10 year old tacoma vs brand new tacoma

[surlydiesel]

"...the new ones are obese, lethargic, floppy trucks with no driveline feel. The standard trans has no feel with the electronic throttle, steering is vague,"

I agree directly with this comment after putting 10,000 miles on a 2008 Tacoma, which I purchased with the buy back money from my 99 and ended up going back 7 model years. I really like the feeling of driving my 01. That being said, the cab was huge on the 08 and I enjoyed the extra space but would get a 1st gen Tundra if I wanted a truck that size again. Yes, I've had one of those too (2002).

To answer the first question, I would find a screaming deal on a 1st gen tundra on craigslist and put a little extra money into places where I felt it could use some reliability upgrades if I wanted a truck that size. If you want a small one, you can find great deals on 2nd gen tacomas, you just have to be watching the market. I have a friend that just grabbed an 04 TRD with OME Suspension, ARB Bumper and winch, 104,XXX miles with a fresh timing belt receipt from a local Toyota dealer. Got the truck for 6300 dollars because the kid didn't have the title in hand and no one would wait for it to come back from the bank. My buddy had to wait 5 weeks for everything to clear but he got a great truck. Not a deal that happens every day, I know but they are out there if you work at it. He has plenty of cash to...oh it doesn't even need brakes. He's just driving it and enjoying it.

My truck has 106,XXX which is low for an 01 but I looked long and hard and found a low milage one 3 years ago and I had it at Toyota last week with a sweet 19.99 oil change coupon and a 4.99 tire rotation coupon. Couldn't beat that deal and the tech couldn't find anything wrong with the truck. Said he would drive it cross country with no hesitation.

Just an opinion. Sorry about the long rant.

-jorge

 

[Laxaholic]

You guys don't feel like the cab in the 1st gen. tacoma is just too small? Maybe because I'm used to a JKU and a 100?
How do the 4cylinder equipped trucks compare between the 2 generations? My main concern is with fuel efficiency, then closely followed by reliability. I want a comfortable truck, that isn't a fuel thirsty domestic, that can haul some gear, a dog, a trailerable sailboat and also get me through the snow in comfort. (not all at the same time of course) Do the 1st gen tacomas have the same problem with range as the 4runners of the same years?

 

[Toyotero]

I would have a hard time justifying the PreRunner as well. The price and MPG are just so close to the 4wd, and having two drive axles and low-range gearing opens up a lot of terrain opportunities.

I would be looking for a 2.7 as well...I wish it was available in the 1st gen 4wd double-cabs! At least one person has gotten around that, but I'm not one for engine swaps or 4wd grafts.

Ditto and ditto. I was looking for a Prerunner before I got my Tacoma. The fuel economy difference is about 5% less for the 4WD vs Prerunner doublecab, a small cost for the convenience. If the OP already has a Prerunner, they can be converted to 4WD using stock parts if you have the wrenching ability and find a wrecked 4WD.

I don't have any experience with the 2005+ Tacoma, but I have been very satisfied with my 2003 and wouldn't be afraid of spending more $ into it. The closest that I've had to a 10yr old problem that I've had so far is having to get the timing belt replaced, brake fluid flushed and shocked replaced... which of course are maintenance items... It's been very trouble free the last whole time that I've owned it and I expect for another 10 years.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

What ten year old problems?

Steering rack issues, failed frames, failed frame side motor mounts, per-mature auto trans failures, lower control arm cracking/failures. Add normal wear and tear things like wheel bearings, cc/02 system age failures, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an ardent supporter of the 1st gen Tacoma platform and both my XCab and DC have served me very, very well... If I were to start from scratch today (and had to choose from a 10 yr. old Tacoma w/100k or a brand new Tacoma), the new Tacoma is going to provide the most 'trouble-free' miles over future time. I've put a combined 300K+ on my Taco's, and literally I'd suspect over a 100k of those were off-road. Given the use and abuse I've subjected mine too, I'm completed satisfied with the minor failures I have dealt with but again price aside, the 2nd gen (or 3rd gen? if/when avail) is going to offer the longer service life from today on.

 

[trump]

That was meant as a rhetorical question. I've had one issue in 115k miles... a failed ADD actuator, technically twice, but the first replacement was off a well used diff and probably older than the one it replaced. The cost for me to keep this truck on the road is not nearly the cost of a new truck payment and there are plenty of first gens with 300k.

 

[Clutch]

That was meant as a rhetorical question. I've had one issue in 115k miles... a failed ADD actuator, technically twice, but the first replacement was off a well used diff and probably older than the one it replaced. The cost for me to keep this truck on the road is not nearly the cost of a new truck payment and there are plenty of first gens with 300k.

You can pay cash for a new vehicle, no need for taking out a loan. That said I wouldn't buy brand new off the lot, slightly used say 20-30K miles
so the pain of the money leaving the wallet isn't as bad. That or find one in auction, have been scanning the CoPart webpage lately, as I am getting cheap[er] in my
old age.

There is an '06 DC with 64K on the ODO, on there right now, bid is at $12K. But it is an auto, so I'll pass....
Says it has rear end damage, but the rear bumper only looks slightly tweaked, maybe the diff is blown?

http://www.copart.com/c2/truck_auct...e8s2&lotId=25948802&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

 

[oliverlove]

I have a '01 with a 2.7L motor. I would suggest you stay away from the Gen 1 4 cylinder. Traveling with my wife, a RTT, and a few containers of gear in the bed, the truck is strugging HARD in the Mountians. Its a bullet proof truck, and will not break, but the horsepower is lacking.

 

[p nut]

...That said I wouldn't buy brand new off the lot, slightly used say 20-30K miles

I think it depends on the vehicle and the current market. Some vehicles lose 50% value right off the bat, while others hold their value so well, it's not even worth looking at used. In my region here, Tacoma's are in that category. For example, Double Cab 4WD TRD's with less than 30k miles are on the local classifieds for $27-30k. Brand new are $30-32k. Maybe some would feel saving $2-3k is worth it, but not me. If I'm paying that much and plan on keeping it for a while, I want to make sure it's broken in properly and the only funky smell in the cab is from me.

 

[2025 deleted member]

Same thing around here.

I think it depends on the vehicle and the current market. Some vehicles lose 50% value right off the bat, while others hold their value so well, it's not even worth looking at used. In my region here, Tacoma's are in that category. For example, Double Cab 4WD TRD's with less than 30k miles are on the local classifieds for $27-30k. Brand new are $30-32k. Maybe some would feel saving $2-3k is worth it, but not me. If I'm paying that much and plan on keeping it for a while, I want to make sure it's broken in properly and the only funky smell in the cab is from me.

 

[Clutch]

I think it depends on the vehicle and the current market. Some vehicles lose 50% value right off the bat, while others hold their value so well, it's not even worth looking at used. In my region here, Tacoma's are in that category. For example, Double Cab 4WD TRD's with less than 30k miles are on the local classifieds for $27-30k. Brand new are $30-32k. Maybe some would feel saving $2-3k is worth it, but not me. If I'm paying that much and plan on keeping it for a while, I want to make sure it's broken in properly and the only funky smell in the cab is from me.

Hmmm....seems like you can get one here in the low 20's maybe I am not looking at the mileage well enough.

That is the nice thing about Toyota, they hold their value. I have been looking at other brands, I just don't think I can do it. Sure Toyota is kinda boring, maybe that is a good thing.

 

[p nut]

Hmmm....seems like you can get one here in the low 20's maybe I am not looking at the mileage well enough.

That is the nice thing about Toyota, they hold their value. I have been looking at other brands, I just don't think I can do it. Sure Toyota is kinda boring, maybe that is a good thing.

Low $20k's for a DC 4WD TRD Taco is a steal. Although, back when the recession hit, a friend of mine got a DC Taco with less than 40k miles for something like $15k. The seller was from AZ, so maybe you guys do have some crazy good prices down there.

Way off topic: Is that an Augusta in your avatar? I'm over my crotchrocket days, but one day I dream of a Speed Triple.

 

[xjaugie]

my 1st gen

Last year I was in the same position and ended up getting a '95 X-cab 4X4 V-6 in stock form with 155,000 miles. I paid $6,000 for the truck and went to work. Several months later a great traveler emerged. Nothing too crazy just the basics like suspension, bumpers, rock rails, skid plates, racks, bed cover and such. So far I've driven the truck from the east coast to AK and back and taken countless shorter trips in the truck. Today it has 197,000 miles and I look forward to putting another 100,000 on it. Best part is the first scratches don't hurt as much as it would have if I spend $30,000 on a new truck.

In fact I'm moving closer to work and will no longer need two vehicles and am going to sell the 2008 passat and keep the truck to drive the 3 miles to work and hopefully many miles across the country again and again and again....

What it looked like when I got it...


What it looks like today....

 

[Clutch]

Low $20k's for a DC 4WD TRD Taco is a steal. Although, back when the recession hit, a friend of mine got a DC Taco with less than 40k miles for something like $15k. The seller was from AZ, so maybe you guys do have some crazy good prices down there.

Way off topic: Is that an Augusta in your avatar? I'm over my crotchrocket days, but one day I dream of a Speed Triple.

There are ton of Tacomas down here, everybody's brother, sister, mums, dads, uncle....has one. Where as when i lived in PA...I was one of the few guys that had a Toyota...deemed unpatriotic back there at the time. I got a lot of flack for it....but I am like a Honey Badger.

It is a Ducati sport classic.

http://www.motographite.com/2011/09/radical-ducati-cafe-veloce.html

Speed Triples are nice.

 

[trump]

You can pay cash for a new vehicle, no need for taking out a loan. That said I wouldn't buy brand new off the lot, slightly used say 20-30K miles
so the pain of the money leaving the wallet isn't as bad. That or find one in auction, have been scanning the CoPart webpage lately, as I am getting cheap[er] in my
old age.

There is an '06 DC with 64K on the ODO, on there right now, bid is at $12K. But it is an auto, so I'll pass....
Says it has rear end damage, but the rear bumper only looks slightly tweaked, maybe the diff is blown?

http://www.copart.com/c2/truck_auct...e8s2&lotId=25948802&returnPage=SEARCH_RESULTS

No matter how you pay... One costs nearly $30k and the other maybe $15k. That can pay for a lot of parts or a lot of gas. In my experience, it rarely needs more than the latter.

 

[Clutch]

No matter how you pay... One costs nearly $30k and the other maybe $15k. That can pay for a lot of parts or a lot of gas. In my experience, it rarely needs more than the latter.

Agree with you there. New[er] is nice though, especially if you are going to keep it for 10-15 years.
I am Jonesin' for a new a truck, however I could do a lot with my current one with $30K...heck of a lot of gas too
as you said.

I want to make sure it's broken in properly and the only funky smell in the cab is from me

My current Tacoma was owned by a chick, it smelled pretty good when I first bought it....not so any more.