Is 4x4 worth it?

For around $10k I would like to stick with 1997-2004. I don't mind the extra cab if I happend to see one with it. My whole plan with this truck is to make Home depot runs so I don't have to borrow random relative's truck. So I hope the Tacoma's bed can handle 4'X8' plywood.

I'll eventually fix up the Accord again but it's gonna take some time. I just figure since I was planning on getting a truck in the spring anyways, I'll just use the money for the accord towards a truck right now. I also have a sc300 with 1jz but I can't drive that in the snow.

 

Get the 4x4. There'll be a time a few months into the ownership of the 2WD that you'll regret not getting the 4x4 on a daily basis

 

It'll work, (Plywood) in as much as you will be getting a 6 ft bed. I would shoot for an 01-02 xtra cab if possible. Maybe in the neighborhood of 80k miles would probably be a good target, though you'll have to see what your market has available.

I would settle for the SR5 (instead of TRD) if need be as a compromise to the allow yourself the added expense of the 4WD.

I had 100,000 miles on my 2000 SR5 xtra cab and know i could have gotten another 100,000 or more had it not fell to the frame rust demons. (Buy back)

Remember, if some of the things you would expect to replace at about the 80,000 mark have not beed replaced yet, you will need to budget for that as well.

 

My golden phrase
"Its better to have it and not need it, than not having it and needing it"

 

I'll keep you guys posted on what I can find. I just saw a 2002 4WD TRD w/114k for $13K, that's unreasonable! I hope I can find a quality one for a good price otherwise, I'll have to look into unknown territory (the domestics). I was warned about chevy S-10. Toyota and Honda is all I know how to fix, so I really hope I can find one. No offense to any owners but the ridgeline is not the most attractive truck in my book, so that only leaves me with Toyota. Don't get me wrong, Toyotas are the best but they come with a high price tag.

 

S-10's are total shit boxes. I have had 2 of them, a 91 Blazer 4x4 and it was not bad looking but always falling apart. And I had a 88 S-10 pickup....I was offered a 1998 S-10 a few years back on a trade for a car I had, but I kept the car.

I would rather buy a Ranger... If forced. you may have to look in other cities or even states for a good deal. I am thinking about selling mine and getting a X2cab 01-04.

 

I was thinking about a Ranger as well but the 4WD usually comes with the 4.0L and most the problems people have is that it gets anywhere from 12-18mpg highway. Otherwise the reliablity is not too bad. But they are as expensive as the F150 and the F150 gets 18-20 highway. Just like the Tacoma and Tundra. When used, the tacoma is just expensive as a tundra and the mpg is not that much better, unless it's the 4cyl.

The only problem is, my accord doesn't work too good so can't really drive it. My sc300 has wide high performance tires on with a FMIC that will rust if salt hits. Winter is coming soon. I saw snow yesterday.The wife and I are just sharing her TL. I want to take the time to find the right truck but just limited on time.

 

I said not much will move. A 1985 eagle was a great car!

 

The huge difference in the Ranger and Tacoma is.... Quality, as you know. I have the 2.7 4cyl andthe 4 speed automatic. I get good power, I can stick my 800 pound Honda Rubicon Quad in the back and it drives like the bed is empty. I had the 99 ranger with the access cab, it was a good truck. It was the 3.0Litre, good power 19mpg highway and about 16 city. my Tacoma gets about 20-21 city, and 22-23 highway. Hauling the quad from MA to FL it got 15, and that was due to a bad O2 sensor, and the 31/10.5/15 tires were shot to hell. At the moment I have 235/75/15's on it. I am going back to 31/10.5/15 in the next couple months, that will bring my MG's down a bit too, but I lifted it and they now look like donuts!!!

The best thing about the Tacoma for me is the size. I like the 95.5 to 2004 because it has a good size in body length, width, etc. the 05+ while they sure are frickin nice, they just seem too big. Tundras are ginormous. Nice though.

My brother has a 2006 Sequoia limited. While it is a hell of a truck, he gets really shitty gas mpg's. Like 10-12 City, 13-15 Highway. I prefer a 4Runner.

I guess it's all about the $$$, and what you can afford. DO NOT buy an S-10, cheap piles of crap. I have one here where I work as a work truck, I hate that thing. Although it is a 93 with 52K on it, the rest of it is falling apart, but the engine is great.

In the long run, if you get ahold of a Tacoma, you will cannot go wrong, they run forever. And once you get one, you get addicted. It's a Tacoma thing....

 

This.

Also, dont waste your time with a prerunner. At that point, you may as well have gotten a 4x4.

On that note, I say get a 4x4. theyres some decent prices on regular cab 4cyl manuals on cars.com or tose kind of sites if you dont mind driving. craigslist is usually a bit more but you can negotiate.

 

I got ya... Yeah that was one ugly ass car/thing. It was the wagon one too at that. Here is a pic of the exact car I had, colors everything. I went mudding with my friend in his CJ7, he got stuck, and I drove around him. Everyone made fun of me in that car, but it outran, and outdrove thiers.....

 

Geez, that is one ugly car but I like ugly cars. I love the MR2 spyder because it was "ugly" (looks good to me) and no one liked it.

I don't see anypoint in getting a pre-runner. My truck of choice right now is a 4cyl 4WD taco. Although I wish toyota would build a truck like the avalanche. I really like that 8' long bed. I can't find any Toyotas in the area right now, so I'm off to look at a few 4wd F150 and silverados. Just testing to see what my choices are.

 

I had a 2wd chevy silverado then a 2wd f150. then i got a wrx. i loved the awd!! (and the turbo ) Now i have gone all out and gotten the trd OR package. i could not imagine going back to 2wd...

 

4x4 FTW!!!!

Dude 4x4! Why would you want a 2wd where you know you MIGHT need it?? I have a 4x4 but that's because I know I have it when ever i feel like dicking around.

 

I test drove a few domestics today and looks like the 5.4L F150 is the king so far.

I found a 2003 Tacoma 4wd 4 cyl for $11,400, which I can afford but it's in chicago. How do you guys go about buying vehicle that far away? Let me know if the plan below sounds about right. I'm kinda skeptical because the seller has the upper hand. I just don't want to show up and find a pile of junk.

This is my plan so far:
1. get all info, pictures (especially the sub frame), VIN from seller
2. Get pre-approve for a loan.
3. Negotiate lower price.
4. Fly one-way to Chicago
5. Test car and negotiate if price needs to be lower.
6. Drive me new Tacoma home!
7. Thank the folks at Tacomaworld.com

 

'03 Tacoma 4x4 4cyl > 5.4L F150


Marc

 

If I were to make my decision on which truck to buy I would buy the 4X4 in a heart beat. I like my truck and all but after having it for six months now I wish that I would have bought a either an access or a DC 4X4.

 

And I would go with the plan before buying that F150.... trust me, if you get the Tacoma you will NEVER regret it....

 

This is just getting really desperate! Today I test drove a 2002 B4000 87k for $6500 and 2001 Frontier 115K for $7900. The B4000 was smoother and the owner took care of it much better. The thing is they get 15-18mpg highway. Why does compact to mid-size trucks get the same mpg as full size? I'm going to try the Dakota tomorrow. I just want to make sure I give truck a fair chance since I can't find any decent Tacomas around here. When I wasn't looking to buy, there are so many tacomas.

 

One reason is if you get an under powered midsize the motor is working alot harder to propel the truck and using a lot more fuel. My first truck was a 3.0 ranger 4x4 with 31x 10.50 tires. Got like 12 miles a gallon and was hugely unpowered. Another factor for mpg is ur axle ratio. It all comes down to gettin what will make you happy though because at the end of the day you will be the one driving and looking at it everyday.