From 1st gen to 3rd?

I have a '01 Tacoma about to hit 300,000. Never pampered and she is a beast. I have done the bare minimum in terms of R & M. I love my truck and she has never let me down but I am hitting that high mileage mark. I have been looking at the new 2018 and they are pretty sweet but with more bells & whistles come more things to break down in time. It is not tricked out either it was as it was in 2001. It's the V6 engine. Body is sound too, no rust.

How happy are you guys with the 3rd gen? I am looking to either put some love back into my truck and keep on going until it no longer can or do I move forward?

I am new to this forum and been locating some great threads and links to follow-up on. Thanks for the add.

Any opinions on either the actual move or thing to do to give it some new extended life. Thx

 

I could have probably gotten 5 more years out if my old 97, but that would have put me too close to my retirement years.

I also didn't baby my old truck, so it wasn't going to be cheap keeping it going those future 5.

Before you do trade up, test drive as much as you can, so you don't have any surprises.

Good luck.

 

Test Drive a 2018 and see if you like it.

 

Test drive test drive test drive. Then test drive again. Test other brands. Dis I say test drive? Only you can make the decision man and if you test drive, then you know what you are getting. Welcome to TW by the way.

They sell about 20,000 new Tacomas a month. Everyone that has any problem pretty much posts about it here. I can honestly say there are very few problems with this truck.

 

Definitely test drive, but overall, after having two 1st gen's, you will love it. If you're adverse to tech and gizmo's, get an SR. I got an OR, and have zero regrets or complaints. But doing it over again, I would go SR, no question.

Also, my dealer let me take the truck overnight. It let me get a thorough test of the truck.

 

I am trading in my 07 for an 18 this week. The test drive was just ok. Gears were hunting but I remember my 07 did that too when I bought it. It did feel a little weak compared to the 4.0 in the 07 but it was raining so I couldn't get on it too hard. The only reason I'm trading is because I'm at that point of value vs upgrade (and I finally like the newer designs).

 

My father has a 96 with around 230k on it. He loves sitting in my truck because it is still a Tacoma without the rattles...In a perfect world you could have them both! Good luck!

 

My 01 DC has 235k miles and is my favorite truck . 2.7L

My 17 PRO 6MT daily driver has 63 miles, great truck no problems, 3.5L

Picked up a 18 SR Access cab on Friday for the farm. 2.7L.

I actually like my 18 2.7 more than my 17 pro

 

I had a very reliable 2002 DCSB OR (on my avitar) with 275k miles, lots of it off road but it had a clean, stock body and no rust anywhere on it (Cali car). I took care of it, and never had a problem, but you could tell the linkages and timing chain were coming up to their time to be replaced, and the driveline/tranny was getting a bit of slack to it, plus I had a new travel trailer to tow and needed more horsepower, so it was time to sell. CarMax quoted “salvage sale” prices for it due to high miles, and dealers the same. I got $6k for it as a private sale and used that for a down payment on my 2017 OR. Sad to sell the 1st Gen, but happier to take the new truck off road in remote places in desert summers, tow with it, and do the things that would make me worry with the old truck. I really like my new one!

You should either private sell your old one for some funds for a deposit or to add upgrades to a new one, or keep your old one as a project truck.

 

It's time......

 

Amazing truck, don’t even debate it!!!

 

I’d get a lightly used 2nd gen if hadda do it all over again. Avoid 3rd gen.

 

Make the change, you will not regret it. I bought a 2018 TRD 4x4 Sport about two weeks ago after RESEARCHING AND READING A LOT. I compared the Colorado/GMC etc and was not worth it for many reasons, on top of everything it will not hold the truck value down the road.

 

This is my first Tacoma and I seriously LOVE this truck. I have the '17 Sport DCSM MT w/ ~23k. I drove a 2015 MT DCSB and a few hours latter drove my truck - no brainer, get the new truck.

 

Im digging my TRD sport, 14,000 miles in. The fuel economyis OK, lots of nice features like the 12v outlet in the back, power sliding rear window, and the composite bed, lots of space in the crew cab. Love the looks and ground clearance. The suspension is nicely firm

The nav system is OK (seriously outdated database for restaurants etc, and the system itself is clunky to use), the sound is OK as well.

Driving position took some getting used to as a tall guy with long legs, but I'm comfortable in it. I also dislike the OEM grill (cheese grater) and am working on replacing it...

 

Personal preference. Like others have said test drive one and see if you like it. I'm a believer in less is more so my vote would be keep driving the 1st gen until it's dead. Then fix it and keep driving it.

Also, welcome to TW!

 

Keep the 1st Gen even if you do buy a new truck.

 

Buy a second gen, you will be happier

 

i have the 3rd Gen.. the transmission is something to be desired ...get ready to press the ECT button every time you crank it... lol

 

Keep the 01 and buy a new one, i did, a 17 and no regrets......whatever you do don't trade in the 01, if needed sell outside, value is unreal! In Hawaii my 03 could fetch 12k+ easy......