What Should I Look For When Tacoma Shopping?

I am currently deployed and in my off time i workout or research Tacomas. The basics of what I am looking for is a gen2 Access cab or double cab V6 w/ manual transmission and must pass PA safety inspection.

Is there anything to be wary of when Tacoma shopping?
Something they are known for like Chevy's cab corners and rocker panels?

 

Welcome from Alabama Eric. Good luck

 

you cant go wrong with a tacoma brother. I am active duty army also. I have had my 07 4 door since 07. It has been hands down the best truck i have ever in my life owned and ive had chevy's and ford's but one thing i would suggest is def get the 4wd trd sport or off road. NO 2WD. Buy it brand new also. tacomas are ok used but get it brand new and take care of it and it will be the last truck you ever own. While your deployed save up some money for tires and rims also. and look at some lift kits and suspension preferably KING coilovers and fabtech or procomp 6" lift. they are pricey but oh so niiiiiice. I wished i would have got all that when i was deployed making that dough.

 

get a 4 door you will love the room and welcome to the world of modifications and tacoma brotherhood lol

 

4x4. You may not use it often,but you'll be glad to know it's there.

 

The 6spd manuals tend to have troubles with the clutch release bearing chirping. 2011 + were redesigned, searching will bring up lots of info. I recommend the URD sleeve and bearing if you have to repair. I wouldn't let it turn you off buying one though, just something to look out for, and be aware of as a possible problem down the road.

 

Probs with my 2012 have so far been:
Major drive train shake / shudder from 3 to 25 mph
Crappy synchros on 6 speed trans (trans made by Aisin, worst gearbox manufacturer ever) could be resulting from drivetrain shake.
Driver door Window glass loose / rattle

So make sure to test drive. Mine's double cab trd off road btw. I'd sell it to ya if I wasn't already told by Toyota to lemon it.

 

That is nuts man! i would sue em or something. i only paid 30g's for mine now they are 35-37g's if i bought a brand new truck and all that happened to me i would go completely ape shit.

 

i can't believe i forgot to mention the drive train. 4x4 is a literal must have in PA because of the winters. When i get back i'll be going to school so i wanna stay a little stock (aside from a double din touch screen) for the MPGs for a while. maybe add a leveling kit at most to start. later on though.... oh baby its game on my first truck was a 1987 chevy half ton. i put on a 6" superlift and ran 38s so my trucks have a lot to live up too. as far as tacomas i am trying to go as new as i can for around 20-25 grand. does toyota offer military discount?

 

im not sure if they do or not but if you wait another month or two they will cut down the price on new ones to get the 13's in so you might be able to get a deal. I have a leveling kit i just took off mine and put a 3" suspension on mine just let me know when your back and i will send it to you and i have a deaver add a leaf for the rear too.

 

Odd, I haven't had any of these issues with my 2012...

I know that the manual trans are made by either Aisin or LuK, and I was under the impression that the Aisin built ones were definitely preferred, and are of good quality...?

 

Same here, New 2012 and I don't have any of these problems. Truck has been flawless.

 

That is AWESOME!! couple questions

would it fit on any Gen2?

Is there anthing i need to replace ie Shocks, coils?

how much would you want for it?

 

BTW thank you and god bless

 

You are thinking clutches with LUK, but you are correct that Aisin is preferred. I think thats just a 4 cyl thing though, unless I'm mistaken all our V6 clutches are Aisin.

The 6spds are Aisin, just like toyota hilux and tacoma transmissions have been since the early '80s and beyond. Worst in the world? Ha, someone knows nothing of ZF and Getrag!

 

I think everything used to be made to last, and we're seeing different folks having failure experiences with newer stuff.

ZF auto box are for sure worst!! My Aisin worst experience is replacing a quantity of 10, 6-speed boxes on 4 vehicles in 1 year - yes high heat motor sports of course. Broken shafts, failed gears, (failed synchros totally a given though). The internals are just lighter duty i.e. narrower gears and weaker shafts. Meanwhile the ZF and Getrags have been more reliable, and when they fail the parts are available to rebuild or replace internals. Aisin's are tough to get specific parts for - failed box is usually replace whole box.

I'd still take a built up Tremec over all these though.