Any thoughts on buying 1994 Tacoma 4x4

I currently own a 2006 Toyota Tundra Texas Edition that I have had for over 2 years. I love this truck. But my wife and I have decided to get out of debt in 2010. So Im selling my Tundra and going to get into something cheap and paid for.

Before the Tundra, I had a 2001 Tacoma 4x4 and loved that truck. In many ways I like it more than my Tundra. So I was wanting another Tacoma when I sell my Tundra, but what Im looking for is really over my "cash budget" of around $5k.

So searching around, I found a 1994 Tacoma Extended cab for sale. It has 200k+ miles, but has a new engine, radiator, clutch, tires, even new paint job. It has a small lift, BF All Terrain, stereo system, etc.. Its a nice looking truck and has some good stuff.

Heres my question, i like the toy aspect of it. I can take my son and play around in the mud a little. But Im more concerned with it being a dependable daily driver than a toy. It seems very well taken care of and has alot of new parts..

Just curious if anyone knows much about these older models I should look out for?

 

well like I said, really its just something to get me from A to B for about a year. But at the same time, Id like to have a little fun with it. Who knows, may just keep it afterwards an a mud toy...

So can I get fender flares, pull bars with KC lights, etc for this model?

 

any website stores dedicated this this Toyota year models? Im curious what all is available

 

amazing how little the Tacoma (pre '05) has changed over the decade...

 

00bolt,

just GOOGLE Hilux....Most if not all our vendors here have the "Older" truck parts...these are what created Toyotas ...

The 3.0 V-6 is a motor...If maintained well ,some go on forever while others are P.O.S. ......We did head gaskets "Twice" on my sons 4 -Runner BUT that poor thing took the wrath of a teenager...

Your "future" purchase sounds like it was maintained and then some...good luck...

 

What everybody else has said... But really WATCH OUT for the 3.0 motor. It is a POS compared to most other motors Toyota has made (22RE, 3RZ-FE, and of course the newer 2UZ-FE w/VVT-i).
Like snoope said, some just die, and others can go if they are taken care of. Just be careful about the 3.0, and try to find a ext cab pickup with a 4cyl 22RE instead.

 

I was thinking of keeping it pretty simple. I dont plan to rock crawl really, but would rather play in the mud.

As far as looks go, I was thinking some nerf bars, fender flares and possibly a bull bar up front with lights.

 

X2 yep that 3.0 IS a pile, lots of issues with over heating on older 3.0's, the 22r will just about beat it for performance & is way more reliable than the early V6's.......

 

I've had 2 V6 pickups and both had the HG's replaced before I got them. One had 80k and the other 120k. Neither let me down, but the engines are turds and one ticked like mad and would puff smoke and run like ass if you say started it cold, moved it and shut it off. The next time it was started it didnt like it. They also suck gas like mad. My buddy had a 4runner with the same engine and had one problem after another. Finally the camshaft broke (I think thats what it was) and pretty much killed the engine. He sold it for parts after that.

I would hold out and find one with a 22R-E or dare I say look for an older Nissan Hardbody with the 4cyl. They too are tough as nails and cheaper than dirt.

 

I saw this today, you may be interested. Good Luck
1998 Toyota Tacoma $3800
http://easttexas.craigslist.org/cto/1596874226.html
Sure would like to see pics.

 

I had a similar pickup to that it was a 93 with the 22re, the truck was bullet proof and there are plenty mods available. It has the torsion bar suspension which is a little harder to lift other than tightening the bars up. Heres a pic of mine:

 

I had a 94 V6 Ext 5spd sold it with about 230,000 miles on it. I had it for 5yrs and never had any problems out of it.