Considering a 01-04 double cab. Thoughts?

in the Tundra, if auto was 2wd only (reg/ext cab). 4wd was 5-spd. they offered the 3.4 from 01-04, then the 4.0 after that (with the Tacoma change).

also the iForce V8 was 4spd (A340) until '04, 05+ was VVTi and with the 5spd auto (A750?), like the Tacoma/T4R. I've considered an 05+ Tundra for the 4 doors but can't see a reason to part with my Tacoma for the near future

 

I'd get a mid 2000's V8 4runner with leather and sunroof.

More family friendly, can haul shit, and pretty luxurious.

 

I have an 03 double cab. I have two boys both in car seats. The space is tight, but it definitely works. Another kid without a car seat and can still sit in the middle just fine. If I had the option I would probably get a 4 runner to move the family around, but for now everything works for my family.

 

First off, congratulations on the marriage!

I love my 02 DC but...it’s small. I have three boys (teenager, pre-teen, & almost 8) and they don’t fit well in the back seat of all five of us go in my truck. A 2nd gen is 5-inches wonder at the hips for backseat passengers according to Edmunds and that makes a fair bit of difference. The other thing to consider is kids require taking a lot of stuff with you, especially when they are very young. Car seats and baby gear take up as much or more space than a teenager so keep that in mind as your family grows.

You could always pick up a 1st-gen Tacoma now then (if you plan to wait a while to start adding kiddos) you could trade up to a later gen Tacoma or even a Tundra depending on your needs.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

 

First off, I want to say thank you everyone for your input. I finally made my decision and flew out to Cincinnati on January 18th and bought this gem, and drive it 1300 miles back to Colorado



I’ve got a lot of big plans for this truck, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

Check out my build thread here!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/00_5vz’s-2004-double-cab-trd-“deadpool”-build.588592/

 

Very nice.. How many miles? How much? You have my identical truck except I dont have the TRD... I do have 69K miles though

 

I paid $10,500. It had 144k when I picked it up.

 

Those are super rare. I looked for one. When I decided I wanted something with a bit more pep for towing my travel trailer (2004 v6 doublecab), and something with inside storage, I first wanted the V8 4Runner.

However, they're about as easy to find as a rust free 1st gen Tacoma in the rust belt.

I think they only made the V8 for like 2 years before they moved to the 4.0L. I was considering the V8, then I looked at the torque and HP between the V8 and the 4L's, and they're pretty much the same, and the 4L gets better MPG, too.

Then I started looking for a used 2015 or so. Those were hard to find as well, and the prices they were going for, I just ended up with a 2017 off the lot, brand new.

 

That's a good price, especially form a dealer!

enjoy!!

 

They ran the V8 thru the entire 2003-2009 series. I don't think they tuned it to the Tundra's #'s though so it was more a little more muted which is why it was marginally better than the 4L.

But yeah, finding a good V8 4R is rare. the limited with 18" wheels and leather is nice

 

Really? For some reason I thought it was just like 06 and 07... Maybe those are just the only ones I was seeing for sale or something...

Weird: I just looked on cargurus and literally the only years for the v8 4runner are 2006 or 2008. Not even any 2007's, lol...

 

Man...I have 5 kids!! Ages 8,6,4,2, and 1next week. I'm so sick of car seats!!!!!!!!!!

I can fit a rear facing car seat up front easy enough and then two boosters in the back in my xtracab. Everything else has to go in the toolbox.

I've been looking a 4 door 2nd gens as of late but am so attached to my 1st Gen.

 

The V8 4th gen T4Rs are really nice. We have a 2003 with 80k miles and it feels way more powerful than the 4.0l. Tons of low end torque and still gets 19-20 mpg around town.

 

We have an old 1999 extra-cab Tacoma, which I bought back in 2005 when I was single. I am now married, and have a fixer upper house so I have the baggage that goes with the two items that I just mentioned. I paid off our Tacoma about four or five years after I purchased it so when I got married for the second time in 2010, it was never a sore spot each month to make the monthly payment on it. Keep in mind, I bought this Tacoma because I always wanted a Toyota 4x4 pickup truck as a kid, and I thought I would never remarry so I was looking for a sport truck to go have fun with my friends and explore fire roads that lead to virgin fishing spots. Since I have been married, our Tacoma gets used as a trail rig may be two or three times a year.

As many of you know, extra-cabs are not good family rigs. They are not putt-putt trucks like regular cabs, but, in truth, they are not much better. When I say putt-putt truck, I am referring to a truck that is only useful for hauling. Our Tacoma does not work for our family on a daily basis. It does at rare times get used as a family rig, but this is only out of necessity. Our old Tacoma does have its purpose in our family, and I am glad and fortunate I have never gotten rid of it. Our old Tacoma excels as our fixer upper house's fix it truck. It gets used as a pickup truck at least twice a month hauling stuff around. My family is also restoring an old Boston Whaler Classic Sport 15, and it is constantly running that garage museum piece around for something.

Take it easy,
Paul

 

I have had my 01 DC 4wd for 17 years now. It was my first truck, it is my only truck. It has been through high school, college, doctorate, wife, 2 dogs, and now my kids are 5 and 3. It has never been the most comfortable truck with a family, but it has done everything it has been asked. It can definitely be done. My two daughters now request to ride in the “old Toyota”. One thing that does help is that we have a 14 highlander that is our “family” vehicle. I wouldn’t swap my 01 for anything, but it is about to be retired to “hunting truck” for a 2019 Fx4.

 

yeah, you'll find 03-04 (first gen 4.7, no VVTi) and like maybe one or two 07 but not a lot in between.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_4Runner#Fourth_generation_(N210;_2002–2009)

 

Sooooo.... buy her a T4R 3rd gen, and swap a small block Chevy V8 in there...

 

Well there you go...you already have a 4runner, why get rid of your Tacoma? Cart the kiddo around in the T4R

It's kind of funny how the xtra cab 1st gens have hook ups for a car seat in the back (my 04 does) but no car seat to my knowledge will fit back there...they probably only did that to meet federal requirements

 

When discussing wanting to swap a bunch of stuff from his old Tacoma to the new vehicle, he mentioned the magic word... supercharger...

 

Congrats, Double cab 1st gen TRD — that’s the truck right there!

Look at it this way, if you find that rear facing car seats are unbearable to sit in front of (which they are IMO) you’ll be able to resell that gem of a Taco fast and not lose a penny.