I bought a 2003 tacoma REG CAB 4x4 ?? Why??

Hey guys new to me tacoma one owner 114k , first toyota in the family since my brothers 79 pickup.
My 04 durango 5.7 awd threw a rod after 175k ..and it broke my heart, nearly all my miles over 10 years some thru hell and back.
After doing some decent research on prospective autos, i tried to talk myself out of the conclusion i came to. How could this little 17 year old 4 cylinder pickup possibly be the best bang for my buck? I was looking to spend up to 9k on a pick up. I could have chosen a newer 2wd with less miles of any make pickup. I could have chosen a similar year 4x4 2500 with 200k or a 4x4 1500 just the same...
I was still not convinced this tacoma was the truck for me. I do not know any toyota mechanics, i have three friends with shops one all mopar one chevy one ford.they might laugh at me and my little truck.
Then i dit it! I went down there to look at the tacoma. Im 6 foot 225(mostly beard and brass balls) and i actually fit in that little truck, sittin on 265's that has twice the ground clearance of the silverado next to it.
That tacoma ran just as it was made to on the test drive, maybe not as fast or as powerful, but steady with with a strong feel of durability but refreshing. Not many bells or whistles, ac cd and tape deck , very retro feel to it ..oh and 4wd.
I went home did some more looking around
Drove the dodge and gmc(wich i was selling myself on) and somehow got back to that tacoma. I looked up all the work done to it at toyota for that one owner from new to present and could not do that with any other truck that i looked at.
So i paid 7400 for a 17 year old pickup in great shape with low miles and records wich fits my needs , but also makes me feel like its 1982 again in a 79 toyota bombing thru the apple orchards with my siblings. I think thats ok.

 

Congrats!

 

Thanks!

 

give us more specs, is it manual locking hubs or auto, what about the Transmission, auto or stick. either way, I think you'll enjoy your little Tacoma, I sure like mine.

 

Hey all its a 2003 dlx sr5 2.7 4x4. Buckets, 5 speed with j column 4x4 shifter , and a clutch start cancel

 

Keep up on the regular maintenance, replace any old dry rotted vacuum lines, and it should last you for years to come.

 

Your in for quite the change... you wont need to have your rig worked on all the time anymore and suddenly you'll notice you pass the gas station more than you have to pull into it lol!

Welcome to a reliable, badass truck!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Im going to pull the bed off in the spring and do some cleaning up fix whatever may need it and put the chasis saver on. Im in NY had new frame in 2009 but i think all og shocks and springs but it was never used to tow and nothing ever in bed . former owner drove it to work at G.E. and home. All the maintenence was done at toyota about 3 miles from my house. Kinda got lucky it being local

 

I dont plan on 4x4ing with it, just towing the the 4wheeler, it wont fit in the bed and it will probably be better for the truck to trailer it anyway, def not able to tow the boat ..that 3500 dry without the trailer

 

Even though it has a New Frame you still need to keep after it.

If it has seen 10 winters I would be getting up close and in person before to long.

I have heard some of the replacement frames are not much better.

For this part of the world I think you got a great deal.

From the picture upstate NY not Long Island !!

 

congrats. single cabs are sexy. and you got the ideal version. 4cyl 4x4 manual. should go 500k miles!

 

Def not in long island, i live in waterford ny right on the Hudson river.

 

Welcome to the club.
That trucks original frame rotted out in 6 years. Your "new" frame is already 10 years old. I'd check it out good & cover it with Fluid Film.
Good luck with the new rig.

 

The simplicity of these things is something that's getting hard to find. Enjoy!

 

Love the truck. As others have said hopefully the frame is still solid.

 

I checked out the frame pretty good before i bought it, knowing the issues and it is very clean c. It still has the toyota (powdercoat ) with no rough spots. Only rust showing is on the middle of reciever and center bed cross section(bolt ons). The first thing i did when i drove it away was go to the carwash and had the fluid film at home waiting lol

 

I have the exact same truck, 280k , had to replace the clutch and transmission, but I think my sons driving attributed to that.

 

Nice, glad to see you did your homework before handing over the $$.
I think that truck will serve you well.

 

Welcome! That's a clean looking truck!