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I'll start by saying I'm not huge on build threads. I'll probably forget to update this after a while and give up on it. However, I'll try to maintain it at least for a bit, if anything it helps me remember what all I've done. It will never be a super crazy build, it will mostly look like a nearly stock truck, but with hidden niceties that make it something you can't just pick up off the lot.
Here's to documenting my 4th Gen SR MT!
The story
I had just paid off my 2021 Tacoma and wasn’t planning on replacing it anytime soon.
I was heading out of town for Christmas 2025; I saw a listing for a 2026 Tacoma SR with the 6-speed manual. Manuals have been hard to find since the 4th gen launched in 2024. I’ve only seen four or five manual trucks in Texas since then, and this was the only new one listed in the state at the time.
I stopped by the dealership the Friday after Christmas just to take a look. It was Supersonic Red — not a color I normally end up with (usually only boring colors are available) — but it looked really sharp in person. The spec was simple - I would have preferred a TRD Off-Road, but beggars can't be choosers when they're choosing a manual transmission.
I left, thought about it over the weekend, and went back that Monday to make the deal. They lowballed me hard on trade-in for the 2021, so I kept it for a little while longer. I thought I may enjoy two trucks for a while but eventually thought better of it and sold the 2021 to Carvana.
So here it is:
2026 Tacoma SR
Supersonic Red
Gas engine
6-speed manual
I’m calling this a project, not a build. Toyota already built it. I’ll mostly be adding practical, well-thought-out upgrades — nothing extreme, just refining it to suit how I use a truck. There will be plenty of tinkering and parts swapping on this truck, but I will keep it mostly reasonable.
Some photos:
My Initial Impression:
This is the most fun I've ever had in a truck. It isn't fast, but it's fun to drive and it delivers it's driving experience with authority. It feels like a tank that somehow still has impressive get-up-and-go and gets decent fuel mileage. I'm really enjoying the improvements Toyota made to this platform and for me, it totally blows my 3rd gen right out of the water.
In terms of enjoyable to drive, here is my ranking of all the vehicles I've owned from favorite to least favorite:
Planned Projects:
Already completed:
Here's to documenting my 4th Gen SR MT!
The story
I had just paid off my 2021 Tacoma and wasn’t planning on replacing it anytime soon.
I was heading out of town for Christmas 2025; I saw a listing for a 2026 Tacoma SR with the 6-speed manual. Manuals have been hard to find since the 4th gen launched in 2024. I’ve only seen four or five manual trucks in Texas since then, and this was the only new one listed in the state at the time.
I stopped by the dealership the Friday after Christmas just to take a look. It was Supersonic Red — not a color I normally end up with (usually only boring colors are available) — but it looked really sharp in person. The spec was simple - I would have preferred a TRD Off-Road, but beggars can't be choosers when they're choosing a manual transmission.
I left, thought about it over the weekend, and went back that Monday to make the deal. They lowballed me hard on trade-in for the 2021, so I kept it for a little while longer. I thought I may enjoy two trucks for a while but eventually thought better of it and sold the 2021 to Carvana.
So here it is:
2026 Tacoma SR
Supersonic Red
Gas engine
6-speed manual
I’m calling this a project, not a build. Toyota already built it. I’ll mostly be adding practical, well-thought-out upgrades — nothing extreme, just refining it to suit how I use a truck. There will be plenty of tinkering and parts swapping on this truck, but I will keep it mostly reasonable.
Some photos:
My Initial Impression:
This is the most fun I've ever had in a truck. It isn't fast, but it's fun to drive and it delivers it's driving experience with authority. It feels like a tank that somehow still has impressive get-up-and-go and gets decent fuel mileage. I'm really enjoying the improvements Toyota made to this platform and for me, it totally blows my 3rd gen right out of the water.
In terms of enjoyable to drive, here is my ranking of all the vehicles I've owned from favorite to least favorite:
- 2026 Toyota Tacoma 2.4L 6MT
- 2019 Nissan Frontier 4.0L 6MT
- 1994 Jeep Wrangler 4.0L 5MT
- 2021 Toyota Tacoma 3.5L 6MT
- 2005 Ford Ranger 3.0L 5MT
- 2019 Nissan Frontier 4.0L 5AT
Planned Projects:
- Automatic climate control swap (single-zone)
- SDHQ hidden light bar grill mounts with 2x 10" Rigid SR Pro Driving light bars
- Rigid yellow fog light kit (no factory fogs on SR)
- Rigid amber pro D-SS Spot ditch lights (pulled them from the old truck, just need mounting brackets)
- Potentially a regear if ever available for the 8.2" differential
- Vanity/illuminated visors
- Homelink/dimming EC rearview mirror
- Maybe Katzkin leather seat refinishing
- LED turn signal mirrors with black caps to maintain SR stock visual look but with improved performance (unicorn spec)
Already completed:
- Added OEM hood insulation
- OEM TRD Off-Road 17x7.5" +55mm wheels
- LT265/70R17 C-load Toyo Open Country ATIII tires
- OEM tailgate dampener
- ARB rear bumper + Rigid SR-L "spreader" lights
- VLEDS front turn signal bulbs with wired-up 6-ohm resistors
- OEM leather steering wheel from TRD trims
- OEM leather shift knob from TRD trims
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