It needed a battery once... in 2006. Other than that, I am just now (March 2008) giving it the full on plugs, wires, distributor cap, etc. and it's needed an O2 sensor for a couple years.
But aside from a drastic gas mileage cut (anywhere from 10-14 city, down from the 23 it usually gets), it never failed to start, even in the coldest Ohio winters.
This has been the BEST vehicle I have ever owned, driven or been affiliated with in any way in my 19 years on earth.
I have an extended cab and a long bed, and even still that 4 cylinder gets up, goes and stays there.
Gas mileage (when running right) is about 22/23 city, and its even achieved 34 on the highway.
In its current state of needing general maintenance and such, it's about 20 highway.
As I stated, it has never left me stranded, no matter what the weather. It starts on the first try and purrs like a kitten.
It's surprisingly comfortable. I'm a big guy, and I never have to fiddle around for comfort.
But it is a truck, and it hauls whatever you ask it to without a peep.
If you can pick one of these up with low enough miles affordably, you definitely have a vehicle that will run, and run, and run. And will put up with an incompetent teenage girl who can't drive long vehicles through bank parking lots (my genius sister), and old guys who don't pay attention to other vehicles at the gas station. (hooray for insurance). This truck will be with me and my family for many, many years to come.
Basically, to sum it up. if you're looking for an economical truck to drive and sometimes haul with, this is the truck for you.
As of today she has all new ignition and spark parts as well as a new 02 sensor. my check engine light went off and the mileage has rocketed back up to 19 city already, and with a coupld bottles of lucas fuel injector cleaner I expect about 23.
One thing I failed to mention is quite obvious. THESE DO NOT GO WELL IN SNOW. haha. without weight in the back at least. they fish tail and spin and all together hate life. but, i always wait til it snows, then pile the bed more than full. it adds weights and as the roads clear the snow melts. simple and free.
Oh and for some reason they posted this in 1996. mine is a 1997.
Still, buy one. make sure you tune it up. and watch the nuts on your 02 sensor. if they rust on, they have to be torched off.
On May 21st I will probably no longer be driving her anymore. The frame rust recall has worried me enough to get it checked out. And in trying to change the fuel filter (a grade a pain in the ass) I noticed that my frame wasn't looking so hot. So I tapped in with a wrench and rust fell with a cloud of dust. Granted it's 11 years old and dealt with the salt of Ohio winters, so that probably didn't help. But after only 102,000 miles I feel it's a shame to send this beauty on to another place.
Heed my warning, if you own a 95-2000 Tacoma, GET IT CHECKED. My buddy just had the frame on his 2000 snap when loading it up with wood.
This frame rust issue is a concern for me too. Mine has over 216,000 miles on it so far. But... I live in California, so perhaps it hasn't rusted at all. This makes me wonder if I should be doing some investigating of the frame. I almost hate to take it in because they might take it away from me!
She failed the inspection on a quick visual glance. The guy said he estimates about 70 percent of the frame to be rust and rot through. So back to Toyota it goes I guess. It feels like a death in the family, seeing as every even that shaped me into an adult has gone down with her. I just hope they fix it and resell it, so someone else can make life long memories like I have.
Has anyone heard of a 97 Tacoma passing?
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