The Old vrs the New(er)

[toyotaconvert86]

Hey guys I'm sure this might spark a debate between the old school 22re guys and the newer tacoma fans. I'm going to look at some trucks monday and I'm torn between these two trucks (below) both are around 3k in price and have about 170k on the dash, stock engines from what i gather. I just would like to hear all the opinions on the 22re vs the newer 2.7L, your experiences with either or both. Some things to ask the seller when i look at both, and maybe some issue that pop up in either engine once it gets over 200k. I'll just tell you that my main concerns are relibility and mpg's, it will be my only vehicle not just an offroad project. I want to spend most of my weekends in the woods, not under the hood. thanks guys!

88 Toyota 4x4; 22RE engine, EFI, 5 spd, 170k miles
98 Tacoma 2.7 4-CYL 6 INCH LIFT 3IN BODY 3IN SUSPENSION 160K miles

 

[Duane]

I would think the newer one should be less prone to rusting...

I would think the newer one would be more prone to problems due to both of the lifts. Body lifts always concern me as to how things were addressed to accomodate the lift...cables, linkages, lines, wiring etc etc.

I would look for rust, accident history and service records. To me mechanical things can be fixed but body parts and paint cost$.
I personally prefer a stock vehicle that somebody hasn't started modifying things in case there were short cuts taken.

 

[hoch]

Maybe it's nostalgia, but if there was no rust issues or mechanical issues, I'd take that 88. I love that body style (Back to Future). That said, for the power, safety and reliability, i would take the 98. The only thing is the lift, as Duane said. That could have issues with the CV joints. Check it out thoroughly.

 

[raydouble]

One thing to consider is the timing chains.......

Seen lots go on 22RE's, never heard of one going on a 3RZ........

 

[yoopermike]

Let's see here, they both get relatively equivalent mpg's, somewhere in the neighborhood of 25. I had an 87 and my brother drove a 95.5, which I also drove quite a bit. If that lift wasn't on the 98, I would definately go that route. It's another 40 or 50 hp and from what I recall, the crawl ratio was way better in 4L-1st. 88's and older had issues with the two part beds rusting horribly along the crimped seam, I ended up putting a flat-bed on mine. Don't get me wrong, I loved my 87. It was an awesome bush buggy. But the first gen taco's were awesome in their own right too. I guess now that I look at it, I'm no help whatsoever. Good luck....

 

[ken_79-fj40]

I would buy whichever one has a VIN number that starts with a J. Oddly enough the biggest problem area on the early trucks was the only part built in the US. The beds were supposedly manufactured here for US market trucks and installed in Long Beach. The older trucks are down a little on power but the build quality is better and they are easier to service. Parts are little cheaper too. I've owned a number of examples of both early trucks and Tacomas and I would go for the early truck if it's not rusty.

 

[hoch]

I would buy whichever one has a VIN number that starts with a J. Oddly enough the biggest problem area on the early trucks was the only part built in the US. The beds were supposedly manufactured here for US market trucks and installed in Long Beach. The older trucks are down a little on power but the build quality is better and they are easier to service. Parts are little cheaper too. I've owned a number of examples of both early trucks and Tacomas and I would go for the early truck if it's not rusty.

I don't agree with that. My Tacomas made in US were just as reliable as my Japanese 4Runner(s). Same with my Hondas that were made in Japan vs Canada/US.

 

[Drunken Ira Hayes]

The lift on that Tacoma looks like trouble, more form than function.

 

[ken_79-fj40]

I don't agree with that. My Tacomas made in US were just as reliable as my Japanese 4Runner(s). Same with my Hondas that were made in Japan vs Canada/US.

Perhaps you have just had better luck than me. Or you haven't owned an 05-up tacoma for any period of time. I had 2 98's and an 95.5 tacoma that were perfectly fine. In fact my father still owns one of the 98's and it's got 190k trouble free miles on it now. My brother in law and I bought new 05's about 2 months apart. Neither of us take them off road and both are maintained above what Toyota suggests and are garaged. At 40k miles my factory shocks were absolutely junk. So I put Bilsteins in. Both of them had very severe surface rust on the frames after 2 winters. I completely coated all accessible areas of mine with Rust Bullet, he left his alone. His is now absolutely horrid. At 70k miles I started hearing what sounded like wheel bearing noise from the front end. Both front wheel bearings were shot. At about 85k miles the A/C compressor locked up, still haven't replaced that yet as I hardly drive it in the summer anyhow. My brother in laws locked up a month later, at 40k miles. And last winter the alternator in mine went. Nothing horribly wrong but I've been driving these trucks for 20 years and I've never had to do so much work to one of them before 100k. In fact besides stuff broken from outright abuse in my younger years i've never had to do so much to any of them period. It's pretty sad when I have more confidence in my 25 year old ford with 185k on it than I do in my 05 toyota.