dont settle

I researched Tundra's for the better part of 4 years before trading for what I thought was a great truck, however, now that Ive had it for a few months Ive realized I should have kept shopping for the model I really wanted , which was a limited. the 2015 TRD off road crewmax is nice , but its missing the leather , premium sound , climate control , rain sensing wipers , dual climate contol etc. that I had in my 13 mazda GT. I now have buyers remorse and will more than likely take a loss to trade it, to all those looking to buy a Tundra, dont settle like I did, get what you really want

 

Good tip. All those things you mentioned were high on my list as well. Straight to the Limited for me, though.

 

Liking my new to me 14 Limited a lot!

 

I love my 2017 sr5, you can’t miss what you’ve never had

 

I am pleased with my 2015 SR5 TRD that I picked up in 2018. Wanted a low-mileage Tundra for a long time.
Was very surprised at the lack of features and technology, though, that Toyota omits in these trucks that other manufacturers include on a similar model. Too many to mention, but Remote Start being one of them.
Reliability is definitely a feature in which Toyota excels and I AM pleased with this!

 

Sorry to hear about buyers remorse.
Great point tho.
Almost walked away from my current truck because it was a little more expensive than what I originally had in mind (Stubborn!) My wife literally made me turn around and go back. It was everything I wanted and in the end a few bucks more.
I’ve thanked her everyday since for making me go back.

 

Leather is easy enough to add. Premium sound is better done aftermarket and what is so hard about turning on windshield wipers when it starts to rain? Never had dual climate control and don't really see need for it. Never bought a higher trim level so maybe I don't know what I am missing. Perfectly happy with my SR5 with Clazzios and upgraded aftermarket stereo system.

 

I'm sorry you are missing the things you want. I have had all of those things in other vehicles and while nice do not miss them in my TRD SR5.

Good luck with your future exchange.

 

It's my opinion that the best way to buy a tundra is to find a base model 4x4 in whatever cab/bed configuration that floats your boat. Because the second you join this forum, you start buying wheels, suspension, stereo equipment, changing things in the interior... So you might as well buy the cheapest 5.7L 4x4 you can find. At least that way you spend money on the best upgrades out there and not "premium" Toyota installs.

Unless you just plan to keep it all like you bought it off the lot. Just an opinion.

 

You gotta like what you drive. It should have all the bells and whistles.
Don't settle for mediocrity. Because then you would just be a Ram owner.

 

That’s what I did on my last two... buy the stripping in the engine/cab config I wanted. But this time I got a 1794 and maaaaaaaaan do I like it. The bells and whistles make the truck, and I purposefully got one before they added any of the new extras I don’t really want like radar cruise, etc. The only thing I wish it had a new one does is the factory car play.

 

Not sure where you're at mileage/price wise but I saw this driving around town today.
Local truck, one owner leased vehicle. Looks like you could possibly get it for high 20's?
Limited CM . It says Barcelona Red. I could've sworn it was that Inferno color.
https://www.goldrushchevy.com/Vehic..._Bed_5.7L_Limited_(Natl)-Auburn-CA/3518300423

 

Bummer you’re not jazzed by the truck.
My first Tundra was an ‘03 SR5. It had bells kinda but definitely not whistles.
My ‘17 SR5 has more than any other vehicle I’ve ever owned and after a month and half I’m still finding stuff that I need to look up in the owners manual.
Like Silver4x4trd said, you don’t miss what you never had. (and my truck rides better than my brother’s Escalade)

Look at the bright side, you can beat the hell out of the truck and it’ll still have a high resale value.

 

failing to plan = planning to fail.

 

I didn’t have a choice actually. Being retired I’m on a fixed income budget. I was not expecting to have to buy a new truck, but needed more towing capacity. So, I was a price shopper. Looked at an SR and SR5 both the same color and everything. But the SR5 was $4000 more for accessories I could mostly install myself for under $1000. I’m down to the fog lights which I need my new shop for as I have to pull the wheel for the switch stalk. The other is a throttle control to take place of the tow/haul button. I’m not going to be doing too much towing, but the throttle control will be handy. I traded a Tacoma SR5 with off road package. Loved that truck, but that off road suspension was rough, the Tundra rides like a caddy.

 

I’m a Luddite like the poster above. The only thing in your list I had to have was leather. $1100 later I have a Katskinz in my 2020. All the auto-tech crap I’m missing doesn’t bother me a bit.

That said, a guy should get what he wants. I too have compromised before on things and regret it afterwards. Primarily buying guns, early in I’d buy entry level stuff to “save money”. Now I say screw it. Buy top of the line and don’t worry about the few hundred dollars I’d have saved. In a year I forget about the money and still have what I want.

 

good call. I wish I had gone with platinum

 

I bought what I could afford at the time, but for sure my next truck will have leather, sunroof, and some other goodies if possible.

 

I went for the base model and put the upgrades on it that I wanted. The upgrades I did were all performance or protection. I hate leather in vehicles, and for the most part I don't care for most of the modern gee-whiz gizmos like rain sensing wipers, self-steering, power ass-wipe, etc. It's a freaking truck. It is people wanting that kind of crap in their trucks that drove up the price of trucks a while back. Trucks used to be a fairly cheap option for people who wanted to be able to haul some stuff and go offroad. Those days are gone.

 

My above responses(in your quoted box right above this) give you a far nicer truck and saves money in the end. Take it from a Platinum buyer who learned his lesson from watching @TuFerLife

 

To OP’s original post.
Thats exactly how i felt when i was parting with my 14 DC Limited and shopping for a new truck .I wanted a Pro but felt i will be downgrading since its basically an sr5 with a bed stamp and better suspention. Once you try all the goodies its hard to go back.Ended up with Cement 18 limited CM.Wanted Platinum but didnt like any of the available colors.

 

This is a really good point. Take for example, the Toyota "premium JBL audio system". From everything I've read it sounds like crap and you would have to pay extra for it. Why not instead get a really nice aftermarket sound system with that money?

You can add leather with Katzkins but I actually find the cloth seats in my 2019 SR5 TRD Sport to be very comfortable and would not want leather.

Bottom line for me is that the Sport has all the mechanical and technology features I need at a reasonable price, leaving me more money leftover for mods.

 

The grass is not always greener on the other side. My Platinum is nice but comes at the expense of capability. A payload of 1,000 lbs is not the greatest. Your truck is probably several hundred pounds higher.

 

Good thing is your truck has great resale. If you want something else, I suggest saving and selling your truck “as is”.

Yes, you can build the truck as you want it, but if you are wanting the creature comforts then it’s a much better financial decision to just buy a truck that has those stock. Unless you are planning a true off-road build, then go as custom as you can afford.

I have been in the same boat. Bought a Durango RT Blacktop to save $20k instead of getting the Jeep SRT. Ended up getting the SRT a little over a year later.

Kind of in the same boat again. Heart really wanted a new Raptor, but went with a gently used 2018 Platinum Tundra and saved $30k (and kept the Jeep SRT). I have a feeling the Raptor will happen within a year or two, haha.

 

I figured I wasnt the only one that had this feeling , and I admit the rain sensing wipers certainly arent missed lol, but the difference in the limited/platinum versus SR5 are night a day to me , and I dont even NEED 4WD , one day Ill have a double-cab limited 2WD , sounds weird huh?

 

See, we're opposite. I wanted opposite. I work in IT, so I know how much tech breaks and goes bad. I wanted less features, for less repairs and more reliability. I got out of a vehicle that had everything, as it was a giant pain.

Sometimes less is more...

 

Btw... on my 18 platinum it does not have rain sensing wipers, and the JBL Premium system was the poorest excuse for a stereo I’ve ever heard. Had it totally replaced.

 

If they made a cement platinum DC maybe. But just add everything yourself. And better stuff

 

I’m incredibly happy with my TRD Sport. Granted I’ve put $10k+ in accessories on here truck, which includes leather with heated and cooled seats, and complete tech 12 volts sound system.

Those were definitely 2 things I wasn’t willing to live without, so I just took Mather into my own hands, and it’s freaking amazing!

 

^^^^This and this^^^^

'Get the truck that has the engine (4.whatever/5.7), 4x2/4x4, towing capabilities and cab/ bed (DC/CM) you want/need.

From there, if you really don't want to settle......
Your first step is complete.
You're on this forum! Custom mod/build ideas, options and links for everything you could ever imagine....plus more. Just scroll through the DIY or "What have you done to your 3rd gen" threads.

You can add all the custom bells/whistles you want...save dual climate control and sunroof (although they can be added, they're more of a PIA to do aftermarket).

Re the leather; You have hundreds of leather seat options with all the Katzkins, Alea and Clazzio's out there. Aside from more color options, you can get custom insert (materials) & stitching options.

Failing to plan = planning to fail * joining Tundras.com + researching DIY mods, tutorials thread = (Idea-mod list)^12 - extra $^3 (≤ $ for spouse ) = Custom truck