Whats the best 2nd gen year tacoma to buy and why?

Never tony old to sc
But yes for URD an you can just "play" with it more.

I have a 13 it's supercharged I love it just wish I could use UCON, with 09+ you have to use the Magnuson sc only as of now URD doesn't work with it

 

Perfect meaning you get all of the other pro's across the whole truck with minimal con's (for those years). Turbo puts out alot more horsepower. A TRD dealership installed supercharger is a plus if your under warranty and want to stay in warranty.

BUT, if you MAINLY do heavy off-roading, you can overheat the turbo unless it is cooled really well!, in that case go supercharger. For normal use, like moderate off-roading on the weekends and daily driver... go with turbo.

Also note, it takes a lot of horsepower to run a supercharger, so you lose 50+ horsepower to gain like 100HP. So you don't have a 100% gain in horsepower. Turbo, basically, uses the exhaust gas pressure to force more fresh air into the system and cools it before it goes into the cylinders. So you are using the energy from the exhaust to force feed more and cooler air into the cylinder for combustion creating more power without actually using horsepower from the motor to turn it.

Thats really simplified answer, hope it makes sense.

check youtube for supercharged Tacoma's vs Turbo Tacoma's for real world examples. basically in a 1/4 mile, by the time a supercharged Tacoma's wheels start to turn all he can see is tail lights, the race is over!

 

I love my 2012 Trd sport, but one thing I hate is the vsc system. I haven't found a way to put in a switch to disable it. Have tried some threads on here but no luck. It's quite obnoxious when offroad.
But the electronic lsd will complement an auto locker or other drop in mechanical lsd nicely I would think.
05 and 06 does have sketchy motor mounts though.

 

14 and 15's have backup cameras in the stereo where it belongs I prefer touchscreens, I've swapped double din touch screens into the last few vehicles I've owned, and the 12+ facelift Taco is the only 2nd gen I'd consider.

Plus no pink tail lights

 

09+ have backup camera. After owning a vehicle with one i will never buy one with out it.

 

I have one of the last 2011's built. Apparently this was about the time they made changes in how/who the frame was made. My frame still looks like brand new. 98,000 miles and not one single issue. The truck has been flawless.

Back up camera is OK, but it sure isn't a make or break deal.....

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/whats-the-best-year-tacoma.239325
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/best-year-for-2nd-gen.359897
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-best-and-worst-years.418681
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-is-the-best-year-for-2nd-gen.389235

 

Ya I'd stay away from the 09 lol I had one and it had multiple gremlins
The 11 has a way cool factory grill, the only model year to get it.
If the 13 has temp and heated mirrors it might be good, of course u can add those later....also any year available in spruce mica lol

 

Off road rig? Any '84 or earlier, straight axle in front.

 

This mod will will allow you to turn off the nanny systems at will with a switch. Did it to mine, works perfect. Makes it drive like an old school truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/abs-kill-switch-mod-for-05-offroad-easy-way-pics.170927/

 

If you want to split hairs 1985 is the best. That was the Tinkerbell year that you could get a solid axle SR5 (best buckets and factory A/C) with the laser block 22R-E and a W56 and the XtraCab configuration at least let you recline the seats a little.

 

Some are purists and like no electronic nannies, but damn i love them on my truck, Atrac does wonders, VSC has saved me a time or two, i dont have any issues with it being overly touchy and because im a TRD OR 4x4 its real easy for me to have an on the fly shut ALLLLLL of it off switch that i do use on occasion.

 

I wheel the hell out of my 2014 and I've never found myself thinking, "man...this truck needs FI." I'm all about FI but I just can't see spending the money to go that route with this particular platform.

 

My 2008 OR had tire pressure monitors and never had any issue and also had the traditonal vacuum brake booster which I liked better.

 

I can't do the locker mod as I'm not trd offroad, and I tried the link where you cut the light green wire, but nothing happened :/
That what you did?
Possibly didn't work because I'm not 4x4.

 

Its not the locker mod. It the abs disable mod. On that link, go to the For Non Offroad link. Yes, youre putting a switch on the green wire. Its disabling abs, which in turn shuts off all nanny systems because they all work off the abs system.

 

09 here and only gremlins were the possessed radio and the trac/abs more than likely due to lift.

 

'08, last year before all the electronic nannies went it and it still has a mechanical LSD rear

 

Yes thanks I did see the Trd sport link, and did put a switch into that, but had no effect :/. I still had abs. Do you have any dash lights come on when "disable abs" is on (switch is off).

 

Yes, the abs, trac, and vsc lights come on when I hit the switch. Are you positive the switch you did was wired correctly? Not questioning your intelligence, just trying to figure out why it didnt work for you. Some switches come with different open/close states. My switch is a 3 wire switch.