toyota tacoma
 

anyone ever drove one of the 97, 96 model tacomas? I am thinking about getting one for my first car and was wondering if they drive good on the road and on the trail, any info about this truck is greatly appreciated

RE: toyota tacoma
 

toyotas are great trucks. there are aftermarket parts everywhere, get relatively good gas mileage, are good on the trails and they run FOREVER. if i could have afforded one i would be driving one right now. but this ranger is suiting me just fine so far. :D

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I have a 97 tacoma and i love it. Runs great. i'll look for some pictures.



Zach

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I have a 93 4x4 , before they called them tacoma's. has the 22r engine , which is vitually bulletproof. A buddy of mine had 336k on his when it finally quit. I like the smaller 4x4's , havent been down too many trails made for full size trucks. Here is a pic of mine

RE: toyota tacoma
 

Delete

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I bought mine in 2003 and love it!:)

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I don'town a Tacoma, but I do have a '97 T100 and it has been fantastic. I really want a new Tundra and have no problem affording one, but it just makes no sense financially for me to spend the money on one considering how welltheT-100 runs.Toyota makes a great product. I don't think you'd be making a mistake by buying a used Tacoma.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

BINGO...;)

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I had a 2001 Tacoma extended cab and loved it. It had 35k on it(barely broken in) beforeI traded it in onthe 2005 4 door Tacoma.
The only reason I traded my 01 was I needed more room when we go hunting.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

Leaving all the poltical issues about a foreign truck aside, I must admit to going through an "import phase" several years ago. In Dec 95 I bought a 96 Tacoma Ext. cab 4x4. I must admit it was bulletproof, great off road and fora 4cyl (2.7 150hp Ibelieve it was) it was stout. I just ran out of room as kids came along and I got tired of the manual tranny. The handling was great, with rack and pinion steering and stiff suspension it handled great, but rode a lil firm compared too luxurious full size 1/2tons.

The only "downside" too the 6cyls with offroad pkgs? They don't get any better mileage than a similarly equipped full size!
RA

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I have a customer with a 98 Tacoma, auto, 4x4, Off Road pacakage, V6, 331,000 miles and still runs circles around Rangers and Sonomas. Other than minor work it has been a great truck for her.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I could not agree more about the Tacoma. I had a 1996 4wd with extended cab. I put 128,000 miles on that truck before getting new truck fever and trading for a 2004 Tundra. My new truck has great power (V8 vs. 4cyl.), and rides great, but there are many times that I miss my old Tacoma!!
Will

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I've gota 2000 Tacoma (models ran pre-95, 1995.5-2000, 2001-2004, 2005-current), v6, xcab, 4wd...great truck. I've had mine for about a year and a half now...got it with 80,500 on it and now have about 92,500...not a whole lot of mileage, but I really only use it when I go hunting and fishing as I have another vehicle that I use as a daily driver. Couple of suggestions ifyou're looking at going offroad much. Get the V6...you'll be happy you did when you go to bigger tires or if you tow anything. Also, try to get the TRD package. The stiffer springs won't mean much if you do a lift, but the big thing that you get with it is the electronic locking rear differential...it'll get you in and out of places that you'll have a tough time with using the standard open differential. Mine didn't come with the TRD package, and now I'm looking into locker options for the rear end. There are plenty of aftermarket parts out there for these trucks, and a few different websites devoted to Tacoma enthusiasts. So far my truck has the stock suspension (until I wear out the current set of tires), but I've put in a full aftermarket stereo system, CB, transmission cooler, poly sway bar bushings, bull bar w/ 2 sets of PIAA lights (driving and fog), hitch, and it came with a hard tonneau cover and remote start. In the next couple months I'll be changing out the tonneau cover to a cap and getting the bed line-x'd. For more Tacoma info, check out:

www.customtacos.com
www.ttora.com
www.yotatech.com

RE: toyota tacoma
 

My last truck was a 96 Tacoma and it was a great truck. I had to get another one only because I couldn't fit my kids in it with me. Of course I bought a 2002 extended cab Tacoma and it is performing great as well!

RE: toyota tacoma
 

This is my 97' with 130,000 miles on it. I finally found a picture.



Zach

RE: toyota tacoma
 

Crap. they suck gas and take a lot of maintenence

RE: toyota tacoma
 

"Crap. they suck gas and take a lot of maintenence"

-LOL, Thats funny.(I assume that was a joke!)

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I have an 05 Ext Cab, Auto, 2.7 4x4. Avg 20/22 mpg. Dependable, give it gas and change oil! The only thing I would have got different was the V6 for a little more get up and go.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I had a 1995.5 extended cab, and a 2001 4 door, love them both, then I got the itch for a new truck. July 2005, I pick up a 2005 Tacoma 4 door, long bed with the TRD, and I love it

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I had a 97 it was a nice truck and I enjoyed it but it had some type of transmission problem it whould jump or lunge when I went from 4th to 5th gear. I traded for fullsize extended cab F150.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

so would this be a good first car/truck for me to get. Also is it a good truck for everyday use and offroad during hunting season. And how much better are the TRD offroad models?

RE: toyota tacoma
 

Yeah, it's a good truck. Maintenance is easy but rarely needed. It rides well on the road, great offroad. It's light, so you'll get places the heavy full-size trucks won't. It's smaller, so you have a better turning radius in the woods. I have the V6, and with 30x9.5R15 Michelin LTX tires it gets around 21-22mpg on the road (mostly highway). Bigger/heavier tires will decrease that gas mileage to some extent, and you won't want to go larger than 32x11.5R15 without regearing ($$$). The biggest you can go without doing some sort of lift is 31x10.5R15. My thoughts on cab models: Standard cabis ok, but I like having the space behind the seats in my xtra cab to put stuff I don't want in the bed (though people don't fit there very easily). I would have gotten the double cab, but I don't need it to holdpeople very often, and you sacrifice 2' of bed length to get it. With the 2005+ models you can have your cake and eat it too...they make a double cab longbed so you don't lose the bed space. I have a hard tonneau cover on it now that I'm in the process of getting rid of to get a cap. The bed is too shallow to fit a good cooler (any of the ones rated forholding ice more than an afternoon) with the tonneau cover on top.

The TRD package gives you stiffer springs and the electronic locking rear differential. The stiffer springs won't matter a whole lot, but the e-locker is worth it. Otherwise you just have open differentials and if you lose traction with 1 front wheel and 1 rear wheel you're not going anywhere. With the e-locker engaged, you would have to lose traction to both rear wheels as well as one of the front wheels (front diff is open whether you have the TRD package or not). I wish I had it...but you can't just go back and add a few wires if you don't have it. The locker is specific to the rear end, so I would have to buy a whole axle with housing, plus the wiring...or get an aftermarket locker (ie no-slip, lock-rite, ARB, etc). My situation right now doesn't require the tough off-roading I did the past few years, so I'm going to hold off on getting a locker until it looks like I'll be getting back offroad frequently.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I JUST traded in my '03 Ram 1500 quad cab w/ 50K for a 2003 Tacoma TRD quad cab w/ 35K on it. So for so good. It is a real nice truck. Plus, plenty of room for the wife & kid(s).
Saving $20 a week in gas and have a great warranty on it now. It's got the shorter bed on it, but my little Honda Rancher 350 fits perfect with the gate down.
Sharp looking truck too... no pics yet to post.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I love mine!

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I'm looking to trade my 2001 Siverado Ext Cab Z71 for a Toyota Tacoma double cab TRD off road short box. I would like to get a used one, but quite honestly the re-sale so good I am better off to go new.

One question: how is the gas mileage for a double cab short box TRD off road?? And since Toyota recommends Premium fuel, does it get the same gas mileage with unleaded, medium grade, or premium?? I know horsepwer, performance, etc. is affected, just havent heard about gas mileage??

Thanks!

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I get 18ish around town w/ my double cab short bed. I haven't really taken it on the highway, but i'm guessing around 22 or so.
I have been using regular, not premium and have had absolutely no problems yet.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I'm still testing my economy as I break in the engine. I'm not sure of Imperial units but right now I'm getting about 475km/70 L. Tried premium once but didn't notice any difference (city driving). Probably a bit better on the hwy. It's only "suggested" for better performance but not necessary like other cars.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

Iv'e got a 2000 tacoma standard cab w/2.7 l 4 banger. Love it. It is lifted w/33" swampers on it. If you can swing it get one That says "turd" on the back, they have rear lockers.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

The newer Toyota trucks (like older models) are superb vehicles but over priced.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I had a 97 Tacoma xtra cab 4x4 and loved it. In 170k miles I put a new starter on it. That was all the trouble I ever had. When I got ready to get a new truck I was gonna get the 6 cylinder but it barely got better mileage than the 4door tundra so I got that instead. They make a great vehicle.

RE: toyota tacoma
 

i have 96 toyota,and no problems

RE: toyota tacoma
 

I have a 2003 Tacoma TRD Doublecab. 70,000 miles so-far, and I'm VERY happy! Compared to the 98 Ranger I bought new, the Toyota is twice the truck (I beat the h*ll out of my trucks, I'm off-road nearly everyday). Quite possibly the most off-road capable production truck on the market. Even my red-neck "Ford & Chevy" buddies were impressed at the off-road handling and abilities! I will never buy a different brand!

RE: toyota tacoma
 

my friend had one and it was a sharp truck.....i liked it alot

RE: toyota tacoma
 

got me a 98 trd. only two things
1) the trd stickers fell off from mud
2) i only used the rear diff lock once; and probly didn't need it.
im 40 yr's old now; and this truck's a keeper till im gone.

early