Which is best GEN. 2 vs. GEN. 1 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

orieo · 03-17-2009, 09:14 PM

I am looking to buy a Tacoma but I don't know which Gen. to go with.I am looking into a Prerunner DoubleCab and I wanted to know which generation would get better gas mileage.
What are the pros and cons of both generations?
So any imput would be great.

08impulseredtacoma · 03-17-2009, 09:23 PM

i like my '08 DC SB (4.0L V6) alot. as far as gas mileage goes... its pretty easy on my wallet. i kinda baby it most of the time and i get 26-27. one thing i think about the gen2's vs the gen1's; earlier taco's were built better i think

Chazmanian · 03-17-2009, 09:31 PM

My 1996 Xtra cab 4x4 V-6 auto Tacoma was a slug. It ate gas. It was awesome offroad and had a timeless look to it. It just felt like it would last forever. It didnt. I had some issues with the front end and some silly electrical issues as the years and miles went by. The paint sucked. It looked tough and seemed to sit up high in stock form.

Fast foward 10 years and I have had 2 of the new style 05+ Tacomas. My 06' Dbl cab 4x4 TRD sport ate gas but was almost fast compared to the 96'. The paint started chipping off the bumper in the first year. It was quiet and solid feeling yet didnt seem as if it would last forever. It didnt. the cruise wouldnt hold 5th gear OD on flat ground. The brakes were mushy. I sold it early.

Fast foward to 2009. I'm a glutton for the Tacoma quirks. I buy a 2009 Access cab TRD sport 4x4 auto Best looking truck on the market IMO and they hold value better than almost anything you can buy car or truck. My 09' guzzles gas. So what!! My 09' feels faster than my 06'? My 09' has no backseat. The brakes are still...Mushy! I put braided lines on my mushy brakes harley and it didnt do much so Mushy is all good in my world! To make it even more bizzare the little bit of seat thats there is impeded with a crazy bass speaker that looks straight outta pep boys, the headrests fold all over the place and to put a human back there is probably against the geneva convention. The 09' has cruise that actually works and works well. the stereo is better than my old 96' and its a vehicle that you could easily drive across country as its quiet and almost luxurious compared to the older models. Plus did I say they look hot?

I would like an older Tacoma for a beater truck....I like the newer Tacomas for al around truckin' as you can jump in it and its essentially like driving a camry with a lift kit and big tires. Its fast, quiet and just a good midsize truck. Its an appliance. It dosent have the soul of the old trucks. It does most things better and is pretty solid. No wind noise and the steering stays tight. Go get a test drive in both and make your choise!

My 06 and my 09 both get/got about 15MPG around town and 19-21 on the hwy. I aint skeered to hold the pedal to the floor and do it often. My 96' got the same around town but worse on the hwy then my new ones.

If I wanted to get good MPG I would have bought a fucking Prius.

toto · 03-17-2009, 09:33 PM

There's a loaded question. Ask it in each of the TN forums for each of the two generations and you'll get different perspectives.

The biggest differences: Gen 2 got a bigger V6 engine, a composite bed (no liner necessary) with accessory rails, and it's physically bigger and heavier. Gen 2 is 8" wider and at least 5" longer than Gen 1. Gen 2 gets better crash test safety ratings, but because Gen 2 is bigger and heavier, the liability portion of the insurance is higher.

Of course, there are a lot of little changes over time. The newer models have newer technology and convenience features.

There is very little difference in gas mileage between generations or even between 4 and 6 cylinders. How you drive will be a lot more significant than those details on the truck itself.

All of the Tacos retain value very well. Well-kept Gen 1's are still hot sellers on the used market and don't sit around long.

jonnysrt2004 · 03-17-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08impulseredtacoma

i like my '08 DC SB (4.0L V6) alot. as far as gas mileage goes... its pretty easy on my wallet. i kinda baby it most of the time and i get 26-27. one thing i think about the gen2's vs the gen1's; earlier taco's were built better i think

08impulseredtacoma · 03-17-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnysrt2004

not sure why nobody believes that i get that much... but after getting my truck back from the bodyshop today, i drove around for about 2 hours and filled up my tank. you want numbers? here

185.3mi., 6.974gal.
=26.57mpg
happy?

TRDDCAB4x4 · 03-18-2009, 12:20 AM

Is that 26-27 on the highway?

08impulseredtacoma · 03-18-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRDDCAB4x4

Is that 26-27 on the highway?

yep

eccracer104 · 03-18-2009, 12:25 AM

I am about 8 MPG shy of you on the highway going 65 cruise control on flat (With a lift and 33'' A/T's). Even when it was bone stock my max was 22. How do you get such high numbers?

Also I love my Gen 2 tacoma, but I have never had a Gen 1 so I cant compare and contrast them.

08impulseredtacoma · 03-18-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eccracer104

I am about 8 MPG shy of you on the highway going 65 cruise control on flat (With a lift and 33'' A/T's). Even when it was bone stock my max was 22. How do you get such high numbers?

Also I love my Gen 2 tacoma, but I have never had a Gen 1 so I cant compare and contrast them.

btw to the OP: sry for pretty much threadjacking but:

i really don't know dude, i use chevron 93 most of the time, have a plain-jane k&n air filter, run castrol syntec 5w-30 oil, and a single in/dual out cherry bomb extreme muffler piped out the sides. i'm just careful with my right foot. stock the truck only got 22-23. now i'm not saying that all these will give you 4 or 5 mpg but they seem to have helped?

steamboatdevil · 03-18-2009, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08impulseredtacoma

not sure why nobody believes that i get that much... but after getting my truck back from the bodyshop today, i drove around for about 2 hours and filled up my tank. you want numbers? here

185.3mi., 6.974gal.
=26.57mpg
happy?

I never believed it for a second, as I get 18-19mpg (I drive with a VERY heavy foot) on a good day in my 4x4 double cab; however my buddies dad has a 2x V6 and he regularly gets 26-27mpg. I watched him fill up three times on a recent trip. I was amazed! He drives like a grandma but it seems to work..

orieo · 03-18-2009, 09:28 AM

So does anyone else have any other info on the benifits of both generations?

revn247 · 03-23-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08impulseredtacoma

not sure why nobody believes that i get that much... but after getting my truck back from the bodyshop today, i drove around for about 2 hours and filled up my tank. you want numbers? here

185.3mi., 6.974gal.
=26.57mpg
happy?

You must be the auto. The sticks suck gas like it was free! I get an avg. 16.x mpg with 17x on LONG fwy drives. Baby it, short shift, jam on it ( don't do this, feels like your gonna break something), gets the same mileage.......

jonnysrt2004 · 03-25-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revn247

You must be the auto. The sticks suck gas like it was free! I get an avg. 16.x mpg with 17x on LONG fwy drives. Baby it, short shift, jam on it ( don't do this, feels like your gonna break something), gets the same mileage.......

maybe its our shitty 87oct CA gas?

avg 17 here too