Buy New 2015 Pro or Keep 1st Gen Going Strong?

210,000 miles of Wonderfullness in my 1998 TRD Tacoma Pre Runner. Now's the time to decide: New Tacoma TRD Pro, or spend more cash on the old reliable. She's due for new parking brake assembly, and a paint job, but shocks and radiator and tires are recently new. Not sure how long the Engine will last. Do I continue to spend money on the Gen-1 or put it towards the '15 or '16? I travel to Land Speed events in the Mojave Desert of So Cal and the harsh Salt Lake of Bonneville in Wendover, UT...so it will not be treated nicely. What would you do?

 

I would assume with 210,000 miles on your current truck that it's paid off. So I would ask "How much do you enjoy making vehicle payments?"

 

keep the first gen

 

There are certain pro's about going second gen over first, however, if you do not enjoy vehicle payments then you may be better off keeping the first gen. It sounds like you like to abuse it, which is awesome!

2nd gen advantages over 1st
- improved lower control arm ball joint location
- timing chain
- updated aftermarket support with a woder selection of parts at your disposal
- modernized yet simplistic interior

There is probably more to it, but is sarly and I can't think of them all right now. I enjoy my 2nd gen 2012 but I have also modified the piss out of it to keep up with my demand for offroad fun. You could do that with either gen, but I particularly enjoy the maintenance free timing chain setup over the 90,000 mile timing belt the most.

 

im in the same boat as you my 1st gen has 247k miles but I don't like payments or the thought of my new gen 2 getting dented or f'ed up and I definetly don't like car payments, ive decided to go with my gen1 till a major problem occurs and then decide whether im getting a new truck and which truck I would buy. I would not buy a 2016 Tacoma based only on the looks,not paying 40k for a butt ugly truck even if it has Toyota stamped on it. stay with the gen1 until Armageddon happens.

 

1st gen to beat on and 2nd gen (or something else) to be a street queen/mall crawler? If I were in your shoes I'd try to find a low miles 2nd gen or tundra to tow the first gen

 

As long as you have no major issues, just keep the 1st gen. Mine was taken care of by the previous owner properly and was involved in 3 accidents, still runs good with 192k miles on her. These 1st gens last a long time. However, if, for example, my transmission goes out, I'll cut my losses and get rid of it and get a 2nd gen or 3rd gen

 

My 2000 has 216k on it. Never had any maintenance. When I do need something big I'm going to just do it. Beats having a car payment and the chassis on this truck is spotless. Worthwhile to keep it running imo

 

1. A 4x2 PreRunner and a 4x4 TRD Pro are very different in off-road capability. If you plan to actually use a TRD Pro to its fullest, then your current truck won't serve your needs.

2. TRD Pro trim models are out of production. They may be hard to find; and dealers will typically be unwilling to budge on price. You will get a better value by buying a TRD Off Road and upgrading the suspension yourself.

 

or buy an SR5 since you'll be stripping out the suspension anyway, no use paying for extras that are getting removed. unless you really like the TRD front seats and stickers

 

The TRD Off-Road's rear locker and A-Trac are difficult/expensive to retrofit.

 

Keep your first gen, the newer trucks can't even come close to matching the quality and durability of the first gen. I've had both so I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass. 2nd gens are solid trucks don't get me wrong, but will never beat a 1st gen in the longevity department imo. I saw a guy on a FB Tacoma page who bought a 03 double cab new and drove it to 626k miles before retiring it! Based on those results I'd say yours is still young!

 

I agree about the TRD Offroad and the do your own upgrades...but that J shifter is what would have me still leaning PRO. I hate push button 4x4...

That said, my 04 DC will disintegrate before I get rid of it...

 

That's odd, is it just the 4Runner PRO that got the j shifter? I saw one at the Texas state fair that had the j shifter. (4Runner)

 

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/toyota/toyota-4runner-trd-pro-vs-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-ar165630.html

Shows a pro with a manual t case...

 

We are indeed talking about the truck. I thought that since the 4Runner PRO got the manual t case that the truck version did too. I'm probably wrong, and thats ok. All I was doing was asking. I truly just don't know...

 

Here ya go JJ04TACO ill respond to nowad for ya

Seemed like an honest mistake to me, douche much?

 

I would keep the 1st gen if you're still happy with it. Truck payments cut into mod money!

If you're going to go for a 2nd/3rd gen (new or new-to-you), I would recommend a lower trim if you don't mind doing mods yourself. For the price of a pro you can get an SR5 and enough aftermarket stuff to be way better off. I have a 2012 TRD Sport, but if I ever replace it I'll be going with a lower package. I paid extra for a bunch of stuff I took off and threw away.