1st Gen. vs. 3rd Gen Dilemma

Its a pretty nice situation when the only thing you regret is the color!

 

No Ragrets!

 

I was in this boat 2 months ago.

I wanted a Taco, and was thinking used. I wanted a DC, a stick in a non-base model.

Looking around, I found a 2008 TRD DC 4x4 V6 manual with 125K on it. It was $15700. I drove it, but held back. With that truck, I would have put 7K or so down and financed the rest. But, there was a noise, groaning coming from one of the corners, I figured it was a bearing. I also was thinking about the extra cost of the 4WD system, maintenance wise and it really isnt/wasnt needed for my usage living in flat no-snow Houston. Mostly hauling stuff to work on rental property, haul stuff to dump, tow occasionally, but less of a need with a truck bed, but it sure as hell beat towing something in a 125 HP 2000 RAV-4. I also hated the clutch throw on it, it felt like 2 feet. (My other sticks are a 2004 Mazda RX-7, 2005 Ford Probe, 2000 RAV-4).

So then I looked at a 2003 Pre-Runner, DC, 4x2 L4 auto with 160K. I instantly liked the looks a bit better and when I got inside, because I had had a company leased 2000 Limited 4Runner for a while. I also liked the size and it was in great shape, and it was 8555. That put it in the category of straight cash homey with no payment.

When I looked on Toyota's website, I couldnt get a stick in a DC unless it was TRD and that was 35K or so. My original intention was not a daily driver, just a part time mule, so I couldn't justify that to myself under any grounds.

Well, I pulled the trigger on the 2003, event though it was a 4 banger auto. It was almost 9K out the door, the dealer added on the cost of tires and other things they had done, and he "showed me" he was only making 250 or so. Ha! When I payed for it the finance guy let me put 5K on my AMEX card (yeah miles!) and I wrote a check for the rest.

Sometimes I regret not getting that 2008 with its stick and V6, but when I check, there are still no stick DC 1st gens around here. I am really enjoying this truck as a daily driver we will see how that goes when gas gets back up to $4/gallon. But the first time I loaded up the bed with pt 2x8s to work on some steps it was like "Why the @#$! didnt I do this years ago?". I had been cutting 4x8s and plasterboard sheets half to stuff them out the back of the RAV-4 and rope the door shut. But I was able to fit boxed 6 foot tubs in that Probe and shut the hatch!!! And I did haul a couple fridges on their sides, sticking out the hatch.

 

Wow the trd is 10k more!? What a joke!

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm 99.999% sure that the double cabs in the first gens were only offered as autos. Manuals were only available in access and regular cabs.

 

Right, auto only! Friggin stupid in my opinion! Thats why I'll never own a d cab unfortunately....

@KeptOnChooglin only way to find one will be a swap someone did...you'll be lookin for a while...

 

If I wanted a manual with a V6, I'd HAVE to get a TRD package. I'd get the OR because sports are lame, which is ~34k.

A SR with the 4cyl is 24k.

 

What does the "sport" include?

 

a skewp and.....

it also comes with an upgraded suspension over the non TRD model, some other fancy stuff inside

 

Yes, already discussed, and an important consideration for power (or lack thereof).

 

essentially a limited slip diff. I'm sure that there is other stuff (like the non-functional skewp), but for the most part that's the selling point.

The in-cluster computer would be nice that is on the SR5+, but my $60 ultra gauge does the same stuff pretty much. All have bluetooth audio, all have reverse cams, SR doesn't have navigation but my phone or a $300 garmin device would work just as well.