I checked the truck out today. It was nice, but didn't say "buy me!", so I'm going to pass on it. Mechanically, it was solid, but the frame had a lot of surface rust, and a few scary looking spots. No way am I going to pay $6900 (that's what the seller wanted) for a truck with a rusty frame!

 

How many miles are on this truck? A rusty frame on a '98 Tacoma??? My truck doesn't have a spec of rust on it. Maybe it's because I live in the south? Do you get a lot of snow where you live?

 

He is in Maine....so yeah.

Still though, all that rust is probably pretty typical of that region. Maybe you should look at a farther distance south to find one more rust free. Surface rust isn't that big of a deal, it can be treated.

 

Heck, he'd have to almost go as far south as Maryland to accomplish that. I bet most all of New England is in the rust belt.

 

443 thousand Km on mine, still ripping it up!

 

Yeah, we don't own our vehicles here, we just drive them around until the rust takes 'em away!

 

Can you not get them undercoated?

 

Most people don't get that done when they buy new cars/trucks. I've never bought a new vehicle, and probably never will. So, I have to sift through the rust buckets to find a good survivor!

 

Or you could just move south!

 

166000 Km on mine, still kickin' butt

 

i would worry more on the automatic transmission than the engine.Buy it and keep searching for 1 with minimal rust ,and a 5spd.It took 4ever to find my 4banger with a 5spd.

 

i have had mine for quite some time now and it must be one of the most dependable four cylinder engine ever.

 

I currently have a '93 2.4 std cab 4wd and '01 2.7 xcab SR5 4wd. Previously owned a '97 std cab 2.7 base, '01 3.4 xcab SR5, '05 4.0 xcab SR5, '90 3vze 4Runner - all 4WDs. Based upon experience, I'd have to say the 2.7 was red-lined more than once without any issues. I'd take on the '05 MT Truck of the Year in my '97 std cab 2.7 anyday. I love the 2.7 for its high rev, fuel economics particularily for the pre-05 body styles. Had issues with the 3.4 and 4.0. Don't know if performance can be increased a tad with a chip from a '05 2.7 and up.

 

The auto tranny is great...not something you should worry about it as long as its taken care of. I have 136k on mine and shifts perfectly, yes a 5 spd would be nice but there isn't anything wrong with an auto either.

 

x3 on the cracked manifold. usually right in between #2 and #3.

Also, I've read (web wheelin) that there can be a hot start problem with the fuel injectors on the 2.7

I have a 2.7 in a 5spd 4runner. It's great.

 

Yeah, I live in PA. If one is looking for a used vehicle in PA, they should know this: Buy PA or south of it. If its from NY make sure it was garage kept. Same goes for most of PA. Unless it is clean all around on the first look, be weary.

As for surface rust, i wouldnt worry about that so much. My truck is very clean underneath, the biggest problem: surface rust. I am fixing it though. Allot yourself one afternoon with a wire brush or a wire wheel and some rust converter, and viola! No more surface rust. Thats what im doing.

IMO: I never really heard of complaints about any of the 1st gen tacomas. They seem solid and personally, i think the 98-00 were the best looking of the bunch.

As long as its only surface rust, that sounds like an alright price.

 

I would agree with the hot start problem, honestly I didn't know it was an addressed problem. I thought it was something just with my runner, it can be hard to start at times, or better yet it kind of stumbles. I'll try some fuel injector cleaner...