Other than more affordable, why do you prefer the 1st Gen?

^X2

 

Size and shape,
Like that it is smaller and fits more spots, like the looks, can't quite like the odd fender flares the 2nd gen come with.
And they just look better- be nice to have the engine perhaps but mine does ok and will get better as the mods are completed.

 

I love the simplicity of first gens. Ive looked all over the country for a low mile TRD manual 4x4 and finally last year i found one with 30k miles i will keep this one for a while.

 

I had a '98 that I love, drove it a ton and sold it for what I bought it for 2 years later. Been sad ever since. I'm looking into buying a 04 double cab 4x4 with 100,500 miles for $15k. Thoughts?

 

Simplicity. Less bells and whistles make repairs much easier on any vehicle. Although, I sometimes wonder if the 2nd and 3rd gens rattle as much.... lol

 

I think so. I paid 15 for one with 30k last year. It was a clean carfax one owner.

 

I've loved the looks from the first time I saw one. I've had my '03 for about 10 years and I've just passed it on to my son. I put on 205k of the 240k miles that are on it. Just replaced the dash lights and took it for a test drive and was a little sad to be moving on (to a big Chevy) because this truck still drives tight and nimble. I think the Gen 1 trucks are destined to be classics and it would be fun just to restore and modify them for the fun of it. I get offers to buy mine all the time.

 

No, like this, Mine must be the brother of yours, 1997, v6, but has a TRD supercharger

 

The feel and size makes them ridiculously fun to drive. Am I the only one that smiles walking across the parking lot to the truck after work?

 

The first gens have a lot of a rare material that manufactures don't use anymore. Metal. And those little bastards are very reliable

 

So true, the 1st gen is an easy truck to work on and as reliable as they come with a bullet proof engine.
My brother has 2007 Tacoma v6 with 85,000 miles,
The imobilizer went out a month ago on a road trip 1000 miles away from home.
He was stranded for a week in small little town. Was a nightmare to get fixed.
Toyota had the truck for a week trying to figure it out why the truck would not start,
They ended up replacing the main computer which had to be programmed to his truck, the imobilizer transmitter, the transmitter antenna, the immobilized computer, the radio frequency keys, changed out the wiring harness and set him back 2500,00 plus dollars and a week in hotel in the middle of nowhere. So much for his summer vaction road trip, I think I could have bought the truck for a song at one point while he was waiting in the hotel. Grrr
To many computers in charge of to much
I was shocked,

 

You're right about the reliability. I bought mine from my dad and know it's history. All he ever did was regular maintenance and a water pump under warranty and a battery until 119,000 when I got it. It's got 150,000 on it now and all I've done is regular maintenance. I did replace the rack bushings and am getting ready to do tie rods because one is just "slightly" loose. Other than that I can't find anything to do to it. Anything a thought I might do the dealer talked me out of buying the parts for. I generally like to replace things when I "think" they are getting ready to go so I don't get stranded. Everything I thought I'd replace because I thought it might be coming to the end of it's life the dealer talked me out of. I can't remember how many parts I heard "That's good for the life of the vehicle" on.

That's why I like the 1st gens. I also think they are the best looking Taco ever made. Not that I am a Toyota fanatic. This is my first but since I got it I pay more attention to others. It's also narrow and sits pretty high up and therefore will go more places than I even want to go.

 

Everything.

1. Simplicity. No "drive by wire". I'm old school, don't like a lot of bells & whistles. I want a truck, wife drives the BMW.
2. Size. Son has 2nd Gen. Too big. Mine tows anything I have... travel trailer, boat, etc. Enough seat space to haul my grandkids and friends around. Bed is big enough for all reno project supplies around house. And it's not plastic.
3. Doesn't have to go to the dealer for every troublehooting.
4. Looks. Clean styling. Doesn't have plastic bulges everywhere.
Could go on...