More problems 1st or 2nd Gen?

How you all doing? I want to say thanks for taking the time to read this and kindly respond as well as apologize if this has been discussed previously. I have been a long time looker and avid toyota fan for a while. I owned an 88 4x4 and would like to buy a used tacoma. Many things are stopping me but the one primary problem is funds. I was dead set on getting the 2nd gen. I have looked at a million, read tons of threads etc... However not always but more often than not it seems like I hear more of the 2nd gens having problems. I realize the TSB's are out there but just in general people are having trouble. This is also compounded by the fact that Toyota has flat out F'ed up the last couple of years with some models. My question to you all who seems to have more problems? I am now starting to contemplate a 1st gen because of price and lack of problems discussed on here. I know there are all lemons but I am looking for a general trend. Thanks.

 

There seems to be a few more complaints about the 2nd gens rather than the 1st for sure...I'm lucky though cause I haven't had 1 problem with my 2nd gen at all

 

I've had both (many 1st gen and a 2008 access cab). The 08 never had an issue, but I never LOVED it like I did all the gen 1 Tacos I owned. I traded the 08 for a 4Runner for my wife and bought me a 96 extended cab last month. I feel like I have a truck I love again.

I also don't remember as many "issues" with the gen 1 tacos, so I vote gen 1 for less problems.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9BGLtqqkVI 2nd gen made me start smoking

 

b/c they are older

 

what's your problem

 

That makes no sense.

 

Yea I am lost as well. thanks for all the input. Anyone else care to chime in. If I do buy a first gen anything particular I should watch out for. I am in California so the salt damage is not a prob. I am hoping to find an old man who wants to get rid of it.

 

I have heard of a shit load of problems with the 2nd gens, but I have been lucky to not have any, knock on wood

 

more 2nd gens + reading a 2nd gen tacoma forum + more electronics/features = more problems for 2nd gens. its common sense really.

I never hear about any problems with the Model T Ford, maybe i should get one of those.

 

Go with the 2nd gen. It looks better.

 

Go with a 1st gen. It looks better.



seriously though. My truck has almost 160,000 miles on it and it is great. Hasn't given me a single problem in the 15,000 miles I've owned it.

 

like they have said, with all the new technology they are expected to have more problems. the 1st gen are really really soild though and they have stood the test of time. if you find the right deal on a 1st gen in good condition id say go with that but having a newer truck is very nice.

 

well there not that easy to start. (my dad is resoring a 1915)

 

Similar discussion going on right now about 1st gens:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/128456-1st-gen-common-problems.html

I bought a first gen w/ 101K miles a year ago because I wanted the closest thing possible to my 93 pickup, which I loved and was the most depenable thing in my life. I test drove a 2nd gen just to explore options. I did not get the feeling I expected. Felt, um, plasticky and not as solid as I expected from my previous truck.

1st gens will just go forever with minimal care. They did not change much from the pre-Tacoma pickup they followed. The 2nd gen is quite a different truck in many ways.

 

In my experience the 1st gens are more reliable. In 98 my wife (then girlfriend) and I both leased new V6 extracab Tacomas. When the leases were up my dad bought mine out and I bought a 95.5 V6 regular cab and my wife bought hers out. I wound up selling my 95.5 to buy my FJ40 and she traded hers with 85k on it for her current 00 4Runner. My dad still has my 98 with about 190k on it and the guy I sold the 95.5 to has way over 200k on it now. The only thing my dad's 98 has needed is brakes, shocks, and one front axleshaft. In 2005 I bought a brand new access cab 4 cyl 4x4 SR5 loaded up with everything you could get on a 4 cylinder truck. About 3 months later my brother in law bought a 2005 TRD sport with a six speed. After the second NH winter both the frames on our trucks were showing really quite severe surface rust with some flaking. So I spent a day underneath it with a cupped wheel on my grinder and then painted it with rust bullet blackshell. It didn't advance any further. My brother in laws frame looks like the titanic. At like 75k I noticed a lot of noise from the front end. After about a week I diagnosed it as a bad wheel bearing. I changed one side and then discovered the other side was bad too. All was good for a year then the alternator died. And both the A/C compressors on my 05 and my brother in laws truck failed. His failed at about 40k miles and mine failed at around 90k. I sold my 05 earlier this month because I really needed a double cab. Nobody could sit in front of my daughter in her car seat. So I got a great deal on another 05 with 113k that needed front wheel bearings... I just changed one front bearing on my wife's 4Runner and need to do the other side soon. But it's got 204k on it. So in my experience the 1st gens have been more reliable. But I drove my dads 98 for a few days while I was fixing my "new" 05 a few weeks back and the new trucks drive so much nicer and are way more comfortable. But of course that's the way it's always been. When I feel like going back to the true 4x4 roots I drive my FJ40. Compared to that my 05 is a Lexus.

 

Wouldn't 2nd gen/most newer vehicles win automatically? The fancier/more bells and whistles the more there is to break. They don't build em' like they used to

 

Can't vote, because I'm not educated enough on the two generations.
I own a 10 month old 2010 TRD Sport, with 4,700 miles on it.
Haven't had any problems and would be pissed if I had.
Had the Leaf Spring TSB done, but not because I was having a problem. (Shhhh)
My dealership always has twenty or more 1st Gen Frames on pallets "out back".
I suppose a new frame and other incidentals (brake lines, etc) that go along with it isn't a problem, just time.
My reason for posting is to point out:
The Ratio of 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen Members will skew your poll.
I have no idea what the ratio is or if that statistic is available on the site
(without days of clicking member info and tallying).
I've always figured all vehicles have some problems and the older they are the more you'll probably have.
but my opinion is far from scientific or again, educated.
Good luck with your search. You'll most likely be pleased with any Tacoma.

cc

.

 

The more features a vehicle has, the chances of having an issue will go up.

The real question should be, which vehicle has had fewer problems with the drive train and standard features.

Edit to ad:

Did 1st gens have compass and temp gauges? Did 1st Gens have electric 4x4 controls? Just a few examples.