Gen 1 v. Gen 3

I have a Gen 1 that I've been driving for 21 years (313,000 miles) and it needs a motor.

I was ready to pull the trigger on buying a Gen 3 a couple weeks ago, but the one I wanted (MT, sport) wasn't available and since Toyota had shut down production I saw no reason to order a new one just yet. I'm really not sure if I want a new one as I like my itty bitty standard cab, but I've got a 3RZ FE and sure would like the additional power of a V-6. Since production is supposed to start up in a week or so, I'm starting to think about it again.

I'm wondering if anyone out there traded a Gen 1 for a Gen 3 and if you're happy or totally sad that you make the change?

 

If possible, I would try to keep the 1st gen. Even if you get a new one.

 

Whatever you do, sell the 1st gen yourself. You'll get way more on your own then you would if you traded it in.

Id have no issues buying a new 3rd gen.

 

I traded my v6 04 Prerunner for my v6 2017 Limited and I am quite happy. The fuel savings alone has been good. the comfort level is a HUGE step up. Several of the "shortcomings" (lights, interior options, head unit) of my 17 have been resolved over the past 3 model years. I have done mods to both, though the bulk of those are cosmetic and/or comfort related.

Neither truck is perfect. Then again, I am not sure that the "perfect" truck exists, since it is a perspective issue. Both are head and shoulders better than any other option out there then or now.

I am definitely not disappointed in the trade up.

 

I recently sold my 1996 2.7L manual for a 2019 SR5 V6 automatic and have been very happy. The extra power from the 3.5L V6 makes towing a trailer much more comfortable and my gas mileage is actually better than I got with the 2.7L. I am getting 22 mpg in the winter and 25 mpg in the summer. I don’t have any of the transmission complaints that you read about the earlier model years. I think the 2019 and later model years have the programming dialed in pretty good.

 

I went from a 2018 trd off road with all the gizmos, to a 2003 and while I will admit that there is a bit of an adjustment, the simplicity and smaller size of the truck has been a joy. I like both trucks, and I don't think you will go wrong with a new one, but I think it will be one of those things you always regret if you sell what your are driving now.

I'd save up a few more months and try to have both.

 

So I've never owned a 1st gen Tacoma but I always have an older truck around no matter what I have as my daily driver. I had a 1992 Mazda B2200 RWD while I had my 2014 Civic and now my partner has a 1999 Ford Ranger and we have my daily driver 2016 Tacoma.

There's something fun about having an older vehicle that's a blast to drive without worry, work on, and modify just because you can and it's cheap. I'll likely be buying another RWD Mazda B-series in the next year or two as my project beater truck.

 

I have a 2017 TRD Sport DCLB V6 and love it......and I just bought a 2001 SR5 4x4 with the TRD package, best of both worlds!

 

Have a 17 DCSB 4x4. Had a 97 AC 2WD straight up mini truck. Honestly, I wish I still had my 97. It would be a perfect commuter beater and could still pull Home Depot duty. The tech and comfort is leaps and bounds better over 20 years, but my 97 still did truck stuff. If my 97 was 4WD, I would still have it and not have purchased the 17.

 

Compared to the 96 t100 I had for years, my 3rd gen is a dream ha!

I do miss having an older truck because they’re just so much easier to fix.

 

While not the same, i sold my gen 1 tundra v8 for a gen3 v6 tacoma. So far i've had mixed thoughts. The tundra was far easier to service from what i see.....imo, a better matched transmission/engine, and a much nicer ride to. The tacoma wins the fuel economy battle. If this taco lives another 300k miles with no major issues, i'll finally be satisfied.

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.. Good food for thought..

 

I had a 98 AC 4wd with the 2.7 until my wife totaled it. It was a great little truck. As other have said it was easy to work on, narrower and better suited to tight trails. Also had a 2000 T4R SR5 with the 3.4.

The 2020 Tacoma so far has been a great truck for me. The power seat made all the difference for my purchase decision as I have sciatica. We went with the double cab short bed over another access cab since we can out the dogs in the rear seat and they have plenty of room, kids are all grown and out of college. And I use a utility trailer for hauling big items anyways so the short bed makes off roading a little easier and parking a breeze.

I’m actually thinking about picking up another 1st gen or older extended cab pickup to make a trail rig out of. The new truck is too nice to thrash and I’m tired of my DD also being my weekend warrior.

 

I hated everything about my 1st gen , and absolutely love my 3rd gen. The only thing I miss is the regular cab as the current Taco is too big. I don't know how the 4 cylinder changed but my 06 5 speed was a complete dog compared to my 2020 6 speed automatic and it was a regular cab.

 

What year was your 1st Gen? I had a 2000, it was a good truck but it doesn't compare to my 3rd Gen.

 

i have both a 1st and a 3rd gen and the only thing the 1st gen does better is take a beating without me worrying about $$$

 

Totaled the first first gen, kept the second first gen, sold the second gen, got the 3rd gen. Hang on to the first gen and get a 3rd.

 

It took me some time to get use to the power seat in my 2020 also. A friend that has a 2016 tells me their way better than what his truck came with. I guess i was just use to my old gen1 tundra seat which i thought was better than these taco power seats. At least the taco's interior as a whole is nicer.

 

I put 340k miles on my 2001 V6 Prerunner and then this year got a 2020 TRD OR MT. I really like my truck so far. I'm only 3k miles into it. It rides so much better. I also find it interesting how much heavier these 3rd gens are compared to 1st gens.

Pros Vs my 1st gen
1) The ride is so much smoother
2) Fuel Economy is better
3) It's a very quiet ride as far as wind noise
4) everything isn't worn out and breaking
5) It's probably much safer in a collision
5) dynamic cruise control is awesome, or just having cruise control.

Cons vs 1st Gen for ME
1) Seating position is way to high, my 01 tacoma and 99 camry are fine for me and I'm 6'4", I've had to swap the rear view mirror in this 3rd gen just to see out the right side of the windshield without ducking. My wife's 2016 Camry was also made for only tiny people. It must be a new Toyota thing.
2) Visibility is worse out of every window, especially within a few feet perimeter of the vehicle as in 3-5 feet in front or 1-2 feet on the sides.
3) The radio sucks butt, I'll replace the head unit one day bc that's the real problem on the non JBL trim.
4) The power is really weird when you're used to 1st gen, I never had to rev my 1st gen over 3,500 rpm. So I'll probably being doing the OV vF tuner if I get over being scared of voiding my warranty.

If I had a 4x4 manual transmission 4 door first gen I wouldn't have upgraded. I also looked at used 2nd gens but the pricing was too close and couldn't quite find exactly what I wanted. Overall I'm very happy with my 2020. It's also interesting parking next to my family member with his 2008 Tundra 4 door 4x4, his truck is only a little bit longer than mine and will just about out perform mine in every way except for MPG. If they had made a stick shift Tundra, I would have went that route.

 

That’s funny, I actually sold my 2008 Tundra to get the Tacoma. I loved the power of the 5.7 but really didn’t need a full-size all the time. So I sold it to my father so I can still use it whenever I need to.