New Taco vs Old Taco?

To those of you smarter and/or wiser than me, I'm wondering if I should stick with my 2000 Tacoma or buy a new one. I'm considering getting a low miles, 1-3 year old 3rd gen Tacoma TRD Off Road double cab short bed automatic/manual. Current truck is a 2000 Tacoma TRD 4x4 3.4L V6 5MT long bed extra cab. 172k miles. Engine seemed pretty gunk free when I did the valve cover gasket and it runs strong and idles at the correct RPM.

On my current truck, I've put a lot of effort into mods/repairs. I did a lot of work myself. The list is below... But aside from what I've done, here's what I'd still need to do to make the truck as good as it can be for me:

What I need:

- Locking tailgate handle
- Roll up cover installed watertight (silicone?)
- Sand bags or de-arch passenger leaf or switch to another leaf spring type.
- 4 new tires.
- Alignment?

After the above, maybe $2k spent, it'd suit my needs pretty well (double cab would be nicer). BUT!!! Will it continue to cause problems? Right now I'm about 31 and would probably do better if I spent less time wrenching and more time working on my day job. I enjoy learning/wrenching to a point, but this has gotten out of hand lately. I hate to give up a truck that I love and spent a lot of effort on, but I'm just not sure whether it's smart to keep it. Now that I've done so much, could I get 3-5 years of reliable service out of it? Or is it going to have increasingly many problems in the coming years? I've never had a truck that's approaching/passing 20 years old. I can say that some rubber parts are showing wear (some vacuum hoses in the engine bay are showing signs of age, brake caliper boots are showing some wear). So if any of you have experience with old trucks, especially old California trucks (they wear out a bit less fast), please let me know what to expect.

Here's the mods/repairs list to date:

- Air helper springs (Firestone Ride Rite) on Daystar cradles.
- Top of the line Morimoto HID headlights.
- Installed RAM mount plate into dash for X Grip to hold phone.
- Installed aftermarket double din head unit with bluetooth audio/calling.
- Installed back up camera.
- Installed aftermarket speakers upgrade.
- Installed WeatherTech floor mats.
- Replaced front brake pads with Centric (do not recommend).
- Replaced clutch master and slave cylinder.
- Bled the clutch fluid.
- Replaced shift lever wear parts with Marlin Crawler bushings.
- Replaced shift lever gasket due to suspected leaks.
- Had rebuilt transmission installed by mechanic.
- Replaced various seals when the transmission was out.
- Had new Aisin clutch replaced by mechanic with new flywheel.
- Had rebuilt transmission warrantied due to leaks with another new clutch.
- Had driver axle seal and bearing replaced by mechanic due to leaks.
- Replaced center support bearing with OEM.
- Replaced accessible seals again while transmission was out.
- Resurfaced OEM flywheel.
- Cleaned, inspected, and adjusted rear brakes.
- Greased driveline.
- Changed front diff fluid, rear diff fluid, trans fluid, xfer case fluid with Redline.
- Installed General Spring HD leaf springs (I don't like these).
- Replaced inner tie rods with 555 parts (OEM supplier).
- Replaced outer tie rods with 555 parts (OEM supplier).
- Replaced upper ball joints with 555 parts (OEM supplier).
- Replaced lower ball joints with 555 parts (OEM supplier).
- Replaced front Bilstein shocks with new Bilstein plus Moog coils.
- Replaced rear Bilstein shocks with new Bilstein.
- Replaced spark plugs.
- Replaced valve cover gasket, cam seals, and spark plug seals with Ishino (OEM supplier).
- Replaced PCV and grommet.
- Cleaned throttle body and mass air flow sensor.
- Redid the seals on the half moons.
- Removed Leer topper and hitch mounted dirt bike carrier and plywood camper platform to allow a dirt bike to be put in the bed.

In case anyone wonders how much the new truck would cost:

- $32k+ for the truck.
- $500 for a roll up cover.
- $500 the TRD pro grille.
- $1600 or so for the TRD pro suspension.
- $1k? for the TRD pro wheels.
- $100? for WeatherTech floor mats.
- $500 or more for upgraded audio and sound deadening.

About 36k before tax.

Perks of the new truck:

- Reliable so I can focus on work.
- Reliable so I can go on big trips without risk of ruining the trip with mechanical problems.
- Automatic (could let friends drive on camping/rock climbing/backpacking trips which is half my truck usage or more). This is also a negative for some driving as I enjoy a manual.
- Double cab (can have friends along, can store gear in a locked truck area, can lock a mountain bike back there, etc).
- New leaf spring design on 3rd gens is more advanced, allowing for a better ride quality.
- TRD pro suspension is a nice factory engineered option still made with quality parts.
- Looks very cool.

Thoughts? Sorry for the long post. I might buy a truck in the next day as I found a nice one and I'm really struggling to decide.

 

100% agree.

 

Unless you really want a new one I would just do some minor repairs for it to ride "right" and keep it until it kicks that can or you're in a very "comfortable" spot as to where you can buy the 3rd gen. Maybe its a few years and the newer model comes out. Or even go for a later 2nd gen, like a '14-'15.

 

I would guess the 4th gen will come out in 2025. Do you think a 1st gen would make it with minimal issues?

 

I don't see that happening. On any model or year.

AFAIK only a hard cover that laps over the body edges can ever be expected to be watertight.

I see you mention 'cali' in the thread. And I don't see mileage mentioned.

But if miles are reasonable for the year, if you have a rust free undercarriage and you are satisfied with the paint condition, I'd keep what you have. At least for a while.

 

What do you use your truck for?

If it's your daily driver and you use it for camping and wheeling on the weekends would a daily driver suit you for better for getting to and from work? You can pick up a Honda Civic or a Corolla cheap and those things run forever.

Personally I believe the best mod you can do for your truck is get a daily driver. That is, if you use your truck a lot on the weekends for getting to remote areas where the truck is best suited for that type of thing.

I used to recommend commuting by motorcycle if you live in CA (lane splitting) and it's warm until I got hit by a car. It's still not a bad option and I still do it just know the risks.

 

How many miles on your truck? You have any pics?

I say keep it and enjoy the fruits of your labor. These old trucks run forever with proper maintenance and since you're in CA you likely aren't dealing with a rusted frame.

Also you didn't mention your financial situation but $36k is a lot of money for a new one. Your 2000 won't cost you anywhere near that over the next 3-5 years.
But if money ain't an issue

 

I have this on my '03, works great:

http://www.popandlock.net/manual-tailgate-lock/toyota/tacoma/PL5100-43

 

I have the cash but I try to be financially responsible in any case. However if I hinder my career over maintaining an old truck I'll probably end up losing more than that 36k for the new truck. Basically the fancy new truck is an investment in myself. I'm getting pretty good at rationalization...

No rust, 172k miles. Added that detail on the OP.

Pic from before I did the suspension. Topper is gone now and so is the hitch hauler.

 

I just hit 280k this past weekend. I put 20k a year on this thing. Not a chance I would leave this truck for a 3rd Gen... Would rather spend a little here and there on maintenance items than $500/mo on a payment plus a huge jump in insurance cost. Much easier to maintain a 1st gen than a 3rd Gen imo as well. I could create a pretty decent list of reasons as to why I'd keep the 1st gen. What is your career?

 

I'm a software engineer.

I just ordered the cover and locking tailgate... I guess I'll keep the truck for a while.

Definitely got to figure out the right springs and shocks setup for hauling a dirt bike. These current springs are so rough.

 

I assume you work from home if maintenance on the truck is taking time away from your job? I am a project engineer for a general contractor, I just work on my truck at night or on weekends. Never had to miss work because I hadn't gotten her fixed in time. The new trucks seem great until you realize its all electronic BS that costs a bunch more to fix.

 

I mean, if you maintain it properly theres no reason it shouldn't, but thats all gonna be up to you and what you consider minimal. If it runs fine putting in some new leafs and struts shouldn't be that terrible.

 

I work from the office but the maintenance thing is just distracting/tiring from work. When I need to go work on the truck that means I can't stay a little later at work sometimes, even if work is pressing.

 

Gotcha. In the long run the 1st gen is the best most cost effective solution imo. A newer vehicle still requires maintenance and often times more little things pop up on the newer vehicles than older ones in my experience. My dad's truck is always going in for little stuff here and there while mine only ever gets wrenched on really for preventative maintenance and mods. I'm not a fan of all the electronic BS in new vehicles.

 

I bounce the idea around. I wouldn’t get a 3rd gen though. Toyota has had a ton of problems with them. If I were to go new, I’d get a 4Runner. There is a reason they haven’t changed that engine in quite awhile due to its dependability.

 

Keep the old, they don't make them like they used to! Too many computer gizmos on the new ones glitching out, although they're sharp looking rigs! But who needs lane departure detection, auto stop sensors, crawl control, etc.. Beats me! All you need is to pay attention and know how to drive, driving something like that would make me feel dumbed down, unless there's a way to disable all that crap.

 

Nice truck. And I hear ya - when you want/like something the rationalization skills are in full effect, but it's gonna be tough to convince all these 1st gen lovers in here

Have you test driven a new one yet? If not, you should start there then think it over.

 

Why not get the best of both world and get a lightly used second gen? the motor is still being made today in the 4runner(albeit a few minor modications to it) and youll be able to have extra room( similar interior dimensions as the 3rd gen) without paying the heavy premium. Im a bmed engineer and like saving every penny i have. as tempting as it may seem, with the higher registration costs, and higher insurance, having a second gen may be a bit more appealing.

 

Yes I drove an SR5, TRD OR, TRD Sport. The sport was a 6 speed manual, the others were automatic.