New Member Alert: Julian from Fullerton, CA

Hey TacomaWorld Community!

I'm Julian, and I've recently made a move from Europe to settle down in Fullerton, California. Quite a change, I know! The beautiful landscapes and off-road terrains of Cali have been calling out to me, and I think it's time for me to answer with a Tacoma.

I'm entirely new to the Tacoma scene, so I'm here to learn and gather some invaluable insights from all the seasoned Tacoma owners. If there's one thing I've noticed, it's the strong camaraderie and knowledge-sharing that goes on in this forum.

Here's what I'm curious about:

1. What specific Tacoma model would you recommend for someone new to the truck world?
2. Are there any common issues or things I should be on the lookout for when buying a Tacoma?
3. As a newbie, any beginner-friendly modifications or upgrades you'd suggest?
4. I'd love to join any local Tacoma clubs or meetups – if there's anything happening in or around Fullerton, please let me know!

Lastly, any other general advice or tips you have for a European transitioning to the Tacoma lifestyle would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for the warm welcome and looking forward to being an active member of this community.

Cheers, Julian

 

Welcome to TW and America

Lots of people like Tacomas with the TRD OffRoad package. TRD Sport trucks are good too. All depends on what you can find and budget.

The frames on these trucks are prone to rusting but you are in California so it's not as big of a worry out there. If you buy used check the frame for rust. If it's been a California truck all its life there's a good chance it'll be a great frame with just surface rust. Many Super White Tacomas have paint peeling issues.

A good light upgrade would be to upgrade your fog lights to Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport or Pro. Weather Tech floor mats are great quality and provide lots of interior protection. If you want a bed mat OEM Toyota bed mats are the way to go!

That's all I can come up with right now

 

That's a lot of great info! Thanks!
To be honest I do want to get an off-roader taco but my budget is not that big right now so I don't think I'd be able to afford one that is capable of that.
Either way, I will get one within the next couple of months for sure.

 

It's not bad to get a lower package one either like an SR or SR5. That will allow you to build it the way you want to and still have a few bucks to upgrade it. Many on here also recommend just taking any stock truck on a trail to see how it does and where to improve it. Why put parts on it that you don't need, you know what I mean.

 

Yeah currently I'm just looking to get into the taco world somewhere around $12k.. so far no luck, I've been to check one out but when I ran the VIN it came up as a 2006 Toyota Celica.. lol

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Oh yeah that doesn't sound legit!

 

Welcome Julian,

Wherabouts in Europe are you transitioning from?

Did you drive on the wrong side of the road? (That's my military joke--England can sometimes not feel as part of Europe; at least that was the sense when I was stationed at RAF Whethersfield & Mildenhall, circa Feb 1989 to Sep 1993)

I transitioned to a truck coming from SUVs...first was a 2003 Honda Pilot EX and then a 2010 Mazda CX-9.

I'm a street driver so the TRD 4X4 Sport AT was my choice. (AT=Automatic Transmission)

If you plan on Off-Roading then the TRD 4X4 Off-Road may be your choice.

Of course, there are other model 4X4s that you could get if the TRD is not what you want.

Also, I would venture to say you can drive a manual gearbox which is almost/practically a dying transmission (I'm guessing on that! lol)

I grew up in LA but not in the area you are currently staying. As a matter of fact, I just returned home to Delaware from a visit to see my family in SoCal.

My first accessory purchase wasn't a Catalytic Converter skid plate...but since you are in SoCal, I'd recommend it.

That plus a OEM Tailgate Lock and a SaBellCo Tailgate lock--Add-ons that gave me peace of mind.

Again, welcome and enjoy your way around TW!

 

Welcome, $12k is going to probably be a little harder in California, and just in general, but checking Craigslist daily is probably your best start. What you find will be your biggest hurdle, and then that will probably guide what you do with it.

 

Haha, thanks for the warm welcome.
I actually come from Romania, a country that has lately started to gain some attention, although not all the attention is good..
Thanks for all the information, I will put it to good use

 

Yeah, I mean I am only looking for 2nd gen tacos, there are some models, but I'm not sure what the upper mileage limit should be? Should I even be looking at tacos with over 150k miles? There's not that many under 150k at this price point... are salvage titles ok if I'm not looking to resell anytime soon? It's pretty complicated out here..

 

Oh, wow!

Can I tell you that Romanian women are very beautiful!

For some reason, they migrated to Italy and also their college students make their way to the beaches in Delaware for the summer...which is where I live.

$12K is a limited budget but I'm sure you can find something that suits your needs.

 

Haha Romanian women sure are beautiful..
Yeah Romanians have a tendency to move abroad once they become adults since Romania has no future prospects as of now..

Yes, $12k is pretty limited but I will eventually get a 2nd one (will probably not sell this one I get for 12k)

 

2nd gens are great. I had a 2009 for nearly 3 years (pic of my old one in my profile pic and in my albums page you can view). The 4.0L engine is a great engine and the transmissions are good too. 150k miles wouldn't scare me. I got mine with 154k and was almost at 200k before someone crashed into me and totalled it in January. If it has a good service record then it should be a good truck.

 

Really? I heard 2009's were the worst year for 2nd gen Tacoma's, 2007-2009 had quite a bit of issues (from carcomplaints.com)

 

Market availability will dictate what milage truck you end up with. Well maintained 2nd gens are documented going well into the 200k milage range. It just depends on your previous owners. I would stay away from salvage titles. I don't doubt it's complicated. Be patient, something will come up, just be prepared to move quick if the right one comes along, because you're not the only one looking.

 

Mine was flawless other than the frame. It was the first year to come standard with traction control, stability control, backup camera, electronic limited slip (unless its a TRD Off Road) and more air bags.

 

I see, then I might look into those as well, but I think 2010 are just more worth it..

 

They are relatively the same from 2005 to 2015. In 2012 they did a face lift and some more adjustments. 2015 also had a face lift for the final year of the 2nd gen. I haven't heard anything big about certain 2nd gen years other than some having head gasket issues which is all that comes to mind.

I wouldnt totally discount 2009s and earlier trucks

 

Not everything you read on the internet is true. Even here on this forum.

But I would like to welcome you and compliment your grammar. It's better than a fair percentage of our posters, and easy to read.

Unfortunately your budget is weak in a state were everything is over priced. If possible, shopping some adjacent states, traveling and bringing what you want home might get you a better deal.

All vehicles have some quirks that can need attention. In the 2nd gen group, the most repeated thing we hear are potential headgasket problems on '05 and '06 along with a emissions device problem on either '11's or '12's.

Best of luck shopping. Patience and cash in your hand will be your friend.