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Are first gen Toyotas actually worth the price?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Johhnyreb, Jul 29, 2017.

  1. Jan 10, 2020 at 12:42 AM
    #201
    TacoBike

    TacoBike The Researcher

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    ARP head studs Supercharger FIC6 AFR gauge painted fenders audio install
    Why would anyone want the electronic throttle? It would annoy the hell out of me to step on it and have that half second of lag before the truck steps on it. Also the other years also had fender flares...
     
    GQ7227 likes this.
  2. Jan 10, 2020 at 4:06 AM
    #202
    cruiserguy

    cruiserguy Well-Known Member

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    Yeah man I agree with you but that's just our opinion. It's the noobs that are told the newer the better and the lower the mileage the better. That is generally what any car buyer helpsite will tell people. And the quality of the interior components like plastics and the cloth material for the seats and stuff were slightly lesser quality as well. But that's just my opinion. The noobs want the newest and the least miles:D
    nothing wrong with that either but you skip identifying the actual changes made between models. and identified what's really improved or taken a step back because of mandated laws to comply with, etc
     
  3. Jan 10, 2020 at 9:33 AM
    #203
    pwrslide2

    pwrslide2 Well-Known Member

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    Well, there's one definitive here for 1st gen vs 2nd gen. It's that not matter the mileage, the seals, plastics, rubber and so on have a lot less "time" on them. If you can a get a 2015 2nd gen with 60k on vs a 2005 with 60k for like 5g more, that's probably the better deal maintenance wise so it wont nickle and fine you over time if you're actually going to keep it for like 10 years or more.
     
    cruxofthebisquit likes this.
  4. Jan 10, 2020 at 10:38 AM
    #204
    Das it mang

    Das it mang Well-Known Member

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    1996 T100 SR5 MT
    Stock again- rip slug
    Paid 10k out the door for my 5 lug with 94k miles at the time. 1 PO, and Carfax showed he had Toyota maintenance every 2k miles so I nabbed it. Have put on 22k miles since I bought it in January last year, and hasn't skipped a beat for me. Granted, the 5 lugs are more difficult to build; but for the condition the truck is in I'd say it's worth the $ and don't regret my choice.
     
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  5. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:06 AM
    #205
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
    Vehicle:
    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    i have had 2 professional quotes for front suspension refresh this week, LBJs and shock absorbers, alignment
    approx $1500 for OEM parts/labor from one shop and $1300 for AM parts/labor from another shop
    ... i betchu the dealer service would want more than $2k for this!
    never in my tacoma's life have i had to put out that kind of money on any maintenance in one shot, the most spent so far was for new tires!
    my mechanical abilities are rudimentary and crude at best so i am stuck with this labor issue, one place would not even let me purchase quality parts at wholesale which would save me many 100s of dollars so i am stuck yet again
    there are other looming issues such as a possible shimmy in the driveshaft that has yet to be diagnosed, its a summer gremlin so far
    this ordeal is weighing on my brain, taxing it, as if i did not have enough to deal with deweathering it currently,
    and I am having difficulty justifying this repair because i honestly do not know the old trucks value, the dealer could only muster a $4k kbb cash value onit recently. so IDK, i just don't...


    :duh:
     
    2002Tacoma4x4 likes this.
  6. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:16 AM
    #206
    tacoma_ca

    tacoma_ca Well-Known Member

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    @GQ7227 you have a post on TW for every 6 miles driven in your gen1, that is impressive.
     
    SierraMare, CrustyTaco and cruiserguy like this.
  7. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:18 AM
    #207
    KdF

    KdF Old Rednek Type

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    East-ByGod-TEXAS!
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    Don't feel bad, I'm dropping $2600 to $3200 on a transmission rebuild as we type. It does have 244K on it, so it had a good run. I won't buy a new truck, at my age and them wanting more than I paid for my 1st House I refuse. Besides, I can still work on most things myself. Anyway, you can do all of that yourself if you just put your mind to it. That alignment...$100. Just get the parts.
     
    jackn7 and GQ7227 like this.
  8. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:20 AM
    #208
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    i have not been keeping track, i suppose lots of aimless discussion in the LT takes its toll
     
  9. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:33 AM
    #209
    Stealth97

    Stealth97 Well-Known Member

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    I've been around on this one.

    Paid a pretty penny for a beautiful '04 OR DCSB v6 2x4 with 120k miles. I had it for 8 months.

    It pretty quickly had a brake issue, and $600 later I had great tundra brakes, SS lines, new brake booster and it stopped wonderfully. Shortly after the rear brakes started squealing. :angrygirl:

    Also at 120k, I could not verify the timing belt was done (should have researched that). It was also due for some shocks, and I found that, well the locker did not really cut it. Should have gotten 4x4.

    I was really, REALLY unhappy with the gas mileage. I only got 16 mpg normally. People say its a truck, don't worry about it, but nah, coming from a Prius I worry about it.

    With an old house, another old car, and tons of other projects going on, I decided I did not have time for another old project car.

    So I decided instead of dumping a couple / few grand into shocks, timing belt, etc, I did what I should have done and traded it in on a 3rd gen 4x4. I got almost and extra 100 hp, and 30-50% better fuel mileage.

    1st gens are awesome, but from my experience, overpriced. Much happier with my 3rd gen..
     
    2002Tacoma4x4 and cruiserguy like this.
  10. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:46 AM
    #210
    frenchee

    frenchee Favorite Member

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    Converted to 4WD DD VW MK6 TDI
    Weird, I got 16.3MPG highway on my last 300ish mile trip.
     
  11. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:46 AM
    #211
    tmswell

    tmswell Well-Known Member

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    Agreed on most of the discussion points -- especially that this is a reasonably low maintenance small truck. The price for a DC 4x4 is higher than most and especially with rust, etc. Notwithstanding, I dreamed of one of these since I was a kid and happy it's taking me across trails every month.
     
    RtacomaN and Breakfast Taco like this.
  12. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:59 AM
    #212
    906-Runner

    906-Runner wants to be a race car driver

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    I see what the big deal about the 2001-2004 is all about cause it’s the newest with all the fancy stuff, but other than appearance and a few other minor things what really sets that sub generation apart from the 1998-2000? I mean I know mine has a horrendous front end compared to the earlier and later models bit other than that what’s the reason they’re less desirable?
     
  13. Jan 10, 2020 at 12:21 PM
    #213
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
    Vehicle:
    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    some may have 'newer' replacement frames is all i can think of currently

    98 - 00 models are 'rare' because a countless number of them were crushed
     
  14. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:24 PM
    #214
    tmswell

    tmswell Well-Known Member

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    I love the look of the older generations, however, 4-doors :)
     
  15. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:25 PM
    #215
    906-Runner

    906-Runner wants to be a race car driver

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    So to go along with what your saying about the 1998-2000 models being ‘rare-ish’; I should be able to sell my 1999 somewhere close to what a 2001+ goes for taking into consideration all the options and mods I have?
     
  16. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:36 PM
    #216
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
    Vehicle:
    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    if somebody wants a 98-00 model in particular, especially in a cold-climate state, there is probably a limited number of them out there to be had in certain parts of the country
    i can honestly say i have seen only 1 Tacoma from 98-00 on the roads in my mid west location in the past couple of months, in a city with over 500k its hard to believe how few are still around, unless they are all tucked away in garages somewhere!
     
  17. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:42 PM
    #217
    frenchee

    frenchee Favorite Member

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    Converted to 4WD DD VW MK6 TDI
    Whats so great about 98-00 though?
     
  18. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:43 PM
    #218
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
    Vehicle:
    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    a unique front bumper?
     
  19. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:44 PM
    #219
    906-Runner

    906-Runner wants to be a race car driver

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    Yooper Peninsula

    Along with the grill, it looks like the 3rd gen 4Runner grill flipped upside down
     
  20. Jan 10, 2020 at 1:47 PM
    #220
    pca501212

    pca501212 Well-Known Member

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    Wow! What size are those tires? Can you only drive in a straight line??
     

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