my 98 single cab tacoma 2.7 engine 5-speed 4x4 is being bought back from toyota for 8,500. I'm glad that toyota is doing right by us but am also irritated. my truck has a newer engine, centerforce clutch, k&n filter charger, header, new alternator etc. now i have to start over again, i don't want a new truck, i want to use the money I'm getting from toyota. i have had the 20r, 22r, 22re in my other trucks, and was not really that happy with the performance of the smaller 4 bangers. the 2.7 is ok with the header etc. and then there's the bad frame issue. so should i buy a older truck maybe pre tacoma with a v-6 3.0 or find another tacoma with a good frame etc. again i only have 8,500, should i buy cheap and use the extra money for building the truck what would you do in my shoes thanks

 

I'll sell you my truck for $6000 and you keep the change ....

 

I would look for a 99 or 2000 4Runner with the 3.4 engine and a rear locker

 

Well... if this way my DD I would probably try find another Taco with a good frame. Definitely go for the 3.4L if you want a bit more power.

 

this looks like a nice one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1989-...=p4506.c0.m245

honestly i prefer to make a truck my own. i'd get an 80's 4runner from the southwest, or southeast, so it is rustfree, drop whatever motor you want in there (1UZ!) and do up your suspension. if you shop carefully, you can spend that money efficiently and have a primo rig. and the hard part of doing up a truck - waiting for cash to become available - will be no problem cuz you'll have it sitting in the bank, or mattress or what ever you do with your loot. $8500 will allow you to build a really great truck man, no matter what you do. have fun!

 

Looks ok, but 3.0 with an auto is going to be slowwww

Plus, TV's in the truck before a SAS = Fail

 

If I needed a truck truck, i'd look for a 95.5-97 single cab with the V6 and locker. Good luck finding one, I know..Then i'd spend some of the extra cash on a front clip conversion just for giggles and an OME lift.

 

I'd get a nice 3rd gen 4Runner with a stick and an e-locker with low miles if i had 8500....


you said you didn't like the 22re but if you could find a really clean low miles one for around 4k you'd have 4500 in the bank still

 

87 with a lexus swap

 

I would look into these two a few more bucks but both done nothing more to do and you know the work is correct
1.https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f108...er-35-s-192130
2.https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f108...-clean-185544/
3.Good deal here and will leave you a few bucks for whatever else you may need
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f108...50-obo-191050/

 

holy run-on! haha, couldnt resist.. Anyways, are you wanting a truck with TRUCK capabilities or do you want a SUV??

Truck - I'd say the 95.5-97 V6 with locker and like CYi5 said, good luck. With roughly 3 grand to spare, maybe?

SUV - 3rd Gen 4Runner, lower mileage, maybe manual, definately locked. As well, good luck. Can be had around 6K if you find a good deal.

If anything find a old yoter from a rust free environment, cheap and just drop a nice motor in it and go from there. You'll have enough money to play around with

 

do not get a 3.0 lol

id find an 85 4runner 22r-e 5spd, as close to stock as possible, then lockers, gears, dual cases, sliders or cage, winch, tc parking brake, black powdercoated *steel* rims with 35x12.5 bfg MT KM(1)s..

but that's just me. i have no problem with the inherent lack of horsepower, which is why i drive toyotas

 

Dodge Cummins, because it was twice the power, more efficient, more reliable, and gets better mileage.

 

If it were me i would buy a 3rd gen 2wd xtra cab and put in a 7mgte and SAS it but maybe thats more work than you want to do lol

Otherwise i'd say a 3.4 tacoma or 4runner if you can find one that cheap

 

I bought my 02' with 109K for $8500. Black Sport with Leather, Sunroof, Multi-Mode 4WD, and Factory Towing package.

 

I was in this EXACT position 3 months ago.

When I got rid of my Tacoma I VERY nearly bought a new Ford Ranger. They're blowing them out really cheap and they really are a good deal

Anyway, I was just about to buy a Ranger when I managed to find a 90 Toyota 4x4 Ext cab really cheap. Picked up to yota and am in the process of stripping it for a frame off resto. Getting the frame sandblasted and treated and replacing all the pannels and the box with aftermarket fiberglass. Right now I'm trying to decide what I want to use for an engine. I'm leaning towards a 2.7 or a TDI Diesel...

I thought long and hard about it and decided this was the ONLY way I'd get the truck I want.

The only Toyotas I would consider were the 89-94s. They still got the fully boxed frame and don't suffer as bad from the frame rot as the other years.

The Tacoma was a nice truck with a great engine but wasn't very usefull when it rotted in half

IMHO the 89-94 were the best gen for Toyota

 

So you're saying that apart from the engine, panels, box, etc. the 90 is a good truck ... that sounds like a lot of work.

The 3.0 engine offered 89-94 is slow and notorious for the head gasket issues. Also, in my opinion, that year truck/ 4runner is the least appealing aesthetics-wise

 

Don't forget safety. The 3rd gen runners (don't know about tacos) are rated far better in collisions than the second gen runners/pickups.

 

As another guy said, do you need a truck or SUV? I find a pick up more useful, so I'd look for another Tacoma with a 3.4 V6. If you want an SUV, I'd get a 97-00 4Runner with 5sp manual.

I wouldn't worry about the frame rust. Toyota is able to treat the frames or they still have the 15 year warranty, so what's the worry? If I'm forced to part with my Tacoma, I'm looking for another one exactly like it. Luckily, my frame is in great shale.

 

Hmmm... I think you missed the point nc....

This thread was started by someone asking what we would buy if we had a decent amount of cash.
The point was I would consider a new Ranger or a Toyota truck from the 89-94 era.

The work I'm doing to my particular truck isn't really relevant. I bought it cheap and am customising it to meet my needs. He could pay more and get one that's already in good shape.

My advice is if he wanted to stay with Toyota I would suggest going with the 89-94 era because the frames are stronger than a Tacoma and don't rot as bad which helps preserve the investment.

The Tacoma does have a better crash rating

Clearly the Tacoma frames have an issue. That's why there's a warranty extention and that's why this member started this thread. I personally wouldn't buy another Taco. I managed to get out of a bad situation with mine. Why would I want to buy another and potentially get back in?

PS: The extended warranty only applies if you owned the truck before the warranty was announced. It does not apply to a truck you just bought today...