What is the best year to get? (looking for repairability and quality of parts/engine)

I don't want any thing from 2008 and above.


What should I look for in regards to amount of weight it can hold in the back? What is the average weight I should be looking for?


Thanks for your help.

2/25/2012 12:47:39 PM

what is your budget? in general, you can't really go wrong with any tacomas.

2/25/2012 1:12:42 PM

$7,000, but i am looking for a steal at ~$3750 and put about $2000 in repairs into it, and have $1250 for emergency funds.






Like this: http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/2847643202.html

[Edited on February 25, 2012 at 1:17 PM. Reason : .]

2/25/2012 1:14:50 PM

1988 diesel Hilux.

2/25/2012 3:18:07 PM

^^I don't think that one is a good deal. For $7k, you should be able to find a nice late 90s truck with less than 150k miles on it.

2/25/2012 4:50:10 PM

get a frontier for cheaper with the same reliability

2/25/2012 8:42:07 PM

Frontier you mean the japanese truck with the built in mexican ladder rack? Or Frontier the butch lesbians truck of choice?

2/26/2012 8:21:48 AM

never seen any of those two in a frontier

2/26/2012 11:34:44 AM

I don't do business with Nissan.

2/26/2012 1:06:20 PM

i may have told you a tacoma if you wanted a decked out, crew-cab so-and-so, but since you're considering the little cheapo models with no intent on "sprucing" them up, either truck should do.

2/26/2012 4:31:58 PM

1998-2000 were the best years of the first gen, IMO. They installed the head gaskets upside down on some from 1995 to 1997, but no major problems there. 2001-2004 were very solid models, but I did not like the grill look they had.

All 3 engines, the 2.4L, 2.7L, and 3.4L, are solid and reliable. I think both the 2.7L and 3.4L both have timing chains which will be nice for maintenance.

What do you need to tow? I think with the bumper you could tow 1000lb and around 3500lb with a hitch for 4cyl. V6 would probably tow up to 6000lb with a hitch

My dad once towed another wrecked tacoma using a toyota pickup with a 22RE. Spark-knocked the whole way.

2/26/2012 10:28:32 PM

wow you're even worse in garage...

2/27/2012 8:13:24 AM

http://www.nc4x4.com/forum/index.php?threads/1994-toyota-4x4-22re-5-speed-129-000-miles.117420/

2/27/2012 10:42:09 AM

You probably don't want the 4x4, but it's nice when it snows and you'll get more for it when you sell it.

Just pointing out that for the cash you're looking at spending on that white truck you could get a 4x4 in better condition with half the miles.

2/27/2012 12:36:21 PM

^^I was going to post a link to Wallburg Autsales; they always have a bunch of mid 90's Tacomas and T100's with decent mileage.

2/27/2012 1:27:51 PM

aww...why the 08+ hate. Granted anything in that price range would be well over the $7k. Always wanted one of the pre-tacoma (93/94) models but spent $texas on an 07 and now a 2012 instead.

2/27/2012 8:29:44 PM

That '94 in the link is just beautiful for the age of the truck. Looks showroom-fresh.

Unfortunately it is also now sold, according to the link.

2/28/2012 12:20:52 PM

Quote :

"That '94 in the link is just beautiful for the age of the truck. Looks showroom-fresh. Unfortunately it is also now sold, according to the link."

I Like it, but it's too high to lift refrigerators and ovens on the back without a lift gate.
I also like it because it looks nice. However, I don't need one that looks nice because I will beat it up.

Also, knowing other people with pick-up trucks, they are always pissed off because someone needs to borrow their truck to move somethingoranother. Almost always suffer a scratch or dent from someone else's negligence. I don't really want to care about that, so an ugly truck would meet my needs just fine.

I just want exceptional performance, trust, and durability of the parts.

2/28/2012 3:33:33 PM

Ok...You have my blessing to buy a POS for the same price as a nice truck.

2/29/2012 8:30:02 AM