Are first gen Toyotas actually worth the price?

I saved up a chuck of money as my down payment, so was paid off a little earlier

 

I'm guessing it'll probably take 10-15 years before our trucks really hit the classic market, think of the 1st gen 4runners or 3rd gen pickups. They're just pushing in as real classics. 4runner definitely reminds me of the 70's broncos. They will probably show how much our trucks will go for.

 

My 2002 Tacoma has been sitting recently with all the snow & brine on the roads. Finally things were clean enough to use it this past Sat. I figured the battery would be dead, it's been sitting at least a month or longer. Fired right up, ran just fine. Love the simplicity of the vehicle that doesn't kill it's battery just sitting for a week or two.

 

I love my truck and never plan to sell it, but for a daily driver, I'd look elsewhere. At 20 years old, some of the critical parts are being discontinued by Toyota. That means cheap aftermarket parts that last a year or two to keep it running as the quality parts dry up. Example: I just replaced my brake master cylinder and brake booster and they're already starting to leak. Not an ideal scenario for something you put a lot of miles on for work and reliability is required.

 

I've said it before... (maybe even in this thread, not going through to find out) and I'll say it again.

I'm asked all the time if I'd sell my truck. Literally, I even get asked setting at red lights.

It goes like this...
"Hey man, would you consider sellin your truck"
Me... "hell ya I'll sell my truck! For fifty seven thousand dollars."

One of these days some dude is gonna say "sold!"... And I'll buy another 2002 Tacoma and build one badass truck.

 

X2

 

I've bought a few parts for mine I know I'll have to replace down the road for that very reason.

 

Buddy, I just registered my 2000 as a classic according to the CT DMV! Cheaper registration and property tax!

But agreed, not quite a classic but getting there.

 

the "Classic" market is much different than the "almost Classic" market. 1st gen Tacomas will mimic what's happening with E36 BMW M3s(95-99) I think for the ones with the good options.

With E36s, 9.0 body with under 120K miles = $12K+ right now. If you have the right options and color combo 15K+ Under 70K miles = 15K with less than desirable interior.

I'm new to the Tacoma Truck world. What's the holly grail of 1st gens?
as in options and motor. Might be different person to person bc manual transmission 4wd might be very appealing to some. Obviously for M3s it's the LTW model but besides that which has sub 125 in numbers, any other year with manual transmission + rare paint options + anything other than the dove grey interior. Lack of sunroof ads value for track guys as well and is an extremely rare option. As always, vehicles can be modified so LSDs and gearing probably isn't that important for resale as it once was.

 

I’ve left my ‘04 sit for nearly that long and it started right up with its 10-year-old Walmart battery. I think I could get to fire-off using a couple of C cells.

 

I bought my 1999 this past summer for $6500; for what the truck is and what options it has on it I saw it as a decently priced truck. Now as I’m trying to sell it to get back into a 4Runner it just doesn’t seem like there’s anyone who appreciates the value and use of all those special options.

 

The most in demand and the ones that maintain the highest prices are the 01-04 4x4 double cabs. There's a TON of 2x4s out there but the 4x4s command a pretty decent premium, especially on the west coast. 2nd in demand is probably 01-04 4x4 ExCab w/5spd.

 

makes sense. people can't get enough of BIG vehicles so yeah, the double cab would be the natural selection here I suppose.

 

Why only the 01-04 ext cab 5-speeds? From my understanding there are almost no differences between the 98-00 and 95-97 except the leaf springs on 95-97. (And the interior was updated)

 

Also reg cab v6 4x4 with an elocker, impossible to find but they exist.

 

@1997tacomav6 does your reg cab 4x4 have the e-locker?

Those were before the TRD package existed - the rear locker was an option at purchase, so yeah they were definitely less common before TRD became a thing

 

No, it was an option but I had a hard enough time just trying to get a white v6 in the regular cab with 5 speed

 

one of those very ones was sold here in April 1997
glad yours is still on the road!

 

two wet one ton axles

 

yup, the whole reason i waited to find a really nice 1st gen was i wanted something smaller than the 2nd/3rd gen tacomas. i even contemplated importing a diesel hilux but ultimately i would daily drive it so i didn't want to deal with sourcing hard to find parts.

4 years ago i was pretty close to buying a brand new tacoma which was $33k msrp before any options. instead, i opted for a very good condition 1st gen for $14k and i expect to keep this truck indefinitely. worst case it will become a hobby truck exclusively. but at the end of the day i saved almost $20k buying used. did i overpay relative to other vehicles? maybe, but i was looking at frontiers as well and didn't feel like i could get more for my money. ultimately even if i paid $20k for my truck i'll own it long enough that it doesn't make a big enough difference to matter.

my truck hasn't lost much either value either. so even if you view them as overpriced, if you only plan on owning it for a few years, you won't lose much value.

not to mentioned exterior differences as well. fender flares. abs became standard in 03 and they switched to an electronically controlled throttle. there's lots of small differences between the years as well.

but the 01-04 in general command a bit more here in Oregon.