Am I crazy for wanting to go back to a First gen?

I have had a 1st Gen (1996 Ext Cab), 2nd Gen (2005 Double Cab) and now a 3rd Gen (2018 Double Cab). The 2018 is my favorite, but I miss the locking hubs and transfer case with a shifter. The only thing I wish my 3rd Gen had. All that being said the 1st Gen was easier to work on.

 

My first vehicle was 1990 black Mazda b2200. I was in high school and paid for it myself, I absolutely loved that truck. A lot of fun high school memories.

I have a soft spot for those little trucks, especially the lowered ones.

 

Nothing beats small 90s trucks and cars. I had a 98 civic with 318k miles that I miss all the time.

 

Yep.

I had a lowered 91 civic si hatchback and it was a blast to drive. Was super reliable as well, considering I was in my early 20s and drove it like an asshole.

My reverse stopped working, so I drove without it for about 6 months, fun times.

 

Good thing the turn diameter was like, 15 feet

 

Well, when you put it like that, I miss my 1981:

 

Man, I have missed my 04 Pre-runner since the day I sold it. I have a 17 off road and enjoy the heck out of it. But I will always miss that 04. It felt so nimble and planted at the same time, a joy of a truck that I wish I would have held onto.

 

Welp, I think I’m getting rid of
My 3rd and buying a 1st gen again

 

I've danced around the idea so many times, good luck!!

 

I did this very thing. I bought my '02 new (in my profile pic), and in 2019, I convinced myself it was old, worn out, and I was ready to upgrade. I sold it and bought a new 2019 Tacoma. Quickly, I knew I'd made a big mistake. I kept waiting and waiting on the '19 to grow on me, but it never happened.

So, after 9 short months of ownership, I hunted my old 2002 Tacoma down and bought it back (luckily, the guy that bought it was only using it around his place for yard work and odd jobs, and was super to deal with) and I sold my 2019. All in all, I lost about $3500 when the dust settled, and it's the best money I've ever lost.

Sunk alot of money into the 2002 for general upkeep and modernization (Apple Car Play head unit, etc.), it's my daily driver now, and I'm happy as a clam. I constantly get compliments out and about at gas stations and such, and even have had guys offer to buy it. I'll never part with it again. Lesson learned.

 

This thread is a reminder that I really don’t want to get rid of mine. I don’t think I’d sell a 3rd gen for a 1st gen though, the newer truck is safer has fresh components.

To me, the 1st gen just has a lot more character. While the 3rd gen is nice and I love the look, it just isn’t as special feeling. I test drove at least 6 different 3rd gen Tacoma’s, manual and auto, and just couldn’t quite make myself like it enough to buy it. Toyota did a terrible job in my opinion by damping throttle pedal inputs and the janky transmission tune. I know how to drive efficiently, I don’t need the truck to try and do it for me.

Pretty much the same HP and torque as the 3rd gen, still puts power to 4 wheels, and hood scoop is actually functional

 

I kept my 1st Gen, the best of both worlds:

 

First gen prices have doubled in the past 12 months. In my opinion they are now cost prohibitive.

 

That's beautiful!

Ed

****

 

If you were looking for an older Ford, Chevy....Yeah I'd say you were crazy unless it was pre 80's. I still wish I'd never sold my 86 4x4 but I live in a small house and limited parking with a boat too.


But I still like all the others too. Just had to go to auto with bad left ankle issues.
The biggest thing I missed was Not the manual locking hubs but the manual transfer case shift instead of the little dial in the cab.
My brothers 2001, my 05 and 22 auto trans. So far I really like the 22

 

Sooo…
I also remember the 80’s trucks!

-Not knowing much about the 1st gens; which model/year/ trim of the double cabs would be the one to get?

- if one were so inclined??


Best equipped stock for off-road, for example…

Im fine with my 3g - but have been looking at trading an older ‘fun’ vehicle…

 

I do indeed miss my 2002 SR5 3.4. I just never had a rig that went 250,000 miles without a hiccup! Previous rigs included a 1960 Falcon, a 68 Elco, a 1980 Datsun PU, a 1987 Ford Club Cab Ranger 4x4, and a 1997 Ford Club Ranger 4x4. All good rigs but not one went over 150,000 without major issues and I religiously maintained 'em. The last rig was a simple lemon and I dumped it at 97,000 miles for a new 2002 Tacoma SR5 club cab. Best rig ever owned so far. But I was a nervous Nelly when 250,000 miles hit the odometer so I sold it to a neighbor that has 400,000 miles on it! Only thing he's done to it was replace the front struts. So with my "New 2017" SR5 3.5 I now have 92,000 miles on the odometer and hoping I can get another 100,000 miles on her. At 70 I thought this might be my final rig? It's going to be either the rig or me to see if the 2017 makes it to the "Finish Line". At my age this new technology is a wee bit too much.

 

It still bugs me how long the front ends are on the 3rd gen. They don’t look right to me proportionally. I loved my 1st gen but my 2014 was the all-around best truck I ever owned. I still regret trading it for my 2018. But my 2014 was wrecked. I didn’t have a choice.

Now I drive a 5th gen 4runner. On the highway it’s soooo much nicer than the 3rd gen Tacoma. Night and day difference.