2nd gen driving impressions

I know this probably should be in the 2nd gen forum, but since I have a 1st gen, I'll put it here At the shop that I work the pother day I got to drive a 2008 Tacoma for the first time. I never have really like the look of the 2nd gens, so I wasn't expecting myself to enjoy the truck. But when I took it for a test drive, it actually was really nice. The acceleration was real brisk, and I loved how stiff the gas pedal was. I think the truck I drove was the 4.0 liter engine, and it put out quite a bit of power. I only drove it for a short time, but I also loved how comfortable the seats where.

Needless to say, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2nd gen Tacoma anymore.

 

I drove what I guess was a 2010 when I was trying to decide what to do after my 93 DX was totalled last October.

It was an auto, not a manual (they didn't have any manuals on the lot, WTF?), so in my opion, it was hard to assess the way it "really drives." It was nice and comfy and powerful, but it was brand new. Anything is nice and comfy and powerful when brand new...

What did not impress me was the very cheap-feeling interior. I specifically remember pressing on the plastic at the top of the door (where you might rest your arm if the window were open), and it deflected inward quite a bit...too much...and felt very flimsy. In general, too much lightweight plastic on the interior for me.

Also, I thought it was just too big overall for my tastes and the amount of urban parking I need to do. Of course, I drove the 93 pickup for 15 years, so I was pretty biased.

And for the prices they wanted for the spec I wanted? I walked off the lot with renewed conviction to find a good 1st gen. Which i did.

Oh, by the way, shouldn't this be in a 2nd gen thread? (had to say it!)

 

Until you realize the build quality sucks.

 

Hater...

 

I've had my 1998 TRD PreRunner for 11 years now. Bought my 2006 D-Cab SB Sport PreRunner new and sold it March of this year. After owning it for 4 years, there are 4 things on my 2006 that stood out. The rear bumper was thin as heck. I could flex the corners with my hands. The left and right front turn signal lens melted in the center... no biggie. 2ndGens have ABS that I thought was too sensitive and wished I could disable them. The drivers door armrest is flimsy. I cracked mine on about the 3rd month of owning it. Since it was not visible, I did not replace it but just avoided using it. Very minor items but it would not stop me from buying another 2ndGen. I'm sure you'll be happy if you would get one. I just can't get rid of my 1stGen.

 

The 2nd gen is a good street truck, that gets lousy highway mileage. I would not buy another, but I'm hard on my stuff. My 2010 Taco is the first truck that has let me down by breaking under normal use. It's the only truck I have broken. Like I said, a nice street truck. Since this is a thread about test drives, try the Fronty, let us know what you think, and don't get too hung up on it's plasticky interior, lol.

 

Ater owning my 03 for about a year and driving my friends 07, I dont think that I would like a 2nd gen. It is nothing like the 1st gen. IMO.

 

I had a 2007 frontier Crew Cab, LE 4wd, long bed (the works). Paid 23,500 brand new OTD. It had the 4.0 v6 and was real quick and pulled real hard. It was a good truck but I was only getting about 15-17 mpg in mixed driving and it cost me about 60-70 bucks to fill up. And, the center console armrest was waaaay too low making the truck uncomfortable after long rides. I put 80k miles on in two years without any problems. I sold it due to the poor gas mileage and it was a chore to park in any parking. If I had to do it over again, I would have bought a taco. More comfortable, better interior material, and I think they look better. You pay for it though; toyota won't deal too much on thier new taco's

 

Be really, really careful friend. It is a very slippery slope. Once you start down the path to the darkside, you can never come back.

 

Haha, I'm often a sucker for a stiff gas pedal as well.

When it comes to second generations, I would be willing to take an auto but definitely not in a first gen...

Good report!

 

Cool. I had a 2005. I have to agree with most of your assessment. The Tacoma seems vastly better assembled, but I can't get over the issues I have with my Taco. I had more issues with the Fronty, but it never stranded me, and it was a lot cheaper to buy. I guess it's all about priorities, as someone who is not going to push their truck hard, is better off with the Tacoma. A huge selling feature for me was the new traction control systems, which elevate the capabilities of the truck well past it's competitors.

 

im so sad i sold my 2002 for my 08.it kills me everyday.i just got a 2010.i like it better than my 08 but it still doesnt compare to my 2002

 

I test drove a 2010 Tacoma a while back and was far from impressed. If Toyota was asking a more reasonable price then I probably would have liked it better. But the build quality is subpar, the interior materials are like a Fisher Price set, and they're not even a compact truck anymore.

Test drove a new Frontier too. Pretty much more of the same but a much better price.

 

Yeah, I don't think I'd ever trade my 1st gen for 2nd gen, its just that I have some respect for the 2nd gens now that I gave one a test drive

 

Wish I'd seen this thread about 4 months ago LOL. My old 86 4Runner had seen her better days and I figured "screw it" and just went new. Kind of regret it. There was nothing available in low mile 1st gens at the time, and even then in Colorado you have to be careful ... there are a lot of cleaned and polished trucks on Craigslist that hide the fact they've been offroaded and abused to hell and back. Now all of a sudden I see an awesome 2004 with 67k listed in the state. That would have saved me a whoooole lot of cash.

 

Have 1st gen AC 99 V6(230K)and 2nd gen DB LB Sport 05 145K. (Also had '88 extra cab and 89 4runner) Totally different vehicles and cant compare. One is light truck and other is almost fullsize. Power differences different worlds. My wife and I fight over who gets the 2nd gen each day. It's a nicer street truck and more comfort. We have logged 100,000's of miles on both (literally) and just happy to have yotas. Between the 2 of us we have had 6 yotas and have tried Nissan/datsun and dont think we would ever go there.

Overall my point is there is no comparison. just completely different trucks but still completly reliable because they are YOTAS.

 

I don't think the interior materials are like a "fisher price set". Yes, there's hard plastic on the dash but the materials that you have to touch (steering wheel, buttons, shifter, door handles, etc.) are very high quality and typical toyota. There's hard plastic on the dash in gen 1 too but again, the materials that you touch are of high quality. The 2nd gen is a very nice truck that is great for a DD but for me, too big, and they cost waaay too much for a midsize truck. I wish toyota would make another truck the same size as the gen 1.

 

please dont ever trade

 

Hey, my bumper hits my tailgate too. Just barley, I can hear the bottom of the tailgate rub on the top black plastic thingie when I open and close it (barley). But I don't get a CEL from it! All this time I thought it was a design enhancement from Toyota.

What is that CEL code for the bumper?