Why did you choose a Tacoma?

Why don't you guys get rid of the old ugly second gen and buy a third gen ?

 

No reason to make a car payment, second gen works great and I prefer the look over 3rd gens.

 

Im sure to really notice you'd need to do exhaust too.
He may have been all talk?

Im glad you're happy, one good review to go on!

 

The one I had was a 1976 model, they stopped selling them in the US after the 1978 model mainly because they couldn't meet the 5 mph bumper requirement and a couple other safety regs. All FJ40's were manual transmission and manual transfer case. '73 and earlier were 3 speed, '74 and later were 4 speed. They came with a fixed front axle, meaning that even out of 4WD the front driveshaft and axles were turning, but a dealer installed option that almost all had was manual locking front hubs. Both axles had an open differential. The transfer case had a forward PTO connection to drive a winch with the engine. Mine had no radio, no a/c, but had a rear heater. You can see mine (sorta) in my avatar; it was buried to the axles and resting on the frame in a snow drift near Roan Mtn, Tennessee. One of the few times I ever had to get pulled out of a mess.

As for toughness, I had a friend with a '73 who got run off a mountain dirt road, rolled the Cruiser 3 times and it landed upside down in a river with only the wheels sticking out (for two hours in 35* water). They got out okay, used a comealong to set it upright in the river and then winched it to the edge. After checking to make sure they didn't fill the crankcase with water or lose all their oil, he started it and drove it back up the bank to the road. All the glass was broken out, the top was bent sideways but the roll bar kept it from getting completely flattened. He drove it the 35 miles home. I'd have another one in a heartbeat if they weren't so expensive now. I paid $5700 for mine new in 1976; a rebuilt one (stock) will run you better than $10-15K today. The Tacoma is infinitely more practical for mostly highway driving. The differentials in my Land Cruiser were geared 4.10:1 and it was good for about 60 mph before it started sounding like you would blow it up if you went faster. The stock 258 (4.2L) straight six was good for about 13 mpg on road. Offroad, I never checked mileage. In granny low (1st gear, low range) you could walk faster than the truck would go wide open. It would climb anything as long as you could get traction. I've had mine on hills steep enough that I had to grab roots and stuff to pull myself up when I'd get out to scout ahead. I spun a rod bearing in mine finally, I pinched a hole in the oil pan next to the skid plate while rock crawling on day. Drove it home not realizing I'd lost all my oil on the trail (slow drip, didn't show). I was young and stupid, and sold it after it had been parked for 6 months and I couldn't afford the rebuild.

Yeah, they're tough enough.

 

I was just seeing what would happen . We get some first and second gen's up in the the third gen section shit posting . I love all the years , GL to you all .

 

Thats an impressive account. Those old ones sound bad ass!

 

Not me. I want one reliable truck. Just one.

But to begin at the beginning...

Last year a few things happened in close succession:

1) I got injured on the job and had to get surgery.
2) After being off a couple months to recover I said to Hell with it, I'm retiring.
3) Had to junk my last full-size work truck. Good timing, ha.

Now, I needed a truck, but no longer needed full-size.
I had several bare-bones F-150s over my working life.
They gave me good service, but they're a pain to drive in town and park.
I always had manuals, and hey, it's tiring to row the gears in traffic.

I wanted something nice. And reliable.
I had bought my wife a Highlander new in 2005, and it's going on 200,000 trouble-free miles.
So naturally I thought, why not a Tacoma?

The other choices didn't appeal much.

Ford Ranger? No, the new one wasn't out yet and the old ones...nah.
I decided not to wait on the new one. Turbocharged dinky 4 cylinder? What's gonna be the longevity/reliability on that?
Give me a naturally aspirated TRUCK engine that's big enough for the job.

Chevy Colorado/ GMC Canyon? Oh Hell no.
GM's reputation for electrical gremlins I have experienced first-hand.
And the progressive cheapening of parts and quality over the last 20 years. No.

Dodge Dakota? Big fat no.
My mechanic friends talked me out of that. Plus they've discontinued it.

Nissan Frontier?
Hmm...that was a possibility, but no.
My mechanic friends told me:
1) The quality isn't in the same league as Toyota.
2) Their automatic transmissions are weak.

So...Tacoma it is. Now to find one.
I began looking for one local.
And I joined TacomaWorld and started reading.

I'll say right now that the 3rd gen didn't appeal to me.
The looks, the drivetrain (car engine?), the gee whiz electronics stuff...meh.

Okay, so I found a 2006 PreRunner local.
Yeah yeah, 4x4 blah blah. I've had 4x4 and hardly ever used it. I don't off-road. Not paying for it.
And it doesn't make you invincible. For certain.
The PreRunner had just had the frame replaced.
Six foot bed and Access Cab. V6 4.0 L engine. Automatic trans.
And I might as well say it...power windows and cruise, which I never had before with my work trucks.
Go ahead and laugh.

It had 58,000 miles and was $17,000.
Ow! Talk about resale value, but hey, there's a reason for that.
Traded in my crummy 2003 Malibu, which cut that down some.
Paid cash. No payments, another plus!

I have to say, it feels like a new truck, no kidding.
Musta been babied. But... new frame and suspension and a bunch of other new parts.
Drives "trucky" but very smooth and positive. The engine has more power than I need.
After all those regular cab trucks, the space behind the seats is great in the Access Cab.
Can cram people back there in a pinch, but I'd like to discourage the notion that I'm willing to be a chauffeur.
And...six foot bed. Gonna do some camping, and maybe get a cap. (It came with a nice tonneau.)
While I don't off-road, I do drive state forest dirt roads from time to time.
The PreRunner clearance is all to the good. The visibility as well.

I like everything about it. Feels damn well luxurious to me.

Considering my age, and the lesser mileage I drive now, this may very well be my last vehicle.
I'm going to do my best to make it last.

Thanks for reading...if you've gotten this far.

 

Well that isn't true about not selling them in the US after the 1978 model.

I purchased a new 1982 model from a dealer in Charleston, SC in 1982. I paid 12,000 Cash.

And you are correct they are / were tougher than nails. I only wish I had it back.

 

Because Rams are POS's

 

When I heard a rumor that the regular cab would be discontinued after 2014, I decided I had better buy one before then. It was a good decision. The next 2 winters were horrible. Not only did I need 4WD, I also needed the Tacoma's 9" of ground clearance.

 

Lack of this lol

 

He had it for a few years,and even changed out the motor to keep the thing going. Was a great truck.. Between the boss, myself, and my dad, we put over 400K miles on that little blue truck

 

I don't have $45,000 sitting around!!

 

I specifically chose the 2nd Gen because: my 3rd Gen just felt gutless and the shifting of the Auto just bothered me everyday, it has the 4.0L and low end torque, still more comfortable in ride quality over the 1st Gen, and the Tacoma's in general have huge aftermarket support. Toyota has also been one of the most reliable vehicles we've owned and the Tacoma is the State truck, so...

 

CUZZ... THEY BOSS

 

I am coming from a RAM 1500 and I was sick and tired of how much it broke down, and I was looking for something reliable. I've only had trucks, and I never thought I'd purchase anything less than a V8, but the 4.0 V6 feels pretty damn good in a Tacoma.

 

I retired, gave my Ram to My daughter , sold my Jeep to my Niece and figured the Tacoma would be a good compromise to carry my fishing Kayak , WRONG .

 

My first Toyota was a 1994 pickup, owned by my grandfather and great uncle before I purchased it. Soldiered on for 289,000 miles before I sold it off.

My family has owned six Toyota’s over the years. Always treated us well, always given reliable service with minimal fuss, and earned their reputation for reliability and durability. In the mid size truck market, Tacoma has been top of the pile for a long time.

 

easy there tiger, 2nd gen are waaay better looking then the 3rd gen (where the front looks like dodge rams)

 

Picked up mine because it's what I could afford at the time. Would I like a full sized? Sure. But I'm not at the point of needing one just yet. Once I do, I'll be looking at the F-150's.