1st Gen Tundra Vs 2nd Gen Tacoma

Hello,

I've been looking to buy a 2nd Gen tacoma but have been seeing some of the first generation tundra's around and started looking into them. What are all your thoughts and opinions on the two and which one would be the better buy. Thanks for any and all advice! I am sure this has been discussed several times on here. I appreciate the help!

 

I was in the exact same boat years ago. I was looking at the XSP tundra since it had the step side bed and it was appealing to me. For now, I would go with the newer tacoma. Better overall truck IMO. I liked the smaller V8 originally but the offroad capabilities are not even close.

 

I've had the 1st gen tundra. I really liked the size. My present 2nd gen tundra is quite a bit bigger. to be honest, I do miss the size of the 1st gen.

The mpg of a 1st gen Tundra and a 2nd gen Tacoma will be exactly the same. I never got over 17 mpg. I get 16 mpg with the 2nd gen Tundra.

If you do opt for a 1st gen Tundra, look for one made after 2004. they changed the transmissions. the older ones used the same transmission as the Tacoma's. Great for the 1 st gen Taco's, not good for the 1 st gen Tundras.

The 4.7 is a great engine, but not really very exciting when pulling the heavy tundra around. The 4.0 in the Tacoma is much more satisfying to run hard.

I will admit that the interiors of the 1st gen Tundra's was much nicer than either the Tacoma or Tundra 2nd gen. I still hate the interior of my 2nd gen Tundra. Love the truck besides that.

Of course andy 1st gen Tundra is gonna be way cheaper o buy than a 2nd gen Tacoma. And it will have lots of miles, but thats not really a deal killer.

Later

KO

 

I had a 2003 access cab Tundra. Best vehicle I ever owned. 140k with zero issues. It had a smoother and firmer ride than my Tacoma DCLB Sport (stock Tacoma suspension is shit - leaf springs flattened out before I even had to replace my first set of tires). It also had a quieter ride than my Tacoma. The 4.7 V-8 was strong and smooth compared to the 4.0 V-6. Visibility out the back was MUCH MUCH better in the Tundra. I've got a gash in the rear rear quarter of my Tacoma to prove it (back seat headrests mostly to blame).

My only complaint with the access cab Tundra was back seat comfort. Seat backs are 90 deg to the bottoms. Unbearable for anything more than a quick trip. Back seats in DC Tacomas are much more comfortable.

I'd have bought another Tundra, but the new ones are too big. The Tacoma is cooler looking, but IMHO the 1st gen Tundra is much better if you can find one with low miles.

 

The new Tundra is simply too large for me so I've been looking at new Tacomas to replace my 2004 Tundra (SR5 V6, 5-speed) with 70K. While I like the Tacoma's size, and styling I'm hesitant to trade because doing so will be a step backward as far as load capacity and tailgate strength, ride quality, and interior noise and seat comfort. MPG will probably be a lateral move as I get 15 for a low in the winter (16 in the summer), and 18-19 on the highway. Acceleration is better on a 4.0 Tacoma.
So I'm in no real hurry just waiting for a new small truck to come out that gets better mpg (20 minimum), comes with a manual transmission, and has good ground clearance (which the new Canyon/Colorado do not). Probably will be the next generation Frontier or Tacoma whichever comes out first.

 

Thanks for the update...

I looked at the older Tundras before I bought my Tacoma. I really like the size and styling. I just couldn't see spending that kind of money on a used truck with almost 100k when I could buy a new Tacoma with 125k warranty for what didn't seem too much of a price difference to make it worth it. I do love the those Tundras, my friend had a 2006 and I loved that truck.

 

I agree 100%. If I were buying right now it'd be a new Tacoma over a 10 year old Tundra.

 

I to love the old Tundras, they have a nicer interior on the limited package than the current Sport or Limited tacoma with real leather, power seats ect.

I also love the 4.7v8 except for the fuel economy. I tested a few years ago when I bought a 2001 Tacoma but chose the 3.4L thinking of getting better gas mileage. Not a chance.

 

I to had same argument, the 1st gen Tundra is one of the best all around trucks ever built. Absolutely loved the crew cab, 4x4 models. But as others mentioned, I couldn't find a well cared for model, under 100k miles for a decent price.

Tacomas are nice and they fill a niche market, but they are fairly crude in a Jeep Wrangler or 80's Cherokee kind of way. That's not a bad thing for most of us (I like basic trucks) but my wife hates to ride or drive my 2014 Tacoma for any reason. She says the ride is stiff , she worries the truck can roll, and says the seats are extremely uncomfortable for rides longer than 10 min.

Of course I don't agree with any of that, but I do agree Tacomas are stiffer than most trucks. Even a 2008 Chevy 3/4 I had rode smoother than my '14 Tacoma, but I love my Tacoma regardless.

Anyway, as far as the Tundras go, that roll down back window is the cats pajamas. I don't know why no other truck manufacture has stolen that feature.

 

The Gen I Tundra 4WD is better offroad IF the Gen 2 Tacoma is a Prerunner, 4WD Base, 4WD SR5, or 4WD Sport. The Tundra has an Eaton mechanical rear LSD (if so equipped, I believe it was optional) and has a "Shift-L" button that locks the auto trans into low gear for climbing or descending. So only the TRD Offroad Taco 4WD with ATRAC and HAC/DAC is better.

Also, the Gen I Tundra has 1 to 1.5" better stock ground clearance from front to rear (the 1" is at the front crossmember, everywhere else like transfer case, pumpkin, tow hitch it's 1.5" with the same 265/75/16 tires). And there's no goofy crossover exhaust pipe hanging down like on the 4.0 Tacoma. That's the Access Cab Tundra, I believe the double cab because it's based on the Sequoia platform has a whopping 12" of stock ground clearance. Gen I Tundra the approach angle is worse. I believe Tundra is 35 degrees, the Taco 29 degrees. Breakover and departure are roughly the same.

IMO, the only downside to the Tundra is the best years 2005 and 2006 (VVT-i 4.7l and 5-spd auto) are now 10 years old. And one would have to be patient to find a low mileage one in your area equipped the way you want.

The Tundra Access Cab exterior dimensions are the same as the Gen 2 Tacoma DCLB (Tundra double cab is wider and taller by about 4 inches I think, again because it's based on the Sequoia). But the AC interior is better designed to get more hip and shoulder room, roomier rear seat with a full 60/40 split foldup bench seat and fold down console, and this thing called "padding".

Tundra has all the refinements, captains buckets with map pockets on the backside, A/C feeds into the rear through the console, heated mirrors, power rear slider, locking glovebox and tailgate, power driver seat. The Access Cab has a factory alarm system with remote for doors, windows, hood.

No driveline shudder, smooth as glass. The bed has the same exterior dimensions, but there's 50 inches between the wheelwells so you can lay four foot wide sheets flat on the bed. The bed is longer by about two inches. The rear step bumper you can actually use as a step, it's about three inches longer than the Tacoma's.

The HP/lb ratio actually favors the '05 - '06 Tundra 4.7l by a tiny amount compared to the 4.0 Taco, same with torque/lb. And the same fuel mileage. High speed interstate emergency handling is the same once you put a Hellwig rear stabilizer bar on the Tundra for $270. The heavy steel bed on the Tundra tends to wallow, doesn't follow the front end precisely stock.

It cost me $4000 to garner this knowledge, you're welcome and I hope it helps someone make a decision. I sold the 2012 Taco for exactly $432 less than the base price, but of course I lost about $4000 because every penny on top of that was gone.

I wish I had done more research before I bought the 2012, but I was moving on from a '98 Taco and automatically figured a Gen 2 was the best truck. I was right in some ways, wrong in others. As time went on with the 2012 I started to get irritated with the cheapness of it. The Tundra, 4runner, they get all the nice stuff. The Tacoma they cheap out on everything.

 

i have one of each (06dclb taco 06 dc tundra)love them both i use taco as my everyday back and forth to work truck,wife uses tundra as a DD and when going away on weekends we use tundra.purchases both used with low milage just have to be patient.

 

Same fuel mileage? EPA rates the 2nd gen Taco V6 4x4 at 16 mpg city / 21 mpg highway. For the Tundra it's 13 mpg city / 16 mpg highway. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=34410&id=22296
I have some faith in the EPA numbers because they match my own, 16 mpg day to day and 21 mpg on highway trips.

@Looking To Buy:1st gen Tundra has a column shifter. For me, it's a deal breaker compared to the nice gated center console shifter on the 2nd gen Taco. This may not be as big a deal to you.

Taco TRD seats are more comfortable than the Tundra's, though the Taco SR5 seats are probably worse. Something to keep in mind as seats are not easily interchanged.

Off-road, the 2nd gen Taco is already too large for some trails. A 4" wider Tundra would be exposed to more branches and rock faces. Small differences in ground clearance and approach/departure angles go away once you install lift kits, plate bumpers, etc.

The 1st gen Tundra is in the same boat as the 1st gen Taco with regards to frame rust. Get the registration history of any particular truck you are looking into. If it's ever been registered in a state with road salt, put the truck on a lift and thoroughly inspect the frame for cracks and perforations. (It's advisable to do this with a used 2nd gen Taco, too, but it is affected by frame rust to a lesser degree.)

 

I get the same fuel mileage '05 Tundra 4.7l 4WD Access Cab to '12 Tacoma Access Cab 4WD 4.0l. 16/19. But a much smoother driveline and certainly a quieter cab. And the 26.4 gallon gas tank sure is nice.

And it's nice to have. That large storage space on the tranny hump where the floor shifter is on the Taco is very useful for holding sunglasses, keys, holds a lot of useful items.

Only the Double Cab Tundra is 4" wider. Regular and Access Cab have the same exterior dimensions.

Also the Tundra has longer and taller side windows for better visibility, taller windshield also for better visibility. Don't have to move the rearview mirror on the Tundra or duck your head to see under it.

I didn't mention in my post above the Tundra Access Cab also has venting rear windows, another nice feature.

It's just a better truck in 99% of head-to-head comparisons. The only trouble is the best versions '05 and '06 are still 9-10 years old, and the 4.7l has a timing belt. But they're durable as witnessed by the number of them still on the road with 200k+ miles on them.

 

Automatics, but the 5-speed manual like mine is on the floor just like a Tacoma.

 

I like the column auto. It's a waste of space with the center console.
Wish they made that change in the future!!

 

Wheelbase on 2nd/3rd gen Tacoma is very close to 1st gen Tundra

Tacoma AC/DCSB is 127.4" WB
Tacoma DCLB is 140.9" WB

Tundra AC is 128.3" WB
Tundra DC is 140.6" WB

 

Bought this Tacoma and 2006 TRD Tundra brand new at the same time. Much preferred the Tacoma, hense still have it.

Even with the V8, Tacoma always felt like more power, more responsive, etc.

Only benefit to the Tundra is more room inside, towing capacity. For sure go with 2nd gen Tacoma.

 

A major reason for the Tacomas poor ride is the flimsy stock shackle hangers that flex a lot and inhibit chassis composure. Check out Archive Garage Hammer hangers for a major improvement there.
https://archivegarage.com/products/tacoma-hammer-hangers

The shackle hangers on the 1st gen Tundra are much better than 2nd/3rd gen Tacoma, which lag behind the competition with its 14 year old chassis.