1st gen or 2nd gen taco??

[tex]

I have been looking and looking for a 2005+ tacoma 4x4. I have found a very clean 02 with low miles and was wondering if there are any advantages or disadvantages on the 1st gen such as gas milege, known problems, more capable suspension, etc etc.
Its an 02 x-cab v6 5speed 4x4.

If this is in the wrong section please move.
Thanks

[2003greenbean]

i have a firt gen and love it has held its value very good not had any probs with it great off-road i think you will be just as happy in a 1st or 2nd gen
take a look at http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...html#post10070

[lsocoee]

Hey Tex, Both are great trucks. I say it all boils down to two things. How much and how big? All of the Tacomas hold their value really well. Is it worth getting a used one? The 2005+ are bigger than the older ones. I wanted the bigger one, but sometimes I'm kicking myself.

[nd]

I love the 1st gen and looked into getting one but decided to go with the second gen and love it. havn't looked back

[sawdust]

I prefer the size of the 2nd gen. Full size trucks are more than I need the majority of the time, but the compact ones I've found too limiting.

Oh, and it's good to see another Texan. Be sure to poke fun at ndcouch as much as possible.

[lsocoee]

There's nothing wrong with ndcouch...there's just nothing right.

[nd]

Originally Posted by lsocoee

There's nothing wrong with ndcouch...there's just nothing right.

haha! I like that one! I'm gonna use it next time someone asks whats wrong with me.... which i get asked alot for some reason....

[sawdust]

Originally Posted by ndcouch

haha! I like that one! I'm gonna use it next time someone asks whats wrong with me.... which i get asked alot for some reason....

Here's another one you can use: I don't drink anymore ... and I don't drink any less.

[maverick491]

Before Sawdust and Ndcouch get going at eachother on your thread and everyone forgets your question I'll answer it for you.

I have owned both generation Taco's and here's my opinions. They are just my opinions, and your mileage may vary.

I owned a 2004 xtra cab SR5 4x4 5 speed 2.7L, and I now own a 2007 access cab SR5 4x4 6 speed 4.0L.

I bought the 04 as my first new vehicle, and was kind of stuck by what I could swing for a payment, so I had to skip the v6 and the TRD package. That said, had I been able to afford those options when I ordered that truck, I would still own it. What prompted me to get the new truck was the purchase of a travel trailer that "I thought" was within the tow rating of my 2.7L engine. It turned out that while I was not over the tow rating, I did not feel that I could safely tow the trailer with that truck. (I have been towing something for the better part of 10 years so I did feel qualified to make that decision.) All that said I did just almost buy a 98 Gen 1 as a second vehicle, and would have if it had been just a little cheaper.

Ok, that's the backstory, here are what I have found to be major differences between the trucks.

Gen 2 Pros:

Sport seats are absolutely fabulous
4.0 tow rating 6500lbs
factory tow package with nearly plug and play wiring
Speedway Blue is my new favorite color
It's nearly a full size truck

Gen 2 Cons:

6 speed gearing could be a little wider
have to use a full bull bar as the low profile safari bar can't be mounted
access cab back seat kind of a joke (though not as bad as the gen 1s)
Electronic transfer case switch
It's nearly a full size truck (if you do much off-roading on tight trails you get my point)

Gen 1 pros:

It is the perfect size for off-roading, and in my experience nearly un-stopable
Good fuel mileage
Imperial Jade Mica was my previous favorite color
Manual transfer case lever


Gen 1 cons:

Bucket seats could use a little work
Window ledge on the door was too small for an elbow rest with window closed
2.7L noticably lacked power when the air was on
Xtra cab back seat kind of a joke
3.4L v6 tow rating 5000 lbs
No factory towing package, so no plug and play wiring

The sum-up, If you are going to do a lot of towing, then go with the Gen 2, if you are going ot do a lot of wheelin' then go with the gen 1. If neither of those are you main purpose, then read through my list, talk to some other people and decide for yourself.

My $0.02

[Jeff]

My two best friends have 04's which were brand new, no major problems, other than two strange repairs by toyota recall, one of them had a ball joint issue the first year and the other had his AC unit crap out in a month. All of this was repaired/replaced with no further problems

jeff
06, v6,4x4, SR5 , 6spd

[03coma]

Well Maverick I really can't comment on the 2.7L but my 03 3.4L has no problem towing. I pull my trailer all over the place, and there is a toyota towing package available for the Tacoma. it's all plug and play. Starts under the drivers seat (at the master plug) and ends up at the trailer hitch. very easy install.

[sawdust]

Originally Posted by maverick491

Before Sawdust and Ndcouch get going at eachother on your thread and everyone forgets your question I'll answer it for you.

I'll try to behave myself from now on. If you weren't part of the Alliance, you'd be my hero.

[2003greenbean]

maverick- i have a towing package with mine i tow one atv in the bed and 2 on a trailer never had a prob

[maverick491]

Originally Posted by 03coma

Well Maverick I really can't comment on the 2.7L but my 03 3.4L has no problem towing. I pull my trailer all over the place, and there is a toyota towing package available for the Tacoma. it's all plug and play. Starts under the drivers seat (at the master plug) and ends up at the trailer hitch. very easy install.

Originally Posted by 2003greenbean

maverick- i have a towing package with mine i tow one atv in the bed and 2 on a trailer never had a prob

Guys, sorry if I offended. That was not my intention. I was personally speaking from gen 1 2.7L experience. Like I said, had I bought the 3.4L in 04, I would still have it.

That said, and not to split hairs, but you guys do not have a "towing package."

By definition a towing package includes bigger alternator, external oil cooler, (and a trans cooler if you have an auto), a class 4 receiver, and fully active seven pin wiring. By fully active that means that in addition to brakelights, turn signals, and a ground that you get with a 4 flat harness, your seven pin connector will already be pre-wired for a brake controller so that all you have to do is plug it in, you will have a live trailer back-up light wire, and you will have a live charging wire.

The Gen 1 trucks were never offered with a "towing package." You could get a dealer installed class 3 receiver, and 4-flat wiring. With a little time and effort you could built a complete towing package in a gen 1 truck (which I would have done had I bought the v6 in the first place), but that was the only point I was making.

All that said, I was just offering up my personal list of pros and cons for gen1 vs gen2 tacos. I just intended to answer the question, I in no way meant to imply that my truck is better than someone elses truck, or anything of the sort. Again sorry if I offended.

[nd]

In regards to Mavericks post.... he mentioned the 6 speed not being geared wide enough. I fully intended on getting another manual when i got my truck, but after driving the manual 6 speed i changed my mind. I didnt like the feel at all. However, the 5speed automatic is flawless. The new V6 with the 5 speed auto has gotten amazing reviews from just about every auto review source you can look up. It shifts smoothly, drops fast when you need the power and is just as good on mpg as the manual if not better. If you do get a second gen, i would recomend the automatic. At least test drive the auto and the manual before you buy.

BTW, good post Mav! lots of good info, as usual

[Jeff]

Good thoughts by Maverick and everyone, as I have mentioned before , I had wanted the tow pkg and all its benefits( the cooling and larger battery and alt being the most important) however my dealer kept saying that I could only get all this with the off the road pkg. My truck will never see unpaved areas, with the exception of a few unpaved rds leading to my favorite fishing areas.
After lots of looking by me (and very little by the dealer) I found just the exact truck , color , 6spd and it came with a factory 3000lb hitch and wiring.
I love my truck and it does exactly what I bought it for, with reliablity and decent fuel mileage.
Standard tires are poor but easy to replace at some point. Everyone loves my truck. I have to say there are 5 other red taco's with 4 miles of my house
Jeff
06, V6, 6spd SR5, Brilliant Red

[03coma]

Not offended.here, Just stating the facts. Got my 03 Taco SR5 New. If you check out the Tacoma 03 Manual you will find under Accessories:
Towing Reciever Hitch and Accessories.
Here are your part #
Toy0060216491002 Trans Cooler (optional)
Toy0892104950 Fan, Clutch Assy (Green Neck) No tow package the neck is orange.
PT228-04030 Tacoma Hitch
08921-04861 Complete wiring Harness and Converter.

The dealer will install this for a fee or you can do-it-yourself. Mine is fully covered under the Standard Toyota Warranty and the Extended Warranty.
No upgrade on the alt. or battery is necessary, The taillights/blinkers on the trailer are running through the entire trucks electrical system. I don't know what they recommend for the 2nd Gen. Taco's, but for the first not needed.

If you want pricing, I have that too...

[maverick491]

Originally Posted by 03coma

Not offended.here, Just stating the facts. Got my 03 Taco SR5 New. If you check out the Tacoma 03 Manual you will find under Accessories:
Towing Reciever Hitch and Accessories.
Here are your part #
Toy0060216491002 Trans Cooler (optional)
Toy0892104950 Fan, Clutch Assy (Green Neck) No tow package the neck is orange.
PT228-04030 Tacoma Hitch
08921-04861 Complete wiring Harness and Converter.

The dealer will install this for a fee or you can do-it-yourself. Mine is fully covered under the Standard Toyota Warranty and the Extended Warranty.
No upgrade on the alt. or battery is necessary, The taillights/blinkers on the trailer are running through the entire trucks electrical system. I don't know what they recommend for the 2nd Gen. Taco's, but for the first not needed.

If you want pricing, I have that too...

03coma, I appoligize and stand corrected. I was told by the dealer in no un-certain terms that when I bought my 04 there was no such thing as a towing package, that the best they could do was install a hitch and 4-flat wiring.

So your truck does have a round style 7 pin plug from the factory?

The purpose to the upgraded alt and battery is to accomidate the charging of the batteries in a travel trailer when it is not connected to shore power.

Where in Jersey are you? I'd like to get together sometime and hook a volt-meter to the trailer plug on your truck to see if the upgraded batery and alt. in mine actually makes a difference in the voltage getting to the trailer. I'll buy you a beer for your trouble.

[03coma]

Hey maverick, I had this installed about 2-3 months after purchasing my Taco. (did'nt want to wait for the factory truck to come) All from the dealer, the connection from the truck to the trailer is the flat 4 pin like u said, but there is the optional 7 to 4 pin adapter. I don't need that when I purchased my trailer from trailerama they put the 4 pin to match the connection.
The alt and battery are the origonal, I did'nt have that changes just the fan/clutch plate & added trans cooler. I'm up in the northern part of NJ.

[BAT24]

I actually just got rid of a 1996 Tacoma SX 4X4. It was a regular cab 5 speed 2.7. I put one clutch in the vehicle and one starter in the whole time I owned it. I bought it new in 96 and Toyota bought it back on the recall with 327,889 miles on the clock. It was down a bit on power with the lift and 33's but the engine was bullet proof. I replaced it with an 08 Double Cab Rugged Trail 4 X 4. I love all the bells and whistles on the new truck but to tell you the truth I kind of miss the 96, it was a great little truck.