Looking for Advice

Your 3rd gen looks sweet - love the color. And there's just a few too many red flags (plus the price) on that 1st gen. I'd walk away from that one....

 

Bunch of IF's....

if your a DIY and dont mind combing thru the frame and other rusty parts....

I would offer em 10K.....

Most likely a borescope inside those box beams.....will reveal a rust salad....


Sad truth is.....most likely he'll sell to someone not so sharp.......stars in their eyes.....

 

Walk away from the first gen, keep the third, or find a first gen that’s not rusted out and plated.

Coming from a place of experience with everything you’re dealing with- Any first gen that has been treated with anything but a new frame is a pile of junk.This is 4 weeks into a frame swap. Patch plates welded to rusty garbage is just garbage

 

Mine is 21yrs old with less than 90k on it....

 

I can share my story.

When you buy a 20+ year old Toyota, know in advance that you will outlay $ to baseline it.

This goes for 1st gen Tacomas just as much as it does 80/100 series cruisers. It will cost you to get/maintain that "reliability", vs your 3rd gen.

Picked up my 2001 after looking for months, to get it where it is today (turn key to drive across country) the following has been addressed:
- timing belt / water pump
- inner / outer tie rods
- inner fuse panel to fix horn issue
- all other belts
- lower ball joints
- rear axle assembly (found hairline crack in it when giving once over)
- rear bearings, seals, etc..
- brakes

Still need to get the carrier bearing replaced, but the list above is what it took. Doesn't matter what it is, most 20+ old rides need some love.

That said for me it IS worth it as I love the truck but it serves as a secondary vehicle and my soon to be wheeling rig. Would I sell my 4runner to drive this full time, no sir.

Long way of saying - 1st gens are a great addition but I'd not replace a 3rd gen with one as my primary ride.

 

Keep your paid off 2022. It'll have a warranty and should last you many years. If you buy an old used truck, be prepared to dump a lot of money into things that might be needing replaced. The best thing at this point is to just keep your rig and drive it for 10+ years, as many as you can get outta it.

 

As you can see....if you buy that truck, it wont be a one and done investment.

Its going to be an on going project.....and major components are being discontinued left and right......leaving the salvage option...

Low milage wont amount to much.....its time that's eating the parts....


These 1st gens are quickly becoming not the best option for a daily driver..... hobbyist truck...

 

Just found it unusual, I'd still take a hard look at the truck.

 

Nothing wastes money like buying and selling cars. Keep what you have, maintain and treat it like it's the last vehicle you'll ever own and we can help you pick your 6th gen Taco in 25 years when people will be "remember them 3rd gen Tacos? The last one with those V6's". And keep yours stock-ish just like you're looking for unmodified 1st gens.

 

I sold my '21 Army Green TRD OF and bought a first gen. I don't know the current state of the used car market, but two years ago when I sold my third gen the profit basically paid for my current truck

 

The question is, is the 1st gen your daily driver?

 

Yep!