Which vehicle would you keep?(Tacoma or Bronco)

Well, which vehicle would you keep? I listed the good and bad of each vehicle. The Tacoma may be shot though, the frame rust is pretty bad but might be repairable given the right shop Money from the sale of one will go into fixing the other.


2004 Toyota Tacoma 2 dr ext cab, 4x4 w/ factory rear locker, automatic, V6, 210k miles

The good:

1) interior is pristine and the body has zero rust aside from the frame

2) nice aftermarket wheels and new bfg all terrains

3) engine runs like a top


The bad:

1). Bad transmission. It needs to be replaced or rebuilt. Trans fluid is black and it barely moves

2). Frame is possibly shot. I'll let the photos talk






1993 Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer 4x4 5.0L 108K miles

The good:

1). Body looks solid from the outside(faded paint but otherwise no rust bubbles visible from outside). Interior is still pretty nice, just a faded dash and it needs a new speaker.

2). All windows function, door locks function etc.

3). New tires

4). New master cylinder and front calipers

5). Factory rubber floor interior

The bad:

1). The transmission needs to come out and most likely needs a front transmission seal

2). It was a beach vehicle for around 5 years and the underside is pretty rusty, but no holes or cracks are visible.

3). The brake lines are rusty and will need to be replaced

4). Runs cold, only heats up 1/4 on the temp gauge

5). Needs a complete tuneup, oil, air filter, belts, spark plugs, fuel filters, etc.

 

Sell them both to fund a better truck with less rust. You could maybe get into a clean 2nd gen with what you get from those.

Or a lower mileage 1st gen in better condition

 

Neither, both are money pits! Dump them both and find something else. You'll be much happier and $$ ahead.

 

Buy another late 1st gen with a good frame and transmisson, but that has a lousy body or broken motor. Put 'em together for a refreshed truck and have leftover parts for future repairs. And whomever let the trans burn up needs a swift yank of their shorts.

 

You try to get frame recalled on the taco yet?

 

dump both

 

Keep the 1st gen and get the frame replaced by the dealership. Pop in a $1500 buck tranny and you'll be good. Broncos are cool, but it's just too much to handle unless you got the time.

Edit: what's so hard in replacing a tranny? It's honestly not that expensive if you can find a good deal or do it yourself. And if the rest of the taco is good, then why let it (the body) rust away?

 

I would guess it comes down to just which one you like better .

Which one is better suited to your needs .

It comes down to if you need to pay someone else to repair/rebuild the Tacoma Frame.

To me the frame is much easier then a transmission.

 

Why doesn't everyone realize that the frame is covered for free by the dealership

 

Keep the Bronco. They don't make them anymore.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. That frame is really going to be the deciding factor. I'm checking with the dealership now, but it appears my Tacoma isn't on the frame recall list(they were only offered in certain areas). The service department is closed today for New Years, but as of now it looks like I'd have to take the brunt of any cost on frame replacement. On the mechanical aspect of things, I have no issue doing most of the work myself(transmission change, belts, spark plugs, etc...) rust is what I can't handle on my own.

 

They're both money pits. With a bad frame and transmission - you won't get any $$ for the Tacoma in its current condition. Part it out...... Sell engine, axle, body parts, interior and everything else.

Bronco? If you plan on using it as a daily driver = money pit. A Bronco like that is only worth keeping if it's in GREAT condition all around or you plan on doing a frame-off restoration. Otherwise....sell it or part it out!

 

If you part out..... Is the interior Tan or Grey?

 

They don't make 1st gen Tacomas anymore either.

 

2004 Tacoma frame rust out is still covered under warranty as long as the truck had been inspected and treated by Toyota.

have you checked into your Tacoma trucks repair history?

 

Sounds like it might be cheaper to repair the bronco, but it's still a matter of what you like best. Personally I like trucks more than suv's (FJ's excluded) and I'm not really a Ford can so for me the choice is easy.

 

I think the best advice in here is to take the money you would have spent on repairs, combine it with the money that you make from selling both of these heaps, and buy yourself a clean vehicle. My preference would be a 1st gen with a good frame.