It is not unusual for many Hollywood celebrities to have decadent car collections that we normal people can only envy and wish on a tiny star that we could enjoy. And when customers of cars for sale in Orange County think about celebrity cars, they usually imagine very expensive and impractical models that really aren’t that practical. However, that was until sales associates of cars for sale found out what megastar Christian Bale drives – and that is no other than a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck!
Christian Bale’s Car Collection
Although no one knows for sure the exact details of every top celebrity’s car collection, Christian Bale has not been shy to been seen driving his low-key Tacoma model around town. Where ever you turn, you can find numerous paparazzi photos of Christian Bale with his 2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road PreRunner V6. And for those of you living in the Taco world, you definitely know that this vehicle is a collector’s item.
Experts of cars for sale in Orange County say that this Tacoma model is a very good example of how sturdy and long-lasting these compact pickup trucks are. Think about it. Christian Bale’s Tacoma is around 20 years old, and it is still getting him and his wife Sibi Blažić, and their two children, son Joseph and daughter Emmeline, around in LA.
Yay, sure The Dark Knight trilogy star has driven some cool and magnificent vehicles during his days acting in his dual roles of Batman/Bruce Wayne. However, when Christian is in the real world, he likes to keep things straightforward and uncomplicated.
The Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road PreRunner V6
The 2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road PreRunner V6 model was equipped with a 3.4-liter V6 engine that generates up to 190 horsepower. To be fair, it isn’t a lot different from the Tacoma’s modern fuel economy. This truck gets 17 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. The 2021 V6 Tacoma gets 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.
For the sake of comparing with the current model, the 2021 Tacoma with a V6 engine gets mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. These figures go down by one mpg each when the truck features a manual transmission. Nevertheless, it is really hard to think that someone has super successful has Christian Bale is so bothered with the fuel economy of their personal vehicle.
Yet, if you think about it again, it is difficult to phantom that a person like Christain Bale is driving an old pickup truck that is almost 20 years old! Nonetheless, photos don’t deceive. The truth is that Christian Bale drives a 2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road PreRunner V6.
Why is Christain Bale Still Driving Around In A 2003 Tacoma?
No one knows for certain why someone from Hollywood’s elite and with the means to buy any flashy and luxurious vehicle in the world will stick to a 20-year-old truck. Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that he most likely appreciates how inconspicuous he is when driving around in the pickup truck. Apart from that, some believe that Christian has some kind of sentimental attachment to his Tacoma.
As a matter of fact, Bale’s friend Matt Damon mentioned that Christian drives the old Tacoma because he dreams of placing a motorcycle in the truck’s bed. If he lets go of the truck, Bale will be “giving up on his dreams.”
One online celebrity magazine wrote, “doesn’t seem like he’s ready to upgrade anytime soon.” And since we are talking about a Toyota, Bale’s truck could have a lot more miles and years ahead of it. These first-gen Tacoma models have a reputation for their reliability and longevity. So, it kind of goes without saying that Bale could be driving his motorcycle-moving dream truck for a very long time.
2021 Toyota Tacoma
If you want to drive around town like a star, why don’t you purchase cars for sale in Orange County like the 2021 Toyota Tacoma. They are just as good as Christian’s 2003 model but probably better! The Toyota Tacoma is a midsize pickup truck that is available in six trim levels such as SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro.
The SR and SR5 come standard with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine generating 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. What is optional for those trims, and standard on all others, is a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet available. A six-speed automatic is not hard to find across the lineup, though some trims provide a six-speed manual transmission in conjunction with the V6.
Other choices available are an extended cab (Access Cab) configuration with a 6.1-foot bed or a crew cab (Double Cab) with a 5- or 6.1-footbed. Rear-wheel drive is standard on most trims, with an option for part-time four-wheel drive (with a low-range transfer case).
SR
The SR is the work truck out of all of them and start off with:
- 16-inch steel wheels
- Sliding rear window
- Power-adjustable and heated side mirrors
- Tough composite bed that needs no bedliner
- Movable bed cleats
- Locking/unlocking vehicle remote (V6 only; can be added to four-cylinder models via Convenience package)
- Dual-zone automatic climate control (V6 only)
- 7-inch touchscreen
- Six-speaker audio system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite radio
- Three USB ports
- Wi-Fi hotspot
The base Tacoma also comes with a suite of driving aids. These consist of:
- Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Toyota and the car in front)
TRD Pro
If you are looking for something a bit more luxurious, the TRD Pro is the range-topping Tacoma and has significant off-road hardware. On top of TRD Off-Road equipment, the TRD Pro adds:
- 16-inch black-painted TRD wheels with all-terrain tires
- LED headlights
- Black grille
- Hood scoop
- Thicker front skid plate
- Fox internal bypass shock absorbers
- Upgraded exhaust
- Multi-Terrain Monitor (an off-road camera system)
- Sunroof
- Unique leather upholstery
- JBL audio system
- Navigation system
- Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear parking sensors