Why do you own a first gen Tacoma?

Mine has been a great camping truck! I can't complain about how reliable it's been over the years as well.

 

for me, it's the perfect size truck. I owned a 82 4x4 toyota pickup which I really liked. A beat all to hell 1974 F100 that I overhauled the engine. Ran like a scalded dog, but looked like shit. 1988 ford ranger 4x4 which was a really nice truck, but I sold it to buy a house. 1979 full size GMC Jimmy, that was bad to the bone and butt ugly. Over hauled the engine myself, redid everything but the transmission. Really love that big monster but 9 mpg just wasn't cutting it. When gas was 99 cents a gallon, I didn't worry too much about milage.
I traded a 2007 Mini Cooper S for my 2003 DC back in 2010. The only parts I've had to replace are general maintenance parts, plugs, wires, tires and battery. Hands down these 1st gen trucks really are hard to beat. I'm only about 5' 6" tall and it fits me perfect. Does everything I ask her to do. Best dam truck I've ever owned, and it will be my last. She only has 142K miles on her and she runs like a top. Only problem I have is chasing down a issue with the Air bag system, but I'm not to worried about since I don't really like air bags.

It's a Toyota , it will last forever so long as I keep the regular up keep done on time. I tell my kids if I kick the bucket, don't sell it for less than 10k.

 

Simplicity, size, & versatility.

I love the mini-truck vibe, I like being able to work on my own truck, and I can fit 2 dirt bikes (+2 gear bags, +2 stands & gas can) in the back. It can get tight but I make it work. Overlanding, camping, landscaping, helping friends move; the only thing this thing can't do is go fast.

People driving these lifted monster trucks in the mall parking lot or Home Depot seem to be posers of the worst kind. I'm trying to keep her stock-ish to the bitter end & only use OEM replacement parts.

 

Because I bought it in the mid 2000s and has been holding up pretty well. Though I've recently been thinking about upgrading to the more modern and comfort-based features that newer trucks have to offer. While I'm a big fan of this truck's simplicity and small size, I honestly don't look forward to long trips with it, or when driving during windy conditions. I'm still pretty happy with how well it has held up given all the abuse it has been through

 

it was cheap. hahahaha. Well, it was.

 

Given to me by my mom in 2013. My other car was totaled and I just had a son.

But now that I’ve had it I love the size, simplicity. You can get that truck in the narrowest of trails...

 

yeah, I couldn't cross country it anymore. Hard to believe the 1st gen came out in my early 30s and I'm almost 60.

 

I inherited my '95 from my father-in-law (original owner) when he passed in Aug 2018. Got him with 299k on the clock. Now at 311k with a new paint job and in the shop for a complete interior retrofit.

 

2nd generation bodies looked a bit bloated with not that much extra cab space. It’s as if they just put more air space between the inner and outer panels to make them look beefier.

 

Got into the 1st gen after years of admiring them, and after wheeling my 5th gen 4Runner more every year and starting to get the usual damage. I decided I didn’t want to be scared to drive in different trails and damage a vehicle that the bank still technically owned... sold the 5th gen. Took the cash and dropped it on the taco. Never looking back!

 

I have owned in this order a 1996 tacoma 2.7, 2012 tacoma 4.0, 1998 2.7, 2007 2.7, 2019 3.5 & now a 2001 3.4. I absolutely hated my 2019 but loved all the others. Ultimately I love the 1st gens because they are a true compact pickup & they are so simple & reliable.

 

Grandpa gave it to me

 

They look great and my boy wanted a truck older than him and a single cab, I offered him my ‘14 DC but I guess it wasn’t cowboy enough. Now if I could just sort out the rough idle that appeared from nowhere.

 

That’s his and I admit it’s better looking than mine.

 

Check valve clearances.

 

I’m going to put it on a diagnostic next week. Tired of throwing money at it.

 

Yea chances are it won’t pick anything up, but worth checking for sure. But typically rough idle on these is due to valve being too tight since no one likely doing valve adjustments. And they do like to burn up the exhaust valves because of this.

 

Honestly hope it’s the fuel pump. I’ve tried just about everything else.

 

It happened after sitting. I bought it for my boy a year before he could drive. He still isn’t 16. I think something is just gummed up. I’ve driven it the last few days and put all new fire to it but still no change. The worst is really at 45 mph at just under 2k rpm

 

I got mine when I was 19... 12 yrs ago. I had a Honda Prelude in high school, and that car was an absolute lemon, nothing but trouble. Plus I'm a musician and wanted something I could throw my gear into the back of real quick (and hope it doesn rain). I test drove a Ranger and an S10 and wasn't into it. When I found my 02 Tacoma I knew it was the one right away. In the 12 years I've had it literally nothing has ever gone wrong with it or broken down, save routine maintenance. Friends, and strangers alike, are constantly telling me how great my truck is. I get people constantly asking me if I want to sell it (including the mechanic who changed my oil a couple weeks ago). Can say without a doubt this truck is my pride and joy, the best $5k I ever spent.