Did you like the T100?

Did you think the T100 was a good truck? I see some stuff on the internet that these losers are calling the T100 a pansy truck, and that it sucks beyond belief. I personally love the T100, and it is my favorite Toyota truck. We have 2 T100s in the family, and they have been great trucks. Very roomy in the back ( I'm 14, and 5'7, and I've got plenty of legroom). I love my grandpas Garnet Pearl 1995 T100 4x4. Anyway I just want to see other peoples opinons, and if there are any owners out there please feel free to comment on your experience with your truck.

Nice truck, its just shame they never put a real engine in it.
The 3.4L was fine in the Tacoma, but a V6 isnt going to get the job done if you are going to market it as a full-size truck.
Ford 302s and GM 305s dont make much more power than the 3.4L but they do make a lot more torque.
If you try to do any really heavy hauling with the T100, it just wont do it. There isnt enough power under the hood and you will end up burning up the transmission.
In Toyota's defense, I dont think they had a proven V8 at the time the T100 came out. I dont think the 4.7L came out (in the Lexus) untill '98 or '99 so Toyota got by on the best engine they had at the time, the 3.4L V6.
Cap'n

Nice truck, its just shame they never put a real engine in it.
The 3.4L was fine in the Tacoma, but a V6 isnt going to get the job done if you are going to market it as a full-size truck.
Ford 302s and GM 305s dont make much more power than the 3.4L but they do make a lot more torque.
If you try to do any really heavy hauling with the T100, it just wont do it. There isnt enough power under the hood and you will end up burning up the transmission.
In Toyota's defense, I dont think they had a proven V8 at the time the T100 came out. I dont think the 4.7L came out (in the Lexus) untill '98 or '99 so Toyota got by on the best engine they had at the time, the 3.4L V6.
Cap'nYes it was a shame. My grandpa bought a new 5500 lb boat last year, and when he bought it from the lot, and pulled it with his T100 it heated up on him 5 times, he then finally put it in low gear, and made it home. To be able to pull his boat he bought a new 2004 gmc sierra (that name does not deserve to be spelled with capital letters) diesel. Luckily though my grandparents driveway is 2 can only have 2 cars, and the T100 is in the driveway while the sierra is out in the street where it belongs. I have one problem though, a friend of my grandpas who he shoots with wants to buy the T100, because he wants a newer, and better truck(he drives a Bronco so I know part of the reason he wants the T100;) ) My granpa is about 95% sure he's not selling it (atleast for a while) as he is getting smoged, and registered for 06 tommorrow. But like Toyota who always strives to get 100% quality and satisfaction (and succeeds :) ) 95% is not good enough for me so can I have you guys convince him to keep the T100. He uses it to take stuff to the dump, and drives when on a normal basis in, and out of town, so it still serves a purpose, but I just want him to have compelling reasons to keep the T100 so I can be sure its staying. Thanks 84 Cressida.

If you grandfather just wants a truck for making dump runs and doing other light hauling the T100 will be just fine.
The 3.4L V6 has plenty of power for doing that. It merely lacks the serious grunt for really heavy towing.
Cap'n

I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SHEET METAL ON THE ROOF,HOOD, AND OTHER AREAS WERE WOEFULLY THIN,LOTS OF UP AND DOWN ACTION,IE tin canning.OTHER THAN THAT IT SEEMS TO BE OK DESPITE EVERTHING ELSE THAT WAS MENTIONED.

I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SHEET METAL ON THE ROOF,HOOD, AND OTHER AREAS WERE WOEFULLY THIN,LOTS OF UP AND DOWN ACTION,IE tin canning.OTHER THAN THAT IT SEEMS TO BE OK DESPITE EVERTHING ELSE THAT WAS MENTIONED.I never thought that except for the roof, where even my grandpa's GMC's roof is paper thin. It must be like that for all trucks.

If you grandfather just wants a truck for making dump runs and doing other light hauling the T100 will be just fine.
The 3.4L V6 has plenty of power for doing that. It merely lacks the serious grunt for really heavy towing.
Cap'nYeah that's what he uses it for and a couple of weeks ago he made a huge dump run. He also uses it as a daily driver, as around here Diesel prices are through the roof, and the fact that his new truck is used mainly for pulling the boat. But man those Toyota trucks are awsome.:D

The power curve on the 3.4 is a bit strange. I find if I keep the RPMs up (3k and above) there is plenty of power. It forces you into a lower gear than you would normally but you can still maintain speed and pull hills as well. I believe I've read elsewhere where the 3.4 likes to run fast.

I love mine. My only complaint is that it is a little under powered (it has the 3.0L v6). I only use it for light towing and as a daily driver so the lack of power is kind of a non-issue.

I love my T-100, and would never let go of it. Mine has the 3.4 ltr. V-6, with a 5 spd. manual trans. Have no complaints about it at all, pulls hills with no problem, and I have towed with it before, and it did just fine.

Good to hear.:)

i love my 97 3.4 4x4 had it 10 years and never done anything to it but a rear wheel seal i think thats awesum............. toyota 4-ever lookin hard at 07 camery 4 wife what yall think??:whatwhat:

I have a 97 T100 with a lift 33" tires and I have pulled some good weight. I don't know what the largest weighed but I know That between a trailer and the bed I have hauled 1700Lbs from San Deigo to Wanshington and it did real good on the hills. Even now I am in a higher altittude(Laramie, WY) and it still does good.

I am the original owner of a 95 T100 Ext Cab 2WD with 3.4 V6. It has about 126K on it now, still gets 20-21 mpg, little less in winter @ 19 mpg. The T100 has been a great truck, good on gas, plenty of haul/tow capability, great power for a V6.

Was in shop back in 98? for the head gasket recall and one time where it was running rough back in 00 - was a cracked spark plug. That's it...........two times in 12 years.....very reliable. Its never let me down.

For serious towing, over 5K and seroius hauling - it won't cut the mustard; but for my needs - Menards runs, towing a pop up, hauling furniture, etc - its been ideal.

I have a 97 T100. SR5.

I now have 310,000 miles on this truck. Got it new and put a lot of hard miles on it. Simply the best truck I ever had. Great performance on and off the road. Only changed the plugs once. The belts are original. Over the years had four kids drive it and every dent is there. Rust is starting to eat it. But I still drive it and it is great!!!!

Now i need a new bed. Any suggestions on where I can get a used one in good shape?

Bill

You could make one out of wood. :)

Now i need a new bed. Any suggestions on where I can get a used one in good shape?

Bill

You could try www.car-part.com and see what's close to you. There's 2 down here in Wichita KS on craigslist but he didn't reply to my email on wheter it's fer a regular or extended cab...or what year it's fer. ;)

I have a 1996 Toyota T100, and i love it!! toyota sure makes dang good vehichles, i can say from experience, the 3.4L in my truck can be a real V8 killer!! in fact, i have been out playin around a few times, and dusted a few people, and have got asked numerous times if i had a v8 in there, and people bout crap themselves when i reveal the 3.4L V6, and a few boys at school have s10s with the 4.3L, think they are fast, and a few people have told me there is word around school my truck is a beast=], which always makes a boy proud to hear ,lol
i think the power the 3.4L gives the T100 is just right for the truck, my truck is a 5 speed manual, and i wouldnt trade it for an automatic ever! i love having the ability to be coming down a hill with a load and be able to put it in 3rd and run about 50mph and it hold back, the truck is a lil low geared, but it is needed when pulling a load! i like the ride height of my T100 sittin on 31's, toyota should have kept the T100!! because it is just the right size for what alot of people need, i have been asked numerous times, what lift i had, and they were shocked to know, i had the truck fully stock, performance wise, suspension wise, etc.
I think if my T100 grows old, if i can no longer run it on the road, its gonna be turned into an awesome offroading rig, but the way i have 190k, and it still runs like the day it came off the lot, i am hoping not to have a problem anytime soon!!