New guy with questions

New guy checking in from the Midwest. Excited to be a member!

I am in the research phase of purchasing a 2nd gen Tacoma. More specifically a DCLB. I think I have all the basics figured out but there's still some stuff I wanted to know. I currently daily drive a Golf TDI (one of those darn environment destroying ones ). While I love this car to death, the buyback offer is too good to pass up and decided a truck will be my next vehicle. As far as the Golf is concerned, I have learned that regular maintenance items are rather annoying and tedious to buy/replace. Wipers, oil and filters, wheel bearings, "special tools", build date specific parts, etc. need to be ordered online or aren't available at local auto stores without waiting. I also can't change the fuel filter without having the car "recalibrated" at the dealer or with an aftermarket programmer. Is this the case for any of the 2nd gen tacos? It may be an odd question, but I feel being able to work on the vehicle myself is more of a pain than usual and I'm unsure if it's because it's newer, or because VW doesn't like us fixing our own cars. I know the later model 2nd gens are still "new" so I assume there are some parts that won't be readily available, but I just wanted to know if I'd be able to get by being a backyard mechanic with one of these trucks without too much hassle.

Looking forward to chatting with some of you and learning as much as I can. Been a VW geek for some time and I'm ready to delve into something new. Take care!

 

I haven't had any problems working on my 14'. My gf's 08 jetta however is a pain to do anything with. I'd say the taco is at least 1,000 times easier to work on/mod.

 

2NDGENFTW

 

You'll find this is one of the easiest trucks/vehicles to work on. Why the DCLB? My last two tacomas were DCLB, but they aren't little by any means. Unless you need the bed space I'd go for a SB.

 

All my other VW's have been fine to work on. This one though..PITA. Plus unibody cars suck..

Gotta show my dads first gen how it's done

I have intentions of doing long-term traveling in it and intended on sleeping in the bed. Haven't ruled out a SB entirely. I may still be too tall to sleep in a long bed comfortably and there's some mighty fine roof tent options. Did test drove a LB tho and it wasn't an issue. I drove school buses for a few years.

Appreciate the replies, guys!