Practical Indulgence

It appears the world of Tacoma's has taken me in!

I have had a 2000 4Runner Limited 4WD for hundreds of thousands of miles, one of the best trucks ever as we all know.. Recently my wifes old Solara finally died on her, and since I work from home she has taken over the 4Runner so I found myself in need of something to drive while she is out.

While I was perusing the ads for something cheap and reliable, I came across this 2002 lunar mist 5 speed standard cab shortbed just a few weeks ago. I have always dreamed of owning one just like this, and realized this seemed to be the perfect time to scoop this beauty up. A dream machine of the economical variety one could say!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

I like to buy my vehicles as stock as possible, then modify them to my own liking with some minor upgrades that can always be changed back to stock if desired. My interior is in great shape, but I find the stock bench seat is a bit uncomfortable as it has more bolstering on the left than the right making me feel a bit lopsided in the cab. Anyone else feels like the engineer that designed this may have had a crooked back?!

 

Thanks! Took a quick look at your build thread, you rustled up a huge list of mods in the time you've owned her, and I see you take her out too - nicely done! Perhaps one day I may have a list of mods too...

 

You’ll get there! They all start somewhere. I still have a really long wish list for mine too

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome! Nice looking truck, looks like it came with a sweet camper shell

 

Thanks, good to be here! The shell is a SnugTop brand that has nice paint, tint, lights, carpet liner, and pop out windows, although I actually already removed it. I need to use the open box for other duties every now and then, and have just always loved the std cab short bed pickup profile. I may dare even say I find it - sexy!

Sadly when I took the shell off I found a bunch of scratches in the paint around the cab window the rubber seal from the shell left behind from years of use. Note to others that buy a truck with a shell, check under that seal for any paint rubbed off over the years. And maybe put some protective film down before you go installing a shell on your truck. The worst parts on the body were easily the damage caused by the shell, some one paid big bucks to scratch this truck up and the previous owner appears to only had used it as a secure garbage can!

On a positive note the truck feels a bit peppier now! The truck is an overall blast to drive around town, compared to my lifted 4Runner it is fun to drive in a "spirited manner"!

Came with a factory bedliner too for extra OEM points, kinda scared to take this out now to see the paint underneath:

 

Welcome!

 

Your dog looking at you is cracking me up!
I've had campers on all my trucks, and you are correct on how easy they can damage paint. Especially Toyota paint lol.

 

My dog Daisy makes everything funner.. even forgot about them ugly scratches for a moment looking at her fluffy face there!!

 

The mods do have to start somewhere, and as stated I think my least favorite part of the truck is the darn seat. Thanks to some info from the TW I plan to swap over to these 4Runner seats I picked up earlier today. They are in super great shape and I scored em cheap, I felt as if though the Tacoma gods smiled upon my new purchase as these came out the same week I started looking!

Take a look though, these are from a 2002 4runner, and believe it or not I was told Toyota calls these "Gray", though my wife called them tan when I brought em home and I couldnt really argue. Pics online do look like the 02 4Runner Gray interior was indeed a gray-beige multi tone concoction, can anyone confirm? Since the factory had about 30 different color interior panels in all these trucks, I think this will pass as factory looking and hopefully match up "good enough". Anyone else running 4Runner "Gray" seats in their stock "Charcoal" 01-04 interior?

They were too darn comfortable when I sat on them and I know these are hard to come by after calling every salvage yard in the country, so I scooped them up right away. But sheesh, who was in charge of giving these colors names out there?! Maybe I can at least get some interior paint for the plastic trim pieces for a bit more matching.

Think these will turn out ok in my truck?


Current interior for side by side comparison, they are both gray/beige tones mostly but quite a bit more beige on the 4Runner seats above.
C

 

I’d call them gray with tan undertones. I don’t think they’ll look bad in your truck. And if you end up hating them, you could always get some nice seat covers that match better

 

Think @StayinStock is into things grey with tan undertones

 

Rustled up some 2002 4Runner gray interior pics too in case others start down this path and start scratching their heads like I am.

Heck if Toyota calls this gray and the seats contrast so much with the dash and panels, maybe it will give me that factory odd interior feeling of the interiors of yesteryear in my own truck!!

 

Thanks for your feedback, I like how you mentioned gray first - making me feel better about these already!! I notice all these seem to look a bit different depending how light hits them, and I agree both sets are chock full of grays and tans. Oh, and of course they throw in little blue speckles to sooth your soul too.

I do like how these "interesting" patterns seem to hide stains and imperfections, maybe this was part of the design - add enough tan and you dont see the dirt anymore!

 

Heheh, I also think he likes to see things "stayin stock"!

I can definitely appreciate that myself and dont mind a bit of good old factory interior funkiness. Just hoping it keeps some factory feel and doesnt look way out of place.

 

Welcome aboard