1st Gen because they started this mad addction we all have!

 

by the criteria in the original post, a 95.5-2004 Tacoma or 4runner would be best.


i'm sorry but the solid axle trucks and 4runners ride like crap. (stock)
the '86-'95's were okay as far as handling..but not near as nice riding as the tacoma's.

off road capability, solid axle first gen's hands down.

comfort, tacoma's or 3rd gen 4runners or newer.

 

love my 04 dc taco super sleek look, awesome ride, great performance, and good mpg even with front and rear beefy m40 bumpers and tire carrier and sliders

 

Ill take anything with the 3.4 in it, simply because sasing one of those would be easier than swapping a 3.4 into an 85 (or earlier).

I have a 94 pickup though, so i have an SAS to look forward to, and a 3.4 swap once my motor goes.

 

2nd gen runners do it for me, love my taco though too.... If I had to pick only one, it would be 2nd gen runners for sure...

 

I wise toyota man once told me about 4runners:

1st gen is best off road, it is the simplest and the lightest and some had the SFA

3rd gen is the best on road while still off-road capable

2nd gen is somewhere in-between, so either the worst for either or the best for both


Me, I think they became kinda "generic SUV" after the 1st gen (not to take away from their capability).

 

I think you've got it nailed right there. Couldn't agree more. I have a 1st gen trail-rig and a 3rd gen daily driver.

 

I love the 79-83 and 85-88/89 4runners and pickups but I think the 79-81 is the best looking truck ever

 

love my 88 but i think 85 is the best hands down. First year EFI , solid front and in my opinion the best style body! Hat the bed rust thing though!

 

1st, 2nd and 3rd gen 4Runners, i own a second gen and love itt mine is a 2 door also so its like the 1st gen just without the removable top...and solid axle, but i still love it

 

My vote is for the 1st gen pickup. All in all the simplest and most dependable.

 

If it were up to me I would do an '85 extra cab. But then again having owned an 84, 85 two 86's, an 88 and a 89 4runner I am a little bit partial to that body style. But having driven an 03 tacoma that would my choice for a daily driver. It was way more comfortable and had more power than any one of the yota's that I have had.

Russ