A truck dilemma.

"mazda616" (mazda616)
10/05/2017 at 20:56 • Filed to: Trucklopnik

My papaw is selling his 2003 Toyota Tacoma. He just bought a 2014 Tacoma with 22,000 miles. It’s basically new. Have a terrible nighttime iPhone picture of it.

So, the 2003. It’s a 2WD extended cab. 188,000 miles. Runs fine. My papaw is the slowest driver on earth, so the truck hasn’t been abused. At all. Has a few lights on like the check engine light and the ABS/brake lights. There’s some clearcoat peeling/fading on the passenger fender and door. He’s having them all checked out and fixed, though.

I’m sort of considering selling the S10 and getting the Tacoma.

If the Tacoma was 4WD, I wouldn’t even question it. But having a 2WD truck does make me think.

Although, I’ve only used the S10’s 4WD twice in the two-and-a-half years I’ve had it.

The S10 has a few things wrong with it. Valve seals are old and leak, making it burn some oil. The A/C compressor sounds like a tiny airplane. So, it’s not long for this world. The A/C also has to be charged at least once a year. The ABS light is on, too. The brakes work fine but obviously there’s no ABS anymore. One of the tires has a slow leak, and they’re all dry rotted from age despite the fact that they have plenty of tread.

The Tacoma has more miles (188,000 vs. the S10’s 171,000) but it’s a Toyota. It just got new tires and a new muffler.

Thoughts?

DISCUSSION (9)

awmaster10 > mazda616
10/05/2017 at 21:03

If you can get it for a non Toyota-tax price sure. Your s10 is way way cooler though. Maybe a ranger? It was always my favorite of the small trucks of the time

atfsgeoff > mazda616
10/05/2017 at 21:04

2wd pickups ftw! slap a limited slip diff in the back and forget about few hundred extra pounds of drivetrain you have to drag around for the 5 minutes a year that you actually use it.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > mazda616
10/05/2017 at 21:05

If it has a limited slip in the rear end I wouldn’t worry about needing 4wd too much. If it’s an open did I’d probably pass

Wacko > mazda616
10/05/2017 at 21:08

If i’m correct you have a 6 and your wife has a cx5. I’m guessing you only basically use the s10 for its box and no off-roading. The lack of 4x4 shouldn’t be an issue. The taco will also keep its value longer than the s10.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > mazda616
10/05/2017 at 21:34

I love S-10’s and have owned an S-10, but get the Tacoma.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > mazda616
10/05/2017 at 22:07

I’d say do it, but we’re nothing if not bad influences here on oppo. If you can get it at the family discount, or even just without the taco tax, it would be an easy call for me. Realistically, the design and build quality of the taco is an order of magnitude better than the S-10. As a weekend vehicle, that taco could last the rest of your life.

About half of the trucks I’ve owned have been 2wD, and they’ll get you 90% of the places 4WD will with some care and picking your lines well.

Nothing > mazda616
10/05/2017 at 22:26

I’d take the Taco in a heartbeat.

vicali > mazda616
10/06/2017 at 00:55

edit- reading is good.

I like the look of the first gen, even a 2wd..

get the Tacoma.

shop-teacher > mazda616
10/06/2017 at 07:07

As much of an S-10 guy as I am, I’d probably get the Taco in this case.