why 1st gen>2nd?

I often wonder if the grass is greener on the other side

I hear 1st gen is much better than 2nd gen. Is that true? Why?

 

It was almost Friday when post was made

 

It will always come down to a personal choice!

Like other immortal Questions.

9mmvs 45acp Miller vs Lincoln

Better at what?

Really hard to compare to vehicles that share very little.

 

In my case the first gen was a gift from my dad. I inherited dad’s 3rd gen and I tried to convince the wife to purchase a 2nd gen but she isn’t going for it unless I sell the first gen that she despises. ☹️

 

I bought my 1st gen in 2012.
I picked the 1st gen over the 2nd gen mostly because it's smaller which I prefer.
Other factors were styling but that's not as important to me.
At the time I though the 1st gens were more reliable but I'm not sure if that's true or not.

I'm sure I'd be super happy with a 2nd or 3rd gen but I like my truck too much to replace it.

I'd love to have the back doors on the 2nd and 3rd gen access cabs and an in cabin air filter.

Like it was said above it's personal preference.

 

Boils down to personal preference. My first gen was nice for what it was but didn’t have a whole lot of “modern” amenities. Got the job done though. My second gen was a very welcomed upgrade and didn’t (entirely) break the bank. Thing is a workhorse and great DD.
I wouldn’t go back to a first gen if given the choice but that’s just me

 

I have both and still can't decide which I like more.. the extra power in the second gen is nice but I like the first gen for running around town. I need to sell one but really like both.

 

If your big into offroading the smaller size is better, lifted they are like a street legal side by side haha! 2nd and 3rd Gen guys hassle the 6 foot box as being to long, but then the 1st Gen guys are smaller than both gens with 5 foot boxes.

 

Yeah this is true, the first gen off-road does feel similar to a side by side hah. 5ft and 6ft beds available in all 3 gens!

 

I've owned both and loved both. Currently have a 2nd gen and am enjoying the extra power of the 4.0. Although the 1st gen with the e-locker was pretty unstoppable offroad...

 

I have both at home (my 1st gen and my brother's 2nd gen). The 4.0 definitely has more power. The 2nd gen is also a more comfortable truck to be in, and has more room inside. I feel like my 1st gen is better built though.. a little more solid and put together.
If I did it again I'd still go 1st gen because I prefer the smaller size (which also brings a more "tossable" feel to the truck on the road.. like a raised sports car), and my 5 speed + V6 combo.

 

Actually, the 3rd gen is far superior

#friday

 

I think 1st gens better looking. I prefer the smaller size and styling of the interior. I think early 2nd gens are pretty ugly, the last couple years are cool looking though. But man do I wish these 1st Gen Xtra Cabs would have a half sized door for the back. That's the worst thing about this truck in my opinion.

 

I was going to say the something similar. I was in the market for a side by side but got a 1st gen instead. The other generations just feel like a normal truck.

1st gens have beat up old mountain truck swag and the other generations definitely do not.

 

im hoping the 3.4?L 5VZFE is comparable to the 4.0L 1GRFE (only like 230hp) and the difference of having to do a timing belt job every 90k on what’s probably a non interference motor with room in the front doesn’t sound like a big deal

but 2nd gen has 6spd manual, 1st is probably 5spd (might be fine)

big problem with 2nd gen manual though is they ruined the throwout bearing system design; while 1st gen is likely Normal

from what I understand 3rd is the worst ever made

5G T4R is made in Japan while 2G Taco in Texas which I hear is not ideal

my 2G DCSB bed is 5’
6’ longbed (unless access cab) seems like a limo

DCLB 6’ only comes in auto and looks ugly

 

I own both and the 2nd gen is superior in almost every way. That being said, the 2nd gen is boring AF and doesn't put a smile on my face like the 1st gen.

 

LOL I got almost 270,000 miles out of my first timing belt, and it still had life... I'm over 100,000 miles on my second belt. I'll change it within the next 100K miles... probably.

Yes... you read that right... I'm at 390K on a 5VZFE. I still daily drive it, and drive it to places a lot of people would never go, on the weekend.


THAT is why 1st gen = best gen




(Yes, it's a non interference motor)

 

For an offroad rig, I think the 1st gen size is perfect. The 2nd gen feels like a full sized truck on the trails.

 

I own an early Gen1 (1996, 3.45L, MT, 4WD) and a late Gen2 (2014, 4.0, AT, 4WD). Both white, as I just can't resist a white Taco. Both access cabs. I love both trucks, both are super well made. I would say my Gen1 has more character and has a cool factor about it for me, as it's the one I've taken countless places on backcountry adventures and I've slept many nights in it's camper shell. I have restored/customized it extensively, so I have a very personal attachment to the 1996. I'll never sell it.

My Gen2 is super nice as well, but in a different way. More comfortable, more power. I love the extra room, the electrical outlet in the bed, and the various modern features. To me, it's remarkable how similar the trucks are, even through they are 18 years apart.

Really they are both great trucks. My first white Toyota truck was a 1980 HiLux that I bought in college, so I have a thing for these rigs