Reliability of a first generation tacoma

first generation tacomas dont require alot of maintenance at all unless you romp it and beat the $h!t out of it, and even then they prove to be almost indestructible. i have a 2000 tacoma extended cab v6 4x4 5speed manual TRD with 188,000 miles and it runs flawlessly. down to every little button or switch it all functions perfectly. personally i will never own another mid-size truck but a tacoma.

 

Also for what anew truck costs, you could buy a 1st. gen. and put a few thousand into it if necessary and you would save many thousands!

 

I agree!

 

Agreed.
I think some of the discussion digressed from what OP's original question was.
Obviously, the newest 1st gen will be 10 years old, and no matter how well it was maintained, it is still 10+ years old. All seals, rubbers etc. starts to get brittle. The new truck will have a warranty and should not have any issues, while the 1st gen is a gamble. But then, the new truck will have bigger payments. I doubt the extra maintenance on the 1st gen will be more than the new truck's payments. (Which is why I still have my payed-off 1st gen and have no plans to trade it for a new one with a monthly payment)

 

I 2nd that brother, me too. Drove financed 95.5 till 2012. Lost frame. Picked up 96 for 2800. Swapped drive train . Could easily go ten more yrs without another payment. I enjoyed 12 yrs without payment. Never had major issue. What's up GoForBroke! Wasn't trying to dis u man!

 

Thank you for the advice! My budget for a Tacoma is $30,000 max. Still debating on whether to get a first generation with as low mileage as possible and go mod it or go all out with a second gen.

 

If you want to mod, you would have a lot more money to play with with a first gen. Personally, I've driven both and prefer the first gen. I think they look better, especially 01-04, and I think they drive better. Sure there is less options, and it's not as powerful, but I just like first gens over second gens. I think they're more of a truck from the factory then the second gens(better ground clearance, bigger tires, etc). Second gens are to family oriented haha

 

You could buy a hell of a nice 1st gen for less than a third of that! Financing 30,000 means 5 yrs of substantial payments also.

 

I've got a 99 with 161k on it OP. I'm dumping money into it cause I want to, not cause I need to. I could just leave it alone, but that's no fun haha. Ive had it a year and it's never failed me, and I don't think it will for quite awhile. And I will tell you, the previous owner did not take care of the maintenance like I would have on this truck, it it still runs great

 

Frame rot is the first gen killer if you're thinking of buying one take a ball peen hammer to the frame before committing and make sure the owner has plenty of records for maintenance then I would say go for it. Yes they are expensive and you could probably buy a couple chevy or fords for the price of one but, odds are that taco will outlast them. A lady in southern indiana just turned over 1 MILLION miles in her tacoma with NO major repairs all original. amazing!

 

i am not joking here.

this is why i bought a toyota truck. every single time i've seen rebels in the back of a truck, it's a toyota. i can only imagine how many miles these trucks have on them.

 

Just going to but in.
My 90 4Runner just clicked 306007 we'll driven miles today.
I expect to get at least another 200000 miles out of it.
One of the best cars I ever bought.

Now, I want a 1st gen, w/sas, and linked!!!
Take care.

 

@Mully- don't you have a second gen?

 

Yes I also have a 2nd gen and have had several FJ40s.

 

Quick question, is it possible to fit in 95-97 tacoma rear leaf springs on a 98-04 tacoma?

 

jihad

 

No. They are shorter I believe

 

why do some people who had a second gen, actually downgrade to a first gen tacoma?

 

I wouldn't consider it a downgrade. They are different enough that comparisons are more in-deprh than upgrade vs. downgrade.

I've considered getting a 2nd Gen several times. I never got around to purchasing one because they are physically bigger, I prefer a metal bed, and the transfer case isn't actuated via a mechanical lever.

I'm not a features guy. I want shit to be simple and reliable. I don't get these guys that want their trucks to be some sort of comfort wagon. More shit to break.

 

When you say more sh*t to break on a second gen, what do you mean?