Would you buy a brand new 1st gen?

If Toyota started making 1st gens again

Would you buy it instead of 2nd or new 3rd gen?

 

No.

 

That makes no sense at all.

 

Exact 1st gen? No.
So many convenience upgrades since then plus all the extra safety stuff.

I would have to go through the embarrassment of explaining to people why my new truck has a cassette player. It was bad enough in 2004 haha

 

If one of the factory options was to have the frame powdercoated, yes. Then upgrade suspension and the shitty stereo.

 

The 2004 design cannot be affordably reworked to meet today's emissions and crash safety requirements.

Nissan actually tried to bring back the 1st gen Frontier (which is still produced in Mexico), but the regulatory obstacles prompted them to eventually give up. All the time Nissan "wasted" caused the 3rd gen Frontier to be delayed to 2017-2018.

 

I think the idea of a smaller, simpler truck is good. Its what I was looking for when shopping for another truck this last fall, and I wound up with a 2004 Tacoma.

Could you combine this basic idea of a smaller truck with the improved safety of newer models? And improve aerodynamics and weight to get better gas mileage? I think so, but it wouldn't have mass appeal.

Many of the Toyota truck enthusiasts in these forums are looking for 4 wheel drive trucks, and many of them are looking to modify those trucks...so better gas mileage and a profile that is better than a brick through the air isn't high on their agenda. And mainstream US truck buyers are looking for heavier payload capacity and better towing ability than what we see in the smaller Toyota trucks.

I think the era of the true compact trucks is over for the foreseeable future in the US. It would be fun to see one back on the market though, maybe with an aluminum body like the new Ford F150's to cut weight. I just don't see it selling well.

 

I'm considering a 2015 as I type.

 

i would, and purely based on size. i dont want a full size truck like the new damn tacoma.

 

I want a 2nd gen scaled down to the size of a 1st gen.

 

Why would they do that?

 

I wouldn't mind a crew cab 4x4 first gen. Crazy what they go for on the used market in nice shape.

Wouldn't buy it over my 2015 though.

 

Yes

 

...if there was a 6' bed option.

 

...meaning DCLB.

 

I'd buy it in a heartbeat...

...if came with a SA and boxed frame

but if it's still ifs... with the Dana crap frame

nah

already have one of those


Toyota lost my business
when they stepped into the big 3 arena.

If Toyota reintroduced a downsized truck...
and it were a traditional 4X...
I'd most probably take a look.

but I'm not holding my breath

 

Heck yes!! These small trucks are great on forest roads and trails. I never did like the expanded version of the 2nd gens as much.

 

I would. I prefer the 1st gens, which is why I still have mine. I have looked at 2nd gens at the dealers, even got to good negotiation phase, and then looked at my truck and said no. I know I would miss it if I "upgrade" to the new one. The improvements and comfort stuff does not bother me. (I love still having a casette player)

 

Yes, definitely. I don't like the midsized trucks - much prefer driving the compact sized 1st gen. Better on trails, better on gas, and easier to park.

 

If I could buy this very truck brand new...hell yes. Smaller, simplier, better MPG, better looking. The last of the Toyota trucks that still, more of less, had something in common with the pre-Taco trucks.