My 99 is getting old[er]. What is a good year for replacment

I have driven my 99 Prerunner thats rust free. Northern guys would kill for this truck. Anyways It;s running rough and after almost three hundred grand that I have put on it I am going to need a replacment. I want a good year that has a newer 2.7 in it. I want the same feeling that I got from this one twenty years ago. Ten grand or a little more for a regular cab looking Tacoma. I like the ones with the big round grill and a small hood scoop OEM. Whats a good year that you guys like with possible pics

 

You only looking to spend 10k? If so, thats gonna be damn near impossible.

 

24’ preunner /thread.
Jk but that 24’ looks sweet

 

My budget would probably be about 14 to 17K. I seen one one Craigslist for 11k here in Sarasota. I like the older ones when they were still small. I dont know how to bring them up from another sight.

 

After looking on here at the second gens they are not for me....Friggin plain. Checkin third

 

2017 looks good. 2.7?

 

Twenty seven thousand dollars. Thats crazy for a work truck. Thats why I keep my first generation till it craps out

 

So you want the same truck just with fewer miles? You could fix up the one you have quite a lot for $10K! You could get a new motor for it for half of that. If it's rust free, maybe you should keep it.

 

There are many, many people here who have swapped out and sold their first gen to a “newer” Tacoma and regretted it. IMHO you have the best of the best that is available here in the US … that is until they start to sell the Hilux again, if ever.

 

I love my 2001 & have considered a newer truck to get ABS but the styling of the newer Tacomas doesn't do it for me. For that reason, I just try to keep the 2001 alive and going. I would think if nothing is stirring your soul, you figure out what your 1999 PreRunner needs and keep it alive until Toyota finally makes a truck that stirs your soul enough to make you switch.

NOTE: This commentary is NOT meant to insult Gen2 or Gen3 trucks. Guys and gals love them & styling is VERY subjective. Gen1 trucks have a certain look I like that later models do not. If @Potomus Pete feels the same, keeping the 1999 going is a valid option.

 

I have the same truck in jade mica (green) a 1uzfe will slide right in there, while the truck is still drivable start looking for a Lexus SC400 or LS400 beteen years 1991 thru 1994 with around 100,000 miles on it preferably one owner dealer serviced, yes they exist especially in your area and south of you.
The lexus v8 (1uzfe) is all aluminum and only weighs 30lb more than your current 2.7 and weighs a lot less than the 3.4 v6, its a fun project and will bring new life to your 1st gen, these engines are known to go 300,000 to 500,000 without issue, also 260hp is a nice upgrade, depending how you go about it $5000 should get it done.
R/
Andy

 

Good answers....The more I look at the second generations the more I can see how ugly. All rounded off. They look like parts store delivery vehicles. I guess I would have to spend a fortune for a decent looking Tacoma. Mine goes low in idle right now after a complete tune up. So Im thinking one of my valves could be messed up considering I have never had them adjusted at 300K

 

Did you look at at the 2.5 generation? They had a face lift. I really like my 2013.


I think they changed in 2012

 

Pretty accurate, many 2g singles were used for fleet like delivery and the like. Very few were actually sold on the lot. I was lucky to find mine 11 years ago with almost no miles.

 

Take the intake hose off at the throttle body and see how much crap there is surrounding the plate.

 

Why's it running rough? Maybe it needs a valve job. Usually these engines just need a top end refresh at the most. 300k is not that much for the bottom end if it's been maintained. Finding a rust free Tacoma is half the battle, so I'd just keep what you have. All else fails, you could find a rusty parts truck from up north with low miles and swap in the engine.

 

My 2.7 is incredibly clean inside. I have changed the oil with Castrol synthetic black bottle every four thousand miles. Not that long ago I took off the valve cover and its brand new in there. This truck has cost me very little over twenty something years. I used to change my trans oil all the time and it still wore out at 250K, but like somebody said I could do some rebuilding. I just have three old cars I deal with.

 

My cousin had an 02 and thought the same thing, newer has to be better, right? He bought a used 2010. He said it didnt feel the same. Drove it for years and figured it was time to get another new one. Bought a new 2017 TRD 4X4 Off Road. Nice truck, really nice truck. Then things started happening, transfer-case motor took a dump … $1700, rear bumper plastic covers would come off. Issues with the infotainment system. Every time it is at the shop getting work done he borrows my 96 4X4 and he says the same thing, sell this to me, it just works. The manual transfer case works first time… all the time. He and the kids go surfing everyday and driving in the beach sand, well, you need 4 wheel drive to get out. The 2017 Tcase is still temperamental, if the planets dont align just right the Tcase motor wont fully engage. Poor design by Toyota/Aisian.

 

I have both a Gen 1 (2003) and a Gen 2 (2015). I like them both, but I'll never part with the Gen 1, and I can imagine someday, perhaps, moving the Gen 2 onward.

...And I have dibs on friends' 1999 4WD OR Xtracab. If (and that's a big if) they ever decide to sell that one. I have other friends who have some very cool rides -- an Australian LC79 Troop Carrier equipped for long-distance independent travel -- and they miss their 1999 Tacoma. The Gen 2s and Tundras haven't replaced it in their hearts.

A rust-free Gen 1 that you know perfectly the history? Keep it! You can fix anything you need for a fraction of its replacement, and you'll miss it for sure if it's gone.

 

This thread is just convincing me more and more to keep my rust-free, under 200k 02 despite its rather minor problems.