I received some bad news from the mechanic

To add to the list of things a 1st gen does better, I'd add offering a manual transmission on all trim levels. Screw having to pay $55k for an off-road or a pro to get a manual 3rd Gen.

Another thing to add: not sure pointing out a single 2nd Gen has 1.5 million miles backs up the claim "2nd gens and 3rd gens are lasting just as long if not longer than 1st gens".

2nd Gens might end up being just as long-lasting and reliable (and there might nearly be enough data now to determine that), but with the oldest 3rd gens coming up on 8 years old, there's no way you can assume their sienna-based engines are gonna hold up that well at this stage.

 

I didn't know they offered all trims in manual for the 1st gen, that is pretty sweet and it is stupid having to get a super overpriced truck just to get a manual transmission which is inherently cheaper to produce and used to always be the cheap-O option.

Didn't OP's motor and tranny shit the bed at just 180k? My 1st gen also shit the bed around 180k and had a $600 junkyard motor put in for $700 labor, tranny started slipping rarely at 225k but continued to last until i sold it at 233k. I've seen plenty of 2nd gens well past that. You can go look at places like facebook marketplace to see all the 200k+ miles 2nd gens doing just fine on the original motor and tranny.

The 1GR-FE 4.0 is still used in the 4runner, Hilux, Land Cruiser, GX400, & Fortuner to this day. That's 21 years going on 22 of the 1GR-FE motor, which is a longer run than any motor for the 1st gens by a wide margin. So yeah, there is no "might" about it, much more data and clearly just as reliable if not more-so while producing more power and being more efficient, which is why it's still used to this day in multiple platforms.

 

Fair points, but to clarify my point, I'm arguing that the 5vz-fe (the V6 from the first gen) is the reliable engine you'd want in a first gen. OP had the 2rz 4-banger and then you're comparing that to the 1gr-fe, that's not an apples to apples comparison.

If we're gonna use how many high mileage ones are for sale as a measure of reliability, you could click up above on the Buy/Sell/Trade section and see how many 250k+ mile 1st gens get listed and sell.

If we're gonna use anecdotes, I'll bring up my own '03 with 288k that runs like a top, or my friend's Dad's '97 that has 630k (original trans, engine, diffs, tcase). That '97 was used by him as a professional fur trapper, so most of those miles are on piss poor dirt roads, and hunting trails. I have 2 other friends with 385k and 280k on their 2000 and 1998 Tacomas, respectively. Both run excellent and get beat on as hunting trucks. All of these are 5vz V6 trucks. Anecdotes don't prove much, but this idea that 1st gens just wear out at 180k is silly.

The length of the production run of the 5vz isn't on par with the 1gr, but I think reliability isn't the driving factor behind that.

 

All very true, individual anecdotes don't really mean much. My point still stands that your statement "might end up being just as reliable" has already been disproven. They are both just as reliable as each other, but one is much more modern and efficient which is why it is still found in 2023 vehicles to this day and the other was retired over a decade ago due to being antiquated. Both motors can easily go 250k+ miles when properly maintained by the owner.