WTF? How did my gf not tell me until now that her dad drives a Hilux?

She knows how obsessed I am with my Taco, and her dad owns a Toyota/Lexus dealership in the DR, but I have no idea how she never got around to telling me that her dad has a Hilux.

Anyway, we just got back from vacation down in the DR and I got to drive her dad's truck quite a bit.

Here's a couple pix:




Kinda weird how the skewp is off-center on the hood, but I guess it's actually functional:







Didn't like the interior nearly as much as my Taco, but the factory in-dash stereo/nav was nice, and he said he could get me one for my Taco for cheap:



In the past, I was never really interested in having a diesel Tacoma, but after driving the Hilux I would really LOVE to have a diesel. It's much quieter than I would have thought, has great power, and gets around 10 km/l which is about 23-24 mpg on average (not bad for a 4x4). We talked quite a bit about doing a diesel swap in a 2nd gen Taco, and he said it has been done in the DR and isn't that hard to do. If anyone has any questions about doing it, I'm sure I could ask for you.


They also have TONS of Taco's in the DR:




Anyway, we had an awesome time down there. Stayed a nice resort on the beach for a few days and soaked in lots of pina coladas con rum blanco.

 

thats so tight. ive always wanted to drive a hilux. i wish they sold them here in America. If you make yours into a diesel you should make a write up

o.... and i love the parking job in the third picture

 

I wish, but nah -- even with the hook up of parts at cost it would be way too expensive. If for any reason I ever need a new engine when my Taco gets high in mileage, I may consider it. But of course it would require a lot more than just the engine -- would need new computer, transmission, etc.

 

Very cool.

 

I was just in th DR last year and man I saw alot of toyotas

 

DR?

DR = what?

 

Dominican Republic?

 

duh


ty whiteT

 

How was the power and drivetrain compared to our Tacos?

 

It's hard to explain, but it felt a little more lively during accelerations than my Taco. It wasn't so much that it accelerated faster, it just felt like it accelerated with more authority, shifted smoother between the gears, seemed like the engine wasn't working as hard. Hard to explain.

It felt overall much tighter in how it handled, but that could be because it was practically brand new and I'm used to my Taco which has over 130K on it. The steering felt heavier, almost the way my Taco feels when it's in 4hi. Kind of strange. Overall, I really loved the way it drove. If it wasn't for the more utilitarian, unrefined appearance of the interior, and the slightly less masculine look of the front end, I'd have to say that I might prefer the truck over the Taco. The interior was kind of a cross between that of a 1st gen and 2nd gen Taco, with leather. Less spiffy looking than the 2nd gen interior, even tho it had leather and a touch screen head unit.

 

Awesome trucks, but ugly as hell.

 

My friends wife is drom the DR. I heard its actually a pretty nice place to vacation at. I think its pretty cool they have Toyota dealerships there, and so many toyotas around. I want a hilux engine in my taco.

 

nice

 

My thoughts as well, looks like a Ford Sport-Trac that melted somewhat.

 

you should be all like...bitch get me a hilux....

 

So why exactly is the scoop off center? And how is it functional? As if the Hilux wasn't ugly enough already...

 

^^^^^this

 

It's just like hooking up with a chick on vacation, it's great wow! Then get her home you ask your self WTF was I thinking. Scoop off center ( I did not see her teeth I was looking at her boobs). Get my point?

 

I believe the skewp sits directly over a top mounted intercooler. Not exactly pretty, but damn funtional

OP: Any idea on the cost difference between a Taco and a Hilux? My dad was in South America recently and they pay almost $60,000 for a hilux like that down there

 

Im from DR and i was there about a month ago and there are more hiluxes than tacos because of the gas prices its like 5.15 a gallon of gas and over there believe or not Diesel is cheaper than gas, my dad drives a 2005 land cruiser and its Diesel like most cars there. =) and also yes lots of ppl do engine swaps there to diesel because of the prices, diesel is like a dollar less then Gas per gallon