Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Tacoma for kids first truck?

Everyone seems to like them. I've got a teen driver in the house. Give me things to look for, years to avoid, etc. I've never had anything but a domestic full sized truck.

Budget ? great trucks......

have a '98 3.4 5 speed ext cab & '05 4.0 auto...DB cab

don't plan to tow much with either......hate the wife's auto....

rear diff in both.....great traction..very durable trucks...

had them 10+ yrs each...little issues...they usually sell by word

of mouth....or in the family...also high book if you find one on

the street...look at Auto Trader..may have to travel to buy...

I would buy another in a minute...4 bangers are bulletproof......

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/3441098?ad_cid=7

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/3440051?ad_cid=15

Do some research on the rusted frame problem. Some years were pretty bad but I don't know which years. I'm sure that some here know a lot more about it than me.

did a quick search.....was curious too

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-rust-recall.263311/

I have a 1998 4Runner (3rd Generation) which should have a drive train similar to the same generation tacoma and it is dangerous on a slick roads in 2WD. Just a wet road from rain will cause it to fishtail on sharp turns and snow is just a no-no in 2WD. I have no problem with it because I know its issues and how to deal with it.

Now put it in 4WD and you have a great vehicle on slick roads and snow, the issue is it is part time 4WD (just like a tacoma) and therefore cannot be run in 4WD in rain covered roads or roads that have spotty snow or ice.

My granddaughter will be driving soon but I would not put her in my 4Runner. A new driver would not know how to react to a fishtail situation. An AWD vehicle such as a Subaru would be much safer than my 4Runner.

I would assume a Tacoma would drive similarly, or even worse with the lighter rear end, but I very well could be wrong.

Just food for thought.

What years do you have in mind? Around here, you can still find older Toyota pickups with the 22RE motors for less than the Tacoma's. My favorite year is the '85 since it is the last year with the solid front axle. It is also the first year with EFI. They are great on gas mileage, good for off road and handle well on the pavement. They are more sluggish than the newer 3.4 or 4.0 v-6, but that may not be a bad thing either. Considering it's a "first" truck for a young kid... Other years to consider are the '89-'95 (pre Tacoma badged). Those are excellent trucks. However, avoid the 3.0 v-6 like the plague. They had numerous problems.

Had a 99 Tacoma Extended Cab 4wd with the 2.7 liter 4 banger. It was a bullet proof truck. Had to replace the contacts in the starter and replace the interior dome lamp. Sold it to my brother in law and it has been reliable for him. Just last year he finally had to replace the factory muffler. The rest of the exhaust system was fine. 1999 models were covered under the frame recall but mine had no problems and still does not. Don't get a lot of snow here so not a lot of salt used.

My wife had a 2001 4Runner that was a solid vehicle as well. A previous poster mentioned the 4Runner and a lack of traction. I never ran into that problem unless I purposely tried to make it loose. I ran Michelin LTX MS2's and BFG AT's on the Tacoma and did not have any traction issues in the rain. The Tacoma rear end would move around really quick in ice or snow but put it in 4wd and it went like a little tank. The 4Runner handled much better in the rain, snow and ice.

Thanks for the advice. They are hard to find used. I was looking at fairly late models, say 2005 and newer. It was hoping it would tow a utility trailer with a couple of 4 wheelers on it. She learned to drive a 3/4 ton crew cab but wants something smaller. I can get a 1/2 ton domestic in the same age/condition for similar prices. It seems it is hard to find one listed for much less than 15-20k.

Check in here.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/

We are on our 2nd one.First was a four banger, 4 sp. Just not enough power in the Colorado hills. Great for going up,but going down left something to be desired with engine breaking. I think it was a 94.Only problem we had was it went thru a few water pumps. The way the belt tension works ,always put too much side pull on it. If not caught,it cost a pretty penny when the fan takes out the radiator.Sold it at 275K miles and it is still running

The present one is 2004. 6 cyl, 5 sp. Almost the same problem,but now it is recomended to change out the timing belt,hoses and water pump a 100K. It all comes as a kit. About $300 installed. Other than that,no problems at 140K.

Edited. I forgot,I put front struts on it.

One thing we learned, if you find a used one you like, buy it either private or on a lot, because it will be gone tomorrow.

Prior to a 2003 yes anything built after that is a maintenance problem . I bought one for my son 2009 as his first vehicle and he chipped in as much as he could. We have spent 4k on it and that does not include tires and regular maintenance since 2012. It has 105 k on it .

You have 4K in maintenance alone? Ouch.

Meh, ours is a 2007 with 160k. I've put maybe 1500$ into replacing failed parts. Not too bad, but I've done most of it myself. Brakes, wheel bearings, shocks...nothing engine related. Been a good truck mostly. I agree they are not great trucks for icy conditions.

I've been looking for one for my teenage son as well they really keep their value as I haven't been able to find one that was reasonably priced with under 100000 miles. I bought a 92 here in the classifieds as my fishing/hunting truck and it runs great.

I hate to see kids with older Toyota Trucks, period...

The ones around here just Flog the crap out of them, and end up totaling them in a short time...

My son was taught well, and is similar to 'driving Ms Daisy'...

but if not, and most other kids, all I'd buy them is a $500 beater and let them learn on that, and tear that up...

they don't need something decent until they get some maturity...

I certainly know if my son was like I was in High School and early college, he'd be walking and knowing the bus schedule real well...

I have an 09 Tacoma 4 door. Best truck I've ever had . Almost 190k one broken leaf spring, other than that just normal maintenance items. Gets 19 -20 mpg and goes anywhere i need to go. I would have no problem buying a Tacoma for my kids.

It is a 2006 not a 2009. It is a TRD access cab with the long bed 4x4 4.0 6cyl 6speed manual.


front engine seal ..5 days in shop 1300 dollars
both front wheel bearings total 1100 dollars
new clutch 1100 dollars
driveshaft universals changed 800 dollars
replace cheap TRD wheels 700 dollars

Rear leaf springs replaced Free on recall
Front seat belts replaced Free on recall
Rust recall scraped and painted rust spots

That does not count oil changes for transmission,engine and differentials.

They used to be a great truck, they are now an ovverated POS. I have owned 2 of them myself a 2009 and a 2014. NFW will that happen ever again.

Sounds like you got a lemon. I know several people with Tacoma's from that era and none have had the problems you experienced. All still have them or traded them for newer Tacoma's or Tundra's.

Bought it used in 2012 after the warranty had expired. It started to implode around 90K . My Kid drives it like an old person. I had a 2009 and 2014, the 2009 had rear wheel bearings replaced , the 2014 was constantly getting a front end alignment.
He loves the truck , I would n't want one free.

My good friend has a 2002 4cyl 5 speed with about 60K on it at present. It is in Colorado, garaged always, and well maintained. The frame is showing signs of being rusted out in a couple of areas. Were I considering buying one I would make sure what has been done to the frame and whether or not the year you are looking at has any remaining rust warranty coverage from Toyota.

The 2004 and earlier models were good trucks - a little crude compared to the 2nd Gen Tacomas,mbut very tough. Some of the 05-06 Tacomas had auto transmission issues and head gasket failures. Neither issue was common, but neither were recalls, Most of the transmission problems can be cured w/ a dealer flash of the computer, the head gasket not so much....


Great driving vehicles. The short bed 4- dr 2nd gen configuration has close to a 50-50 weight distribution. Decent tires and they drive great un bad weather, 4wd even better. Comments about part time 4wd not being able to be used on the road in bad weather - Wow! Always new and special idiots out there.....


Good trucks, check the frames carefully no major rust issues and you should be fine.

David