1st Gen Tacoma Reliablity

Here's a good article on fixing up a 1st gen. Fits in perfect with this forum.

http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/heres-what-it-cost-to-make-a-cheap-toyota-tacoma-as-rel-1796712352

 

IMO, a fairly poorly written article.

I take a bit of an issue with the blanket statement about frame rust. If I didn't know better, that makes it sound like ALL Tacomas' frames rust. It's quite unfair to claim that "tacomas have a history of catastrophically rusted frames" when that's ONLY for trucks that live in areas where they salt the roads. I challenge anyone to find me a rust free car that has spent several years in those areas. The frame failures are a bit extreme, hence the recall. My CA Tacoma is 100% rust free, as are most Tacos...

I also take a bit of an issue with the idea that these are the things you need to do to make the truck "as reliable as people think they are." No vehicle is "reliable" if you never change the air filter, spark plugs, trany oil, and ignore all the other regular care and maintenance stuff.

Also, it's funny that he goes through replacing the shocks in the "suspension and steering" section, completely ignores the tie rod ends, ball joints, and steering rack maintenance (i.e. "steering"). They must have forgotten about a short lived issue with some Tacomas and their recalled ball joints from a manufacturing issue...