Tacoma Owners, Purchasing advice Update Pg 2: Got one!

I'm looking at getting a Tacoma. I'm VERY set on getting the 2000-2004 style in a 4x4 or prerunner configuration with extra cab.

I despise autos - however, like most vehicles, seems like 90% of them out there are autos and I've heard toyotas autos arent that bad. Should I hold out for a manual? My main issue is reliability. Sure they suck to drive, but they suck even worse to rebuild.
Any years/trim levels to avoid or are they pretty solid trucks all the way around?

What realistic MPG should I expect. It says 17 for the V6. Sounds about right, and what I get now with my 4.0l B4000.
Is the 4cyl gutless? No plans to tow or haul real heavy loads often. I'd just assume get the 4cyl, but they are hard to find, so I anticipate just getting the V6.

I got about 17 on my 01 TRD Xtra Cab V6 4wd.

Damn I miss that truck. I bought it with 56k and totalled it 5 years later with 115k on the odo.

I had a 5-speed. It was trouble free up to the truck's death. Matter of fact, only thing I did (aside from beefing up the suspension) was oil changes and a single set of brake pads.

90k is the recommended mileage to change out the timing belt which is supposedly no small task (I was just about to get around to this when I had my wreck). Most folks replace the water pump at the same time as long as the front end of the motor is already torn apart.

The only "issues" I've had with mine: 1) Driver seat plastic side trim could pop off (not totally) over time. 2) Ash tray wouldn't always stay closed.

Tacomas in general have always had pretty wimpy rear springs. I had and Old Man Emu suspension on my truck within two weeks of purchase.

Can't comment on the 4 bangers or autos, but I've never really heard of any issues with either.

Trim levels for 01-04 are pretty much 1) Base, 2) SR5, and 3) TRD Off Road. I think there was also a "Limited" on the TRDs that gave you color matched flares & bumpers. The only mechanical difference between any of them is with the TRD which gives you a rear locking differential. Not really anything to avoid, here. Just depends on how much fluff & gadgets you want.

Good luck. I went with a 2011 Tacoma when I wrecked the '01 because I couldn't find another 01-04 with low miles (I really lucked in to the '01 to begin with). Traded the '11 in a few months later for an Xterra.

http://www.tacomaworld.com





I guess the biggest issue I ever had was an impatient asshole who decided to pull out in front of me.

Here's what you can expect from a 40mph collision in the rain with an impatient driver who fails to yeild the right of way:



$13,000+ in damage.

Still bitter.

I've got the same exact truck Bulldawg had. Bought it new in 01. Just turned over 177k on my way to work yesterday. My maintenance experience mirrors his. Changed the grease in the xfer case, trans, and both diffs at 100k. Only thing I've had to replace besides normal maintenance is a power steering pump that started leaking.

I test drove the 4 banger. As soon as we pulled out of the stealership, the ex and I looked at each other and laughed. Went immediately back and asked for a V6 to test. The 4 banger is slooowwww.

Good luck with your quest!

They are great trucks. I would hold out for a manual, especially if you are going to get the 4-banger. The factory clutch leaves something to be desired but that is a relatively simple and "cheap" thing to fix.

I have a 2nd gen (2006, 55k miles) 4WD with a manual, and the 2.7L 4-banger did just fine power wise up until I got crazy with the mods, but now I need to re-gear badly. My wife has a 1st gen (2000, 110k miles) 5-lug 2WD 2.4L 4-banger Tacoma with an automatic. Both are great trucks. You can't go wrong either way but the manual will give you more power.

1) the I4 and V6 get about the same mileage, so opt for the more powerful V6 is my view.
2) you probably know about the frame corrosion issue (thanks UAW and Dana!), if not check out the threads on TTORA.
3) good truck, reliable, sturdy, good in the snow.

ps:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/

ar-jedi

Bulldawg why did you go with the xterra?

Just bought an 02 4x4 TRD DC about 6 weeks ago.

I LOVE this truck. Bought it with 100k on the odometer, and took it on a cross country trip to a shoothouse course. Not one single issue.

4 adults, about 600lbs in gear, avg about 70-75 on the highway, and still pulled close to 20mpg.

As a daily driver in town, getting close to 20mpg as well.

Much better truck overall than my 03 Tundra that I got rid of for this truck.

I have an auto transmission, and there are no issues with it.

Bad part is, for the 01-04 models, they hold their value VERY well...

I get 17-18 mpg on my 2003 TRD V6 Extra cab 4WD

I have the manual transmission

Get a 2003 or 2004

2003 is the first year with the remote entry (one of those pushbutton things one the keychain). For $120 you can add a TRD VIP (vehicle intrusion program) alarm system to it. Actually the alarm system is already there but disalbed, the VIP basically just adds a glass breakage sensor and a status LED light and enables the overall alarm system

The rear quarter panel side windows tend to break their latches pretty easily. Easy solution: don't use them, keep them shut.
Mine's running great but I don't put that much milage on it, just had a 60,000 service done to it, included first time front disc brake job (turned rotors, new pads)

My ashtray tends to pop open at the slightest bump, just an annoyance.

I love my Taco!

TRD package includes
- locking differential (only in 4 lo)
- Blistein shocks
- fender flares (non mechanical)
- TRD decal (non mechanical)
- different rims and stock tire size

Not sure if adds the Clutch Cancel switch for starting

my 2002 disagrees!

ar-jedi

you easily can override this if you want.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/minutemods/greywire_mod/

ar-jedi

Not worth an internet war over this, but I think the keyless entry for 2002 models was an option or as part of the factory alarm system option.

Starting 2003, all Tacomas came with keyless entry as standard. The alarm system was still an option

Ref to the alarm system http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=12

The 1st Gen Tacoma was everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. I was highly pissed and bitter after wrecking it three months before being paid off. The 2nd Gen just was not a good replacement for me, and I never could warm up to it. The 2nd Gen is a nice truck, I guess, but it just isn't for me. There were too many things I just didn't like about it.

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I had an 04 extended cab and loved it, mine was the TRD package. The only thing i regret or didn't like was the fact that the extended cab didn't have doors that open in the back for extended cab access, that came in 05 or 06 with the. New body style I think

Gotcha. Never owned the 1st Gen, only a 2005 quad cab. Put 200,000+ miles on it in 5 years then upgraded to a 2010 Tundra. I loved the Tacoma, I just needed something bigger.

A stock V6 gets between 16-19 MPG on the highway, my stock 4-banger got 25-26 cruising at 65. Now it gets 22-24 minimum on the highway with 400lbs of armor, 33x11.5" Mud Terrain tires, and a lift. 6+ MPG is a big deal to some folks, especially if you're the type to rack up a lot of miles like myself. Even with all the shit I've put on my truck, I still get 3-9 MPG more than my buddies with V6 double cab trucks.

Well, this thread has made me want one even more.
Are manuals available in all trim levels? I'd really like the TRD package.

I'm out of town for work now, but as soon as I get back, I'm gonna start the search.
And whoever mentioned them holding their value - you aren't kidding.

That's the best thing about them. They are sound investments.

When a friend asks what make to buy on a truck I have them compare used trucks of the same year from different makes.

Once they see the difference they understand the decision.

Pretty sure they are. I had a manual extended cab TRD. I'm not 100% sure, but I think if you went with a DoubleCab, you might be stuck with an auto.

When my '01 with 115k was totalled in November of 2010, State Farm gave me NADA retail... to the tune of around $13k. I was truly shocked I got so much out of it. I'd still rather have that truck than anything else, though. I really miss it.

My 01 XTra cab TRD has a 5 speed. If you buy a TRD, prepare your anus for assbags like my brother to give a Beavis and Butthead laugh and say, "Huh, huh. You bought a TuRD, huh huh".

FWIW, my next oldest brother (the Electrical Engineer) popped off with that. Then, the next morning, he told me and our older brother to shove off and go striper fishing, as he had a problem. I can't say what his exact problem was here but it was kinda the opposite of

All bullshit aside, my 01 has been a great truck. The bride was talking about buying me a new truck when we hit the lottery. I told her to hold off another 11 years, and then we'll think about it.

I like mine. 2004, 4x4, 4 cyl, manual, extra cab. The resale value thing is definitely true considering I pretty much paid through the nose for mine, but it has low miles and should last forever at the rate I drive.

Not going to lie about the 4 cylinder being some sort of F350 killer because it's pretty slow. My 93 Nissan p/u with the 2.4L feels like it has more off-idle torque, despite having a taller 1st gear.
I get 22-23mpg highway with it at 55-65 mph.

I have a 2004 v6 extended cab trd with an auto trans. I do like the manual better, but the wife isnt comfortable driving one only on occassion so I went for the auto. Mileage if you nurse it on the highway is right about 20. Around town its still about 16-17. One thing to be aware of is that on some of the v6 tacomas of that vintage they are known to have a hard start condition. It can take longer for the engine to turn over. There is a TSB on this, but a dealership out here will charge you around $500 for the fix. So if that bothers you and your purchasing from a toyota dealer, get fixed before you buy. These years are also covered under the frame replacement warranty. Over all great trucks, and get the v6 if you can swing it. The mpg on the 4cyl is not much better and has considerably less power.

I love mine. 2004, TRD, Auto, V6, 77,000 miles. I have hauled boats a lot and it does surprisingly well. I have buddies that have the manual transmission and I prefer my auto.

As did my '01 Double Cab.

In 2001 the Double Cab 4x4 was available ONLY with the 3.4 V6 and a 4speed automatic. I'm pretty sure that '02 had the same drivetrain, but I don't know after that.

One of the stupidest things I've ever done was selling that '01 TRD 4x4 Double Cab. I wasn't using it and didn't like seeing it just sitting there, so I sold it and got a bunch of $$ for it. I still wish I hadn't done it.

Moab 2004

now a taco-pron thread.

ar-jedi















oooops how did these get in there??!??!?!?!?

Update: Got one

2004 Prerunner, Excab TRD, 92k, V6 Auto

Digging it so far. Brakes were shot, so did rotors/pads. It seems very easy to work on - especially under the hood. My B4000 was a rats nest.






I do have one question/concern. In the drivers front fenderwell, there is a bit of rust... Now I've read about the recall, but this is the only bit I can find on the whole truck. Almost looks like maybe something spilled down there.



I'm a little cloudy on the details of the recall, anyone familiar with it think that qualifies?

Nice truck, did you do the Tundra brake-job on it? That is what I plan to do on mine once it needs brakes.

Basically you can put the tundra brakes on the front and really give it some stopping power.

Nah - I wasn't really aware of it at the time. Apparently they have made those parts available as tacoma parts, as the auto parts guy asked if I wanted the 12.x" rotors, or the 11.68" rotors...
I had no idea, so I went and measured mine and just got the replacements.

I don't really tow/haul heavy loads often, otherwise I'd have been more pissed I didn't do it.

that is, with 99.9% probability, due to a battery that split or spilled (perhaps from the angle the vehicle was on).


everything you need to know is in this thread:
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95993

ar-jedi

ps:
you have an IM inbound with some useful info.

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