Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 2001 Toyota Tacoma opinions....

The boy needs a new truck and he's been looking for a few weeks. He's located a 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 ext cab, TRD package with a 5 speed and the V6 with 210,000 miles. Appears to be in very good shape based on the pictures the guy has sent, he's asking $5,500...

It's about 4hrs away and the boy asked if I would go look at it with him. I said yes but I'm wondering if there are any specific things to look for with these trucks beyond the obvious mechanical stuff associated with a truck of this mileage?

Is the asking price about where it should be? For those here that have owned these, what kind of mileage can he expect?

Great trucks but $5500 for a truck with 210k is starting to push the ROI.....

I have a 2002, same truck, with 90k miles. You can expect 21 mpg freeway speed (I'm in PNW so hills/mtn passes); 17 mpg mixed city/hwy; about 14 if just in town rarely in 4th gear.

The 3.4 engine specs a (rubber) timing belt replacement every 90k miles so that's one thing to watch for. The other is frame rust. Those frames can rust through to where the truck is not safe to drive and there are many threads on that topic over at TacomaWorld first generation forum. I would ask to see pictures of the undercarriage before committing to a long drive. Carfax can be an eye opener as far as which States the truck has resided in - any states that salt roads throughout the winter can be a warning of what could be lurking under frame rust. The worst spots on the frame are around the rear leaf spring brackets. Use a hammer and screwdriver to check frame integrity around those spots if rust is present.

Rear axle outer seals can leak (by poor design) and pollute rear brake pads. Check backing plates on the rear axle for signs of that. Easy enough to replace the seals but you will be doing the brakes as well if they are wet.

Other than that, they are nice little rigs and pretty trouble free. I don't think the price is out of line with what I have seen them go for.

Price is about right for this area also. And +1 on the timing belt and frame. We have a 99 4Runner 4wd with that engine and transmission as a hunting buggy and it's over 200K now. Keeps on ticking......

I've got a 2002 4 banger 4X4 5 speed with 257k and couldn't let it go...

Look it over (and under) for rust. Short of that, I don't think you can wear the damned things out.

I have an 03 and my son has an 04. You just change the oil, put gas in em, and go.

Have an 03 crew cab trd with 150,000. Gets driven once a week maybe. Love it. Was gonna buy a newer truck for no real reason then came to my senses. After driving a 2500 crew utility truck all week it's like jumping in a go kart.

Not an expert, but the price strikes me as high. Maybe get some comps from Craigslist. Check w/ www.kbb.com and www.edmunds.com for value.

It is a Gen 1 taco which are pretty much boolit proof. Mine is a '95, 4 cyl, std, 2wd. Big difference there, but paid quite a bit less than that asking price.

Would be a good price in this area.
Good vehicles, if it has been taken care of there is a good chance it has a lot of miles left in it
Mine has that many miles, and never uses any oil between changes, with no other problems that I know of.

Watch out for rusted frames. Don't know the particulars but there was a frame recall. Best to look that up.

I have an 02 TRD with 145,000. The only thing I've had to replace is the tires, one battery, and wiper blades.
I love that truck. I'll drive it until I die.

I doubt you'll get the MPG stated above though.

pic..1....my '98 TRD I drove for 11 years.........21-22 mpg every day

paid $10K......with 113K miles.......sold it for $6700 last fall....had 233K miles

replaced it with a '14 SBDC V6 6 speed MT....70K miles.....

refused to take any less.......was a great truck......yes timing belt every 90K

Tacoma will demand top buck.........be sure to look at service records......

they are easy to maintain.......oil change is a PIA on the 3.4L.....

if the one you're looking at......is clean & maintained...buy it.......or

someone else will.......pic 2 is my new to me '14..(lots more room/power)

Tacoma World.........lots of info here........

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/1st-gen-tacomas-1995-2004.4/

I had two of them. Best vehicles I ever owned, next to the 1988 Toyota PU. I did not, however, put over 200k on either one before hurricanes and drunk drivers got them.

Nice looking Taco! I had a '99 with frame rust and Toyota bought it back in '08. It had 145k and drove like brand new - still miss that truck! I bought an '09 after that and put 90k trouble free miles on it by '13 but the body was rusting very quickly so I sold it. I would try one again but the rust issues almost negate the mechanical reliablity IME. The do hold their resale though so if you get tired of one, they're definitely easy to unload.

What did you pay for that '14??

As the guys say other than rust the little buggers are close to bullet proof. Check the frame around the rear wheels look the spring purchases over carefully, if its all good there chances are you won't find much elsewhere. Problem is everyone knows about the first part thus the higher prices. Traded in an 02 with only 60k miles on it last year only because I needed a bigger truck. I miss it.

Still driving my 01 with 376,000 best truck I've ever had!

As already stated,rust is the main problem to look for.I moved up to a near full-sized in the last one I bought-a T100! Toyota makes a tough truck