1st versus 2nd or 3rd gen

Hello Tacoma enthusiasts...

I posted recently about my totaled 1st gen.. I got a pretty crazy insurance settlement (18,500) and am torn on my next move. I love the 1st gen tacos and am looking at a clean 2001 4x4 TRD with 125k miles for 16k... seems crazy but the market is what it is and with the settlement I could buy this thing outright. OR.. I could throw in the towel and use the settlement as a down payment and go newer (2nd or 3rd gen) with a monthly payment (I don't want to go over 30-33k out the door). The reliability/safety of a newer vehicle sounds appealing but the newer trucks just don't have that first gen magic.

I really don't know much about the newer models and was never in a financial position to consider them. IF you did opt for newer, what would you suggest?

WWYD??

 

Is 4wd a necessity for you? You might get a bare bones new truck for around that much but I don't think you're going to be able touch anything 4x4 at that price point.

 

Yeah gotta have 4x4.. when I say down payment I mean I could take a loan from my bank on a used second gen. in order to find something in the mid-20k range ideally

Something of the like: https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/d/vancouver-2009-toyota-tacoma-trd-super/7443995419.html

 

If in your shoes, I'd go with a 2014-15 tacoma. I like the updated front and still stick with the 4.0 engine. Not a fan yet of the 3rd gen front end and definitely not the 3.5 engine.

 

2nd gen gets my vote but that's because I own one and love it. I don't hate the 3rd gens as it seems the majority in this forum do. They have grown on me. I love the cement ones. As far as reliability goes, the 2nd gen 4.0s are rock solid.

 

At least go test drive a 2nd Gen with the 4.0.



I’m still of the opinion that the best Tacoma would be 2nd Gen with 4.0, manual transfer case, and manual hubs. And no A.D.D.

It doesn’t exist, but we can all dream.

 

Find another 1st Gen, if you can't find one buy a 2nd Gen.

 

I agree. Anything 2012 or newer would get you the "2.5 gen" truck with the facelift. Probably the only 2nd gen years I would avoid are 2005 and very early 2006 due to the head gasket issues in those year 4.0L engines. As a note 2012 years do not have the SAIS shutdown purge cycle programmed into the ECU, so are slightly more prone to failure of that system. But that would not discourage me from a 2012.

All that said I have never owned a 1st gen (not yet at least..)

Gotta agree with you on the cement color. Seems like most of the major auto manufacturers have attempted to copy it.

 

Really 2nd gens seem to be just as reliable as 1st gens, there's a few issues here and there that may need addressing on some trucks but overall they are good trucks.
If you don't want/need/care about having traction/stability control, backup camera or the other few updates the later (~09-15) 2nd gens had you could look for an 06-08.
05-early 06 4.0s had some head gasket and motor mount issues so it would be best to avoid those years unless you got a steal on one.
Make sure you do your research and know the truck your looking at before buying, there's been quite a few people that have bought a "TRD OffRoad/Sport/Pro" truck only to find out that it's just an SR5 with TRD stickers.

The thread below has the brochures for 01-17, you can get a good idea of the features and options each year model had by looking at them.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-ebrochures-2001-to-2017.486957/

 

12-15 is the sweet spot, you get bluetooth and backup cam without the excessive safety bs they put in the third gens. 12s tend to sell cheaper than 13-15 because of fear over the SAIS, but I've had two 12s and neither had any issue with it, there is a TSB or recall for the issue, and a $10 UNI filter can also prevent the issue.

3rd gens look cool but are not even close to 1st and 2nd gens on the reliability front.

 

Yeah your point about all the safety bs in 3rd gens is a good one too. Best thing about the 2nd gens IMO

 

Having bought all 3 gens new at various points in my life my favorite would be first gen.

Wish things would’ve stayed simple, but that’s my opinion on pretty much everything.

 

get a 2nd gen. simple reliability of a gen 1 with some modern touches and more space.

avoid 2007 and before for head gasket issues. 2008+ ftw

 

I’d say go with the 2nd gen, enough tech but not too much for stuff to break down in the future. Would be a little cheaper than the 3rd gen, reliable proven engine and transmission. Also has more safety features than the 1st gen.

My 2nd choice would be the 1st gens though. I love those trucks.

Good luck with your search op!

 

I just sold my '99 with 250K on it to my niece and bought a 2015. I love it. It's quieter, tows better, roomy inside, seats aren't crap. It isn't as sexy to look at, but I love it. I drove three 3rd gens and didn't like the engines, but I think they are better looking than the 2nd gens. 12-15 is the sweet spot.

 

I own both a 1st gen (2003) and 2nd gen (2015). Part of it to me is what you use it for. My 03 can go through tighter trails than 15 can. Parking in the city is easier in the 03. Long distance driving is more comfortable in the 15. More power in the 15.
So, if I did trails and city parking a lot…the 1st gen takes it. If driving highways and comfort and acceleration are the priority…go with 2nd gen.

Also a crazy thing is the 1st gen has a higher load capacity over the 2nd and 3rd gens. Why, why, why Toyota?

 

I'd argue that last point. The only reason people say that is because "one bad apple spoils the bunch". Of course everyone who hates them or gets a dud is going to complain, and the people who have no problems don't complain and instead sit quietly and watch the drama unfold - such as myself. The only thing I can genuinely say went south in the 5 years I had third gen (first MY, built in 2015) was that a rear shock blew up after a winter of driving a particularly bad snow/ice/road maintenance year.

OP I'd go for anything at this point. A gen 3 is nice but 30-33 will be difficult to find a good enough deal with 4WD and I'd say avoid the first MY just to avoid the smart transmission shifting points even though it's easy to mitigate with the gear selection mode (which I used, felt fine that way). I do like my third gen, both my 2016 for its five years in my possession, and now my 2021. The safety stuff also nets a discount on insurance where I live and the lane departure alert is nice on the tight curves of narrow mountain highways. Comfort is unrivaled from any vehicle I've ever had - even a 2014 coupe Civic - my knees were sore every time I drove that but it was a total blast. That being said I also have a 99 Ranger that I can drive if I want that simplistic old school feel with plastic tub floors and a shitty bench seat. It's also my project. Lots of little things here and there, some bigger issues, but no rush to fix it.

Second gens are classics and we all know you can't go wrong with one (I was close to buying an SR5 access cab between years 2010-2015 when I started looking in 2015 but they kept slipping off the lot before I could set a deposit) and the torque at lower RPMs feels nice. Fuel economy between the two is close enough all things considered but the 2nd gens are a bit thirstier.

First gens never get old and their nimbleness on the trails is truly unrivaled, even a second gen reg cab won't beat 'em. I would love a first gen but up in BC most have been chopped to shit or are rotted, frame and body, like no one's business. Reliable, trusty, take a beating, easy maintenance but if you let them go, which most people here have, they don't feel so well.

If you can find a couple of second and third gens throughout their production years to test drive either private party or dealership I'd give 'em all a whirl. See what you like best. You can't make a mistake either way, trust me. Good luck on your search and keep us updated on what you buy!

 

I went with the 2015 - for the crash test safety factor. I got in early in the pandemic used with 140k - the SR5 - trd dirt road version

 

I had a 03 ac manual it was a great truck fun to drive but my 2010 by far is more comfortable better mpg and more room. Ive driven 3rd gens didn’t like the transmission. But I think they resolved that now in the newer ones.I would get a 2010-15 cant go wrong

 

Definitely a 2nd gen. If you can find a 2.5 gen that's the way to go. Don't put too much weight in the head gasket issue on early 2nd gens, it's not as common as people make it seem. I had a 2005 with 204k on it with no issues. Only got rid of it because I got a great deal on a 2014 that I plan to keep forever.