could someone break it down for me. i keep seeing references to different generations and don't know what year modles each gen. covers. ...i tried to do a search but it returned way to many results..

i have an 03 tacoma ...what generation is it?

 

tacomas have their own classification..... however there were a few different styles of tacomas... i believe thats a 3rd gen taco

 

thanks. ...that should be easy enough to remember.

another question....and this may have been brought up before, but why aren't there different boards for 4-Runner's and Tacoma's? i find myself reading about a mod or something only to find out that it's for a 4-Runner and doesn't apply to my Tacoma. i know the front ends are the same ..but that's about the extent of it.

 

there are... there is www.t4r.com which is a 4runner site and www.ttora.com which is a tacoma site... those arent the only sites out there, but the first type specific ones i could think of.. the vehicles are very similar and thats why they are grouped together......

don't worry, i am in hte same boat, my truck is an 85 4x2 with a carb... not too many places talk about the 4x2s or the late style 22r although there is some aftermarket support for it...

 

The 4runner came out in 85. 85-89 is a "1st gen" 4runner. 90-95 is a "2nd gen." 96-02 is a "3rd gen" and 03+ (to now) is a "4th gen."

As far as trucks go, well most consider the 79-83 the "1st gen" (at least as far as 4x4's go although I think they had 4x2's out in N. America before that but some dont' classify them b/c they might not have been 4x4's - I think Kyle can clarify this a bit more), 84-88 "2nd Gen", and 89-95 "3rd gen."

Tacoma's are a little bit different. You *could* classify the 95.5-04 Tacoma's, which share the same engines & platforms for that duration as "4th gen" toyota trucks in North America. However within the 95.5-04 Tacoma's there are a few body design changes - mostly to deal with the front end & badging/decals/interior (but again the base & optional engines remained the same pretty much with minor mechanical changes from year to year but they still retained the same performance, displacement, etc.). The 95.5-97 Tacoma's would be considered the 1st body design, the 98-00 would be the 2nd body design, and the 01-04 would be the 3rd body design (and the 3rd body design saw the advent of the Double Cab in the Tacoma). Then in 05 we now have what I would coin the "2nd gen" of the Tacoma's (completely redesigned, new chassis/platform/engines). These might be coined by some as the 5th generation of Toyota mini or since they're now bigger, "semi-mini" or "midsize" trucks.

My opinion save maybe using a few more ponies when compared to the 95.5-04 Tacomas, I think the 3rd gen pickups are amongst some of the best Toyota trucks Toyota has ever put out in North America. That's why I got one. Fully boxed frame, tough as nails, torsion bar front suspension, great yet simplistic looks. Easy to deal with and very functional interior. And paint that doesn't flake off in the wind.

 

4Runners:
1st GEN: 1984-1989
2nd GEN: 1990-1995
3rd GEN: 1996-2002
4th GEN: 2003-

Pickups:
1st GEN: 1964-1968 (Stout)
2nd GEN: 1969-1974 (Hilux)
3rd GEN: 1975-1978
4th GEN: 1979-1983
5th GEN: 1984-1988
6th GEN: 1989-1995
7th GEN: 1995 1/2-2004 (Tacoma)
8th GEN: 2005-

 

Although on this site most folks just use the 4Runner gens when talking about pickups too. If you really want to be sure everyone is on the same page when discussing Yotas - just state what year the rig is!

 

Add:
pre-1st Gen: 1947-1963 Toyopet Model SB

If you lump the North American Tacoma and world-spec Hilux together, then the current Tacoma is really a 7th gen truck. The latest Australian 4WD Monthly tested the 2005 Hilux and they referred to as the 7th generation Hilux. IOW, I think the Stout is considered a different line from the Hilux.

It's all just academic, it would really be much better just to say '97 Taco or '88 4Runner, then there's no confusion.