Buying a 1st gen for first time driver

Hey guys I'm looking for a first get in NJ for my younger brother and he just got his license. He's not looking for one hooked up right off the bat he still has to learn how to drive lol so I'm looking at them and I'm not sure if the pricing is right. I know these trucks hold their value but man lol... He's looking at spending 10k maybe a couple bucks more for the right one and I'm steering him in the direction of a offroad package with the locker so he'd be only a few steps behind me and be able to come out on the trials with me... Anyone have any sighting of sales in nj please share and I'll be posting ones I find to get some advice on pricing. Cheers

 

I would suggest a 2.7l single cab 4x4 any year you like, they are stout and he wont be tempted to go too fast and crash.

Also a 5 speed is the way to go..

 

Why a Tacoma ??

Maybe a mid eighties 4x4 5 speed 22rec or 22R learning to drive in Northern NJ

save his money for when just the right truck comes along after he has a better idea what he wants.
just a thought.

 

most new drivers I know end up wrecking it a few times until driving is no longer "fun" so I suggest you find a cheap older 4wd that he can burn up clutches and engines in and have a few wrecks with before paying extra for the Tacoma quality and longevity. just sayin, most new drivers frst vehicles doesn't last two years before its gone through hell.

as mentioned above "save his money for when just the right truck comes along after he has a better idea what he wants."

 

A tacoma is only a little more money and waaaaaaaaay better as far as amenities go.

 

base model 5 lugger FTW

 

^^^^^ this^^^^^

I'm all for buying quality, but the chances of a wreck are pretty high in a first time driver.... (male especially)

 

Go for it, new drivers need something reliable and durable to get them through and what better choice than a Toyota truck? I know if I could go back in time I would have given my right nut to have a Tacoma over the POS Jeep I had that was always broke down for obvious reasons: Just Empty Every Pocket!

 

Boring but reliable, can't kill those things either. Less stuff to break than a 4WD and easier on gas. 2WD trucks are cheaper to insure as well. Having a 4WD automatically doubles the insurance premium because having 4WD automatically makes you more prone to trying something stupid they figure.

 

To each there own I worked and bought own vehicle .

When things went wrong I fixed them although things were quite a lot easier back then

 

x2 good to start with and less prone to get in trouble

 

best idea,teaches millenials that hard work builds character the real world you got to get your own not like MTV or the welfare nation Obama made

 

A kid that doesn't know how to drive has 10 large to dump in a vehicle? Is he thinking payments (bad idea) or is he a great saver (that would be inspiring!) ?

Does he know what to expect in insurance payments (on anything) yet?

If he really does have that cash in hand, I'd vote for a $5k 2wd regular cab 4 cyl 5 speed Ranger or Nissan. Set the other $5k aside for repairs, insurance etc.

 

He needs 4wd for the snow he goes to school and work can't do a 2wd I hated if I had a 95 pre taco 2wd 5 spd nd had to load the bed with a lot of weight and was still barely able to drive

 

If he gets a first gen, just be sure to check the frame for rust. I would hate to see someone sink $10k in a truck to find that the frame is rusted through. The pricing can be ridiculous on these Tacos, but just keep looking. I've found extremely good deals by individual sellers.

 

Dedicated winter tires.

4wd will help you move in snow, but it won't help you stop.

The correct tires will do both.

People drove in snow for decades w/o 4wd or AWD. Some of the issue is know-how. Things like chains and studs helped but it was still 2wd.

Personally, I think a FWD econo box with a nice investment in proper winter tires is a safer consideration for a beginning driver.

With a bit of careful shopping, for his $10k he could have a solid winter sedan and a fun 3 season beater truck.

Example. I just helped a friend pick up a '96 Corolla with 160k, fair interior, fair body, mechanically safe/sound, and everything works. for $1,600. Add tall skinny winter tires to that and depth of snow is your main hindrance. If it gets a few bumps and bruises at school, no big. And you still have $8k left for truck shopping. Insurance isn't an issue, take one off and put the other on, seasonally based. Sports car guys do it all the time.

But it seems you're on a single path track. So as someone else said, you need to be sure the frame is safe. Not just hidden behind undercoating. A complete mechanical inspection by a Toyota knowledgeable independent mechanic will be a worthwhile investment.

Good shopping!

 

Do to getting divorced I was forced to drive my 83 Celica in and out of my 500' driveway

It got me to and from work for 2 winters

 

front wheel drive car

 

I'm not sure why everyone is saying not to get 4wd? In regards to buying a nice truck or not that depends on him. If he's reckless getc an old beater 4wd truck or fwd car if he's responsible why not get a decent truck or nice fwd car.