First gen best gen

1st Gen by far
342,000 miles and counting on mine (3RZ)
Original drivetrain
Frame replaced at the dealership during recall
1 clutch replacement during frame replacement
Trans shifts like butter no pop outside grinds
No burning oil, just a lower oil pan seep dont have to add between changes
Its incredible I would choose to drive this truck over so many.
Sitting on Falkwn wildpeak AT3s

I do not mind the 2nd gens, the 2TR-FE is basically a 3rz with a different cylinder head so I'd prefer that over the 4.0 which in the early years had some head gasket problems .

I recently drove a 2019 TRD Sport tacoma 6 speed unfortanetly to me it drove like a lifted camry, to refined for my liking. I prefer the driving feel of the 1st gen any day.

Yeah doesn't look the best but 342000 miles says alot. Oh and even the A.C works

 

welcome to TW

the lifted camry comment is an interesting take!, i suppose it is a quiet ride with no real sense of where the road is in front of the massive hood, compared to 1st gen hood (on stock height which yours does not appear to be?)

 

Op got banned?

 

yes, unfortunately, for basic BS is all
zero tolerance policy

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA BANNED FOR WHAT.

1st gen best gen all day.

 

Yeah exactly GQ77, the body had way to much roll the 3.5 V6 honestly felt like it belonged in a camry or Rav4 doesnt have the grunt like the 4.0 had. If you have any sense of urgency when shifting the damn truck should shake back n forth. I would rather have a 2nd gen over the newest models. However the 1st gen shits on every single other tacoma in my opinion haha.

It's just got some old ass toytec springs and 5100s in the front (broken spring on passenger side and shocks are beginning to leak but they still feel fine lol) it's got monroes in the back.

Rained alot here and we had some big puddles on the road that I drove through next morning I was misfiring found cylinder 2 misfire n EGR flow codes. Clean the EGR(plastic one with vaccum lines) it had water in it, replaced a coil and spark plugs while I had the coil and plugs out I did a compression test.

Here are the results at 342,800 miles

 

2003 2.7 5 speed 4x4 just turned120k
New frame in 2012 runs and shifts like new
Id buy a new frame motor and tranny before i bought a new one

 

Don't have experience with the 3rd gen but what I appreciate about the first gen is how compact it is. I can park it in my garage while my neighbors have to park their second and third outside. The TX heat will cook the crap out of the paint and cabin. The first gen is also much easier to park and drive due to the smaller size. I also like the fact that it feels like you are driving a truck from the way it sounds to the way that it feels through the seat. However, I do get jealous of the extra space in the 2nd gens when I haul my 3 dogs around. Working on them is also super easy though I do prefer the oil filter location of the 2nd gen. It also feels more like a vehicle of the past and I'm much more partial to older vehicles where everything is mechanical and not electronic.

 

First: 1rst gen. I rolled mine and it mightve saved my life. Did a cab swap, and it's wonderful, 3 years later.

Second: 3rd gen for horsepower alone BUT only with a manual

Anchor: 2nd gen. I hate putting any yota pickup in last place but I think the body style looks aweful unless done right.