When it comes to those tough and charming little Japanese pickup trucks, few can match the popularity and owner loyalty of the Toyota Tacoma. Long sought after for its ruggedness, off-road prowess, and an ability to continue running after countless years of hard work, this machine has earned itself countless thousands of happy owners.
Your correspondent’s brother is one of them, actually.
His 1997 Tacoma was regularly mud-bogged, swamped, climbed and otherwise beaten up-- but continued ticking reliably for years until an upgrade to a newer model was made. The story is not unique.
Used Tacoma shoppers in its 1996 to 2004 generation will find a variety of options and configurations available to suit virtually any need. Look for a pair of four-cylinder engines, displacing 2.4 or 2.7 litres and whipping up160 or 177 lb.-ft of torque, respectively.
A 3.4 litre V6 was also available with 220 lb.-ft of twist, and is recommended for those intending to tow or haul more extensively. If that’s not your cup of tea, the 2.7 litre engine should prove cheaper to fuel and maintain-- not to mention adequately powerful. Look for manual or automatic transmissions and a 4x4 system with low-range for real-world capability.
Seating for three or five was available, and a four-door, small-box DoubleCab model offered additional passenger capacity from 2001 on.
Owners tend to rave about styling, off-road capability, long-term reliability and a relatively smooth powertrain. Decent mileage, ground clearance and adequate power, even from the four-cylinder engine, are also praised. Many owners online share stories of how their older Tacoma’s are ‘ultra reliable’, and always fire up and get them where they need to go.
Complaints typically deal with thin body panels and thin paint, which are easily dented and chipped, respectively. Other gripes include uncomfortable seats, a stiff ride and a shallow bed. Finally, numerous owners wish for a better stereo system-- though this can be upgraded to taste with aftermarket parts if desired.
 |
| 1996 Toyota Tacoma (Photo: Toyota) |
Your correspondent’s brother is one of them, actually.
His 1997 Tacoma was regularly mud-bogged, swamped, climbed and otherwise beaten up-- but continued ticking reliably for years until an upgrade to a newer model was made. The story is not unique.
Used Tacoma shoppers in its 1996 to 2004 generation will find a variety of options and configurations available to suit virtually any need. Look for a pair of four-cylinder engines, displacing 2.4 or 2.7 litres and whipping up160 or 177 lb.-ft of torque, respectively.
A 3.4 litre V6 was also available with 220 lb.-ft of twist, and is recommended for those intending to tow or haul more extensively. If that’s not your cup of tea, the 2.7 litre engine should prove cheaper to fuel and maintain-- not to mention adequately powerful. Look for manual or automatic transmissions and a 4x4 system with low-range for real-world capability.
Seating for three or five was available, and a four-door, small-box DoubleCab model offered additional passenger capacity from 2001 on.
Owners tend to rave about styling, off-road capability, long-term reliability and a relatively smooth powertrain. Decent mileage, ground clearance and adequate power, even from the four-cylinder engine, are also praised. Many owners online share stories of how their older Tacoma’s are ‘ultra reliable’, and always fire up and get them where they need to go.
Complaints typically deal with thin body panels and thin paint, which are easily dented and chipped, respectively. Other gripes include uncomfortable seats, a stiff ride and a shallow bed. Finally, numerous owners wish for a better stereo system-- though this can be upgraded to taste with aftermarket parts if desired.
 |
| 2000 Toyota Tacoma (Photo: Toyota) |