Would you rather??? (2003 vs 2005)

Would you rather?:

A.) 2003 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab V6
Trim: SR5 (non-color keyed fenders, non-TRD OR)
Accessories: Bed Liner, Towing Pkg, 6lug 16" rims
Color: White
Miles: 119,000
Price: $9,500
Buying from: stranger, but CarFax looks good and truck looks clean

B.) 2005 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab V6
Trim: TRD Sport
Accessories: leather seats, JBL audio, bed liner, towing pkg, running boards, tonneau cover
Color: Silver
Miles: 137,000
Price: $12,900
Buying from: father, he's done regular oil changes but that's about it (also, will "gift" it to avoid taxes)


I used to own a 2005 TRD Sport, which I LOVED, but sold it years back to downsize while living in Chicago. I've since moved out of Chicago, and for the past 4 months I've been glued to trying to purchase a modest 1st gen (2001-2004) and finally found one (option A), however now my father is looking to sell his truck and has thrown me a curve ball (option B).

Part of me wants the newer, more powerful truck with bells & whistles, but another part wants to experience a 1stgen and wants the modest, smaller truck--also I like the lower price & less miles.

Help?...

 

Whats the condition of both trucks including the state of the frames?

 

Do you want the ability to convert to 4WD in the future? If so, the 2003 is capable of being converted. The 2005 is not.

 

What's your intended use? Family toy hauler? 2nd Gen daily driver and mild offroad use: 1st gen all day.

 

- Both trucks are in good shape. I haven't seen the 2003, only photos, but looks to be in good shape-- no obvious issues. As for the frames, both trucks are from non-rust areas (CA & FL) so I think it's safe to assume both are good there.

- I don't plan to convert to 4X4, so no concern there

- Intended use is a daily driver, hauling minor things here & there occasionally

 

By all means the 2nd Gen is a better truck. The 1st Gen is a good truck if you want a capable trail rig or you live in a city.

 

Well, you posted this in the 1st gen section, so I'm betting you'll get a lot of "go for the 2003" responses. Add me to that list.

The carfax is useless, btw, that just means that nothing was *reported* to carfax. You'd still want to go through a detailed pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic on either truck. Even with your dad's truck, it would be worth it to take it to a mechanic, as "just changing the oil" isn't the only maintenance item that should be getting done.

Also, I don't think you'd be liable for taxes for the 2nd gen anyway, since it's a direct family member, depends on the state though I guess.

Care to explain? It's a pre-runner. Same as 4x4 minus the t-case (essentially).

Yeah... that's highly subjective... It might be "newer" but it's also the first year of a complete re-design, which I'm generally pretty skeptical of. I'd take the 2 year older truck with fewer miles as long as the frame is good.

 

My 1998 is a PreRunner/4x4 conversion. You can convert 1st Gens but not 2nd Gens.

 

I was looking for more of an explanation of why you can't convert a 2nd gen.

 

What is this nonsense...you can convert 2nd gens...a number of people on here have done so.

 

2nd gens just require a cross member to be welded in but the rest is bolt on just like 1st gens as far as I've read.

 

You can. It’s just not bolt on. Welding required.

 

Not bolt on.

 

only thing that isn't is the cross member that needs to be welded in AFAIK, @jowybyo has done it maybe he can elaborate

although this is taking the OPs thread off topic....sorry OP

I would go for the 2003 but I'm biased. If you really need the room of a double cab then the 2nd gen would be a better bet

 

That is correct. The cross member that supports the transmission needs to be modified. It’s a part that unbolts, but you need to cut out the center and lower it by about an inch. It’s pretty easy and a new stock one can be bolted back in it you decide to reverse the project.

 

I just got an ‘04 Double Cab with 151k for $6200. Those prices seem high to me but I’m a cheapskate. I like the facelift First Gens a lot.

 

Your Pops ain't cutting you much slack considering it's a headgasket job waiting to happen.

 

How common are these headgasket jobs? I owned a 2005 with 150,000ish miles and never saw or heard of trouble w/ headgaskets. I plan to talk him down on price some, $12.9k was just what he started at

 

The 2nd gen has more power, more capacity, a larger bed, more room in the cab and usually more bells and whistles.

The 1st gen has a smaller overall footprint (although still some what cumbersome in double cab trim), slightly better overall build quality, somewhat cheaper to maintain and dead simple straightforward construction.

Mpg should be similar overall, both are perfectly reliable and generally have similar things to watch out for, so pick your poison really.

 

Forgot to add, might be time for a timing belt job on the 03, that could add a quick $750 to the price tag, the 05 will be chain driven.