Tacoma gone down in quality?

"if its a prerunner (can't tell if you have prerunner off-road or 4x4 off-road) then it doesnt have a locking rear diff. you need an early 2nd gen for that."


if it is a prerunner, not a 4x4 with e-locker, no it doesnt have a LSD see above post for proof


cheers,
disco

 

I do too.

The last two I had (at the same time) were a 97 2wd 4cyl 5speed excab, and a 97 4wd 6cyl 5speed excab. Over 250 k miles on both of them when I sold them for DAMN good money. The release bearings never squealed, the tailgates were stronger, the rear leafs had no TSB cuz they were so crappy, the water pump did not leak at 45k miles, and the drive shaft joints were all greasable. Reverse was also geared reasonably so it was easier on the clutch.

But folks that had their frames rust through may disagree. And more power/more room is nice.

 

Sweet (former?) ride!

A lifted diesel f250/350 is definitely on my "things that make your *ick hard" list.

I just think Toyota is trying to make them too car-like...and couldn't care less about manual transmission folks, judging by the throwout bearing and reverse gear ratio you could break the speed limit with (backwards!).

I do love my Tacoma though, with all it's faults.

 

I think you were just confusing the hell out of people because you mentioned "locking rear diff". Which TRD-OR PreRunners do have the rear e-locker. The sport LSD did change as you were referring to.

And the beds are made of composite, not carbon fiber.

 

I completely understand your perspective and I was being more silly than serious. There are lots of common tasks that are way too much for a Toyota Tacoma or 1/2 ton truck to handle. I have friends and family who haul heavy shit or just love diesel pickups and money is no object. I have other friends and family who think they need a diesel truck that costs almost as much as a condo just to haul a couple 4-wheelers, money IS an object, and they get burned. It's their own fault, but you feel bad for them.

 

Understand where you're coming from.

Unlike you I'm not overly sympathetic towards those who knowingly put themselves in the crapper.

I think some people become polarized in a certain way of thinking too. I've actually had a few people I don't even know become quite loud about that truck (when I owned it) and even the yote. Not long ago, I had some cat at a stop light in Indiana "thank me for costing him his job" because of my buying a Toyota. I'm betting you can guess he wasn't that polite. Additionally, being from Mississippi the conversation always runs to me being a dumb ass and having no clue because of my tag...that conversation actually happened after an "educated girl" rear ended me. She was kind enough to tell me to go home and she further explained why she thought I was a dumb ass for being a "hick from Mississippi". Yea, she was real bitch. I could tell her tie dyed colored peace sign and her I.U. education were really paying off. Anyway, I just don't like the stigma. But I do enjoy a good conversation even if people don't agree.

 

cheers,cheers,cheers,
disco
disco
disco cheers,
disco cheers,
disco cheers,
cheers,
disco cheers,
disco


did i say cheers,
disco ?

People that sign every post , It's almost like the third person thing .. no biggie just kinda weird is all...

 

My brother who has an 05 Dodge diesel made fun of me for getting a "foreign" truck. I looked it up on the internet and found out both of our trucks are assembled in Mexico and Tundras and Tacomas have more domestic parts than GM or Dodge's 1/2-ton pickup trucks. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/03/what-percentage-of-your-truck-is-made-in-america.html

It only takes a few bad apples to create a stereotype. I'm sure most people who drive a Prius are OK, but you see one covered in "coexist" and "NPR" stickers and it's easy to think they're all self-righteous hypocrites...

 

LMAO, no mine was stock besides a line-x and step bars. I only used it to pull a boat.. I make my living driving a garbage truck. All of these have had a cummins, so I thought I would try one in a pickup... OOOPS, bought a cummins, got stuck with a DODGE

 

The jury is still out for me, but so far the '13 feels a lot more rugged than my '04. The '13 has big shoes to fill though, 230k miles on my '04 with not one thing other than tires, brakes, filters and fluids. Oh, a muffler. Forgot about that $190.

 

I have a friend that worked at NUUMI.. He started there in the 80's when GM was making pickups and Monte Carlo's.. Then Toyota built those novas I think that look like a corolla.. It's a shame Toyota shipped these jobs to Mexico. It was a good union job. Of course, they blamed the costs, but with the $$$ they saved did they lower the prices of vehicles???? HELL NO!!!

 

when Toyota went from metal to plastic parts that wasn't to save you the consumer money it was to save toyota money but they still charge us for metal parts and kept their trucks at the same price. Anytime a company does something it's because of money, it's all about the Money folks.....

 

Metals are not the end all of quality in vehicle building. You don't see the new super cars built out of metal for a reason.

Compounds can provide a stronger and lighter material than metal.

 

What's wrong with Coexist or NPR?

Fuck those Namaste bumper stickers poseurs though.

 

Other than the composite bed and front bumper cover, please tell us what is plastic that wasn't plastic in 1990.

Grille? Plastic.
Intake components? Plastic.
Dash? Plastic.
Door panels? Cardboard.

Oh... that's right... the valve cover used to be cast aluminum.

 

Bang!

Head shot!

 

Yeah, exactly. Last I checked Toyota wasn't a charitable organization.

 

Nothing, but do they get slapped on every single Prius at the factory?

 

No. After working on both side by side in my garage over the years I found that Toyota cheaped out on mostly trivial things with the 2nd gen but they far improved everything that counts. IMO the 1GR engine is a huge improvement over the 5VZ. The automatic transmission is also a huge improvement over the old ones. I used to drive all standards and hated autos until I discovered the auto in the 2nd gens. Now I hate the standard in the 2nd gens lol. Now I can't comment on the 4cyl. engines because I've never driven one, but they are supposed to last longer and be bullet proof. In all honesty, I've never had any toyota engine fail me before the body/frame failed due to rust up here in salty hell. I have no engine woes here, 4 cylinder or not.

The only major fuckups I see are the drivers side needle bearing in the front clamshell that is useless and needs to be replaced by a bushing from ECGS, and a missing grease nipple on the slip joint on the driveshaft. Both things can be fixed by those who wish to do so.

The front bumper has a plastic cover now, well that's a cultural change, not toyota cheaping out. I'm sure it would be cheaper for toyota to just throw a chrome slab of metal on the front like they used to, but nowadays every truck has to be a pretty little thing to please the masses that won't even take it off pavement. Plastic intake? Come on guys. Who here has broken their intake because it's plastic, really?

I'm happy with both of my 2nd gens so far!

 

The 2nd gen mudflaps are terrible, I'm sure they won't make that mistake again. Other than that I can't think of anything I don't like about mine, interior is basic but, nicer than the Ranger, Frontier or Colorado. The 89-94 SR5 trucks still remain my favourite Toyota pickup interior, nice carpeted door panels, nice dash, very comfortable seats with lots of adjustment.. those trucks are sweet.