Which is more "bulletproof", First gen or second gen?

I know this will receive biased answers no matter where I post it but: Which generation of Tacoma is the most durable, with the least mechanical issues, toughest components (tranny, transfer case) etc...?

Which is more likely to last 300k miles with minimal wrenching?

 

On 1st gens 150k is considered 'low mileage'. If you take care of them, they'll easily last you 300k+.

There's a guy on here with 998,000. I have a friend with an '01 Double Cab v6 with 450k.

 

Albeit not a 1st Gen but certainly a close relative, Top Gear has an episode where they literally drive a Toyota truck into the ocean, light it on fire, hit it with a wrecking ball and strap it to a skyscraper which is then demolished...and it still ran.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk

 

That's one of my favorite episodes. Stuff of legend. Unfortunately as time passes and we all cave in to the desire to own something newer, or our trucks get totaled and we just can't find another first gen, I'm wondering if the second gen has as much durability? What tranny/transfer case specs and all that sort of thing, first gen compared to second etc...? I don't like newer vehicles, and have no desire to own a third gen.

 

I suddenly want to punch that guy in the face for ruining such a nice truck. All the friggin' Ridgelines in the world and this guy destroys a classic.

 

The Ridgelines though, what is it with them? It's like Honda took the Odyssey, cut 1/4 of it off, and called it a pickup truck.

 

Build quality was way better back then and I tend to believe the older it is , the better it is (if it was well maintained, of course!), because today it's made cheaper and to break so consumers will keep buying cars. The trick was that it was made simpler, but sturdier (and better)

Anyway, the secret to a car lasting a long time and for a lot of miles is maintenance. Even for modern cars of today

 

Turd gen!!

 

I own both. My 1st gen blows my 2nd gen out of the water as far as build quality and reliability. 1st gen has my vote.

 

There are plenty of 2nd gens with 250,000+ on here

 

The Japanese made ones are the best. 1st/2nd gen i would say are equally bulletproof. 3rd will likely be the same as well. Comparatively speaking to other brands of course.

 

My uncle has a 2nd gen approaching 300k miles. He's had to do obvious maintenance, but shit is still running strong. He's actually been looking at a Turd gen, but isn't 100% sold.

 

Don't let him do it

 

Trust me! I told him to find a newer 2nd gen if ya will.

 

They bug the hell out of me! The older one at least looked like a bit of a truck but this new one is exactly that, an Odyssey front end with an open back. The proportions look all wrong

 

Also I'm going with 1st gen. I may be slightly biased though...

 

Yeah I've seen quite a few for sale online with that many or more. Some in the 400,000

 

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1st gen without question. All engines offered in 1st gens are bulletproof and there is less gadgetry to brake overtime. They are the last of the simple, sturdy Toyota's in my opinion. If you look back at 4runners and pickups you can still see them in the 1st Gen, not so much with the 2nd gen. With all that being said, 2nd gens are still Toyota's and as such, great trucks. Just not the classic Toyota feel.