might get a tacoma 1st gen

hi, looking around at various vehicles and started thinking i may try to get a 1st gen Tacoma (around the 2002 model year) and i was wondering if i could get some good info from here. i know this site is most likely going to be bias towards the Tacoma, but here we go.

I'm driving a 2003 Durango, and it does not get the best mileage, so one thing pointing me toward a mid sized truck (v6) is gas mileage. now, i would only get a 4wd truck, its already low enough, id like some extra height, and be able to go off road occasionally. So what kind of gas mileage do you experience with your Tacoma?

I would rather get a full sized truck, but i'm going to be in college next year, and gas might not be a priority, so i would like to get something with better mileage. the only thing is, i would be trading off payload and towing. i probably wont tow much, but may carry a few hundred pounds in the back every once in a while. pretty sure the Tacoma would be big enough to be able to haul that, just want to make sure. but on the towing, when off roading i may need to pull someone out of the mud, would the Tacoma be able to? Also, stock TRD, is it good off road?

What cab style should i get? I like the look of the extended cab and the crew cab (reg cab too small), but i shouldn't be carrying too many passengers often. so would the crew cab be worth a foot less in the bed, even though i don't drive that many people around a lot? most likely, i would only use the back seats to carry books and junk. is the extended cab back seats too cramped for a trip 10 miles away, or is it big enough for no complaints?

How do you like your tacoma? what are some common problems with this generation? im pretty much asking if you would recommend a Tacoma to be the only vehicle to have, or if you would suggest to get something else.

 

I have a doublecab and this truck has done a shit ton of hauling despite the shorter bed(yet still looks so good) so get a 4-door-you'll need the interior space quite often.

 

A Tacoma would be a good choice if your worried about gas mileage. I don't keep track of mine because I've done so much to decrease gas mileage. I've had no troubles with mine and had only had to change the oil and a tune up. Good luck!!

 

I've had (have) both, my opinion is suicide doors are a pain getting stuff in and out of back of cab often, double cab much easier in that regard, but on the other hand, the 6 foot bed is nice if you haul very much and/or often. I sort of like the look of the access cab over the DC 5 ft bed though.

FWIW 2nd row Access cab on 1st Gen Tundra much more passenger friendly than access Tacoma.

 

Gas mileage isn't great but will be better than the Durango. I've only got the 3.0 (and 310,000km.) in my truck and i've pulled a few 2 wheel drive chev 1500s out of 1.5 feet of snow going up hill. The 3.4 you'd be looking at will be just fine. Now if some one is ballz deep in thick mud, might be a different story. I also haul a 650 pound ATV in the back all the time and it handles it just fine. If you find the need to haul things that won't fit in the bed, a small flat deck trailer would be cheap and solve that problem. My next truck will be a quad cab, i love having four doors. People will hate you if you put them in the back seats of an extra cab for any longer than 15min. Being in school you'l want some thing reliable, get the Tacoma. You won't be disappointed.

 

Tacoma's are great trucks. I always wanted one and I'm very happy with mine now that I finally got it. Had an 07 tC with a lot of miles on it so when I went to trade it I did an even trade for my O3 tacoma I have now. I have the regular cab and I'm a bigger guy so I do regret getting just the regular cab because it is pretty tight, Just the access cab would be enough for extra leg room.
Mine is only a four cylnder and I helped my girls Uncle move a few weeks back. That truck took two full bedrooms, a living room, a ton of crap out of a basement, and a kitchen in eight trips without any problem at all. Hauling is no problem whatsoever in these trucks. Towing is questionable, my truck doesn't even have a hitch but I'm pretty ocnfident it would so well with it 3500 lb limit and could probably even exceed it.
Gas mileage is okay. I've gotten a range of 17.5 to 20 mpg in mine, but it's all on how you drive it. Most of these tacomas have plenty of ground clearance stock too.
Good luck with your purchase!

 

I dont recommend putting bigger tires, Im in the same boat as you.

 

The extended cab should fit you well. I use it for my text books and stuff as well. On the topic of putting people back there its not that bad. I'm 6'1" and rode in the back seat for over 500 miles in one day. It wasn't bad but definitely wasn't great either. If you dont haul people everyday the extended cab should fit your needs just fine. For hauling, these trucks are beastly. I've loaded mine down with people and luggage and dirtbikes till it was stuffed and it handled it with ease all the way up and down the coast of California.

 

buy a 1st gen tacoma and u will be happy

 

Mileage with the six isnt going to be a ton better than the durango but should be an improvement. Other than that the tacoma's are incredibly cabable with very few mods. I would bet stock to stock its one of the most capable out there. And reliability is second to none. Check out TTORA.com those guys are pretty hardcore if you wanna see the capabilities.

 

I'm getting around 17mpg with my truck. Before I added armor and MTs I was getting around 20 (3.4 V6 with manual trans) For the size of the truck, it really isn't that impressive.

I've gone on a 4 hour drive in the back of my XCab. That sucked. If theres only 3 people, the person in the back can at least put their legs across the cab and stretch out a little. I got the XCab for the same reason you're thinking about it...somewhere dry and secure to throw books/misc junk.

The stock TRDs do pretty well offroad since they come from the factory with a locker (well, the V6s at least.) Most of the people out here I wheel with have Jeeps and on multiple occasions the guy infront has stopped and gotten out waiting to spot/pull me only to find out I'm already passed the obstacle they were going to help me through. I like to think it's the driver

The strongest thing Tacoma's have going for them are reliability. There are better trucks when it comes to gas mileage, towing/payload, offroading, etc, but where they gain in one area they lose in the others. The tacoma is kind of a jack of all trades. Not the best in any one category, but pretty damn good in all of them.

 

I am also a college student, and the only way I'm getting by with the regular cab is that I have a tonneau cover that keeps the bed really dry and i built myself a box that I ca keep all my books and work stuff in and it wont slide around. Don't have any pics at the moment, but going that route works also.

 

thanks for all of your input. still months away from when i might get a new truck (not for sure, id prefer not to go into detail), but if everything goes good, i should get a truck around March or April.

ive been thinking, and tacomas are starting to become more and more appealing, but i would like to modify it, just as i would with any other new truck, heres an off the top of my mind list of what i would do, heres what i can think of now:
bumper replacement/grille guard (near hit a cow and say whatever status)
possibly a winch for the above stated bumper replacement
a big tool box (most likely for an extended cab)
and possibly a rear bumper replacement.
EDIT: id also like to super chip it, and get a lift (3"-5")

what do you have on your tacoma that you would recommend, brand or specific product?

thanks

 

Well there is no chip available for these trucks so you cant do that.