First Gen Tacomas Are Good

"ethan drives dumb cars" (helloroad) 12/29/2019 at 19:10 • Filed to: toyota tacoma, toyota pickup, toyota truck, hello road

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My dad is about to sell his first gen Toyota Tacoma. So I figured I’d make a little video with it before it’s gone, and to see what makes this little truck so special.

The first gen Tacoma, introduced way back in 1995, is old enough that it’s a bit of a throwback truck. A throwback to a time when compact trucks were actually still compact. They’re simple, a bit plain, very utilitarian, and not pretending to be anything other than a truck.

There is something nice about a used compact pickup—they’re perfect for bombing down dirt roads. They’re old enough that you’re not quite so worried about scratching them up. And small enough to fit on tight trails but still be very capable machines.

My dad’s 2001 4x4 Xtracab still looks pretty nice for a nearly 20 year old vehicle. This truck spent its entire life in Massachusetts, enduring hard winters and icy roads coated with salt. Several years back the frame developed catastrophic frame rust, and it became one of the many Tacomas that had the entire frame replaced by Toyota under warranty. But other than that one little snafu (ok, large snafu), this has been an incredibly reliable truck for him.

I’m sure he’s going to miss it—heck it’s very likely he’ll completely regret selling it. And I should probably buy it right? Do I really need car #9? I don’t have a truck in the stable at the moment...

If you’ve got a few minutes to spare and want to see more of my dad’s cool little compact truck, check out my video below:

How about some overly artsy photos for his Craigslist ad?

SiennaMan > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 19:22

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 For a salty region, he sure managed to keep the body clean..

ethan drives dumb cars > SiennaMan 12/29/2019 at 19:33

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Yeah it’s not too bad. Just some bubbles by the rear fenders.

Nothing > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 19:47

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Looks quite clean. I’d take another 1st or 2nd gen Xtra cab.

AestheticsInMotion > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 19:51

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That is gorgeous. Those pictures make me want to rob a bank

daender > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 20:32

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That’s the major flaw of plastic wheel well trim on steel panels , rust will form behind it.

daender > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 20:34

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Minus the rust, it looks remarkably clean. Also, if you’re ever down in South Carolina , then you’re welcomed to drive my 258k-mile ‘00 SST Taco.

ethan drives dumb cars > daender 12/29/2019 at 21:25

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Nice! I used to have a ‘99 2WD. Didn’t have that many miles though! :)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 21:35

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My dad’s 02 Tundra is that same subtle green, and has basically a luxed up version of that same interior. There is enough room in the dash to put the clock in a reasonable spot, though. Same flawless reliability for the V8 in that truck. Unlike the Taco, the rear on the extended cab is much more comfortable. Still, our family of 5 was a bit cramped on roadtrips.

My friend’s 01 (?) Sequoia is similar, but has the remarkably advanced feature of independent rear controlled climate control.

superhead > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 23:06

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I just traded my FiST for a ‘ 99 Taco TRD Off Road with like 84k miles a few months ago. Haven’t regretted it yet.

Micah > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 12/29/2019 at 23:24

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I own this same 2002 Xtra-cab in green. 4x4 and it has some hard offroading miles, a week at burning man and 290K miles total. Replaced the clutch once, and the radiator just recently. The valve cover gasket leaks a little, other than that it’s a beaut. Starts right up every day and I will never sell it willingly.

M.T. Blake > ethan drives dumb cars 12/29/2019 at 23:52

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Everything is excellent on these trucks. Except when the frame breaks. That is one big ass Achilles heel.

ethan drives dumb cars > superhead 12/30/2019 at 00:29

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Oh that’s nice!

brlee27 > ethan drives dumb cars 12/30/2019 at 10:55

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I'd be interested in buying it, if you were to link the Craigslist ad!

thejustache > ethan drives dumb cars 12/30/2019 at 12:05

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My dad has a first gen single cab 5 speed 4x4 that’s got well over 200k miles, had the frame replaced, etc. I’ve borrowed it for errands, driven it on trails behind my parent’s house, and my dad’s used it to pull my car out of several snowbanks when I was younger and my enthusiasm exceeded my talent drifting in snowstorms. I’ve watched that little 4 banger chug it’s way up super steep muddy trails with a bed overflowing with firewood or gravel. It’s starting to get tired, and my dad has the money to get something newer, but he really hasn’t found anything else he wants. I’m guessing he’ll get something newer to put miles on but keep the taco for everything else because I can’t see him actually getting rid of it

ethan drives dumb cars > Micah 12/30/2019 at 12:48

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Lovely photo!

Keninalaska > ethan drives dumb cars 12/30/2019 at 12:56

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Alaska wildlife hobby photographer:  I have a 2nd-hand 96 Tacoma Ext cab 4x4 that I dearly love! Had 177k miles when I got it 5 yrs ago, now has 252k miles and going strong! Bigger tires, K+N intake, Borla tuned exhaust, Emu off-road shocks...this little truck goes across the Alaska terrain and drives nice on road!! No rust, well-maintained!!  Many men at the traffic light lust for it, and many have asked me to let them know when I sell it.  (I do not intend to part with this baby) 

Randolph_Carter > ethan drives dumb cars 12/30/2019 at 15:41

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Water is Wet

Boolean > ethan drives dumb cars 12/30/2019 at 16:52

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This is my ‘96 taco (2.4l, 5 speed) and I absolutely adore it. I got it a year ago as a gift from my grandparents when I was 16. I'm never getting rid of it! 

John Carli > ethan drives dumb cars 12/30/2019 at 20:49

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Can you send the link to the Craigslist ad?

LuckyTrouble > ethan drives dumb cars 12/30/2019 at 22:26

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Our ‘96 Tacoma extra cab 4x4, which recently clicked off 500K on the odo. May not be pretty, but this thing is a BEAST!

Pic was taken Jan of 2019, just as my Honey towed the stalled backhoe out of the middle of US 101 & into a nearby driveway... from a cold start & with a fat load of firewood in the bed.

Taco, FTW.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > superhead 12/30/2019 at 22:51

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I like the 99 grill, my friend has one like that with 400k miles or so. 

Themeadows > ethan drives dumb cars 12/31/2019 at 01:57

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Is that the oxbow in Northampton? I used to thrash my 2001 4x4 extracab there too! I think my friends still whip their 1st g ens there every once in a while

ethan drives dumb cars > Themeadows 01/02/2020 at 00:00

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Yep it’s pretty close to the Oxbow ... t he meadows between the river and I91. :)

ethan drives dumb cars > John Carli 01/02/2020 at 00:01

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He hasn’t listed it yet . Also it looks like my brother is going to buy it!

ethan drives dumb cars > Boolean 01/02/2020 at 00:02

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ethan drives dumb cars > brlee27 01/02/2020 at 00:03

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He hasn’t posted it yet. Also it looks like my brother is going to buy it :)