My son is looking for his first Truck.

So my son just turned 16, and has been looking for a Tacoma. He has saved up a fair amount, and I will help him out on any extra. We have been looking at 2nd gen trucks since this seems to be the price range, and also he likes the looks of the 2nd gen. Well, I just found a 1st gen 2004 that only has 27k miles on it. Looks to be a very solid/clean truck. Looks nearly new. So my question is, would you think that it would be better to buy a 1st gen truck like this, or is there enough benefits from the 2nd gen to continue to look for a 2nd gen truck? Of course looking at similar priced vehicle, but for sure the 2nd gen will have more miles then the 1st gen. Or is there benefit to having 1st gen over 2nd gen?

Have been looking at double cab - V6 - Probably just 2WD.

Appreciate all your help and input.

 

Welcome to TW! Make sure you check those frames for rust regardless of the gen.

 

Welcome aboard

 

Be cautious with buying a low mileage vehicle thats 16 years old. Seals/belts/hoses and pretty much all rubber parts will be dryrotted from sitting so long. 27k means it could be on its original tires too. I bought my 04 at 45k back in 2017, belts failed within a few months, I have a few seal leaks too.

As with any Tacoma, yes, even the newer ones, check the frame for rust. Thats priority number one.

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

27k? I’d be getting off the couch and welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

As a kid who just got his first Tacoma last year at 16, I have absolutely no regrets, except for the fact it is miserable slow. (Which you probably want for your kid hehe) I’m not sure if as many safety features came standard on the first gens as the second gens, that might be something to look for if it’s a priority, and like everyone else said, check the frame. The one thing Toyota got wrong

 

Welcome to TW. 1st gen at 27 k is a gem, I would look at that first. But I would have a really close look at everything on it, just like everyone said. Look at the records and verify that it really is 27 k

 

Thanks all. Still looking seriously at this first gen with low miles. I can’t find anything wrong with it except for couple door dings. Everything works as you would expect with 27k miles. CarFax shows it to be correct, and shows all the services too. One owner until 3 years ago, with 19k miles, and current owner put 8 k on it in last 3 years. Current owner has another first gen that he has put 270k on. Still driving the other one every day. It has been in Southern New Mexico since new in 2004. So dry area, no rust. But might be issue with rubber parts. But I don’t see anything wrong with rubber. What is the frame issues with gen 1? Is it a rust issue? Thanks again guys.

 

welcome

 

I read that wrong. I thought I read “looking for his truck”...boye, where muh truck at?

 

Kids destroy vehicles! The cheaper the better!

 

Welcome to TW, Out of the 5 tacos I've owned the 04 was by far my favorite. If the truck checks out I'd be on it like stink on poop, with 27k!

 

Yes. The frame issue is rust. Being from New Mexico it shouldn’t be a problem unless it’s in areas that snow (Taos). If the frame looks rust free, you should be good.

 

Well, he decided to buy it. I drove it back from New Mexico today, and this truck is as good as I thought. I think this will be a great first truck.

 

What a gem of a truck! My first vehicle was my 01 Tacoma my father handed down to me when I turned 16

 

Sweet truck! Congrats and enjoy (and keep some distance from TW-it’s expensive)

 

Congrats, nice truck! Man you really scored, 27K miles!