Buying 1st gen questions, opinions.

I'd drop your 2017 in a heartbeat for this rig.
Sounds to me like an honest seller with a good product as vs. a stealership/auto lot.
In fact I test drived the newer Tacomas in September planning to buy a new one. I ended up buying a Ridgeline and am keeping my 2003. Irreplaceable!

 

@GallMcOxsbig69

Post some pics, and the car fax. FYI carfaxes are, not a true representation of the trucks history.

I always say this to everyone buying a taco, pay the extra $100 to have a third party mechianic inspect the truck, mention the front end “accident”

 

Dear Everybody including Original Poster,

This post goes out to all admirers of First Generation Tacomas that want one.

It never fails to amaze me how much attention, passion and obsession these first generation Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks receive.

Here are the fundamental troubles with first generation Tacomas. A lot of what I am going to say here is going to be redundant for many of you, and I have posted this post it seems like a million times. First generation Tacomas suffer from frame rust. Most first generation cancer ridden Tacomas were purchased back by Toyota with the Toyota buy back program. Some of the later 2001 to 2004 Tacomas were given new frames, but not many. As a result of all of their frame rust issue, there is not a hell of them left. Even the newest first generation Tacomas, which are a 2004 model year are now almost 15 years old so finding one with relatively low mileage, and that does not have frame rust is going to be a huge undertaking especially if you don't live in California, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Texas, New Mexico or Arizona. If you don't live in one of those states finding one without frame rust becomes a huge feat.

First generation Tacomas have an almost cult like following behind them, which is part of the reason why sites like this exist. To clarify this point, this is the same kind of attention and admiration first generation Toyota FJ 40 and first generation Camaros receive. Followers and admirers seem to be very emotionally attached to the body style of first generation Tacomas especially the 4x4 extra-cabs with the 5-speed and the 3.4 liter V6 engine, which is why the prices of these old Tacomas are so expensive. This is the same kind of mentality as the whole first generation Camaro craze. Camaro admirers are very attracted to first generation Camaros. The second generation Camaros, which are built just as well as the first generation Camaros don't create no where near the excitement of the first generation Camaros. Personally, I think the body lines of the first generation Camaros are by far Chevy's best body style of the Camaro.

First generation Tacomas with the 3.4 V6 do not get very good gas mileage especially when looking at how large the truck is. A long bed F150 or Chevy C1500 will get just as good of gas mileage, and it will have more room and bed space.

If you are looking for a long term useful pick-up truck for yourself or your family, you will have to put in an incredible amount of time and energy in locating a first generation that fits the bill. Unless you are completely emotionally attached to the body style of first generations, your effort will be much better spent seeking out a second generation. You will have many more to choose from, and they are built just as well as the first generations. They have a ton of more options. Their stock seats are also quite a bit more comfortable, and they are a much better balanced truck. First generations are just small trucks that have a relatively big engine for their size when equipped with the 3.4, and they ride hard. First generation Tacomas are also way too expensive for how big of a truck they are.

Now that I have completely ripped first generation Tacomas a new asshole. I will tell everybody some good things about them. They are built solid, and they do have nice body lines especially the 1998 to 2000 series with that really nice looking front end. There are not too many trucks on the road as old as them. Mechanically, they are very sound. If it wasn't for frame rust, we would see many more of them on the road.

Good Luck
Paul

 

TacomaJunkie8691 said:

"First generation Tacomas suffer from frame rust." ​

I lived for many years in Maine and Belize, C.A.
Winter salt in Maine and sea salt in Belize. NO RUST.
​

TacomaJunkie8691 said:

"Followers and admirers seem to be very emotionally attached to the body style of first generation Tacomas especially the 4x4 extra-cabs with the 5-speed and the 3.4 liter V6 engine, which is why the prices of these old Tacomas are so expensive."​

I am emotionally attached to a single cab 5-speed 2.7L engine​

TacomaJunkie8691 said:

"First generation Tacomas with the 3.4 V6 do not get very good gas mileage especially when looking at how large the truck is."

My gas mileage is 20/22 mpg thank you.​

TacomaJunkie8691 said:

"First generations are just small trucks that have a relatively big engine for their size when equipped with the 3.4, and they ride hard. First generation Tacomas are also way too expensive for how big of a truck they are."​

I especially like the hard ride, small cab and the $5k rebate Toyota gave me for a 2003 total purchase price of $12,750 ​

​

 

@GallMcOxsbig69

If the $7000 went to the owner, that might mean it was deemed "totaled" and it will have a salvage title. That means no bank will loan money on it when you purchase or try to resell. Definitely use this as a bargaining angle if you do buy it. You said it was wrecked on 02? Unless I missed it, you didn't say what model year the truck is, but $7000 doesn't sound like enough to be a complete payout for totaled truck <8yrs old, so hopefully that was for repair and title is still clean.

You can always tell amateur body work (like mine) by the gaps and levelness between, for example, the fender to door or hood to fender. In addition to the tire wear mentioned, check for other signs of the frame having been bent. The bumper bolts directly to the frame, so if it slopes side to side and the gap to the grille varies that may indicate the frame is twisted/bent. Look for cracked welds where for example, the front body mount bracket is attached to the frame.

 

Wasn't salvaged. It happened a few months after it was purchased new off the lot. The current owner said they had no clue until I showed him the carfax.

 

Well boys, It was the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on.... Never seen anything like it. It was like this thing was vacuum sealed ina bomb shelter for the last 15 years. The engine bay was cleaner than my 2017. The paint was flawless, only flaw I could point out would be a door ding on the rear passenger door. The elderly man who owned it was exactly what you look for when buying a car, meticulous and detail oriented. All service records were in the dash and he even had a notebook with mileage when he filled the car with gas... nuts.

Going to get it inspected tomorrow but pending that doesn't go horribly.. I'm going to pull the trig.

 

...

 

And it's green too! One of the best colors. I'd say pull the trigger man, that truck will last you a lifetime.

 

I saw this truck on facebook- kinda makes me sad that he had to sell it, but what a beauty!

 

Someone could rightly say "You are a lucky man to have come upon that truck"

 

Would you guys pay 16? I'm going to have to do all fluids/filters/and possibly some belts and lubrication.

 

pay to play.

 

depends how bad you want it.

 

Look for wear on break peddle and or clutch peddle may lead you to think there's more miles on it than said.

 

Does seller have any docs. with date dates times places of service. Tires batteries ECT. proof over time. Think about this before you spend 16k, truck could be bought for less than half that

 

No dust or cobwebs under the hood?
Something is definitely fishy!

 

For a wreaked truck no I wouldn't care what brand

 

Here in Denver, that truck would be sold in an afternoon at that price. I'd jump all over it. Maybe even under it.

Yah, that's some real solid advice there. Maybe he just keeps it clean???? I'd be MORE worried if it were covered in dust and cobwebs.

 

Got my pre runner from co-worker with 71k original miles for $9,800 .
Reason I knew it was legit was all the dust under the hood and in the body cracks over the years