After the mechanic at TRD finished with the install, we were off to the gas station to fill up with some 92. We hopped on the freeway and drove a little cautiously at first, listening for detonation or any distinct noises. After a little bout with self control, we decided it was time to let this thing have it. We were cruising about 60 in Fifth gear when the clutch went in and the shifter slid into Third. The gas was matted and the clutch came out, and the tachometer went near redline, while our heads went near the headrest. This truck was pulling like a ’70s musclecar.
Going through the gears the S-Runner showed no signs of flatting out. Before we knew it, we were at the exit. After exiting the freeway, we were sitting at a stoplight, hoping to have one of the local street racers show up. Our wish was granted. A kid in an IROC Camaro pulled up to the light. Trying not to be too eager, we gave the guy a small rev in an attempt to bait him into a race. We knew the bait worked when he returned the let’s-race rev. With the truck in First, we brought the rpm up to about 2,800. When the light turned green we let the clutch go and mashed the gas. The truck went up in smoke and the IROC started walking away. We threw the truck into Second in a feeble attempt to get the tire to stick, and the Camaro was about two or three cars ahead when we started reeling him in. By the time we hit Third, we were at his door and still pulling. When we got to the top of Third, we could see him in the rearview mirror, and noticed we were doing about 90 in a 35. Oops.
We slowed down and stopped at the next light for round two, but were saddened to find the Camaro driver was too disgusted to even look our direction. We assume he was a little disappointed about getting freight-trained by an import. When we got to work the next day, our editor Dan Sanchez took the keys. When Dan returned, he said, “This has got to be one of the best performance values in a truck you can get today. With the addition of the TRD exhaust and supercharger, it’s surprising how well it performs. It’s going to be fun smoking people.”
Our Feature Editor Wes Vreeland and David Kennedy from 4-Wheel & Off-Road also testdrove the truck and reported back. Wes exited the truck with a smile and a shake of his head. “It goes better than it stops,” was his reply. (Wes was going a little too fast to make the turn back into the parking lot.) David drives big 4x4s, so we warned him this might be a little different from what he was accustomed to. He just smiled, revved it up, and took off in a smoky haze. When he returned he had this to say: “TRD must stand for ‘Toyota Rocket Development.’ Everything about this truck screams. All you need now is a posi.”
Dave was right. Before we install the Nitrous Works nitrous kit we will have to get power to both tires. The TRD supercharger turned an already peppy truck into a V-8–eating tuner that has us fighting over it on a daily basis. In an upcoming issue we’ll install a posi unit and get some track testing done to give you numbers to back up this story. When the TRD truck supercharger is installed by a Toyota dealer, the warranty works seamlessly with your Toyota new vehicle warranty. If installed by a Toyota dealer on a vehicle with any of its new vehicle powertrain warranty remaining, you will receive either 12 months, unlimited mileage from the date of installation, or the remainder of the new vehicle powertrain warranty, whichever is longer. Units installed by do-it-yourselfers have a 12-month, unlimited mileage warranty. All warranties require that the system not be modified, abused, or used in any type of motorsports activity.
