Looking to buy first Tacoma, leaning towards 2nd Gen. Have some questions.

Hello Everyone!

New member here.

I just joined today because I was hoping to buy a Tacoma this week.

A nearby dealership has a 2006 Tacoma with only 88K and has a manual trans and a 4cyl.

It is a RWD.

I do want to stick with a manual trans and I've had better luck with 4 cylinders than with all others so I would prefer to stick with that.

They're asking 10K. From the pictures, it seems like it is mint.

I planned on visiting tomorrow to take a look at the frame and see if it had been replaced under warranty.

My question is that I believe I had seen on another thread that one should avoid the some model years of Tacomas (perhaps 05-07) due to head gasket issues.

Did that apply to the 4cyl and the V6?

I love older cars and would prefer a first gen, but I want to make a purchase this week and there are many more used second gens in good shape.

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Any advice on what to avoid and what to look for?

Here is what I prefer:

Manual Trans
4cyl (May opt for 6 if it is in good running shape)
Ext or Regular Cab


I mostly planned on using this truck in the winter and driving my Miata in the summer giving me a chance to clean and take care of my Tacoma in the summer.

If there is an active Tacoma club in my area perhaps I would prefer the 4WD so I may partake in some outings and have them help me with modifications.

Is it necessary to always purchase tires new with the Tacoma 4WD? I've generally only bought tires used and two at a time, except for when I had my Subaru which I didn't have for long.

 

Headgaskets are V6's you're ok. If you go V6, 2007+ is your best bet, pending the frame rust.

Rust is the biggest issue, beyond that I would suggest an independent inspection. Stuff like ball joints, axle seals, oil leaks need to be caught before buying.

With offroading the 2 biggest worries are traction and punctures, upgrading the tires from stock makes a world of difference and you won't hold up your group. Highway tires don't really belong on a trail except logging roads.

 

Thank you, good to know.

 

With regards to the transfer case.

I've only ever bought tires used and 2 at a time as I've never had to buy tires for a car with 4WD.

I understand some cars require same tire and tread depth and some trucks do not.

I don't know specifically how the transfer cases differ in trucks and in cars.

Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Would it be OK to use used tires of the same make but varying tread depth on Tacomas or will that ruin the transfer case.

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I suppose it will be difficult to buy used tires of only one make and model multiple times, seems like that would require a good deal of luck unless there are some tires that are very very popular.

My other option is to buy used tires but 4 at a time from CL or members here, to ensure they are all the same make and model (and hopefully tread depth).

 

Hontestly with part time 4x4 (trucks) its not a huge deal unless you engage 4x4 on the highway, its not a big deal if 2 are 80% and 2 are 50%. In the north we would be more concerned.

Keep an eye out for take offs (guys who bought the truck and upgraded first day) of 2016+ tacomas. Guys sell the Goodyear's that are 265/70R16 all the time, they are a good tire for simple trails and are often 300-400$ for a set of 4 brand new tires.

 

You said for mainly winter driving. I'd never recommend a RWD Taco for snow or icy roads, Little trucks have very little weight over the rear wheels. Just my opinion.

 

Check if it has 5 lug or 6 lug wheels.
Aftermarket wheel choices are limited if it's a 5 lug.
Also, their are few choices if you want to lift the suspension.

 

"If there is an active Tacoma club in my area perhaps I would prefer the 4WD so I may partake in some outings and have them help me with modifications."

What is your area?
There is a huge difference between a 2WD and a 4WD.

"I do want to stick with a manual trans and I've had better luck with 4 cylinders than with all others so I would prefer to stick with that."

What Year/Make/Model were these 4 cylinders?
What were the 'all others'?

 

For a winter/offroad truck, get a 4x4. You can drive a RWD pickup in the snow no problem, throw a couple sand bags over the rear wheels. Coming from a Toyota pickup with a bombproof 22RE and seeing way this Tacoma goes uphill, I'm glad(except at the pump) it has the V6.

 

The truck you are looking at may be in great shape and a good price. But if it doesn't fill all uour needs, you won't be happy with it in the end.
I'd suggest deciding on what you want the truck to have and what you want to do with it. Then start looking at trucks that check off those boxes. You'll probably be much happier in the end.

 

As said, if your area gets any snow, you're not going to want an RWD truck as your winter driver. 4 cylinder and 4WD is also not that common- I'd bet 90%+ are V6.

 

A v6 and 4x4 is really what you want. If will be safer in the snow and resale at a later date will be easier.

Don’t think with a 4 banger your going to be saving a lot of gas compared to a 6. Nobody really wants a 4 banger.

 

4 cylinder 4x4 6 lug regular cab.
That's what you want.
Dig the Miata, I wish I had one... cool toys!

 

I think, back in the day, gen. 1, the 4 cyl., 4X4's were everywhere. I gave up my 1998 4 cyl. 5 spd. 4X4 for a 2013 4 cyl., auto. 4X4. The old one felt stronger & more solid than this 2013. I never had a complaint with the old one. I'm constantly complaining about how under powered this newer one is. Just my opinion.

 

I'm in Salem, MA just north of Boston.

I've had several 4cyl inlines.

Miatas, 90s civics, Civic Si, and integras.

Not as much luck with anything else. I had an acura Tl with head gasket issues as well as a subaru with the 4cyl boxer issues.

Both are a pain with the heads being up against a wall in the engine bay.

Had an 04 Tahoe as well with a bad auto transmission.

If Tacomas came with an inline 6 cyl I would be all over it, but I do remain partial to the 4 cyl.

I did check out the 4cyl RWD tacoma today but I didnt bite.

I think I should sleep on it fir a couple of nights before I decide just to ensure I don't get buyers' remorse.

 

This is the first I hear of 5 vs 6 lug.

I'll have to look into it.

Thank you.

 

The Toyota 3.4 and 4.0 V-6 are fantastic, unbreakable engines.

I had an '01 with the 3.4 V-6 and put 136,000 miles on it in less than 5 years... Only replaced the water pump simply because it was having the 90,000-mile timing belt replacement done and they saw a drip.

I had an '05 with the 4.0 V-6 and put 102,000 miles on it when I traded it in after 4 years for my 2010 also with the 4.0... Never one engine problem.

Now, with 122,000 miles and not one engine problem other than changing the water pump around 80,000 miles.

I also owned three Subaru 4WD wagons (1977, 1980, 1987) and found the H-4 engine amazing back then.

 

If you don't know that there are 5 lug and 6 lug Tacomas, you really need to do a lot more research before you drop $10K. Not intending to be rude, but there's a bunch of different variations of 2nd gen Tacomas. 5 lug, 6 lug prerunner, 6 lug 4WD, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off road, standard cab, access cab, double cab and that's not even getting into the 2 different rear seat configurations in the access cab, and the front end appearance redesign in 2012.

Edit: I just found the Taco you're looking at. $10K is way too much.

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/d/danvers-2006-toyota-tacoma-indigo-ink/6993103301.html

 

Yep that’s a 5 lug 2wd access cab truck. Not what you want and way overpriced. Find a prerunner or 4x4 6 lug.

 

You are going to have buyer's remorse before even buying the truck. Be patient and buy what you really want. Keep looking for the 1st gen tacoma. I would suggest joining the 1st gen forum and see if anyone there is considering selling. What's the rush, you have another vehicle?