What is the BEST of the 1st

I like my 98, but the 01-04's have slightly nicer interiors. Wouldn't mind one of those.

 

How about an ABS kill switch? I just started looking into how to do this the other day. So far I've found a bunch of info for 2nd Gens. But nothing yet on my '03.

 

I second this.

 

My issue with the ABS on mine is that it has a habit of kicking on while I'm braking going into a turn on dry pavement. Not sure a kill switch is the appropriate solution.

I've never found a write-up on a kill switch for the 1st Gens. Some peeps have outright removed it. It isn't that hard. Just need some brakeline couplers from a pre-ABS model. I've considered this but hesitant to defeat "safety features" for insurance purposes. One of these days I'll do it and probably pop my airbags at the same time.

 

1985. Solid axle and fuel injection.

 

01-04. the front end looks better imo. plus double cab!

 

This.
I think the 95-97's look the best out of all of them.

 

I loved my 95.5 Tacoma SX. The 2.7L wasn't the ballsiest, but it couldn't be killed. With a set of long tube headers and custom exhaust it really performed. The SX was geared perfectly for 32-33" tires. Manual everything w/ 5-speed. What a great little truck!

 

I would agree with the 02, even though I have an 03.

 

I really like the 2001-2004. Mine is a 2002 and people on the road I run into think these are the best looking body styles out of the tacoma even the current ones. Bought it brand new for 20k and still runs great 11 years later. I can't complain.

 

It's surprising how basically we all feel the same about the gen 1's, some like the BULL nose grill and some like the horizontal grill bars and other things that are not what one would call earth shattering
I dearly loved my 1999, but the seat belt was frustrating to say the least, other than that everything was awesome. It's odd I used to be going out of the house to go wherever and look at mine and think "MAN" that thing is sharp! Sounds Dumb to some I guess.

 

Good point, if you study the looks of a '97 you'll notice that its look was what the 2nd gens are based off of IMO

Hate ABS

I've seen nothing for a 1st gen as well

 

I've done the same thing. I've also opened the garage door on the way to bed to look at it and tell it how awesome it is.

I waited a lot of years for my Taco...

 

I still do.....

 

I like having manual locking hubs, saves me money. I don't use my cv's when free and I gain MPG.

 

Just wish they'd still have solid axle fronts.....

 

For an abs kill switch, you should be able to wire a relay to interrupt one of the wheel sensors. It should light the abs light and defeat the abs. Now when you put the sensor back in the circuit I don't know if the fault will clear and the light will go out, but you could test it by unplugging one abs sensor, let the light come on, then plug it back in, turn truck on and see if it clears. Worst case you have to hook up a code reader to it and clear the fault. And if you have to do that, then it's probably not worth it. I'd test it, but I have a 97 w/o abs.
I had a Nissan years ago with abs issues (would randomly turn abs on while braking) and I just unplugged a sensor to defeat it completely.

 

Not surprising or dumb at all. I look at my truck amongst all the other vehicles in my parking garage and it just stands out, ive had a couple people say it's the best looking truck in the lot...one of them was an owner of a Frontier.

Anyone know if there were any cosmetic changes between the years 01-04?

 

I have an auto trans w/ kick down cable and a throttle cable. It's an '03.

I like the '03-'04 looks as I have an '03.

 

'03 to '04 looks identical to '01 to '02.

And like I mentioned earlier, you have an early throttle by wire system where you still have a throttle cable, but it's not physically connected to the butterfly in the throttle body.