Which would you buy, 2nd gen or 3rd?

Is your 4runner leaking?

 

^No. Not sure if just luck, or the dual-VVTi 4.0L head and timing cover changes made leaks less common.

 

I will stick to the 2023 I'm getting but all this insight is helpful and interesting

 

A Green 2.5 Gen!!! I'd buy that in a heartbeat, esp with that low of miles GL OP with the 3rd gen. A GREEN 2.5 gen is very very rare!

 

The stuck air valves were mainly a problem with the 2012's. The 13's had an update that ran the pump on shut down. It didnt 100% fix the problem, but it was greatly decreased. I replaced 4 sets of valves on my 2012 over 200k miles. I discovered that the valves for a 5.7 Tundra fit just fine and cost significantly less than the same ones for a Tacoma. Just need to take the Tundra valves off of the pipe and install them on the Tacoma pipe. One wireing harness needs to get opened up slightly as the Tundra's electrical connection faces the wrong direction. It got to the point with that truck that I kept a spare set behind the back seat and could swap them in about 15 minutes.

 

If I wasn't in the rust belt it would be a much harder decision for sure!

 

Here is another nice one in TN but crazy price.

2014 Toyota Tacoma for sale by owner - Chattanooga, TN - craigslist

 

A 10 year old truck with almost 100k miles for its original msrp. Where the F do I sign

 

Seller wrote "never been taken offroad," and 82,500 miles. Do the 4WD even work? I rather buy brand new, instead of dealing with any BS.

 

If I was going to buy an old Tacoma I'd find another '1st Gen, Best Gen' and be done with it.

 

I did not read all of the posts and if you already made a decision, my apology. But, of those two choices I would not hesitate and get the 2014 assuming it is in good condition, maintained, no rust, etc.

good luck.

 

Get the 3rd. Don’t look back. I was faced with the same conundrum. 2nd gen’s just cost too much, plus funding the “right one” in any state that sees snow is too taxing if you actually care. Love my 3rd gen and all its quirks. If any Tacoma was perfect this forum wouldn’t exist and we wouldn’t have anything to talk (complain) about….

 

2nd if I could brand new. But that's just my thing, I like SIMPLE. Old cars are SO SIMPLE. They look simple, they have simple buttons, you can lock them with key and walk away without hearing beep beep... Also they are made of steel mostly and not plastic, they also do not have led lights that every moron turns on highway and blinds everyone.

Plus, you can literally take everything apart using wrench and a screwdriver.

I purchased 3rd gen Taco because it is closest old school new car, its 2023 but everything is in old way . Other than electronics..

 

one is better and cheaper

3rd gen is the same truck but with a couple of changes like worse motor and trans.
Otherwise many parts are the same like frame, suspension, etc.
doesn’t make sense to spend twice as much on the same stock parts.

often times older is more reliable and new is shit

kind of like how new poop is poop and old gold is gold

not everyone’s gotta get the good stuff. Prices would go up.

 

The second gen

Sign away. It will outlast your 3rd gen

 

Well, OP, can't make the decision for you. All we can do is give our experiences and outline your options.

I've never owned a Gen 2 so other than riding in one, can't say much. Pretty truck. Less angular lines then the Gen 3. I own a Gen 3. Been a reliable truck though I tend to think of it as more mountain goat than a Clydesdale horse. It won't pull a house off of a foundation, but it can turn a very tight U-turn. Hate the gear hunting on steep hills but easily managed using S mode.

Now, your options:

1 - Gen 3 you ordered and put a deposit down on. It's a new truck. It has all the known and unknown issues the 2023 Tacoma has. It has no real miles on it and you have a very good idea of the services (none) done prior to you getting it. You know how you will drive it and take care of it (or won't). It should have no surprises and the prior owner didn't baja it, lift it, abuse it, or otherwise do things that could damage it. You, of course, pay the premium on knowing the prior owner took care of it.

2 - Gen 2 you saw. Is it a good truck? Who knows? Might be a real Gem in the rough with a great prior owner who took very good care of it. Might also be a jerk who abused the hell out of it and didn't give a crap what problems the next owner will buy. You just have no way of knowing.

Adv of the Gen 3
- you know the history of the truck and the prior owner took great care of. I say prior owner because until you buy and take delivery, Toyota owns it.
- you won't lose your deposit.
- you will know the history of this vehicle

Adv of the Gen 2
- less money to buy it.
- all the factory kinks have likely been worked out.

Disadv of the Gen 3
- premium price. you are going to pay for all those advs. There's no way around that.

Disadv of the Gen 2
- will lose your deposit on the gen 3 you ordered
- won't know the true history of the truck and what new kinks it has developed or have been installed.

On a personal note: I would take the Gen 3 and not look back. It's your blank slate to do what you want. Maybe you have some grand design of your ideal off road truck. Maybe it will be a daily driver that won't get any mods. But, it is your slate to do what you want free of any mods any prior owner would/could do.

Let us know what you decide and hope this helps.

 

great break down thank. Yeah I was set on the 3rd but do love the 2nd, sadly being in the rust belt the second gen has surely suffered.

 

Rust belt. Yeah. Think I'd just eat the cost, go new and start it off right (whatever that means for the rust belt - can't recommend anything - don't live there) and take care of it for as long as it lasts.

 

Rust prevention coating from week 1, and constant care. That's the plan