1st gen or 2nd gen?

Zombie thread bump!! He probably got one already since this thread is three years old.

 

I don't get why all these 2nd gen folks didn't just buy a Ford F-150. More power more room steel bed better towing capacity and made in America.

 

same here. they are not that much bigger than the second gen, and not even close to the tundra.

 

Had a 06' loaded double cab TRD Off Road with manual trans. The worst manual trans I ever owned, hated the truck. Sold it to my brother-in-law back in 09'. I now have a 02' X-Cab as a winter drive. Most would think I was nuts for preferring my 02'.

 

I'm with ya Rick, had a 2010 4by access cab manual, and agreed...horrible trans, clunky, noisy and nothing was geared right in that truck especially for having a 6th gear. Sold it in 2011 and bought an 02' access cab. People that know the 1st gens don't think i'm crazy.

 

well depends on what you want. I THINK the first gens, MAY be a LITTLE more reliable, and the 2nd gens are a LITTLE bigger and probably more mods you can do.

i, at one time, had both. a grey '03 ext cab prerunner 2.7l i4 auto stepside bed, and a grey/silver '07 access cab prerunner 4.0l v6 auto TRD off-road w/towing pkg. loved both, but due to finances had to sell one and chose to keep the '03.

 

looking at ur pic, do you have the regular bed, or it looks like you may have the stepside bed like me?

 

agreed. sold the 2nd gen, kept the 1st gen

 

ToyComa, yep stepside...hopefully soon to become a fleetside. Like the look, but need the space, and want to put a canopy on it. People say they are rare but I've seen at least five around town, lunar mist, black and a red one.

 

I skipped the 1st Gen & went from a '95 PreTaco (got it after the '95.5 Taco came out because I didn't like the look of the '95.5 2wd) to the '11 Taco

2nd Gen Tacos
Better looks
More room
More comfort
More power
More features
Access Cab doors
Rust free/proof bed

I also have a manual transmission, so if I need to change the radio station I push the button on the stearing wheel.

 

1st gen!

Simpler, lighter, made of steel, and mine has an LS1!

But really it depends on what your after, IMO the 1st gen is going to last a lot longer due to build quality, trust me I know, I worked for Toyota and know the ins and outs of both models and lets just say that things arent getting better persay.

Too many failure points in the newer tacomas, but to each their own. The newer Tacomas have way more bells and whistles if thats your thing.

 

I love my '01 and wouldn't trade it for anything and it would take a lot of money for me to sell it. The only thing I don't like about it is that the previous owner didn't care for it very well and so now it's nickel and dimeing me back to good condition it's all minor things and is in over all great condition just needs some TLC. The lack of space behind the rear seat compared to the 2nd gens sucks and I wish my truck had the under seat storage like the 2nd gen double cab, other than that my truck is the one I prefer to drive. Most day's I'd rather drive it than my dad's Boxster S.

 

1st Gen FTW
About 2 years ago I had an itch to buy a new vehicle. I negotiated a deal on a 2010 Tacoma , but when I had to trade my 2002 in and hand over the keys, I could not part with it, so I kept it and went to Honda and traded my wife's old minivan in on a 2010 minivan. A few months ago, I got the itch again, negotiated a deal on a 2012 Tacoma, was just almost getting excited when I looked out the window and realized I could not part with my 2002, so again, I went to Honda and traded my wife's 2010 van in on a 2012 van.
1. I have to do something about these "new vehicle itches"
2. My wife is happy
3. I love my truck, my wife does not understand it, but who cares.

 

She should be happy you're not trading her in every time you get "the itch"!

That's where I'm heading!

 

Voted 1st gen for many reasons. I think of the 2nd gen as the fat sister who can't get action like the 1st gen but still needs lovin.

 

2nd gen

 

First gen

 

I have a 2nd gen.but voted 1st gen.I wanted a 1st.gen.but could not really find one worth having around here.Looked for about 2 years.Looking again now my son is getting ready to start driving.He wants mine.

 

I wouldnt say that i can vote one way or the other. I had a '96 that i wheeled the shit out of for years n i loved it- my first truck and damn near indestructable. I traded it for an '06 at 301,0** mi because i was dumping over 3 grand in repairs into it /year and thats about a truck payment. Ive moded the hell out of my 2nd gen n wheeled it like crazy too n have no complaints. Yea- more plastic, thinner metal on the body but also more power n nicer newer interier. Plus my first gen wasnt reliable as a daily driver any more when i sold it. Ill run this one till the wheels fall off too so i guess time will tell if i can get the 2nd gen to 300,000 also.

 

had 3 tacomas. 02 reg cab 5 speed, 05 tacoma trd offroad access cab auto, and now a 2012 trd sport double cab. liked the ruggedness and simplicity of the 02, just a fun truck to drive.