I am glad I'm not the only one who likes compact utilitarian trucks. I still have my old Nissan Frontier, which is also going on 20+ years old now. Even if they didn't have compact, you can't get a utilitarian full size truck either. They are all crazily inflated and more complicated than necessary. Let's hope someone fills the market. The MPG and specs surprised me how similar they are despite the age difference. Good job on that insightful knowledge.
I have the exact same truck except it's silver. Manual transmission, two wheel drive, easy to drive, and reliable. Only thing I have to keep an eye on is rust. I sandblasted most of the frame last year and coated it with etching primer and epoxy primer, plus a few coats of black paint, but I'm still a little worried about the rust coming back. But it's been a great truck that I drive almost daily. The new trucks are too large and pricey!
Had a 97 Toyota Tacoma 5spd Xcab with 180k+ on it, eventually the frame rusted so bad the leaf springs were starting to come loose of the frame in the back, got to the point that no garage would put it on a lift for fear of the rear wheels just falling off, finally junked it a few months ago. Still miss the truck, and especially getting 24-27 mpg with gas prices nowdays. My current vehicle is a 6cylinder Chevy S-10 that struggles to get even 20 mpg, and it's automatic cause finding a stick is a lot harder now. From what I understand, government regulation is at least partly to blame for the death of the small truck. Mandatory "safety" features like front impact crumple zones make the size creep up. Friend of mine bought one of the newer Tacomas, when you open the hood, there is about a foot of space between the engine and the radiator. Also, from what I understand, there are fuel economy requirements on cars and small trucks, but a loophole for giant gasguzzler trucks. Self defeating legislation, the law of unintended consequences in action.
Gen 1 Tacoma is much better than modern day Tacoma. Modern day Tacoma are HUGE like tanks... Sometimes you don't need large size to do the utility work. Small pickup like the Gen 1 Tacoma can still do efficient work
I have a 1995 toyota tacoma with only 135k miles on it. No rust what so ever to the frame or underneath I love this truck it's my everyday driver and is so smooth. Its single cab but its RWD and not the 4x4 version which sucks but still ok
It's imperative that people stop calling EVs "Zero Emission". That's a grossly misleading MARKETING term that is choking all the life out of our vehicles and is herding us into a dystopia.
Best truck ever made was a 1989 - 1992 Ford Ranger. If you made that truck new today and powered it with a Chevy 4.3 v6 and 5speed manual transmission, nothing could come close. It would be by far the greatest truck on Earth.
I own a 2004 Toyota Tacoma and love it. I just started looking around for an eventual replacement, but discovered the current Toyota Tacoma is so much longer than mine. Good topic.
I just got rid of my 1992 Nissan Pickup Truck. It was PERFECT for my circumstances. I'm short (5'2"), old, and round, so found the 24" height from the ground to the tailgate to be perfect for loading and hauling brush, bags of mulch, and goat bedding around my property. Why do truck manufacturers not list the bed height from the ground as well as the height of the top of the bed side walls from the ground? These are the only real dimensions I care about. "Can I use this truck for actual work?" How will the fancy electronics of a modern truck stand up to the mice who pretty much ate their way thru my old truck's interior (and engine...and fuel line...). Do they even make manual transmission trucks any more? Broke my heart to finally retire my old truck. If I'd realized how irreplaceable it would prove to be, I might have nursed it along for another decade.
The only manual transmission pickup truck available nowadays is the current gen Tacoma. I think it is only available in the TRD Sport double cab with the 5 ft bed. 6 speed manual. Jeep still makes the Wrangler in manual, as well as the new Gladiator.
@@MarkMeadows90 in 2019 you could get a sub 20K frontier with the manual. Sadly Nissan ditched that for 2020. It’s a shame because the frontier is a much better truck than the new maverick.
Its because of government regulations if you dig deeper. There is a length x width x HP x etc . formula that the Govt has deemed neccessary for vehicles. I will try to find it again. This has been 100% mandated by the powers that be.
I got a 1995 tacoma with 135k on it and it runs so smooth and perfect. I'm going to have this truck for a long long time. I just with it was the 4x4 version instead of RWD
Follow the money, thats why no more. Not enough profit
We need small hybrid or electric commute truck please!!!
ford maverick has entered the chat.
Why can’t we get one in 2020? We can. It is worth every single penny to pickup a 1st gen Tacoma. Even if you have to put money into it. So worth it
They want to make higher profits and most people don't use trucks for hauling anymore.
I am glad I'm not the only one who likes compact utilitarian trucks. I still have my old Nissan Frontier, which is also going on 20+ years old now. Even if they didn't have compact, you can't get a utilitarian full size truck either. They are all crazily inflated and more complicated than necessary. Let's hope someone fills the market. The MPG and specs surprised me how similar they are despite the age difference. Good job on that insightful knowledge.
I have the exact same truck except it's silver. Manual transmission, two wheel drive, easy to drive, and reliable. Only thing I have to keep an eye on is rust. I sandblasted most of the frame last year and coated it with etching primer and epoxy primer, plus a few coats of black paint, but I'm still a little worried about the rust coming back. But it's been a great truck that I drive almost daily. The new trucks are too large and pricey!
Had a 97 Toyota Tacoma 5spd Xcab with 180k+ on it, eventually the frame rusted so bad the leaf springs were starting to come loose of the frame in the back, got to the point that no garage would put it on a lift for fear of the rear wheels just falling off, finally junked it a few months ago. Still miss the truck, and especially getting 24-27 mpg with gas prices nowdays. My current vehicle is a 6cylinder Chevy S-10 that struggles to get even 20 mpg, and it's automatic cause finding a stick is a lot harder now.
From what I understand, government regulation is at least partly to blame for the death of the small truck. Mandatory "safety" features like front impact crumple zones make the size creep up. Friend of mine bought one of the newer Tacomas, when you open the hood, there is about a foot of space between the engine and the radiator. Also, from what I understand, there are fuel economy requirements on cars and small trucks, but a loophole for giant gasguzzler trucks. Self defeating legislation, the law of unintended consequences in action.
Gen 1 Tacoma is much better than modern day Tacoma. Modern day Tacoma are HUGE like tanks... Sometimes you don't need large size to do the utility work. Small pickup like the Gen 1 Tacoma can still do efficient work
I'm glad I kept my 1988 Longbed Toyota pick-up...33 yrs later I just gave it a complete overhaul! My dad bought it new and paid under 10 grand!✌️
I am
Purchasing a 2002 with 200k.
What was your price of overhaul
Picked up a 2002 tacoma x cab with 161k miles for $1700. 2.4 4 cylinder and she runs like butter.
I have a 1995 toyota tacoma with only 135k miles on it. No rust what so ever to the frame or underneath I love this truck it's my everyday driver and is so smooth. Its single cab but its RWD and not the 4x4 version which sucks but still ok
Truck looks in immaculate condition!
It's imperative that people stop calling EVs "Zero Emission". That's a grossly misleading MARKETING term that is choking all the life out of our vehicles and is herding us into a dystopia.
Best truck ever made was a 1989 - 1992 Ford Ranger. If you made that truck new today and powered it with a Chevy 4.3 v6 and 5speed manual transmission, nothing could come close. It would be by far the greatest truck on Earth.
I own a 2004 Toyota Tacoma and love it. I just started looking around for an eventual replacement, but discovered the current Toyota Tacoma is so much longer than mine. Good topic.
The ford maverick xl hybrid is the best replacement
I just got rid of my 1992 Nissan Pickup Truck. It was PERFECT for my circumstances. I'm short (5'2"), old, and round, so found the 24" height from the ground to the tailgate to be perfect for loading and hauling brush, bags of mulch, and goat bedding around my property. Why do truck manufacturers not list the bed height from the ground as well as the height of the top of the bed side walls from the ground? These are the only real dimensions I care about. "Can I use this truck for actual work?" How will the fancy electronics of a modern truck stand up to the mice who pretty much ate their way thru my old truck's interior (and engine...and fuel line...). Do they even make manual transmission trucks any more? Broke my heart to finally retire my old truck. If I'd realized how irreplaceable it would prove to be, I might have nursed it along for another decade.
The only manual transmission pickup truck available nowadays is the current gen Tacoma. I think it is only available in the TRD Sport double cab with the 5 ft bed. 6 speed manual. Jeep still makes the Wrangler in manual, as well as the new Gladiator.
@@MarkMeadows90 in 2019 you could get a sub 20K frontier with the manual. Sadly Nissan ditched that for 2020. It’s a shame because the frontier is a much better truck than the new maverick.
I had one of these Tacoma’s but the frame was rusting bad and had to get rid of it it.
Its because of government regulations if you dig deeper. There is a length x width x HP x etc . formula that the Govt has deemed neccessary for vehicles. I will try to find it again. This has been 100% mandated by the powers that be.
So there is a demand for a vehicle that will not pass regulations. Didn’t this happen in the 70s? We will repeat history.
Ranger ev sounds good but front wheel drive? WHAT?
Love the content, amazed you don't have more subs
I appreciate that!
I love my 1998 Toyota Tacoma 65k
I got a 1995 tacoma with 135k on it and it runs so smooth and perfect. I'm going to have this truck for a long long time. I just with it was the 4x4 version instead of RWD
I like my 99 tacoma , 5 spd, 4x4, extendo cab, V6, 264,000 miles, not my daily driver, but great little beater!
i lik them too had 40 of it bit to slo no matta u du tu it
I'll take one!