Do or don’t — 2021 CM SX? Black?

Hola Comrads,

Had a white 2011 Grade DC in the south and loved it. Bought it used. Great truck. Got rid of it when my daughter was born. Willingly took the 2007 4Funner from my wife [for building a human], and we got her the Honda Pilot of her dreams...

Enter my dream: Tundra CrewMax.

Went looking for used and found that an ‘18 SRS with 12k, a ‘19 with 40k, and even a 18 with 60k “Apples to apples” (plus or minus bells and whistles) was pushing the same price as the 2021.

I hate the stock dinner plate rims no offense. I like then SR5 console shifter versus the tree-shifter and work bench, and. I also like the color-keyed grill vs the chrome.

Was hoping to get Magnetic Grey but that only comes in the TRD or Limited (I think) so I’m stuck with and SR5 - add rims, change grille and bumpers to match... or SX is the cheap, easier alternative.

I plan to keep this truck stock so a “sleek/stock” model works. I’m in Maryland now and no plans to pack out and go LEGIT off-roading like some of you prairie dogs so those upgrades aren’t necessary at this time. 4WD should be able to gently extract me from whatever puddle I splash into... And I’m Not made of money.

Stumbled across the 2021 SR5 CrewMax SX. Priced at the used car prices and negotiated a decent deal on it. Cheaper than the used 2018/2019 SR5’s on the lot.

All the tundras and flying off the lot so and the manager Had just raised prices based on competitors (not knowing I was interested). He Honored/Locked in my price from yesterday and I convinced him to let me take it home to think about it til Monday.

I never liked black trucks. Why am I so drawn to it?!? Not sure why... too hot in the summer? Hard to keep clean? I don’t know cuz I’ve never owned one but man this one is Smokin! Right??

The alternative is an SX white, if he can locate one for the same price, or an SR5 and pay for the upgrades. I know The SX sacrifices the 38 gallon tank but I’d have to pay for wheels and that’s an even trade for me TBH. Larger fuel tank (while nice) wasn’t even in my radar. ~420/440 miles in a tank is Standard with Covid, every other week fill up is fine.

Tell me good stories about black. I’m not anal about a “dusty” truck, I’ll wash every 2weeks days Or so... maybe....

I read a thread about modesta coating but I don’t have $1200 to dish out. How do I protect the paint? Wash weekly and wax 2-3x per year?

The quick mod is I will go in Monday and negotiate simple black tube running boards so my little one can climb up. I’m Worth a $500 bump. Lol.

The SX seems like a reasonably affordable way to get a stock truck that doesn’t look like a work truck. With The SR5 + add rims and color match grille/bumper would likely push it over the cost of my pending deal.

Any thoughts, feedback, or motivational support would be greatly appreciated.

cheers from MD.

 

Welcome

 

I just picked up a black tundra a couple weeks ago. I've got other black vehicles as well, and like you said, there is no secret that they can be hard to keep looking clean (and show every blemish).

Only thing I came here to say, since you said you typically aren't in to black vehicles, is have you been up close to view the truck yet (preferably in the sun)? If not, you may want to check it out to make sure you still like it. The 'Attitude Black' color has multi colored metal flake in the paint. You really only notice it up close, but I can see it turning some people off.

Maybe you're already aware, but figured I'd mention it.

Good luck!

 

Welcome from the wet side of WA.
Don’t discount that 38-gallon tank. Once I had a 3/1 level kit and bigger tires on my 2008, I was lucky to get 300 miles on a tank (which meant filling up at least once a week for me). People have added a bigger tank later, but it isn’t easy or cheap. It’s one of many things that I am super happy about with my 2021.

As for the black - some love it, some like it, some hate it. I personally won’t ever own a black vehicle, but I also am one of those people that will go a couple months (or more) without washing a vehicle. It isn’t that I don’t care, it is just that I often have more shit going on in my life than I can find time to do, and that falls to the bottom of the list. There is also the fact that for a significant amount of about 4+ months around here, it rains pretty much every day and it becomes a losing battle anyway.

BUT, when the price is right, sometimes a guy ends up color blind and learns to live with it. I did that with the first car I ever bought new - we were going to get a family discount through a dealer my wife’s uncle worked at, and we went down to another dealer that had more inventory to pick out the color and do a test drive. They had a car on the lot that was one of the “loss leaders” (from back in the day when they would put a single stock number in the newspaper for a stupid low price to pull people in). It was white, but it was two trim levels up from what we were going to get, and it was a couple thousand less than what we were going to pay for the base trim. We finally sold that car (with 175k miles on it) when I bought my 2008.

Good luck! I don’t disagree that the used prices and the new prices are pretty much even right now. It doesn’t hurt to look at CPO used though - they almost have a better warranty on them than the new vehicles.

 

I agree that the SX package seems like a great fit(people spend a lot of money trying to color match after the fact) but I would look at the red or white version instead. Need to really keep it clean and it’s ungodly got in the summer. Also, one negative on the SX are the non LED headlights which you can always get later but if I was buying new I would want them on there.

 

Welcome. Black is fine and looks awesome when clean. They do show swirls and scratches a lot more easily. For what you want I would say get the white if you can find it at the same price or just pull the trigger.

 

Welcome aboard from SoCal.

 

Welcome from PEI

 

You can definitely get an SR5 in MGM.

If I were buying an SX, red would be my preferred colour over black or white.

 

I have black and it looks badass after it gets all buffed and polished then it just gets bad I’m gonna wrap the truck. Really wish I went with white or grey.

 

Welcome from Pennsylvania

 

I sure love my white SX.

 

owned a few black vehicles and currently own a black 16 crew. The key to black is to keep it waxed/sealed. When you do it is much easier to keep clean. I can drive in rain multiple days and when things dry out my truck can look recently washed...the dirt just does not stick.

So, meguairs ultimate (or whatever product you like) topped with something like beadmaker really helps keep it clean. Then use the beadmaker (or other topcoat) as a drying aid when you wash and it will help the wax/sealant last a good while. So yes, wax/seal 3-4 times a year and you will enjoy a deep black color and good protection.

 

Love my white SX (DC, not CM). I do wish I had the 38 gallons, but it wasn't a deal breaker. I also wanted blind spot monitors, but that wasn't a deal breaker either. I'm all for getting the best deal with my "have to haves" covered. If some of my "wants" are satisfied, then that's just gravy. First thing I did was take off the SX decals. They looked dated to me and took away from the clean look.

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome from IL! A clean black car that is swirl free looks amazing...and I love black on certain cars, have a older Volvo R-series sedan that is black. But for me on a truck the last 3 I've had are white...can go several weeks without washing and swirl marks aren't as tough to contend with. These Tundra's have lots of sheet metal! Good luck on getting back into the Tundra whatever color it may be and enjoy the V8 while you can get it.

 

I had a black Tacoma years ago and swore to never buy another black vehicle. So much as breathing on it caused scratches. Lol. . .with that being said, when they're clean, they do look good. . A
I just traded my 19 mgm for a white 21. Personal preference really but won't be dreading the next hot GA summer quite as bad with this white one.

 

Truck looks like a beauty! I haven't ever wanted black but they look beautiful clean. Id really like the 38 gallon if I was buying new.

The SX seems like a great budget package and love that they color matched the trim.

 

I had a black Lexus that I loved. It was a pain to keep clean but when it was...it was jaw dropping. I told myself I would never get another black car. But I had a white Tundra before and got a black one now. I do like the black color more but I don't like taking care of it lol I just accepted the fact that it's ok to look a little dirty and not to be so an@l about trying to keep it clean, after all... it is a truck

 

Black is hotter and harder to keep clean. Sounds like you’re not much of a clean freak though. When it’s clean it’s the nicest color though ! What are the prices your getting ?