the month or end of the quarter, then you have a better chance of getting it