Is there an online list that I can refer to when looking at used tacomas? Or maybe some of you can share what too look out for.

Thanks

Justin

 

Make sure it's a 4X4.

 

Welcome, The TRD package is always a good choice.












Craig.

 

umm,...Check out het rear leaf springs. Our 98 and 97 both seem to have flat rear leafs with no laod, and when there is a load, it is bowed the opposite direction. Sucks on the handling.

 

If you want to offroad try to get one with manual hubs and a rear locker. I leased, big mistake, a 98 with a rear locker and manual hubs but it was not a TRD so that might reduce the price some. Not sure if mine was a special order or something.

 

95.5-97 Taco's had problems with the rear springs cracking, but i guess they probably would have cracked by now.

Check the body gap between the bed and the cab, if they have been offroaded alot, the bed will flex into the cab causing little dents and cracking the paint.

Check the seam on the bottom of the cab on both sides. sometimes these can crack also.

If you plan on offroading get the electric locker, it's worth it.

The TRD package (98-04) gave you the locker, flares (98-00) progressive front springs, and a larger swaybar.

Starting in 01, Toyota redesigned the cup holders to actually hold a cup, the previous models (98-00) had terrible cup holders, and the 95.5-97's had holders in the dash that don't do a good job of holding anything.

Manual hubs were available (not on TRD) until 01, but got rare in 98

Most of the suspension remained the same from 95.5-04, look for one that was not beat on, with low miles. The 4Cyl has 150 HP, and the V6 has 190. Test drive both and see what you like. I have two vehicles with the 3.4 V6 and love them both (one is SC'd)

Steve

 

How much you lookin to spend?

 

Yes, take it from me. Don't be a fool

 

Thanks for the replies,

It will deffinatley be a 4x4, I just sold my volvo...only had it for one month I t was my first "car" and I couldn't stand the lack of 4WD.

I'd like to spend $10k or cheaper.

Justin

 

You should deffinately be able to find something in your price range. If you look long enough, you'll probably be able to get a V6 Ex-Cab for that.

Steve

 

BTW, on the TRD saway bar. I am pretty sure they make them thinner to allow more independant suspension movement. A thicker one would be more suited for street driving because they are stiffer to prevent swaying.

I just bought a 99 Prerunner excab V6 TRD for 10000 off ebay, it was in Sac. 89000 miles with some warranty left on it. I love it...but I'm missing 4x and the stick like my 90 that I sold.

You should defenitely be able to get a nice ex cab 4x V6 taco for 10000. 95-97 would be more in the range for 7k-8.5k I'd say (100k or less mile in awesome shape). 98-00 have better headlights (and I like them a lot better) and 98 is when they started offering TRD and Prerunner models.

I looked on: Craigslist.com ebaymotors.com autotrader.com .....well they were the most useful. cars.com is ok, but mostly dealers and 2wd.

carsdirect and carmax both suck, from my experience. If you e-mail someone, you get continual crap til you do their survey or something.

Oh yeah, I was looking one or more times a day for about 5 months.

 

4x4
TRD Package
Rear Locker
V6

The first Tacoma's were model year 95 1/2.

Good luck with your search, for $10k you can probably get all that on a higher mileage extended cab, or a lower mileage regular cab, although a V6 in the regular cab is rare. Even the 4cylinder pulls good in a Tacoma with the 5 speed manual transmission. I would make the 4x4 and rear locker my main priorities. Oh, one last thing, the earlier year Tacoma's had crappy 3.58 factory gears, maybe the 4 cylinder had better gearing? I'd look for one with at least 4.10 gears.

 

I have always liked the 1989 to 1995 pickups. I have been looking for a 1994 or 95 SR5 with a sun roof for a while, I have found a bunch on auto trader.com with very low miles for under 8k but they have all been way way far away from me.... my 88 still kicks a$$ I just have always liked this body and interior style the most but they have the 3.0, which I have that had been given a bad name although I have had no problems with mine!